Before you step on the mat

Neither. TopBJJ is a youth BJJ development ecosystem built around the athlete. Athletes keep training at their own academy, with their own coach and team. TopBJJ creates extra training moments across academies.

Sessions are for motivated youth BJJ athletes between 7 and 15 years old, who would like to train outside of their usual circle.

We can accept motivated beginners when the fit is right. A colored belt is not required, but the athlete must be able to spar safely, listen well and handle higher-intensity rounds. If the goal is purely recreational fun without competitive intent, another environment may be better.

The home academy stays central. TopBJJ adds new partners, different coaching styles and competition-focused rounds that athletes can take back to their own academy.

Young athletes grow when they come across new styles, grips, tempos and problem sets. The ecosystem gives them that exposure while keeping respect between academies at the center.

TopBJJ is a poach-free zone. We do not operate as a second team or recruitment program. The goal is to reinforce the home coach's work by inspiring athletes with new focus, sharper rounds and different techniques to bring back to their own academy.

Start by finding your role. Are you an athlete, parent or coach? You can sign up through the join page, and we will follow up with the next steps.

The invitational model protects quality and safety. We do not simply open the doors. We curate the room so athletes have useful partners with similar size, level and training intent. A heavy experienced competitor should not be paired with a beginner lightweight just because both registered.

Register through the official TopBJJ site first. Once you are in the system, you can request access to upcoming events. TopBJJ may also select and invite athletes based on profile details such as age, weight, belt, experience and partner-fit for a specific session.

No. Participation is confirmed in advance. This keeps the room safe, makes partner matching possible and prevents athletes from arriving without a useful training partner.

Yes. Coach context is valuable. It helps us understand the athlete, the home academy, the right level of challenge and whether a session is the right fit.

We do not leave partner-fit to chance. Pairings are reviewed around the factors that make rounds useful and safe.

1. Weight safety comes first.
2. Age and gender so the room stays appropriate.
3. Experience including belt level, sparring maturity and competition results.
4. Team we try to create fresh rounds with athletes from different academies.

Note: Belt levels may be mixed when the weight and skill matchup creates a productive session, for example a competitive grey belt with a yellow belt.

It usually means we could not find a safe or valuable match for that specific event, for example because there was no suitable partner at the same weight or experience level. You remain in the system for future opportunities.

No, there is no requirement to participate in certain big competitions, such as IBJJF or ADCC. However, it is what we work towards during our sessions and camps. We focus on the point systems, practice certain situations, a winners' mentality and good sportsmanship.

No. After you sign up, you join a session when you want to and when your schedule allows it. Participation is never mandatory, unless you confirmed your presence. There are no strings attached to signing up. We only use it to communicate with you about upcoming events and to ensure matchups are fair.

Because partners are matched specifically, a late cancellation or no-show can leave another athlete without a useful partner. If you cannot attend after confirming, notify TopBJJ immediately through the available communication channel so we can look for a replacement.

Most events run for about 3 to 4 hours on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The exact structure depends on the host, coach and goal of the day, but the rhythm is usually clear.

1. A group warm-up.
2. Technical instruction or a seminar-style theme led by the host coach.
3. A short snack or recovery break.
4. Plenty of time for positional work, sparring and live rounds.

• Required Gi or No-Gi kit depending on the specific event invite, plus a mouthguard and water bottle.
• Recommended Flip-flops for off-mat areas.

Note: Facilities vary. Many host academies have showers, but some locations may only have restrooms. Be prepared to shower at home if needed.

Being able to train safely is important for regular competitors. We look for athletes who can train hard without losing control. Coaches keep an eye on the room temperature and keep the standard clear.

Yes. Parents are part of the ecosystem. They help with communication, logistics and support the young athletes on and off the mats.

That depends on the type of session and the host academy. Parents are always allowed to wait at the location, but not always besides the mat.

Yes. Regular TopBJJ sessions are free. You pay with effort, respect for the host location and gratitude toward the coaches. Camps, special events and other formats may have a small cost-covering fee, never for profit.

We operate from The Netherlands, but we organize events throughout West-Europe. Our ambitions are even greater: we want to bring the whole of Europe together. This way, we help grow the sport in its entirety, as well as improve the overall level of Youth BJJ in the region.

The calendar page shows our upcoming events. We also share the details of these events on our socials. After signup, we will also send invitations with practical details by e-mail.

You can send us a message on our socials or by email . We'll get back to you asap.

Yes. TopBJJ may capture high-quality photos and videos to celebrate the athletes and document the session. By registering, parents may be asked to grant permission for their child to be photographed or filmed.

• Access after an event, collections can be published through the website.
• Privacy galleries may be restricted or password-protected for attending athletes and parents.

Yes. Families and athletes are encouraged to use the content to celebrate their work. When sharing on social media, tag @topbjjkids so the wider community can follow the growth.

1. Facility Safe mat space and restrooms.
2. Instruction the host coach leads the warm-up and technique, showing their teaching style and academy atmosphere.
3. Hospitality hosts are typically asked to help with fruit or a light snack for the break.

Minimal. TopBJJ acts as the back-office around the session and helps with the work that usually takes time for a host academy.

• External registrations and waivers.
• Matchmaking and partner lists.
• Parent communication.
• Marketing and media.

• Teaching choose the technical theme, Gi or No-Gi, as long as it fits safe youth competition standards.
• Marketing share a strong photo and lesson topic in advance so TopBJJ can introduce the session professionally.
• Your team your own motivated competition athletes are encouraged to participate when they fit the room.

Ask parents to register directly through the TopBJJ website. This keeps athlete data accurate, supports legal waiver handling and places each athlete into the matchmaking system. Manual lists are avoided when possible because they create administrative risk, but TopBJJ can help if there are technical issues.

Yes. The host decides capacity based on safe mat space, often around 20 to 40+ athletes. TopBJJ caps registrations around that capacity so the room stays productive and not overcrowded.

Yes, coaches are encouraged to register suitable athletes. The goal is to give them experience against new styles and partners they do not meet every day, making them sharper for tournaments and stronger for their own academy.

Absolutely not. Neutral ground is part of the TopBJJ standard. Recruitment by attending coaches, parents or athletes is not tolerated. The purpose is to make athletes better for their own team.