Medals from some of the biggest tournaments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are being listed for sale online. A recent search of Brazilian marketplaces turned up medals tied to the Brasileiro, the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the Rio Fall International Open and the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with asking prices ranging from about $43 to $354. It also should be noted that there are fake “brand new” medals also being sold for prices as low as $12.
The listings are easy to find, and if you look further afield, a search for BJJ medals on Brazilian marketplaces surfaces recognizable federation hardware alongside generic participation pieces: a Pan medal priced at roughly $253, another at $49, a Brasileiro medal at about $43.
A medal typically represents a specific competition day, including the division, the bracket, the opponent, the academy in the stands and the training that led up to it. Once a medal is listed for resale, most of that context is separated from the object.
Results for IBJJF Competitions Can Be Easily Found
Most tournaments generate results, brackets and event photos that circulate briefly before the next event takes over. However, with IBJJF events, the results are stored on the official website, proving that even if you buy a medal, someone could easily search the date and location of the competition. If there was no mention of your name then it’s pretty clear you didn’t win it. Making the whole exercise of buying an IBJJF medal somewhat useless.
A separate record versus the physical object
The reselling of medals themselves isn’t likely to stop, and collectors have bought and sold sports memorabilia for decades. Jiu-Jitsu is one of the few sports with a very solid governing body that keeps meticulous records of athletes who have won and lost at tournaments, even if they happened 10 years ago.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
