The IBJJF’s kids tournaments keep growing with every edition. Record registrations, divisions packed with competitors and standouts in each age group who shine thanks to a level of professionalism and technique far beyond the ordinary.
The Pan Kids No-Gi, held on October 19 in Florida, in the United States, was the second edition of the no-gi tournament exclusively for young competitors. As successful as last season’s inaugural event, the Pan Kids No-Gi put on a worldwide showcase for the achievements of young athletes who already follow professional routines, eyeing solid careers in the sport in the coming years, when they start competing as adults.
ALPHA MIAMI GRAPPLING TAKES FIRST PLACE IN THE PAN KIDS NO-GI OVERALL TEAM RANKING
Some academies stand out more when it comes to kids tournaments, as is the case of AOJ, which ranks among the best in the points count with a solid, well-coached youth team. The top five of the overall ranking was led by Alpha Miami Grappling, with 210 points. Atos took second place with 187 points, 17 ahead of Gracie Barra, which finished third. AOJ and Checkmat rounded out the top 5, with 168 and 137 points, respectively.
Alpha Miami Grappling sent a kids star into action at the Pan Kids No-Gi. Caio Sainz came in as the big favorite in the junior 3 medium-heavyweight division and showed he really has the skills to be feared. The orange belt stepped on the mat determined to finish, sank a rear-naked choke and added another gold to his résumé. He now has seven IBJJF Pans titles, five in the gi and two in no-gi. It’s worth noting that Caio has already locked in a spot at next year’s ADCC Youth. He was invited by Mo Jassim, with no need to go through a trial.
An unusual moment came from a decision by Icaro Moreno, an AOJ athlete already regarded as an idol of the sport. With no opponent in teen 1 heavyweight, the AOJ orange belt proposed a superfight with the division champion from teen 2, and it was accepted. In that matchup, with the medal in his own division already secured, Icaro finished with an armlock two minutes into the match. With this latest result, Icaro keeps stacking Pans gold medals in the gi and no-gi: he is a seven-time champion in the gi and a two-time champion in no-gi.
Gabriel Bastida keeps showing solid Jiu-Jitsu at the top competitions for athletes of his generation. At the Pan Kids No-Gi, the yellow belt took first place in the junior 1 lightweight division. To reach the top of the podium, the phenom had to beat two opponents. Both matches ended in submissions. Bastida’s goal is to close the season with gold at both Grand Slams, gi and no-gi. The Kids No-Gi Europeans already has a date and venue: it is scheduled for the 9th of next month, in Dublin.
Barron Roberts, an athlete who also holds an invitation to ADCC Youth in 2026, competed beautifully to secure two submission wins by kimura. In the teen 2 ultra-heavyweight division, the yellow belt took control to win gold. Kaito Machida, son of former UFC champion Lyoto Machida, had no opponent in teen 3 super-heavyweight. In a matchup set up against Barron, it was the Carlson Gracie athlete who came out on top, finishing once again with a kimura from closed guard.
Alek and Ace Mendes, sons of AOJ’s Mendes brothers, kept the gold in the family and showed the team’s methodology really is something special. Stevie Ortiz and Raí Bertolazo, other well-ranked competitors on AOJ’s kids team, also shone at the championship. Manu Frazatto and Ariel Barbosa, like Alek and Ace, showed that the influence of champion parents bears valuable fruit on the competition scene. Manu, a yellow belt and Bruno Frazatto’s daughter, dominated the junior 2 featherweight division. The same happened with Ariel in mighty-mite 3 medium-heavyweight. The gray belt, who carries Marcio André’s DNA, performed to add another gold medal to the collection.
Check out the list of champions in every division of the IBJJF Pan Kids No-Gi here.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
