2026 WILL MACHADO BJJ CHAMPIONSHIPS
COMPETITION FOR WILL-MACHADO ASSOCIATES ONLY.
THIS IS THE ANNUAL GET-TOGETHER FOR ALL WILL / MACHADO BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU MEMBERS; A SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE, TRAIN TOGETHER AND SHARE THE MAT WITH PROFESSOR RIGAN MACHADO.
NOTE: WE ALSO USE THE EVENT TO LEVEL-UP ANY ELIGIBLE BLACK BELTS TO NEW RANKS IF THEY HAVE MET THE ‘TIME’ REQUIREMENTS :
# Black belt to 3rd degree: 3 years since last grade was awarded.
# 4th-6th degree: 5 years since last grade was awarded.
HOW DOES THE GATHERING DIFFER FROM OTHER COMPS?
This boutique BJJ competition stands as Australia’s Original BJJ Championships. It began back in the 90’s, before BJJ was a ‘thing’. The only Black Belt in the ‘antipodes’ at that time was John Will - ‘Dirty Dozen’ member and the well-spring of BJJ in the Southern Hemisphere. In those days, Blue Belt matches were the highlight of the competition! How far we’ve come!
The Gathering is an opportunity for all students and coaches from the Machado lineage to get together, to compete, to train and to share the mat with Professor Rigan Machado, who makes the trip out for the event. It’s an opportunity to catch up with old friends or make new ones. It’s a competition, yes - but it’s also our annual ‘family picnic’ of sorts.
Lock it into your calendar now; you will love, love, love the experience.
Competition: October 10th 2026 - MSAC - in Melbourne.
Professor Rigan Machado: the day after at Dominance Academy.'
Competition Notes - FAQ:
- There is no absolute/open division for White Belts
- Smoothcomp will automatically assign people to the closest suitable division if they are the only competitor in their ‘actual’ division. IE: if they are an ‘orphan’ competitor
- Don’t be too quick to judge how many people are in your division; many people wait until the last day, even the last few hours, before they register.
- Kids Divisions start at 9am.
- Adults divisions start at 11am
- We are usually done by 5pm
- You must make weight, whilst wearing your Gi, (be at or below the nominated weight) upon weigh-in as you step onto the mat for your first match
- If you fail to make weight at that time, you will forfeit your match
- Note: Many competitors will be BELOW the maximum nominated weight - IE: if a weight category is say, 65kg’s, many competitors will weigh in at less than that weight.
- Registrations close at midnight on Monday September 8th
- Please refresh and check your Smoothcomp account for ‘real time’ updates with regard to the start-time for your match. And be at your nominated mat, 15 minutes before your nominated start time.
SCHEDULE ON THE SUNDAY:
Be at Dominance by 9am!
Black Belts Degree Awards: 9:30am
Academy Owners Group shot: 10:00am
All Black Belts Group Shot: 10:15am
Advanced Seminars: 10:30- 12:30
Photos with Rigan: 12:30-1:00pm
White Belts Seminars: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Photos with Rigan: 3:00pm-3:30pm
No need to book. Cash payment - at door.
$100 for competitors
$120 for non-competitors
John Will - BJJ Coral Belt
Dirty Dozen Curriculum - John Will
Australia’s first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, John B. Will, has released two landmark training manuals:
* Dirty Dozen BJJ Vol. 1: Essential Tactics
* Dirty Dozen BJJ Vol. 2: Level Up Your Game
Originally produced as professional manuals sold to martial arts schools for AUD $750 a set, they’ve been reworked and are now available to everyone as paperbacks on Amazon for under AUD $40 each. With more than 30,000 classes taught worldwide and decades of curriculum design experience, Will offers a uniquely practical approach to BJJ training.
Both books are available here: https://tinyurl.com/JohnWillAU
Registration for the Gathering
How do I register?
We are now using the SMOOTHCOMP platform to run our annual Will-Machado Gathering.Many of you will already have a smoothcomp account - and so you’ll know how to register. For the newbies - here is a step-by-step guide to opening a Smoothcomp account - choosing the competition to enter (the Will-Machado Gathering) - and registering for it. It’s easy.
CLICK HERE: https://support.smoothcomp.com/article/88-how-to-register-for-a-competition
If you already have a Smoothcomp account - Enter here:
https://smoothcomp.com/en/event/17101
The Gathering: September 7th 2024
ON WEDNESDAY Sept 4th 2024
Registrations close at midnight!
ON THE SATURDAY Sept 7th 2024
Officials Pre-comp Meeting: 8:00AM Mat 1
Kids start: 9am
Adults start: 11am
ON THE SUNDAY Sept 8th 2024
9:00am - Be at Dominance
9:30am - Black Belts Degree Awards
10:00am - Academy Owners Group shot
10:15am - All Black Belts Group Shot
10:30-12:30 - Advanced Seminars
12:30-1:00pm - Photos with Rigan
1:00pm-3:00pm - White Belts Seminars
3:00pm-3:30pm - Photos with Rigan
Event Registration:
https://smoothcomp.com/en/event/17101
FAQ - the GATHERING
How does the weigh-in work?
The weigh-in’s occur just before competitors step on the mat to compete. A competitors division will be called to ‘Mat 2’ for example and they will weigh in then.
Competitors will weigh on wearing their Gi (no rash guard underneath) and must be below the maximum weight for their nominated division.
There is 0.3 allowance for the difference between scales, however as a general rule, please try to be under the maximum weight.
Being over weight will forfeit entry into the division; we will not be moving people on the day.
Is there an entry fee for spectators?
There is a small fee for spectators.
Adults (16 yrs +) - $15
Children (6-15yrs) - $5
Children under 6 - Free
Family Pass (2 adults + 2 children) - $25
Please click here to buy tickets:
https://www.intix.com.au/event/will-machado-bjj-championships---the-gathe/general_admission?
How do I register for The Competition?
We are now using the SMOOTHCOMP platform to run our annual Will-Machado Gathering. Many of you will already have a smooth comp account - and so you’ll know how to register.
For the newbies - here is a step-by-step guide to opening a Smoothcomp account - choosing the competition to enter (the Will-Machado Gathering) - and registering for it. It’s easy.
CLICK HERE: https://support.smoothcomp.com/article/88-how-to-register-for-a-competition
If you already have a Smoothcomp account - just register here: https://smoothcomp.com/en/event/11515
What about Seminars with Rigan Machado next day?
You do not need to register. And all payments must be cash - at the door.
Cost:
Competitors: $100
Non-competitors: $120
All coloured Belts: 10am
All White Belts: 12:30pm
Venue: Dominance MMA - 9 Harper St - Abbotsford
Smoothcomp Registration here:>>
Rigan Machado @ Dominance - 9 Harper St - Abbotsford
Sunday 10th September 2023
