Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu led the team standings at PBJJF New Jersey Spring International Open 2026 with 8 golds and 14 total medals in Madison, NJ, United States on March 14, 2026. Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio placed second with 7 golds and 10 medals, followed by Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (6G/4S/2B). Top-rated gold medalist Jax Lipp from Studio 1908 (grey belt, rated 6131) headlined the winners.
52% submission rate across 168 decided matches — 3 points above the Professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation season average of 49%. 88 wins came by submission while 78 went to points or decision. The youth grey -25 KG gi division was the deepest bracket with 6 placements. 175 competitors registered for the event.
The team race was tight: Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu (8) edged out Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio (7) by just 1 gold. Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy earned 6 golds from 12 total podiums. Top-rated gold medalists included Jax Lipp (rated 6131) and Max Jacob Perez (rated 5473).
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexi Doornick | 1,305 | Carlson Gracie Team - Ct/cesar Pereira BJJ | 5-13 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexi Doornick | 1,305 | Carlson Gracie Team - Ct/cesar Pereira BJJ | 5-13 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Perniola | 1,049 | Team Jucao USA | 0-13 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Perniola | 1,049 | Team Jucao USA | 0-13 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raul Mendez | 1,334 | Up Top Brazilian Jiu-jitsu | 24-22 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raul Mendez | 1,334 | Up Top Brazilian Jiu-jitsu | 24-22 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leo da Silva | — | Double Five Jiu Jitsu Academy Highland Village | — |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Scheflan | 3,107 | Rising Sun BJJ | 6-1 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Colalilo | 1,324 | Nick Catones | 1-1 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Colalilo | 1,324 | Nick Catones | 1-1 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keyan Meza | 1,011 | Aesthetic Temple | 1-1 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Livia Maria Duarte | 1,007 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Cristian Olmo | 2,626 | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 10-5 |
| 2 | Faridun Gafurov | 1,353 | Team Mad Grappler | 17-21 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lena Myers | 1,141 | Stafford MMA | 1-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Lena Myers | 1,141 | Stafford MMA | 1-3 |
| 2 | Hadleigh Glogolich | 1,134 | Team Jucao USA | 1-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Jerry Degerolamo | 4,144 | Team Mad Grappler | 55-16 |
| 2 | Zane Emery | 1,215 | Stafford MMA | 1-3 |
| 3 | Alex Silva | 1,008 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Declan Lindars | 4,779 | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 10-3 |
| 2 | Jerry Degerolamo | 4,144 | Team Mad Grappler | 55-16 |
| 3 | Zane Emery | 1,215 | Stafford MMA | 1-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince Kearse | 1,124 | Tiger Schulmann’s Jiu Jitsu | 9-15 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prince Kearse | 1,124 | Tiger Schulmann’s Jiu Jitsu | 9-15 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jolia Manuel | 1,021 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | 0-4 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haim Suissa | — | Rr Martial Arts Academy | — |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Viktoriia Komenda | 1,010 | Rollstar Jiu Jitsu | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antonio Fernandes | 1,014 | Silver Fox BJJ | 0-4 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daisy Quinche | 2,530 | Rising Sun BJJ | 9-6 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joao Paulo de Sousa | 1,024 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 1-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Geovanna Faria | 1,238 | Team Jucao Newark | 3-7 |
| 2 | Hadleigh Glogolich | 1,134 | Team Jucao USA | 1-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Logan Daveiga | 2,769 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | 5-2 |
| 2 | Shawn Murray | 1,343 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | 1-1 |
| 3 | Izzaiah Intong | 1,009 | Unity Jiu Jitsu School | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Ana Dzeletovic | 1,315 | Combate MMA | 1-1 |
| 2 | Emilly Silva | 1,011 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Giovani Jimenez | 5,433 | Theory Jiu Jitsu | 66-14 |
| 2 | Tyler Smith | 4,732 | Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio | 36-5 |
| 3 | Kayden Stout | 2,637 | Nick Catone MMA | 20-7 |
| 4 | Jaxx Nemes | 2,452 | Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio | 25-17 |
| 5 | Hunter Saint Amand | 1,447 | Unity Jiu Jitsu School | 1-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Giovani Jimenez | 5,433 | Theory Jiu Jitsu | 66-14 |
| 2 | Tyler Smith | 4,732 | Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio | 36-5 |
| 3 | Kayden Stout | 2,637 | Nick Catone MMA | 20-7 |
| 4 | Jaxx Nemes | 2,452 | Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio | 25-17 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alyara Manuel | 2,897 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | 5-4 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Majlesi | 1,011 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Majlesi | 1,011 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Cardozo | 1,092 | Tru Fight Club / Trumma | 1-6 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayla Scheflan | 2,137 | Rising Sun BJJ | 16-9 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chloe Majlesi | 1,010 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chloe Majlesi | 1,010 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raeden Knight | 1,020 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | 0-4 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noel Garcia | 1,100 | Kuzushi_bjj | 1-1 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Brandon Jimenez | 4,389 | Theory Jiu Jitsu | 81-33 |
| 2 | Dylan Castillo | 1,024 | Kuzushi_bjj | 0-6 |
| 3 | Abel Santos | 1,006 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Jimenez | 4,389 | Theory Jiu Jitsu | 81-33 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luca Aguilar | 1,499 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 3-1 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joaquim Cifuentes | 1,007 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Dylan Casale | 1,395 | Unity Jiu Jitsu School | 2-0 |
| 2 | Jose Escobar | 1,187 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | 2-9 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaquawn Richardson | 3,802 | Renzo Gracie Warwick | 5-5 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leni Rolon | — | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Academy | — |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Averie Zambrana | 1,857 | Tru Fight Club / Trumma | 5-5 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cain Bianchi | 1,425 | Tru Fight Club / Trumma | 6-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Max Perez | 5,301 | Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio | 26-6 |
| 2 | Oscar Pachano | 1,155 | Yamasaki Academy | 7-12 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Pachano | 1,155 | Yamasaki Academy | 7-12 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kieran Dugal | 1,261 | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 3-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kieran Dugal | 1,261 | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 3-3 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | Valeria Cortés Balbuena | 2,263 | Modern Martial Arts East Side | 14-8 |
| 2 | Melanie Sznedchuls | 1,010 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melanie Sznedchuls | 1,010 | Combate MMA | 0-2 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Olmo | 1,717 | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 3-5 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophia Ferreira | 1,630 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 5-6 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makaela Ebreo | — | Procel Brazilian Jiu-jitsu | — |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcella Ebreo | — | Procel Brazilian Jiu-jitsu | — |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lukas Kalvaitis | 1,680 | Renzo Gracie Bay Ridge | 29-37 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lukas Kalvaitis | 1,680 | Renzo Gracie Bay Ridge | 29-37 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isabella Dupree | 5,397 | Redzone Jiu Jitsu | 28-7 |
| # | Name | JITS | Academy | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isabella Dupree | 5,397 | Redzone Jiu Jitsu | 28-7 |
| # | Academy | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu | 8 | 4 | 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Heritage Jiu Jitsu Studio ESSENTIAL JIU JITSU | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Chokelab Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy TEAM CHOKELAB | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| 4 | Team Jucao Newark | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Rolles Gracie Academy - NJ | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| JITS | Fighter | Academy | Record | Medals | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000 | Alexander Rocco | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 19-4 | 63 | 6 golds9+ monthsTop 4% |
| 4,000 | Alexander Rocco | Black Hole Jiu-jitsu | 19-4 | 63 | 6 golds9+ monthsTop 4% |
| 2,780 | Mason Dagostino | Black Hole Jiu Jitsu | 11-4 | 321 | 7+ monthsTop 4% |
| 2,780 | Mason Dagostino | Black Hole Jiu Jitsu | 11-4 | 321 | 7+ monthsTop 4% |
IBJJF has three promotion timelines, and even the slowest one moves a white belt to grey in under 12 months. Their fastest system? Five months. An active competitor who is regularly entering tournaments and winning should be promoted significantly faster — not held back to medal farm off noobs.
There is no legitimate reason for a competitive athlete with 15+ wins and multiple gold medals to still be at white belt after a year. None. If they’re good enough to win that consistently, they’re good enough to be promoted. Every gold medal they continue to win at white belt is taken from an athlete actually competing at their real level.
This is killing youth BJJ.
A kid who shows up to their first tournament and gets smashed by someone more experienced doesn’t sign up for a second one. They quit. Their parents pull them out. And the sport shrinks so that a handful of people can pad their medal counts for Instagram.
The IBJJF recognized this exact problem at the adult level in 2022 and eliminated minimum time-at-belt for dominant competitors. Youth brackets — where the damage falls on kids — have zero protection.
What you can do: If a flagged competitor is in your child’s bracket, contact the tournament organizer before the event.