The World Championship is the most important event in the IBJJF annual calendar. It attracts the most skilled and well trained athletes on the planet. The tournament was held for the first time in 1996 at the Tijuca Tênis Clube gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Since then a lot has changed as the event followed the development of the sport around the world. Every year the number of fans and athletes increases a bit more. In 2005, 1650 competitors were in attendance and displayed their skills in front of a total crowd of 12 thousand people. Traditionally during the last two days of competition, when the black belt superstars are on the mats, the gymnasium reaches its maximum capacity and gets packed with emotion.

During the 2005 Mundial, 250 foreign athletes traveled to Brazil to take part in the tournament. This amazing number can be compared to other prestigious international events held in Rio, such as the FIFA Club World Championship or the Brazilian leg of the Surfing World Championship.

In the year of 2007 the “ World Jiu-Jitsu Championship” was relocated to outside of Brazil , being held for the first time in the USA ground. The change proved to be a big success , the 1800 athletes attendance broke all the records of participants in a BJJ tournament.