BJJ weight classes: the IBJJF divisions in kilos and pounds

The IBJJF lists nine men's weight divisions, from Rooster through Ultra Heavy, and eight women's divisions, from Rooster through Super Heavy, for adults and masters. Gi and no-gi have separate weight lists, each specifying the competition uniform for the weigh-in. The tables below reproduce the adult and master columns from the cited event weight lists. Each list also has Juvenile Male and Juvenile Female columns; none has columns for younger children's divisions.

Gi divisions

Maximum weight, athlete with the gi on, adult and master divisions.

Division	Men (kg)	Men (lb)	Women (kg)	Women (lb)
Rooster	57.5	127.0	48.5	107.0
Light Feather	64.0	141.6	53.5	118.0
Feather	70.0	154.6	58.5	129.0
Light	76.0	168.0	64.0	141.6
Middle	82.3	181.6	69.0	152.6
Medium Heavy	88.3	195.0	74.0	163.6
Heavy	94.3	208.0	79.3	175.0
Super Heavy	100.5	222.0	no maximum	no maximum
Ultra Heavy	no maximum	no maximum

For adults and masters, the Open Class (Absoluto) row is marked Free/Livre for both men and women. The instruction to check the tournament rules appears in the juvenile columns. Open Class eligibility depends on the event's rules.

No-gi divisions

Maximum weight, athlete in the no-gi uniform, adult and master divisions.

Division	Men (kg)	Men (lb)	Women (kg)	Women (lb)
Rooster	55.5	122.6	46.5	103.0
Light Feather	61.5	136.0	51.5	114.0
Feather	67.5	149.0	56.5	125.0
Light	73.5	162.6	61.5	136.0
Middle	79.5	175.6	66.5	147.0
Medium Heavy	85.5	188.6	71.5	158.0
Heavy	91.5	202.0	76.5	169.0
Super Heavy	97.5	215.0	no maximum	no maximum
Ultra Heavy	no maximum	no maximum

Calculated from the published adult and master limits, no-gi maximums are 2.0 to 3.0 kg lower for men from Rooster through Super Heavy and 2.0 to 2.8 kg lower for women from Rooster through Heavy. Men's Ultra Heavy and women's Super Heavy have no maximum in either format. The gi lists specify weighing in with the gi on; the no-gi lists specify the no-gi uniform. The lists do not explain the differences.

How the weigh-in works

The rules book fixes the procedure. Each athlete mounts the official scale once; the weight taken then is the weight of record. An athlete may not step on the scale in shoes or with anything beyond the regular uniform and equipment, and may weigh in without knee or elbow braces provided they are worn at the uniform check. Under General Competition Guidelines article 4.4, an athlete alone in a division must pass uniform inspection and weigh-in to receive a medal and appear in the final results; article 4.4.1 separately specifies uniform inspection and approval for athletes alone in Ultra Heavy or Absolute, without listing a weigh-in. The weight lists say the rest in their footers: gi events weigh the athlete with the gi on, no-gi events in the no-gi uniform.

The lists give maximum weights only; no minimum is printed for any division.

Age and belt, briefly

IBJJF registration distinguishes weight, belt, age and gender. Age division follows the current year minus the birth year, from Juvenile at 16 to Master 7 at 61 and over, as starting jiu-jitsu after 40 sets out. Belt division follows the athlete's registered rank; BJJ belt order carries the federation's minimum ages and times.

What to ask before a first event

• Which weight list applies to the event, gi or no-gi, and in which unit is it printed?
• Is the weigh-in immediately before the first match, and in the competition uniform?
• Does the academy weigh members in the gi it lends or sells? Your first gi reads what the uniform rules require.
• If I am close to a limit, which division does the academy suggest, and why?

I am about a month into training and not cleared to spar, so a first event is not close for me; these are the published numbers, not advice on where to sit among them.

Questions readers ask

What are the BJJ weight classes?

The IBJJF's adult and master gi divisions for men run Rooster (57.5 kg), Light Feather (64.0), Feather (70.0), Light (76.0), Middle (82.3), Medium Heavy (88.3), Heavy (94.3), Super Heavy (100.5) and Ultra Heavy with no maximum. Women's gi divisions run Rooster (48.5 kg), Light Feather (53.5), Feather (58.5), Light (64.0), Middle (69.0), Medium Heavy (74.0), Heavy (79.3) and Super Heavy with no maximum. For divisions with a numerical maximum, no-gi limits are lower; men's Ultra Heavy and women's Super Heavy remain uncapped.

What is Rooster weight in BJJ?

The lightest IBJJF division: a maximum of 57.5 kg (127.0 lb) for men and 48.5 kg (107.0 lb) for women in the gi, and 55.5 kg (122.6 lb) for men and 46.5 kg (103.0 lb) for women in no-gi, in the adult and master divisions.

Do you weigh in with the gi on?

Yes at IBJJF gi events: the weight list states the athlete is weighed with the gi on, and the rules book allows nothing on the scale beyond the regular uniform and equipment. No-gi events weigh the athlete in the no-gi uniform.

Are no-gi weight classes different from gi?

Yes. For IBJJF adult and master divisions with a numerical maximum, no-gi limits are 2.0 to 3.0 kg lower for men and 2.0 to 2.8 kg lower for women: Rooster 55.5 kg against 57.5, Heavy 91.5 kg against 94.3, Super Heavy 97.5 kg against 100.5 for men. Men's Ultra Heavy and women's Super Heavy have no maximum in either format.

Is there a BJJ weight class with no limit?

Yes. In IBJJF adult and master competition, men's Ultra Heavy and women's Super Heavy have no maximum weight in either gi or no-gi. The adult and master Open Class (Absoluto) is also unrestricted by weight, but entry depends on the event's eligibility rules.