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IBJJF Weight Classes: BJJ Gi & No-Gi Chart (kg & lb)
By Simon Jounan · Founder of MyFightPrep · Kickboxer & Muay Thai fighter
Published · 7 min read
Contents
IBJJF Brazilian jiu-jitsu has nine adult male weight divisions (Rooster to Ultra Heavy) and eight adult female divisions (Rooster to Super Heavy), plus an open class with no limit. In the gi, the limit includes your gi, because you weigh in wearing it. No-gi limits are 2–3 kg lower. Masters use the same limits as adults, and at IBJJF events you weigh in immediately before your first match, with one attempt.
Below are the four official charts in kg and lb, how the weigh-in works, and why that same-day weigh-in should change how you think about cutting.
Limits checked: September 2026 — confirm with your event’s current rulebook.
IBJJF gi weight classes (weighed with the gi on)
Gi limits are the IBJJF maximums with your gi on. The kg figures come from IBJJF’s kg chart, used at events such as the European Championship (IBJJF, European 2027). The lb figures come from IBJJF’s own lb chart, used at US events (IBJJF, New Jersey Fall Open 2026).
Adult and masters men, gi
| Division | Max (kg) | Max (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 57.5 | 127.0 |
| Light Feather | 64.0 | 141.6 |
| Feather | 70.0 | 154.6 |
| Light | 76.0 | 168.0 |
| Middle | 82.3 | 181.6 |
| Medium Heavy | 88.3 | 195.0 |
| Heavy | 94.3 | 208.0 |
| Super Heavy | 100.5 | 222.0 |
| Ultra Heavy | No limit | No limit |
| Open class | Free | Free |
Adult and masters women, gi
| Division | Max (kg) | Max (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 48.5 | 107.0 |
| Light Feather | 53.5 | 118.0 |
| Feather | 58.5 | 129.0 |
| Light | 64.0 | 141.6 |
| Middle | 69.0 | 152.6 |
| Medium Heavy | 74.0 | 163.6 |
| Heavy | 79.3 | 175.0 |
| Super Heavy | No limit | No limit |
| Open class | Free | Free |
The lb values are IBJJF’s own figures, not exact conversions of the kg values, so use the chart in the unit your event weighs in. The European event page says its official weights are in kilograms. US events publish lb charts.
IBJJF no-gi weight classes
No-gi limits are lower because you don’t wear a gi. You weigh in wearing your no-gi uniform (the charts say “athlete with Jiu-Jitsu No Gi uniform”), not stripped down. Sources: kg from IBJJF, European No-Gi 2026, lb from IBJJF, World No-Gi 2026.
Adult and masters men, no-gi
| Division | Max (kg) | Max (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 55.5 | 122.6 |
| Light Feather | 61.5 | 136.0 |
| Feather | 67.5 | 149.0 |
| Light | 73.5 | 162.6 |
| Middle | 79.5 | 175.6 |
| Medium Heavy | 85.5 | 188.6 |
| Heavy | 91.5 | 202.0 |
| Super Heavy | 97.5 | 215.0 |
| Ultra Heavy | No limit | No limit |
| Open class | Free | Free |
Adult and masters women, no-gi
| Division | Max (kg) | Max (lb) |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 46.5 | 103.0 |
| Light Feather | 51.5 | 114.0 |
| Feather | 56.5 | 125.0 |
| Light | 61.5 | 136.0 |
| Middle | 66.5 | 147.0 |
| Medium Heavy | 71.5 | 158.0 |
| Heavy | 76.5 | 169.0 |
| Super Heavy | No limit | No limit |
| Open class | Free | Free |
Juvenile athletes (16–17) have their own, lighter divisions on the same official charts. Some online charts list 97.5 kg for men’s gi Super Heavy, but IBJJF’s current kg chart shows 100.5 kg.
Gi vs no-gi: why the numbers differ
The gi counts toward your weight. Compare the charts and each no-gi limit sits 2.0–3.0 kg below its gi equivalent. For example, men’s Heavy is 94.3 kg in the gi and 91.5 kg in no-gi.
A few rules in the IBJJF Rules Book matter on the scale:
- Your gi is inspected before you weigh in, and you can’t change gis after weighing in for your first match (rules 8.1.11 and 8.1.13). Weigh yourself at home in the exact gi you’ll compete in.
- You can’t step on the scale with shoes or anything beyond your regular uniform and permitted equipment (8.3.3).
- You may weigh in without knee or elbow braces, but you must wear them at gi inspection (8.3.2).
Gis differ in weight depending on size and fabric. A heavy gi can cost you a division, so check yours before you register.
How the IBJJF weigh-in works
At IBJJF events you weigh in right before your first match, not the day before. The event pages state it plainly: “Official weigh-in will occur immediately before the first fight. Only one attempt to make weight is allowed.” Anyone who weighs in heavier than their registered division is disqualified from that division (IBJJF, European 2027).
What that means on the day:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Call to the warm-up area | The ring coordinator checks your ID and sends you to uniform inspection. |
| Uniform check + scale | Gi (or no-gi kit) is checked, then you step on the official scale once. |
| First match | Follows shortly after. There is no rehydration window. |
| Open class (optional) | Only after you’ve weighed in and passed uniform check in your division, if your age/belt has an open class. |
The ring coordinator’s role (bringing you to inspection and weighing you before your first match) is set out in the rules book. The open-class condition comes from the World No-Gi 2026 event page. For adults and masters the open class has no weight limit. It’s listed as “Free” on the charts.
Masters divisions start at age 30 (Master 1) under the rules book. The weight limits don’t change with age, only the bracket and match length.
Why cutting weight works differently in BJJ
Because you step on the scale minutes before you compete, any water you cut is water you’ll be grappling without. You won’t get an overnight window to put it back.
In Olympic combat sports, official weigh-ins take place anywhere from 3 to 24 hours before competition. The time available after the weigh-in largely decides how much acute weight loss you can do and reverse (Reale et al., 2017). In IBJJF that window is close to zero, and you may have several matches, plus the open class, the same day.
The research on BJJ competitors reflects this. In a UK survey of 115 BJJ athletes, 59% reported losing weight before competition. The average loss was 1.9 kg (2.3% of body mass), mostly through diet and exercise rather than dehydration (White & Kirk, 2021). The authors concluded that weight loss is common in UK BJJ but smaller than in other combat sports. They also flagged that athletes who started young were more likely to cut.
The ACSM expert consensus lists shorter gaps between weigh-in and competition as one way to push athletes toward safer weight-making (Burke et al., 2021). The IBJJF format already does that for you, so don’t undo it with a sauna session in the car park.
In practice:
- Arrive at weight, normally hydrated, in your competition gi.
- Handle weight through gradual diet changes in the weeks before, not water tricks on the day.
- Between matches, sip fluids and take small, easy-to-digest carbs. The big post-weigh-in protocols in our rehydration guide are built for day-before weigh-ins, not for BJJ.
Choosing your BJJ weight class
Choose the division you can make on competition morning, in your gi, without dehydrating, and not the lowest one you could scrape into.
- Weigh yourself in competition kit on a few normal mornings in the weeks before registration. Gi and no-gi can put you in different divisions.
- Pick the division above that reading if making the lower one would take a water cut. With a same-day weigh-in, a dehydration cut is a direct performance cost.
- If you need to lose fat to get down, start early and go gradually. Our guide on how much weight you can safely cut covers realistic amounts per week, and weight cutting for beginners covers the basics.
- Check the unit your event uses (kg or lb) and read that chart, not a conversion.
- Think about the open class. If you’re between divisions, the bigger lower division may matter less than your chance to test yourself in the open.
Other grappling rulesets, including ADCC events and local submission-only shows, set their own divisions and weigh-in times. Check the event’s rules rather than assuming IBJJF numbers. For how BJJ compares with striking sports, see our overview of combat sports weight classes and the charts for MMA weight classes in kg, Muay Thai and kickboxing.
MyFightPrep tracks your morning weigh-ins against your target division and tournament date, so you know weeks ahead whether you’re on track, without a last-minute cut — free.
Important
This guide is general information, not medical advice. In BJJ, the same-day weigh-in means any dehydration comes with you onto the mat. Juvenile and teen athletes should not cut water at all, and should only change weight with guidance from a coach, parent and doctor. If you feel dizzy, confused, faint or unusually weak while trying to make weight, stop and get help.
Frequently asked questions
How many weight classes are there in IBJJF?
Adult and masters men have nine weight divisions (Rooster to Ultra Heavy) and adult and masters women have eight (Rooster to Super Heavy). On top of that there is an open class with no weight limit, in both gi and no-gi.
Does the IBJJF weigh-in include the gi?
Yes. In gi events you weigh in wearing your gi, and the gi limits are set with that in mind. No-gi limits are 2–3 kg lower and you weigh in wearing your no-gi uniform.
When is the weigh-in at IBJJF tournaments?
IBJJF event pages state that the official weigh-in happens immediately before your first match, with only one attempt. If you are over the limit for your division, you are disqualified from it.
What weight class is 70 kg in BJJ?
At 70 kg body weight you would normally compete at Light in both formats: up to 76.0 kg in the gi (weighed with the gi on) and up to 73.5 kg in no-gi. In the gi, the uniform's weight would put you over Feather's 70.0 kg limit.
Do masters have different weight classes in BJJ?
No. IBJJF uses the same weight limits for adult and masters divisions; only the age bracket and match length change. Juvenile athletes (16–17) have their own, lighter divisions.
Sources
This guide is based on the works below. Numbers in the text refer to them.
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) (2024). IBJJF Rules Book (Version 6.1)
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) (2026). European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2027 – event information and gi weight chart (kg)
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) (2026). New Jersey Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026 – event information and gi weight chart (lb)
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) (2026). European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026 – event information and no-gi weight chart (kg)
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) (2026). World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2026 – event information and no-gi weight chart (lb)
- White T, Kirk C (2021). Pre-competition body mass loss characteristics of Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors in the United Kingdom
- Reale R, Slater G, Burke LM (2017). Individualised dietary strategies for Olympic combat sports: Acute weight loss, recovery and competition nutrition
- Burke LM, Slater GJ, Matthews JJ, Langan-Evans C, Horswill CA (2021). ACSM Expert Consensus Statement on Weight Loss in Weight-Category Sports