The Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan American Championship (commonly known as Pan Ams or Pans), is the largest Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament held in the Americas. The event is held annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
History
Representing one of the first steps toward international expansion of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the Pan-American Championship has been held annually since 1995. While the first event garnered only 250 athletes, the event has grown yearly with the 2022 edition in Florida reporting over 4,600 jiu-jitsu athletes registered to compete.
The tournament was originally held in Brazil but moved to the United States in 2007, reflecting the global expansion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its growing popularity in North America.
The Pan Championship is one of the four IBJJF Grand Slam events, which include the European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, and Worlds.
The IBJJF assigns a ranking weight to its tournaments, determining the number of points an athlete can earn. In the 2017/2018 IBJJF calendar, the Pan American Championship had a weighting of 4, making it second in importance only to the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which had a weighting of 7.
Many accomplished jiu-jitsu athletes have secured titles at the Pan Championship. In 2024, Gutemberg Pereira won the absolute male division by submitting Marcus Scooby with a rear-naked choke, while Gabi Pessanha took the absolute female title by submitting Izadora Cristina with a foot lock, securing double gold at the event.
The Pan Championship is regarded as one of the most prestigious tournaments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A strong performance at the Pan can elevate an athlete’s career, providing international recognition and opportunities for sponsorships and higher-level competition. The tournament also serves as a platform for the introduction of new techniques and strategic innovations, influencing the evolution of the sport.
The 2024 edition featured high-level performances across multiple divisions, reinforcing the event’s status as a premier competition in the sport.
The media coverage of the Pan Championship has grown significantly, with platforms like FloGrappling providing live broadcasts and in-depth analysis. This increased exposure has contributed to the global recognition of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, attracting new practitioners and fans worldwide. The Pan Championship’s legacy lies in its continuous role in the sport's popularity on a global scale.
Host cities The IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship has been held in several cities in the Western United States: Los Angeles, California (USA) Irvine, California (USA) Anaheim, California (USA) Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) Long Beach, California (USA)
Pan Men's Champions
Year Host 57 kg 64 kg 70 kg 76 kg 82 kg 88 kg 94 kg 100 kg +100 kg Absolute 1996 Marcos Barreto (1/1) Vinicius Magalhaes (1/2) João Roque (1/1) Marcio Feitosa (1/4) Alexandre Paiva (1/1) Roberto Magalhaes (1/4) Luis Roberto Duarte (1/1) Roberto Correa (1/4) Eduardo Galvão (1/1) Rigan Machado (1/3) 1997 Royler Gracie (1/2) Marcio Feitosa (2/4) Fernando Vasconcelos(1/2) Ricardo Herriot (1/2) Roberto Magalhaes (2/4) Roberto Correa (2/4) Rigan Machado (2/3) Rigan Machado (3/3) 1998 Luis Renato (1/1) Vinicius Magalhaes (2/2) Marcio Feitosa (3/4) Fernando Vasconcelos (2/2) Roberto Magalhaes (3/4) Saulo Ribeiro (1/2) Bruno Severiano (1/3) Ryan Gracie (1/1) Saulo Ribeiro (2/2) 1999 Nay Cunha (1/1) Royler Gracie (2/2) Marcio Feitosa (4/4) Bruno Severiano (2/3) Antonio Schembri (1/1) Ricardo Herriot (2/2) Pericles Laudier (1/1) Roberto Magalhaes (4/4) Antonio Schembri (1/1) 2000 Rafael Duarte (1/1) João Eduardo (1/1) Alexandre Carneiro (1/1) Augusto Lopez (1/1) Erick Santos (1/1) Fabricio Prantera (1/1) Diego Jose (1/1) Bruno Mathias (1/1) Luis Felipe (1/1) Fabricio Monteiro (1/1) 2001 Takeo Tani (1/1) Wellington Dias (1/1) Sandro Santiago (1/1) Edson Diniz (1/1) Bruno Severiano (3/3) Roberto Correa (3/4) Fernando Pontes (1/1) Roberto Tozi (1/1) Jorge Patiano (1/1) Xande Ribeiro (1/4) 2002 Ricardo Vieira (1/1) Leo Vieira (1/2) Carlos Eduardo (1/2) Delson Heleno (1/1) Xande Ribeiro (2/4) Fabio Leopoldo (1/1) Alexandre Dantas (1/3) Marcio Dantas (1/1) Alexandre Dantas (2/3) 2003 Leonardo Escobar (1/1) Renato Migliaccio (1/1) Carlos Eduardo (2/2) Paulo Guilobel (1/1) Cassio Werneck (1/1) Roberto Correa (4/4) Adriano Maciel (1/1) Marcio Cruz (1/4) Marcio Cruz (2/4) 2004 Bibiano Fernandes (1/3) Leo Vieira (2/2) Daniel Moraes (1/1) Fernando Augusto (1/1) Ronaldo Souza (1/2) Gabriel Vella](1/2) Jorge Oliveira (1/1) Alexandre Dantas (3/3) Ronaldo Souza (2/2) 2005 Bibiano Fernandes (2/3) Mario Reis (1/2) André Galvão (1/9) Givanildo Santana (1/1) Rodrigo Pinheiro (1/1) Xande Ribeiro (3/4) Marcio Cruz (3/4) Mario Cruz (4/4) 2006 Mauro Ayes (1/1) Dai Yoshida (1/1) Bibiano Fernandes (3/3) Tiago Alves (1/1) André Galvão (2/9) Demian Maia (1/1) Braulio Estima (1/1) Xande Ribeiro (4/4) Rolles Gracie (1/1) Roger Gracie (1/1) 2007 Bruno Malfacine (1/6) Robson Moura (1/1) Rubens Charles (1/5) Lucas Leite (1/4) Marcelo Garcia (1/1) Romulo Barral (1/2) Eduardo Telles (1/1) Rafael Lovato Jr. (1/2) Rodrigo Medeiros (1/1) Romulo Barral (2/2) 2008 Bruno Malfacine (2/6) Carlos Holanda (1/2) Rubens Charles (2/5) Celso Vinicius (1/1) Gustavo Campos (1/2) André Galvão (3/9) Rafael Lovato Jr. (2/2) Roberto Abreu (1/2) Luis Theodoro (1/2) André Galvão (4/9) 2009 João Kuraoka (1/1) Yoshihiko Matsumoto (1/1) Rubens Charles (3/5) Lucas Lepri (1/4) Lucas Leite (2/4) Otavio Souza (1/2) Roberto Alencar (1/2) Antonio Braga Neto (1/4) Marcio Corleta (1/1) Antonio Braga Neto (2/4) 2010 Bruno Malfacine (3/6) Carlos Holanda (2/2) Rubens Charles (4/5) Michael Langhi (1/2) Kayron Gracie (1/2) Otavio Souza (2/2) Bernardo Faria (1/6) Antonio Braga Neto (3/4) Gabriel Vella (2/2) Bernardo Faria (2/6) 2011 Rafael Freitas (1/1) Caio Terra (1/3) Bruno Frazatto (1/1) Lucas Lepri (2/4) Claudio Calasans (1/2) André Galvão (5/9) Rodolfo Vieira (1/2) Marcus Almeida (1/3) Antonio Braga Neto (4/4) Rodolfo Vieira (2/2) 2012 Caio Terra (2/3) Bruno Malfacine (4/6) Rafael Mendes (1/2) Leandro Lo (1/8) Claudio Calasans (2/2) Kayron Gracie (2/2) Lucas Leite (3/4) Bernardo Faria (3/6) Marcus Almeida (2/3) Antônio Carlos Júnior (1/1) 2013 Caio Terra (3/3) Guilherme Mendes (1/1) Rafael Mendes (2/2) Michael Langhi (2/2) Clark Gracie (1/1) André Galvão (6/9) Roberto Alencar (2/2) Leo Nogueira (1/1) Marcus Almeida (3/4) Marcus Almeida (4/4) 2014 João Rodriguez (1/1) Paulo Miyao (1/3) Mario Reis (2/2) Lucas Lepri (3/4) Leandro Lo (2/8) Gustavo Campos (2/2) Yuri Simões (1/1) Luis Panza (1/2) André Galvão (7/9) André Galvão (8/9) 2015 Bruno Malfacine (5/6) Paulo Miyao (2/3) Gianni Grippo (1/2) Jonathan Torres (1/2) Leandro Lo (3/8) Keenan Cornelius (1/2) Lucas Leite (4/4) Bernardo Faria (4/6) Alexander Trans(1/1) Bernardo Faria (5/6) 2016 Mikey Musumeci (1/1) João Miyao (1/3) Paulo Miyao (3/3) Edwin Najmi (1/1) Yago de Souza (1/1) Leandro Lo (4/8) Cassio Da Silva (1/1) Luis Panza (2/2) André Galvão (9/9) Bernardo Faria (6/6) 2017 Bruno Malfacine (6/6) Leonardo Enrique (2/3) Rubens Charles (5/5) Lucas Lepri (4/4) Otavio Souza (1/2) Patrick Gáudio (1/1) Leandro Lo (5/8) Erberth Santos (1/1) João Gabriel Rocha (1/2) Leandro Lo (6/8) 2018 Tomoyuki Hashimoto (1/1) João Miyao (3/3) Gianni Grippo (2/2) Jonathan Torres (2/2) Gabriel Arges (1/1) Lucas Barbosa (1/2) Leandro Lo (7/8) Keenan Cornelius (2/2) João Gabriel Rocha (2/2) Leandro Lo (8/8) 2019 Cleber Sousa (1/1) Leonardo Enrique (1/1) Matheus Gabriel (1/1) Levi Jones-Leary (1/1) Isaque Bahiense (1/1) Gustavo Batista (1/4) Kaynan Duarte (1/1) Fellipe Andrew (1/5) Ricardo Evangelista (1/1) Lucas Barbosa (2/2) 2020 Lucas Pinheiro (1/1) Josh Cisneros (1/1) Thiago Macedo (1/1) Johnatha Alves (1/4) Ronaldo Júnior (1/1) Otavio Souza (2/2) Gustavo Batista (2/4) Guilherme Augusto (1/1) Max Gimenis (1/1) Fellipe Andrew (2/5) 2021 Lívio Ribeiro (1/1) Diego Oliveira (1/3) Jamil Hill (1/1) Johnatha Alves (2/4) Tainan Dalpra (1/4) André Porfirio (1/1) Gustavo Batista (3/4) Fellipe Andrew (3/5) Victor Hugo (1/1) Fellipe Andrew (4/5)2022 Carlos 'Bebeto' Oliveira (1/1) Meyram Maquiné (1/1) Alexssandro Sodré (1/1)Johnatha Alves (3/4) Tainan Dalpra (2/4) Sebastian Rodriguez (1/1) Dimitrius Souza (1/1) Marcus Ribeiro (1/1) Roberto Abreu (2/2) Erich Munis (1/2)2023 Zayed Alkatheeri (1/1) Diogo Reis (1/1) Marcio Andre (1/1)Johnatha Alves (4/4) Tainan Dalpra (3/4) Gustavo Batista (4/4) Adam Wardzinski (1/2) Erich Munis (2/2) Nicholas Meregali (1/2) Nicholas Meregali (2/2)2024 Thalison Soares (1/1) Diego Oliveira (2/3) Kennedy Maciel (1/1)Jackson Nagai (1/1) Micael Galvão (1/1) Uanderson Ferreira (1/1) Fellipe Andrew (5/5) Anderson Munis (1/1) Yatan Bueno (1/1) Gutemberg Pereira (1/2)2025 Jalen Fonacier (1/1) Rerisson Gabriel (1/1) Diego Oliveira (3/3) Alexandre de Jesus (1/1) Tainan Dalpra (4/4) Francisco Lo (1/1) Adam Wardzinski (2/2) Nolan Stuart (1/1) Marcus 'Scooby' Ribeiro (1/1) Gutemberg Pereira (2/2)
Pan Women's Champions