If you're a parent who is new to the sport of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you may be wondering what the youth BJJ weight classes are. In this blog post, we will talk about the different divisions between children and teenagers, and how to choose the right one for your child.

Every child is different, so it's important to find a division that allows them to compete against others of similar size and age. Keep reading for more information!

What Is The Age Division For Juvenille BJJ Practitioners?

The first thing you need to know is that there are different weight classes for different age groups. There are an adult and juvenile weight classes. Every child that is under 16 years of age would be in the juvenile weight classes.

For this article, we will focus on the youth / juvenile weight classes and what that means for your child. If you'd like to learn more about the weight classes for adult and masters, make sure to check out this guide for more information on this weight division.

What Are The Weight Classes For Youth / Juvenile BJJ practitioners? (IBJJF Weight) 

The youth / juvenile Brazilian jiu-jitsu weight classes are different when it comes to gi weight classes and no-gi weight classes. Here is what the different divisions look like for male juvenile gi weight classes:

• Rooster (53.50 kg / 117.9 lbs)
• Light-feather (58.50 kg / 129.0 lbs)
• Feather (64 kg / 141.1 lbs)
• Light (69 kg / 152.1 lbs)
• Middle (74 kg / 163.1 lbs)
• Medium-heavy (74 kg / 163.1 lbs)
• Heavy (84.30 kg / 185.8 lbs)
• Super-heavy (89.30 kg / 196.9 lbs)
• Ultra Heavy (No Limit)
• Open Class (Varies Depending On Tournament Rules)

As your child grows in size, they will move up into the next weight division. Keep this in mind as you choose the right division for your child. New juvenile gi may need to be purchased to match their new weight class. Make sure to check out this collection of youth BJJ gis for more information.

Juvenile female gi practitioners will compete in different divisions than males when it comes to the IBJJF rules. Here are the IBJJF weight classes for youth females looking to compete in the BJJ gi:

• Rooster (44.30 kg / 97.7 lbs)
• Light-feather (48.30 kg / 106.5 lbs)
• Feather (52.50 kg / 115.7 lbs)
• Light (56.50 kg / 124.6 lbs)
• Middle (60.50 kg / 133.4 lbs)
• Medium-heavy (65 kg / 143.3 lbs)
• Heavy (69 kg / 152.1 lbs)
• Super-heavy (No Limit)
• Ultra Heavy (Not Available)
• Open Class (Varies Depending On Tournament Rules)

As mentioned earlier, for IBJJF weight classes there are no alternative age divisions for youth and children under 16 years old. However, weight classes differ depending on if you are training no-gi or gi BJJ. Here are the IBJJ weight classes for male juveniles looking to compete in no-gi:

• Rooster (51.50 kg / 113.5 lbs)
• Light-feather (56.50 kg / 124.6 lbs)
• Feather (61.50 kg / 135.6 lbs)
• Light (66.50 kg / 146.6 lbs)
• Middle (71.50 kg / 157.6 lbs)
• Medium-heavy (76.50 kg / 168.7 lbs)
• Heavy (81.50 kg / 179.7 lbs)
• Super-heavy (86.50 kg / 190.7 lbs)
• Ultra Heavy (No Limit)
• Open Class (Varies Depending On Tournament Rules)

No-Gi weight classes have a lower weight limit because gi competitors are required to weigh in with their gis. That's why it can be helpful to compete in a lightweight BJJ gi.

If you are a juvenile female no gi competitor, you would be looking at these weight classes to best decide which division to compete in:

• Rooster (42.50 kg / 93.7 lbs)
• Light-feather (46.50 kg / 102.5 lbs)
• Feather (50.50 kg / 111.3 lbs)
• Light ( 54.50 kg / 120.2 lbs)
• Middle ( 58.50 kg / 129.0 lbs)
• Medium-heavy (62.50 kg / 137.8 lbs)
• Heavy (66.50 kg / 146.6 lbs)
• Super-heavy (No Limit)
• Ultra Heavy (Not Available)
• Open Class (Varies Depending On Tournament Rules)

If you are unsure what weight division you or your child would fit under, don't worry because in the next section we will go over how to best decide which weight division is right for you.

How To Choose The Right Weight Class For Your Child

First, you would want to weigh and measure your child to find out what their weight is. You can use an online BMI calculator to find out what range your child falls into. The best way however is to simply use a scale. This will tell you their weight to the nearest pound.

If your child is on the cusp of two different weight classes, then you have two options when it comes to competitions.

If you go with the lower-weight class, it could give them a competitive advantage against others in their division. However, if their weight increases, you run the risk of them not being able to compete at all. The other option is to go with the higher weight class. This will make it easier for them to make weight but may give their opponents a size advantage.

The decision of which weight class to choose is ultimately up to you as the parent. You know your child best and you will be able to decide what is best for them. Here are a few additional things to consider when choosing the right weight class for your child:

Your child's age: Although there is only one juvenile division and weight is what divides most people into different classes, age may be a deciding factor for some children.

For IBJJF, all juveniles are classified as under 16 years old. However, some other tournaments may divide juveniles into two different divisions: under 14 and under 16 years old, for example.

Your child's size: it's important to find a division that allows them to compete against others of similar size. If your child is on the smaller side, they may want to compete in a lower-weight class.

On the other hand, if your child is larger than most of their peers, they may want to compete in a higher weight class.

If there aren't many competitors in their weight division, there may not be much mat time for your child. In this scenario, you can consider moving them up to the next weight class. Just make sure to ask your coach if you believe this is appropriate for them.

Remember that weight classes are there for a reason. If your child is too small and not ready in terms of technique, they may get hurt.

Your child's experience: If your child is new to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you may want to consider starting them in a lower-weight class. This will give them a chance to get used to the sport and learn the basic techniques before moving up to a higher weight class.

On the other hand, if your child has been training for a while and is comfortable with the techniques, they may be ready to move up to a higher weight class.

Your child's goals: What are your child's goals? Do they want to compete in tournaments? Do they want to earn a certain rank? Are they planning on becoming a world champions when they are older?

If your child's goal is to compete, you may want to consider moving them up to a higher weight class. This will give them more mat time and allow them to compete against other children of similar size.

If your child's goal is to earn a certain rank, they may want to stay in their current weight class so they can continue to train with their peers.

Your child's coach: Ultimately, your child's coach will also have a say in what weight class they compete in. They know your child's capabilities and experience level, so they will be able to make the best decision for them.

Now that you know more about the youth / juvenile weight classes, you can make an informed decision about which division is right for your child. Just remember to ask your coach for their opinion and advice.

IBJJF Weight Classes (Youth)

As a final note, the IBJJF weight divisions are the most common frame of reference for most local BJJ tournaments. This is because this jiu-jitsu federation is the largest and most well-known in the sport.

However, other competitions have different rules and are designed to provide a different tournament experience. It's best to ensure that you know the rules and weight limit before you begin the first match.

You don't want to train hard just to show up to a competition to find out that you're above the maximum weight limit. Weigh-ins typically occur on the same day, so keep an eye out for announcements from the tournament organization.

Conclusion

The maximum age for youth BJJ competitions is 16 years old. These rules are the standard for IBJJF weight classes. Make sure to weigh in with the gi before the competition to understand which age divisions would suit your child best.

Remember that to master BJJ, your child will have to learn techniques and develop their own strategy. The weight divisions are there to create a more level playing field so that everyone has a fair chance to win.

Now that you know more about the youth BJJ weight classes, you can make an informed decision about which division is right for your child. Just remember to ask your coach for their opinion and advice. Feel free to check out some of our recent posts to learn more about tournament rules.

If you aren't sure if you or your child is ready for competitions, make sure to check out this article ~ BJJ Beginners: When To Start Competition?

If it's the first time that your child is going to enter a BJJ tournament, make sure to read this article. We explain what to expect at your child's first BJJ competition and how to prepare.

Have any questions? Leave them in the comments below. Please feel free to shop around Submission Shark to support these articles. It's truly appreciated!