North American Grappling Association
The North American Grappling Association (NAGA) is an organization started in 1995 that holds Submission Grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments throughout North America and Europe. NAGA is the largest submission grappling association in the world with over 200,000 participants world-wide, including some of the top submission grapplers and MMA fighters in the world.[1] NAGA grappling tournaments consist of gi and no-gi divisions. No-Gi competitors compete under rules drafted by NAGA. Gi competitors compete under standardized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rules. NAGA also promotes MMA events which they term Reality Fighting. Current champion is Marko Ančić from Croatia
 | |
| Competition details | |
|---|---|
| Competition date(s) | Established in 1995 |
| Location | North America MMA locales - Massachusetts; New Jersey |
| Discipline | Submission Grappling - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Full contact sports - Mixed martial arts |
| Type | Open Tournaments |
| Organiser | NAGA |
| Divisions | |
| Current skill divisions | List of skill levels |
| Current weight divisions | List of weight divisions |
Skill Levels
Competitors in NAGA competitions are broken into weight divisions and skill levels. Skill levels are further divided into a two categories, Adults/Masters/Directors/Executives, and Children/Teens.
Adults/Masters/Directors/Executives
- Novice (6 months total grappling experience)
- Beginner (6 months to 2 years total grappling experience)
- Intermediate (2 years to 5 years total grappling experience. BJJ blue belts are Intermediate)
- Expert (5 years + total grappling experience. BJJ purple, brown, black belts are Expert)
Children & Teens
- Novice (6 months & under total grappling experience. Children are not allowed to do submissions)
- Beginner (6 months to 1 year total grappling experience)
- Intermediate (1 year to 2 years total grappling experience)
- Advance (2 years to 3 years total grappling experience)
- Expert (3 years + total grappling experience)
Total grappling experience includes but is not limited to; wrestling experience, BJJ experience, judo experience, sambo experience, JKD experience, etc. Any training that consists of grappling is counted towards your total experience.
Weight Divisions
Men's & Master's No-Gi & Gi, White Belts & Blue Belt Divisions
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Flyweight | 129.9 | 58.9 |
| Bantamweight | 139.9 | 63.5 |
| Featherweight | 149.9 | 68.0 |
| Lightweight | 159.9 | 72.5 |
| Welterweight | 169.9 | 77.06 |
| Middleweight | 179.9 | 81.6 |
| Light Heavyweight | 189.9 | 86.1 |
| Cruiserweight | 199.9 | 90.7 |
| Heavyweight | 224.9 | 102. |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
Men's Gi Purple; Brown & Black Belt Divisions
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Lightweight | 154.9 | 70.3 |
| Middleweight | 174.9 | 79.3 |
| Cruiserweight | 199.9 | 90.7 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
Master's Expert No-Gi & Gi Divisions (ages 30 yrs & above)
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Lightweight | 154.9 | 70.3 |
| Middleweight | 174.9 | 79.3 |
| Cruiserweight | 199.9 | 90.7 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
Men's Director's (40 yrs +) & Executive (50 yrs +) Divisions
- These divisions are created at the event based on the skill levels and weights of those registered for that tournament.
Women's Gi & No-Gi Grappling Divisions
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Flyweight | 119.9 | 54.4 |
| Lightweight | 134.9 | 61.2 |
| Middleweight | 159.9 | 72.5 |
| Light Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
Children's No-Gi & Gi Grappling Divisions (13 years of age & under)
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Flyweight | 49.9 | 22.6 |
| Bantamweight | 59.9 | 27.2 |
| Featherweight | 69.9 | 31.7 |
| Lightweight | 79.9 | 36.2 |
| Welterweight | 89.9 | 40.8 |
| Middleweight | 99.9 | 45.3 |
| Light Heavyweight | 114.9 | 52.1 |
| Cruiserweight | 129.9 | 58.9 |
| Heavyweight | 149.9 | 68.0 |
| Super Heavyweight | 179.9 | 81.6 |
Teen's NO-GI & GI Grappling Divisions (14 to 15) and (16 to 17) years of age
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | |
| Flyweight | 99.9 | 45.3 |
| Bantamweight | 109.9 | 49.8 |
| Featherweight | 119.9 | 54.4 |
| Lightweight | 129.9 | 58.9 |
| Welterweight | 139.9 | 63.5 |
| Middleweight | 149.9 | 68.0 |
| Light Heavyweight | 159.9 | 72.5 |
| Cruiserweight | 179.9 | 81.6 |
| Heavyweight | 199.9 | 90.7 |
| Super Heavyweight | No weight limit | |
Reality Fighting
NAGA's MMA division, Reality Fighting, holds mixed martial arts events in New Jersey and Massachusetts.[2] The rules that govern each match are set by each state's athletic commission.[3] [4] Reality Fighting previous champions include BJJ Black Belt and UFC veteran Gabriel Gonzaga,[5] and current Reality Fighting Light-Heavyweight Champion and The Ultimate Fighter television show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir veteran Mike Stewart and UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov [6] Notable fighters who fought in Reality Fighting: Frankie Edgar, Joe Lauzon, Kenny Florian, Tim Sylvia, Jorge Rivera, Kurt Pellegrino, Jim Miller, Dan Miller, Rob Font, Joe Proctor, Matt Bessette, Josh Diekman, Josh Grispi. Notable grappling champions Anthony Porcelli, Joe Forentino and Angelo Riveria Sr.
References
- "Nagafighter.com". North American Grappling Association. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- http://www.nagafighter.com Reality Fighting
- http://www.mass.gov Massachusetts Athletic Commission
- http://www.nj.gov New Jersey State ACB
- http://www.ufc.com Fighter Profile
- http://www.sherdog.com Fighter profile