BALKANS OPEN 2024

The Balkans Open 2024

Bulgaria BJJ invites you to The Balkans Open 2024 in Arena Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria

The Balkans Open is Balkans largest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu event, attracting competitors from around the world to compete in the city of Sofia .

The Balkans Open is a Single Elimination tournament, with qualified referees and staff. The tournament is open to all Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners. We use IBJJF rules, so please familiarise yourself with these rules and read the entry requirements in full before entry.

There are divisions for Kids, Juveniles, Adults and Masters to Masters 4 in the Gi event, and for Adult Male and Female Adults and Masters 1 in NoGi, with combination pricing available, so get your registration in now for a great weekend of Jiu Jitsu this November .

EARLY REGISTRATION-Early registration is encouraged so that we can plan a safe event. Please pay attention to the early registration dates

Combination Discounts

We offer a discounted rate when both Gi and NoGi tournaments are entered. Please note NoGi is not available for kids divisions.

Tournament Schedule

We will endeavour to provide a pre-schedule as soon as possible to help with your logistical arrangements.

THE ORGANISER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RESCHEDULE OR ALTER TIMES IN THE INTERESTS OF RUNNING AN EFFICIENT TOURNAMENT.

*Any athlete who has proven to be a black belt in judo, has fought MMA professionally, has an amateur MMA record or has proven experience in wrestling, Olympic wrestling or Greco-Roman wrestling, can not participate in any  event as a white belt.

Proven experience in the U.S. consists of having competed at the collegiate level or higher and in other countries, having competed in nationwide events. 

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS While we envision a full event, new Covid-19 RESTRICTIONS are always possible. Bulgaria BJJ will always follow government guidelines regarding participation and spectators. In the case of POSTPONEMENT of the 2024 Balkans Open, no refunds will be issued, and your entry will be carried over to the future date.

OPEN CLASS

Athletes who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd are eligible to register for the Open Class bracket.

Juvenile Blue and Purple Belts will have two Open Class divisions: 

1 - Open Class Light, from Rooster to Light;

2 - Open Class Heavy, from Middle to Ultra-Heavy.

White Belts (all weight divisions) - There will not be an Open Class for these divisions.

How to register?

The athletes who are willing to register for the Open Class may do so at the event at the Open Class registration table at the Podium. 

Athletes must register in Open Class within 15 minutes after receiving their medal awards. 

Athletes will not be able to register for the Open Class division after its registration deadline.

* The Open Class start time posted in the event’s schedule it’s an estimated start time only. The division start time can vary throughout the event day due to several factors, such as: number of people registered, previous fight time duration, inside the ring medical care, etc. 

The competitors who are willing to participate in the Open Class divisions must have a flexible schedule, in order to be available for the start time of the division, whenever that may be.

Exceptions:

Black Belt Adult - All athletes are eligible to compete in Open Class.

Athletes will not be able to register for the Open Class division after its registration deadline.

IMPORTANT INFO

Registration 

We try to accommodate as many athletes as possible in our events comfortably, but there is a limit on the number of athletes in order to guarantee a high quality event.

Bulgaria BJJ reserves the right to close registration when we reach full capacity, or on the day of the appointed event registration deadline, whichever comes first.

We strongly suggest that athlete registration is finalized before making any travel arrangements.

Any false information provided during registration such as, but not limited to, DOB, may lead to immediate disqualification. Such actions are subject to suspension or even banishment from future Bulgaria BJJ events.

Refund Policy

The registration fee is non refundable. All cancellation requests are non-refundable and non-transferable. However, athletes can contact Bulgaria BJJ by the Athlete Correction Deadline to be removed from the brackets without refund.

Bulgaria BJJ cannot guarantee the athletes will show up for the tournament. Therefore, Bulgaria BJJ will not refund athletes who end up without a match due to a non-show for his / her opponent.

Exemption:

Athletes who are alone in their division are eligible to receive a full refund of the registration if they contact (email address)and request to withdraw their name from the competition on the day of the tournament’s Registration Check-day, before 5 PM (event local time). If the athlete remains alone in the division by 5 PM, the refund will be processed.

*If an athlete’s division becomes populated with an additional athlete(s) on or before the Registration Check-day, the athlete will remain in their division and will no longer qualify for a refund.

For more detailed information regarding athletes who are alone in their division, please refer to the "Athlete Alone in the Division" section found below.

Competition Day - Show up Time and Weigh-in

It is the responsibility of the athlete to be knowledgeable of the rules and guidelines pertaining to the sport (as outlined in the IBJJF Rules Book).

It is mandatory to have an official government photo ID or an IBJJF membership card at all times.  Before each fight, athletes will be asked to show their valid form of photo identification (ID) to the officials. Make sure you have it on hand.

If you have any issues regarding your ID documents, please go to the Customer Service booth when it is available, or the Administration Table.

Refer to the schedule link in order to know when you should be at the event ready to compete and inside the warm up area.

Competitors must be at the venue ready to compete, one hour prior to the start time for their division in the case the tournament is running earlier than expected.

The division start time posted in the event’s schedule it’s an estimated start time only. The division start time can vary throughout the event day due to several factors that are beyond our control.

The official weight measurements of this event is in KILOGRAMS.

Official weigh-in will occur immediately before the first fight. Only one attempt to make weight is allowed.

Be advised the athletes will be disqualified in their division if they weigh in heavier than the weight listed for the division they registered in.

Athletes Under 18 Years Old

Athletes 18 years old or younger, which have previously worn a belt from a belt rank that does not exist for their current age range, according to the IBJJF Graduation System, will only be allowed to compete in a belt rank that matches that athlete's current age group.

For tournaments with a spectator fee, athletes registered in the Juvenile divisions are allowed to enter with one companion for free, as long as the companion checks in at the entrance venue at the same time as the athlete enters the venue.

Black Belt Coaching Area 

This tournament will not have a coaching area available

Coaching will be prohibited within the barricaded area/competition area. Coaching will be allowed outside of the barricaded area only.

Athlete Alone in the Division

Posted below are the three options for single-bracket competitors. Single-bracket competitors must inform Bulgaria BJJ via email which option they choose by the 5 PM (event local time) on the event's Registration Check-day - (email address)

In the case that the division becomes populated with additional athletes during the Registration Check-day period, these options will no longer apply and the athlete will remain in the original division.

OPTION #1 - Athletes may stay in their current weight class, make weight, and receive the 1st place medal for the division.

Once the athlete has had their weight and uniform checked, they will then be eligible to register for the Open Class division in the case that the age and belt division offers an Open Class division.

Please note: Option #1 is the default option if athletes do not respond to (email address) by 5 PM (event local time) before the Registration Check-day deadline.

OPTION #2 - Move up or down in age and/or weight division.

By moving up or down in age and/or weight, athletes may be paired with an opponent. However, Bulgaria BJJ cannot guarantee that an opponent will be available. Athletes may select a second change option in case their first choice of division change is not available.

Athletes can make their selection(s) after viewing the Athlete’s List by Division. The decision to move up or down in age and/or weight should be made solely at the athlete's discretion. If athletes choose OPTION 2 to change divisions, please be aware that athletes will be required to make weight for the new division. In order to request to change divisions, athletes will need to specify the exact division that they wish to be moved to. Athletes can specify a first and second choice (limited to the divisions available for the tournament).

Master and Adult division athletes: Athletes can move up or down in age by specifying an age-eligible division determined by the athlete's birth year. For example, an athlete eligible to compete in Master 2 may move to Master 1 or Adult, but may not move into Master 3 unless they are eligible.

Juvenile division athletes: Juvenile division athletes can move from Juvenile 1 to Juvenile 2 (if applicable) when alone in their bracket on the Registration Checkday. Juvenile athletes will not be allowed to move to the Adult division. *The request to move up one age division must be done by the parent / legal guardian.

OPTION #3 - Withdraw from the tournament if alone at 5 PM on the Registration Check-day.

Athletes who are alone in their division on the Registration Check-day are eligible to receive a full refund of their tournament registration fee if they contact [email protected] PRIOR to the end of the Registration Check-day deadline. Refunds will be processed after 5 PM (event local time) if the athlete is still alone after the Check-day period.

Teams

Each team can only have two athletes in the same division bracket of age/weight/belt. If your team has more than two athletes in the same division, the Professor needs to [email protected]  prior to the Correction Period deadline in order to edit their student’s registration. This rule does not prevent you from registering for the event.

Athletes from the exact same team will not fight against each other before the final match, except in a three athletes bracket.

Medals and Trophy

Athletes who place in 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their division will receive a medal at the event. 

All the medals should be picked up at the event's podium. Bulgaria BJJ does not mail out unclaimed or lost medals after the tournaments.

Bulgaria BJJ does not mail out unclaimed t-shirts after the tournaments.

Please note that video recording for social media live streaming of fights will not be allowed at any time.

Media Professionals 

Media applications should be made to  [email protected] with MEDIA APPLICATION in the subject line.

Media passes are not guaranteed upon application. All applications are up to review. The number of passes granted are limited.

Approval and denial emails will be sent approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.

A government issued photo ID will be required to claim the press vest in case of approval. The Bulgaria BJJ staff will hold your ID until you return the press vest.

Doors will open approximately one hour before the first match. Please check the schedule day release above to find this information.

Please note that video recording and social media live streaming of fights will not be allowed at any time.