Youth BJJ Tournament Results: Pee Wee and Mighty Mite Divisions

Several youth Brazilian jiu-jitsu teams claimed top honors at the Kids Chicago Spring Open 2026, with GF Team securing multiple division victories across age and skill levels.

According to official tournament results released by the event organizers, GF Team’s Pee Wee division squad finished in first place, followed by CheckMat in second and Brasa CTA in third. In the Mighty Mite division, GF Team also took first place, with The Match Champ USA placing second and BJJ Coach – Corral’s Martial Arts rounding out the podium in third.

The Kids Chicago Spring Open 2026, held on April 18, 2026, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois, attracted over 300 young competitors from academies across the Midwest and beyond. The tournament featured gi and no-gi divisions for athletes aged 4 to 13, with points awarded based on match performance to determine overall team standings.

GF Team’s dual division wins contributed significantly to their standing in the overall team rankings, although the exact final placement in the general team competition was not specified in the immediate results bulletin. The academy, known for its structured youth development program and affiliation with the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), has consistently performed well in regional youth circuits throughout the 2025-2026 season.

CheckMat, a global affiliation with headquarters in Brazil and strong youth programs in the United States, earned recognition for its Pee Wee runners-up finish. Brasa CTA, another prominent team with roots in São Paulo and active affiliates in Illinois, secured third in the same division, highlighting the competitive depth in the younger age brackets.

In the Mighty Mite division, The Match Champ USA, a growing youth-focused team based in the Chicagoland area, demonstrated strong technical execution to claim second place. BJJ Coach – Corral’s Martial Arts, a local academy that has increased its tournament presence over the past year, completed the top three in that category.

The tournament operated under standard IBJJF rules for youth competitors, with match durations varying by age group and strict enforcement of legal techniques and conduct. Referees were certified through the IBJJF’s official refereeing system, and medical staff were present throughout the event to ensure athlete safety.

Parents and coaches in attendance noted the high level of sportsmanship displayed by participants, with several matches extending to overtime due to closely matched skill levels. Event organizers emphasized the importance of such competitions in fostering discipline, confidence, and technical growth among young martial artists.

As the spring youth competition season progresses, GF Team and other participating academies are expected to shift focus toward upcoming regional qualifiers and summer invitationals, including events scheduled in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Detroit later in 2026.