Copa Virginia - 2022

Are you looking for a tournament that runs on time and offers cash prizes?

Copa Virginia - 2022 is the tournament for you! 

Copa Virginia - 2022 is an all ages tournament (6 years old and over). There will be Gi and No Gi (Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced) divisions for men, women, kids, and juveniles.

Cash Prizes for 1st Place: 

$400 for Men's Adult Advanced No Gi Absolute 

$300 for Men's Adult Purple Belt  Gi Absolute

$250 for Men's Adult Blue Belt Gi Absolute

$400 for Women's Adult Advanced No Gi Absolute

$250 for Women's Adult Blue Belt Gi Absolute

All Black Belts compete for FREE in the Adult Gi divisions ONLY. All Black Belts competing in Adult Gi divisions need to initiate their registration online (without paying) and then contact us to finalize their registration.

Spectator Fees: $10 at the door. Coaches (brown and black belts only) of registered athletes enter for FREE. Academies can have one coach enter for free per 5 students registered for the event (2 coaches per 10 students, 3 for 15 etc.) Please email us no-later than 2 days before the event, with the coaches' names so, we can enter them on our guest list in time.

The Gi part of the event will be under IBJJF rules and weight divisions. To view them click here. We will have both Gi Adult and Gi Master (30+) age divisions. Please note that in order to sign up for any Gi absolute division you will need to be registered in a Gi weight division first.

Please make sure your Gi uniform adheres to IBJJF rules and regulations (i.e. no rashguard underneath the gi for males, same color top and pants is required, etc.).

Time limits for matches in the Gi (Men & Women 18 years old and over):

Adult - White Belt - 5min; Master - White Belt - 5min

Adult - Blue Belt - 6min; Master - Blue Belt - 5min

Adult - Purple Belt - 7min; Master - Purple Belt - 6min

Adult - Brown Belt - 8min; Master - Brown Belt - 6min

Adult - Black Belt - 10min; Master - Black Belt - 6min                           

IBJJF Gi Weight Divisions (18 years old and over):

Rooster: Men - up to 127 lbs; Women - up to 107 lbs

Light Feather: Men - up to 141.5 lbs; Women - up to 118 lbs

Feather: Men - up to 154.5 lbs; Women – up to 129 lbs

Light: Men - up to 168 lbs; Women - up to 141.5 lbs

Middle: Men - up to 181.5 lbs; Women - up to 152.5 lbs

Medium Heavy: Men - up to 195 lbs; Women - up to 163.5 lbs

Heavy: Men - up to 208 lbs; Women - up to 175 lbs

Super Heavy: Men - up to 222 lbs; Women - No maximum weight

Ultra Heavy: Men - No maximum weight

All No Gi matches will only have Adult age divisions (no Master divisions for No Gi).

The Beginner No Gi rules will be under IBJJF No Gi rules for white belts belts (i.e. no jumping guard, the straight ankle lock will be the only leg lock allowed). This division is intended for white belts in BJJ as well as athletes with very little grappling experience.

The Intermediate No Gi rules will be under IBJJF No Gi rules for blue belts (i.e. the straight ankle lock will be the only leg lock allowed). The divisions is intended for blue belts in BJJ as well as athletes with a few years of grappling experience.

The Advanced No Gi divisions will be under the NEW IBJJF No Gi rules for blackbelts (all leglocks allowed, including heel hooks). Due to the rule set for Advanced No Gi, we recommend participants with multi-year experience in submission grappling (senior blue belts and above). However, no official IBJJF ranking (i.e. having been awarded a colored belt) is required to participate, as long as the athlete has the necessary experience stated above."

Please note that in order to sign up for the No Gi Beginner or Intermediate Absolute divisions, you will need to be registered in a No Gi weight division first.

Please make sure your No Gi uniform adheres to IBJJF rules and regulations (rashguards are required - no sleeveless ones, no t-shirts) with one major exception. There will be no color requirement on the rashguard and grappling shorts. That means athletes can wear whatever color/design rashguard and shorts they desire.

There will be only one Women's Advanced No Gi Adult division (Absolute).

There will be only one Men's Advanced No Gi Adult division (Absolute).

Time limits for all Beginner No Gi Matches will be 5 minutes.

Time limits for all Intermediate No Gi Matches will be 6 minutes.

Time limits for all Advanced No Gi matches will be 7 minutes. 

Depending on athlete turnout, Copa Virginia - Richmond 2021 reserves the right to combine weight and age (Adult and Master) divisions.   

For all participants 18 years old and over:

Early registration (last day 8 Jan): $70 per Gi/No Gi divisions (to include No Gi Advanced Absolute); $20 to enter a Gi absolute division.

Regular registration (last day 5 Feb): $80 per Gi/No Gi weight divisions (to include No Gi Advanced Absolute); additional $30 to enter a Gi absolute division.

Late registration (last day 26 Feb): $90 per Gi/No Gi weight divisions (to include No Gi Advanced Absolute); additional $40 to enter a Gi absolute division.

In order to ensure a smooth running tournament all competitors must pre-register. There will be no same-day or past deadline registrations. Last day/time to register (and/or edit your registration) is Saturday 26 February, 11:59pm.

Please note that all athletes registered for Gi divisions will be weighed with their Gi on before their first match or at the beginning of the tournament (per IBJJF rules and regulations). Athletes registered for No Gi (Beginner and Intermediate only) will be weighed with their No Gi uniform. In the interest of time, if you feel comfortable about making weight, you can weigh-in with your Gi once for both your Gi and No Gi divisions. You will have 2 tries to make weight, if you do not make weight you will be disqualified (you will only be allowed to compete in any Absolute divisions if you have already register for them). There will be no refunds. Please note, you can change your weight division (or do any edits to your registration) up until Saturday 26 February, 11:59pm. Please make sure you make the weight for the division you registered. 

You do not need to sign up for a Gi division if you only wish to compete in No Gi and vice versa.

Match times and brackets will be published 3-5 days before the day of the competition (an email will be sent to all the competitors).

During the day of the event all competitors can monitor their match times and the tournament's progress on their cell phones/mobile devices via their Smoothcomp account.

Please note:

a) "Copa Virginia - 2022" is an event run by DCJJ LLC.

b) Upon registration your electronic receipt will state DCJJ LLC as the merchant.

c) We reserve the right to close registration early when we reach full capacity.

d) There will be no refunds upon cancellation of one's registration.