Sign petition: Petition · Full Size Brackets for Women at ADCC – United Kingdom · Change.org

The board of UKBJJA  gives its support to instructor Injana Goodman’s petition calling on ADCC to offer equal opportunities for women to participate in ADCC Worlds 2026. The petition calls for changes that start with:

• Equal number of qualifying trials for men and women

• Equal bracket sizes at ADCC Worlds (16 athletes for every division)

• Further expansion to five women’s weight classes no later than 2028

Injana Goodman is a UK-based BJJ athlete who won the first European ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) trials on September 6th, 2025, and a member of the UKBJJA.

“Unfortunately, despite this achievement, I will not have the opportunity to compete at ADCC Worlds 2026–simply because I’m a woman,” says Injana. “As it currently stands, ADCC currently offers two qualifying trials for men in each region and only one for women. Men also compete in five separate weight classes, whilst women are limited to three. This means that women are afforded significantly fewer chances to succeed on the world stage, despite training, competing, and sacrificing just as much as their male counterparts. This disparity is not only unjust, but also undermines the growth, credibility, and inclusivity of our sport.”

The petition has already gained traction among athletes and fans who share the belief that talent, dedication, and hard work–not gender–should determine who earns the right to compete on BJJ’s biggest stages.

The UKBJJA board issued the following statement in support of the petition.

“The UK Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association (UKBJJA) stands firmly for equality, fairness, and inclusion across all areas of our sport. We believe that every athlete should have equal access to opportunities to compete, develop, and succeed at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We therefore support the call for ADCC to provide equal qualifying trials, equal bracket sizes, and an expanded number of women’s weight divisions. These steps would represent meaningful progress towards genuine parity in competitive opportunities and would reflect the values of respect and equality that underpin our sport. As the national governing body for BJJ in the UK, the UKBJJA is proud to support initiatives that promote inclusion, empower female athletes, and ensure that dedication and skill, not gender, determine success on the mats.”

Sign petition: Petition · Full Size Brackets for Women at ADCC – United Kingdom · Change.org