This article is part of our ADCC 2024 coverage. To get live results, play by play, and commentary, we’ll have a live updates article running all weekend.
ADCC head organizer Mo Jassim has announced that there will be a women’s absolute division at ADCC 2024, marking the first time that one has taken place in 17 years. It’s a huge decision that will undoubtedly have a massive impact on the landscape of female no gi grappling if this proves to be a permanent addition. Jassim has been the head organizer ever since he first took control for ADCC 2019 and he’s already made several big changes to the way the tournament works. He’s had a lot of success with the changes too, which is why he was quickly confirmed as the head organizer for ADCC 2024 and why he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Women’s divisions were first introduced at ADCC 2005 and they did originally have an absolute division but after repeating that format once more in 2007, they decided to abandon the women’s absolute division. Both editions of ADCC ended with one woman winning two gold medals and becoming a double champion, but it’s sadly been impossible for any other female champion to repeat that feat since then. Winning two tournament brackets in one weekend is a massive achievement and ADCC double champions etch their place in history, so it’s great to see women getting the opportunity to register the same accomplishment.
Reintroducing the women’s absolute division is just the most recent change that Mo Jassim has made to improve the situation for female grapplers at ADCC 2024. The promotion already announced that they were going to add a third regular weight class prior to ADCC Trials taking place, meaning that there are now 24 places available for women instead of just 16. For more than a decade there have only 16 matches between female grapplers at ADCC, and now with the additional weight class and absolute division there will be a total of 32 matches instead.
The news was originally broken by Vitor Freitas, who announced it in a post to his official Instagram account:
