Jiu-Jitsu News — July 4, 2026: No-Gi Brasileiro Champions Crowned, Polaris 38 on Deck

Jiu-Jitsu News Roundup · Saturday, July 4, 2026

The grappling calendar doesn't take a holiday. A national championship just wrapped, a stacked Grand Prix is a week away, and the road to ADCC keeps taking shape. Here is what mat rats need to know this Fourth of July weekend.

No-Gi Brasileiro crowns its champions

The IBJJF No-Gi Brazilian National Championship wrapped up June 27–28, and while most gold went to home-soil Brazilians, the international contingent made serious noise. Poland's Pawel Jaworski was the story of the weekend, doubling up with gold in both medium-heavyweight and the absolute. American star Elisabeth Clay matched him with her own double, taking women's middleweight and absolute. Other standout champions included Poland's Martina Kapuscinska, Norway's Tarik Hopstock, Costa Rica's Julian Espinosa, and Peru's Luis Huamani. Full results and highlights are up on FloGrappling.

Up next: Polaris 38 is a week away

The action doesn't slow down. Next Saturday, July 11, Polaris 38 brings a welterweight Grand Prix to the UK, with Sarah Galvão among the featured names. The whole card streams on FloGrappling — a perfect follow for anyone who spent the weekend watching the Brasileiro.

The road to ADCC 2026

For the first time ever, the ADCC World Championship heads to Kraków, Poland this September 12–13, with FloGrappling serving as the exclusive worldwide media partner. Invitation news continues to build: pound-for-pound standouts Dante Leon and Helena Crevar have accepted (with Crevar moving up to +65kg), and Finland's Santeri Lillius is in at -88kg. Notably, Rafael Lovato Jr. — a past guest on our podcast — has declined his invite to focus on upcoming pro matches.

Get on the mats: the grassroots scene

SmoothComp's calendar is loaded with local and regional events where anyone can test their game, including United Grappling in Las Vegas (July 18), the 2026 Los Angeles Jiu-Jitsu Open, Grappling Industries San Diego, and the Summer Open 2026. Whatever your belt or age, there is a bracket with your name on it.

The mindset takeaway

The Brasileiro was a reminder that jiu-jitsu is truly global now — a Pole and a Peruvian can fly to Brazil and leave with gold. Whether you're eyeing an ADCC invite or your first SmoothComp local, the path is the same: show up, compete often, and let the mats teach you. Enjoy the holiday, then get back to training.

Sources

• Jits Magazine — No-Gi Brasileiro 2026 full results
• FloGrappling — IBJJF Brasileiro 2026 results
• FloGrappling — Polaris 38 & ADCC coverage
• SmoothComp — Upcoming events calendar

Train smart, compete often, and keep the right mindset. Catch The Jiu Jitsu Mindset on YouTube and Spotify.