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Pan Kids energy feels different. The event that young athletes, parents, and professors prepare for all year. A competition that previews the next-generation of talented warriors. The kids tournament that the entire jiu-jitsu community can appreciate.

For many young athletes, the Pan Kids event is the highlight of the year. Academies from around the globe bring up-and-coming competitors to Florida for three days of non-stop action. The prestigious tournament allows jiu-jitsu enthusiasts a peek into the sport's future competition scene, and the opportunity for standout athletes to announce themselves to the world. 

For the academies themselves, Pan Kids provides insights into the future of their gym’s competition prowess. Of course the current black belts and rising color belts will continue to garner well-deserved attention, however, the next-generation competitors taking the mats this weekend are undoubtedly the future of the sport and represent their academy’s projected future. Let’s take a look at some of the top youth programs in the world leading up to the 2026 Pan Kids.

 

AOJ 

Well-known for its professionalism within the Kid ranks, AOJ has built an undeniable powerhouse program. The fascinating part about the youth program at AOJ, is the level of dedication to the craft from such young competitors. The time spent, the attention to technical detail, and the fierce competitiveness is apparent each time an athlete steps on the mats. 

Athletes such as Icaro Moreno, Arthur Fontes, Drew Lawson, Yves Lebdeh, and Ace Mendes among so many fellow teammates have represented their academy well. Through their hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to the craft AOJ has become one of the most dominant youth competition teams in the world. 

AOJ secured the 2025 Pan Kids Overall Team Trophy with an astounding 420 points. In 2026, AOJ has secured four first place finishes in Kid events, including a dominant American Nationals team performance. AOJ enters the 2026 Pans as early favorites to top the team podium, but the competition remains as strong as it has ever been.

 

Gracie Barra

The long-standing presence of Gracie Barra atop competition podiums is well established. In recent years, their prowess on the adult stage has waned. The Gracie Barra Kids team, however, remains a strong force on the international competition scene. Specifically, the Gracie Barra Teen category has been a strong point for the association, providing top finishes at many of the world’s biggest events. 

Young competitors who have proven themselves under the bright lights include Charley Caballero, Evan Morris, Archer Pierson, and Akopian Vladislav among a collection of fellow teammates and Gracie Barra representatives. The young batch of Gracie Barra athletes has continued to prove the skill of not only themselves, but the methods and instruction of so many Gracie Barra professors. 

Gracie Barra secured a third place finish in the Pan Kids event last year, and brings another stellar collection of athletes to this year’s edition. The skill across their youth association was proven at the American Nationals just a few weeks ago, as Gracie Barra claimed runner-up in the overall team category. No matter the result of their 2026 Pan Kids outing, the Gracie Barra youth team continues to prove their Jiu-Jitsu For Everyone motto on the world stage.

 

Pablo Silva BJJ

Pablo Silva BJJ has certainly made waves on the international Kids competition circuit in recent years. The work that Pablo Silva and his collection of affiliates, professors, and instructors have dedicated to building out a highly successful youth team is truly remarkable. The results have certainly shown in 2026 with the team recording six first-place finishes in the overall Kids category. For a relatively smaller association to compete at the largest events with generational teams such as Alliance, Gracie Barra, and CheckMat makes their rise so special.

There is certainly a long list of promising young athletes coming out of Pablo Silva BJJ including Evan Huynh, Ezra Kim, Elias Kim, Grayson McKane, Jade Bezek, Jander Goicochea, and Alisha Abbasi. With so much talent coming out of the Kid divisions at Pablo Silva BJJ, anticipation surrounding the future of the association is steadily building. For now, the jiu-jitsu community remains focused on the youth competition results of one of the brightest Kid teams in the sport.

Pablo Silva secured a fifth place finish in the 2024 Pan Kids event, a strong result that placed them just above perennial powerhouse Alliance. Most recently, Pablo Silva BJJ earned a fourth place finish at American Nationals which featured many of the top kids in the world. The jiu-jitsu community remains impressed and aware of the remarkable talent that is being built within the Pablo Silva BJJ association. 

 

CheckMat

The CheckMat team is notorious for having fierce competitors of all ages. Many professors will tell you, it starts with the youth program. For CheckMat their Kids division athletes display strong technique, relentless work ethic, and a dedication to competing at the highest level. The international association has helped to build generational talents and a collection of black belt World Champion athletes. These feats prove their youth program prowess, and continue to feed inspiration for the next-generation talent that is currently being built under the CheckMat banner. 

The up-and-coming CheckMat athletes stand as proof of a successful youth program. Athletes such as Ava Lara, Conner Muniz, Josephine Kerkes, Reese Randazzo, Ares Duarte, and others continue to push the association forward with strong performances at the biggest events. CheckMat consistently provides the sport with top talent at the highest level, a role they project to continue with such talent in the youth divisions. 

CheckMat’s fourth place finish in the 2025 Pan Kids event signified their strong youth program. In the recent American Nationals event, CheckMat came in sixth in the overall Kids category. Their team features incredible talent which is sure to rise to the occasion in Florida over the weekend.

 

Alliance

A true powerhouse at the highest level of the sport. Alliance is a pillar of consistency at the biggest events in the world. When speaking with top professors from the association, they will likely remind you that their energy and strength is built from the bottom up. They recognize the importance of building strong youth teams, and molding young athletes into champions over time. Athletes such as Kennedy Maciel and Jalen Fonacier are prime examples of young Alliance competitors who now contend for major titles at the black belt level. 

The next wave of potential adult champions are currently building experience and skill in the youth divisions. The collection features young competitors such as Scott Freeman, Dohyun Kang, Cassandra Gallegos, Logan Chang, and Maxwell Harelson. These young athletes along with so many other remarkably skilled competitors continue to represent Alliance on the international stage. 

Alliance secured sixth place in the 2025 Pan Kids event, a result they are undoubtedly aiming to improve upon. The association certainly has the talent to raise their Pan Kids standing in 2026, as they proved with a third place finish at the American Nationals just a few weeks ago. Alliance continues to mold young champions who are set to contend for Pan Kids titles this weekend.

 

Baza 

A relatively new academy of Los Angeles, California is beginning to make waves on the youth competition scene. Baza, founded and run by Mateus Rodrigues, claims some of the most talented youth athletes in the world. Baza may not have the amount of competitors to reach the podium in Florida, but they certainly have the talent to have a successful showing. The team took ninth place in the Teen category at American Nationals, with a handful of Baza competitors making resounding appearances. 

Look for Baza athletes such as Kendan Oganesyan, West Henley, Logan Caliman, and Mia Saravia to prove their skills and represent their academy on the biggest stage. It is always fun to see a small gym produce such resounding talent, especially when those athletes translate their skills into gold medals at major events.

 

Marcio Andre Jiu-Jitsu

One of the most exciting academies on the international competition circuit will be on display at Pan Kids this weekend. Marcio Andre has built a strong competition team on the adult circuit, and hopes to prove his youth program pedigree in Florida. The team is built around a single Phoenix academy that hosts a collection of top color belt and black belt prospects alike. 

Marcio Andre Jiu-Jitsu captured a tenth place finish at the 2026 American Nationals, as they shift their focus toward the prestigious Pan Kids event. A top-ten finish at the 2026 Pan Kids would certainly mean a lot to Marcio, his wife Brenda, and all the instructors at their academy. Keep an eye on Ariel Barbosa, Luke Andrews, Steven Segura, Tatumn Reed, and Makana Godwin as potential standout athletes.

 

GF Team

The GF Team association represents another strong youth program that continues to prove themselves on the mats. With four overall Kids team trophies in 2026, GF Team remains a significant threat at major events. There are a number of individual talents within the GF Team ranks, and plenty more who plan to announce themselves on the Pan Kids stage. The majority of the team’s success has come on the Brazilian competition circuit, as they will undoubtedly bring a strong team to the Florida-based Pan Kids event. 

 

Carlson Gracie Team

The Carlson Gracie Team is consistent in producing strong youth competitors. Their collection of Kid athletes in 2026 is no exception, as the team took fifth place in the American Nationals event. Carlson Gracie Team's proven pedigree is fueled by technique, work ethic, and competitiveness that is sure to culminate in a strong outing in Florida. At the 2025 Pan Kids event, Carlson Gracie Team ranked seventh with a number of champions claiming gold medals. The 2026 edition of Pan Kids projects to deliver fireworks, with Carlson Gracie Team expected to be in the middle of the action.

 

Catch all the incredible action from the 2026 Pan Kids event, live on FloGrappling.