The 2023 IBJJF World Championships are over, and grappling athletes around the world are resetting for a new season. Some are switching their focus to no-gi, some are doubling down on their competitive schedule, and some are resting injuries or taking time away for other reasons. There are two IBJJF Opens happening this weekend, the first since Worlds, and here are seven black belts you can get excited about who will be in action.

Every sport undergoes regular generational change. The careers of athletes are finite, and the window for high-performance is often very short. That means there is an ever-changing cast of characters who compete for the top spot. In recent months we have seen the arrival of a few significant names – and this means the no-gi scene is looking better than ever as we head into ADCC 2022.

On November 11-13 the IBJJF will host the massive World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Las Vegas, and over 5000 competitors have registered for a chance to win gold.

The IBJJF World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a special event, with legends of the past taking the mat and displaying some classic "old school jiu-jitsu." The event features a wide range of ages, starting with Master 1 in the early 30's all the way to athletes still throwing down in their 50's and 60's.