WVGO Gi & No Gi Forest Festival - Elkins, WV 9/26/26

Adult, Masters, Children’s Gi and No Gi Divisions

Get ready for an action-packed day of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Saturday, March 21st in Elkview, WV — where competitors of all ages and skill levels come together for an unforgettable tournament experience. Gi and No Gi battles Double elimination format Absolute divisions Minimum of SIX matches if you enter gi, no gi, and absolute

One low price = multiple divisions!

Whether you're a seasoned adult, a master competitor, or part of the next generation of youth champions, the WVGO is the place to test your skills, connect with the community, and leave it all on the mat.

WVGO Gi & No Gi Forest Festival 2026

The WVGO is set to return this September 26th in Elkins, WV.

• Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
• Time: Adult Tournament 11am, Referee Meeting at 10am, Competitor Rules meeting at 10:30am. Kids will start at 10amCost: Only 69$ for adult men, women, teens, and children if you pre-register. Each competitor can compete in as many divisions as they can for the same price. It is 89$ for adult men and women not pre-registered and all youth must be pre-registered by 9/23/26 (no exceptions). The last day to pre-register is September 26, 2026.
• Format: DOUBLE ELIMINATION in both Gi and No Gi divisions, and Absolute divisions in each skill level.
• Location: Elkins High School – 100 Kennedy Dr, Elkins, WV

***Due to the size of the tournament, we will require all youth competitors (5-17) to be registered by 9/26/26. Adult competitors can register online or at the door.

Pre-Register now

Cost: Only 69$ for adult men, women, teens, and children if you pre-register. Each competitor can compete in as many divisions as they can for the same price. It is 89$ for adult men and women not pre-registered and all youth must be pre-registered by 9/26/26 (no exceptions). The last day to pre-register is September 26, 2026.

***All youth competitors (5-17) must pre-register before 9/26/26. There will be no registration for youth after this time. However, adults may pre-register or register at the door

As always, we want all of our competitors to have as much fun as possible, so we offer a well-organized tournament that is fair for all and offers a ton of matches at a low price. In fact, each competitor has the chance to compete a minimum of six times, if they compete in their respective divisions in both the gi and no gi tournaments as well as the absolute divisions. Keep an eye out for continued updates.

There will be children's, teens, women's, masters, and men's divisions and the weight classes for both gi and no gi will be as follows:

Adult Men: 149.9 & Below 150 lbs. to 164.9 lbs. 165 lbs. to 179.9 lbs. 180 lbs. to 194.9 lbs. 195 lbs. to 209.9 lbs. 210 lbs. to 224.9 lbs. 225 lbs. & Above

Adult Women: 135 & Under (Lightweight) 136 & Over (Middleweight)

Weight classes and age brackets for teens and children:

Teens 13-15, 16-17

132 lbs. & Below, 132.1 lbs. to 143 lbs., 143.1 lbs. to 154 lbs., 154.1 lbs. to 167 lbs., 167.1 lbs. to 183 lbs., 183.1 lbs. to 200 lbs., 200.1 lbs. to 220 lbs., 220.1 lbs. & Above

Kids 5-7, 8-10, 11-12

53 lbs. & Below, 53.1 lbs. to 62 lbs., 62.1 lbs. to 70 lbs., 70.1 lbs. to 79 lbs., 79.1 lbs. to 88 lbs., 88.1 lbs. to 99 lbs., 99.1 lbs. to 110 lbs., 110.1 lbs. to 121 lbs., 121.1 lbs. and Above

Experience Levels for Gi & No Gi

Adult Gi Competitors – White, Blue, & Purple & Above

Teen Gi Competitors – White, Grey (all levels), Yellow (all levels), Orange (all levels), Green (all levels), Blue, Purple

Children Gi Competitors – White, Grey (all levels), Yellow (all levels), Orange (all levels), Green (all levels)

Adult No Gi Competitors:

• Beginner: (Less than a year experience. No wrestling experience at any level of competition in the beginner division. The beginner class is for beginners only)
• Intermediate: (1-3 years exp.)
• Advanced: (3 years +)

*** Those who compete in the Blue Belt Gi Division must compete in the Intermediate or Advanced No-Gi Divisions

*** Those who compete in the Purple Belt & Above Gi Division must compete in the Advanced No-Gi Division

Masters Division (Ages 31 yrs & above)

Masters Divisions follow all the same experience levels as the other adult categories

Teens 13-17

• Beginner No Gi: (Less than a year experience. No wrestling experience at any level of competition in the beginner division. The beginner class is for true beginners only)
• Intermediate: (one year – two years)
• Advanced: (two years and above)

***Please note, children and teens often have greatly differing weights and skill levels. Whenever possible, they will be matched appropriately. However, there may be times when they may be asked to go in another age (plus or minus a year) or weight bracket. In these cases, a coach and/or parent will be asked permission first.

Kids 5-12

• Beginner No Gi: (Less than a year experience. No wrestling experience at any level of competition in the beginner division. The beginner class is for true beginners only)
• Intermediate: (one year – two years)
• Advanced: (two years and above)

***Please note, children and teens often have greatly differing weights and skill levels. Whenever possible, they will be matched appropriately. However, there may be times when they may be asked to go in another age (plus or minus a year) or weight bracket. In these cases, a coach and/or parent will be asked permission first.

Please contact the event coordinator for additional details and/or questions: Butch Hiles 304-549-9370 info@wvgrapplingopen.com

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Weigh-Ins

Friday

Time: 6:30pm-8pm

Location: Butch Hiles BJJ - 410 Summers St, Charleston, WV 25301

Saturday

Youth: 8-9:30a (Youth must be weighed in by 9:30a)

Adults 8-10:30a

Location: at the Tournament

***Competitors do NOT have to weigh-in with their gi on

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Starting Time and Rules Meeting

Tournament Schedule:

Youth: Kids/teens rules meeting at 9:30 and first match at 10am, so please be weighed in by 9:30AM

***Youth competitors will start in the gi and work from the highest level down

Adults: Adult rules meeting will be at 10:30AM and the first match will be at 11AM

***Gi Divisions will run first and we will run the highest belt levels first in all divisions

Saturday Match Schedule

10:00AM Kids/Teens Matches Begin

11:00AM Adult Matches Start

11:00AM - Superfights

11:30-12 Finish Bracketing

12:00PM - Black/Brown/Purple Belt Matches Begin

***These are estimated time and the first matches could be up by 11:45AM

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Rules and Experience Levels:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Rules | No Gi Rules | Experience Levels

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Sponsors

The Tinney Law Firm, PLLC

Elk Family Dentistry - Joey Adkins DDS 4968 Elk River Road South, Elkview, WV 25071 (304) 965-6661

Charleston CVB