The Pan-American Championship, often referred to colloquially as the "Pan Ams", is the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...

 tournament held in North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

. The event is held annually by the United States Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, a subsidiary of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation

International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation is the major and most prestigious governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that hosts several of the biggest tournaments in the world, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship...

.

History

Representing one of the first steps toward internationalization of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Pan-American Championship has been held annually since 1995. While the first event garnered only 250 athletes, the event has grown every year and now hosts thousands of competitors.

The event was last held in Carson

Carson, California

Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

, but has been held in other regions of the US in order to boost the expansion of the sport.

External links

The official IBJJF Pan-American Championship results