The IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championships are just one week away, and will attract decorated, well-known and rising black belt talents from across the world of no-gi grappling. But many of the year’s newest stars won't be competing on Saturday and Sunday with the black belts; instead, they’ll be competing on Friday, in a sea of talented brown belts looking to break into the top ranks.

It’s the last chance for citizens of European, African, and Middle Eastern countries to qualify for the biggest event in submission wrestling history. Seven new ADCC competitors will earn their tickets to the big show in Poland on May 7 at the 2nd ADCC European Trials.

The year-long qualification process for the 2022 ADCC World Championships is one of the most fascinating things in jiu-jitsu. I love watching the divisions take shape as Trials winners earn their spot at the best-known no-gi tournament in the world, and the names of those invited slowly get revealed.