The first major event of the 2021 IBJJF season has finally hit the calendar, as the Pan No-Gi Championships is officially slated for May 15-16. But if you haven’t registered yet, it may already be too late.

The IBJJF opened registration for the tournament on Thursday, March 11; the event reached capacity in just four days. More than 1,000 competitors are registered for No-Gi Pans, and the black belt divisions are loaded with talent.

Some of the competitors in those divisions are relative strangers to IBJJF competition, and may be flocking to No-Gi Pans in hopes of capitalizing on the recent sanctioning of heel hooks and reaping for adult brown and black belts.

Among those athletes are Stanley Rosa, Frank Rosenthal, PJ Barch, Marvin Castelle and Vinny Magalhaes.

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IBJJF registrations are in high demand this year. The federation has announced seven tournaments to take place before Pans, including events in South Carolina, Texas, Florida and Louisiana. All of them have reached capacity.

The high interest rate among competitors is likely a sign of things to come for the IBJJF, which appears to have found a rhythm to keep competitive jiu-jitsu alive while upholding COVID protocols. Athletes and spectators can expect more opens as well as major events later this year.

The IBJJF has announced tentative dates for opens in Miami and Rio de Janeiro, and has also selected dates for Pans and World Masters, but those events are not currently open for registration.