2026 Awards
Competition Reimagined
In 2026, we have significant improvements coming for the Academy and Organization Awards. It's important that you understand these changes so your academy and organization can compete at the highest level and maximize your potential for recognition.
We have 3 groups of awards that you can learn about below. All points work off the Advanced Point System.
A new competitive structure that rewards performance, depth, and consistency—regardless of academy size. Choose your division based on your academy's size and goals.
Academy Premier
For larger or highly competitive academies
Compete at the highest level with a structured point system that rewards performance over volume.
If your academy registers more than the limit, only your top performers with the highest potential point totals will count toward the event standings.
Academy Select
For smaller or developing academies
A competitive tier designed to give growing academies a fair shot at recognition and championship glory.
Uses the same point-limiting system as Academy Premier, but with a lower cap tailored for smaller team sizes.
How It Works
Your academy registers competitors for an event. There's no limit on how many can compete.
After the event, all competitors earn their individual points based on performance.
Competitors are sorted by potential points. Only the top 40 (Premier) or 20 (Select) count toward the academy's event total.
For overall season rankings, all points from all students are included—no limits apply.
Goals of the System
Level the Playing Field
Allowing smaller academies a fair shot at winning a trophy.
Create Performance
Success is earned through skill, depth, and competitiveness.
Even Competition
Create meaningful pathways for both large and small academies.
How eligibility is calculated when multiple academies compete together under one organization. Two key rules determine how many of your competitors count toward the final score.
No single academy can contribute more than 60% of the total competitor pool. If an academy exceeds this, only their top point earners (up to 60%) will count.
To unlock 100% eligibility, additional academies (beyond the first two) must collectively contribute at least 10% of the pool. Without this, eligibility is capped at 90%.
Examples
Key Takeaway
To maximize your organization's score, ensure no single academy dominates beyond 60%, and bring in additional academies to collectively reach at least 10% of your pool. This unlocks full eligibility and ensures your best performers all count.
A separate academy competition designed to reward performance, not team size. Select your best 8 athletes and let their results speak for themselves.
Your Elite Squad
Each academy selects up to 8 competitors per event to represent them in the Elite 8 category. Only these athletes' results count toward your Elite 8 score. Choose wisely.
Scoring System
Elite 8 emphasizes wins and submissions. Base points are multiplied by Advanced Point System belt-level multipliers.
Tie Breakers
In the event of a tie, rankings are determined by the following criteria, in order:
Elite 8 selections must be submitted before the event deadline.
Youth and Adult/Masters Elite 8 teams are submitted separately.
The Advanced Points System (APS) recognizes and rewards competitors' achievements across belt levels. Upper-level belts benefit from bonus multipliers for wins, submissions, and podium placements.
Points Formula
Three Pillars of Scoring
Win Points
Acknowledge every victory on your path through the bracket, regardless of method.
Submission Points
Reward technical proficiency and decisive victories through successful submissions.
Podium Points
Recognize overall tournament success with points for gold, silver, or bronze medals.
Belt Multipliers
Youth division recognizes developmental stages with specialized multipliers:
| Belt Color | Podium Multiplier (PM) | Match Multiplier (MM) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1 | 1 |
| Grey | 1.25 | 1.5 |
| Yellow | 2 | 2.5 |
| Orange | 2 | 3 |
| Green | 2 | 3 |
| Blue | 2 | 3 |
Youth Example: Yellow Belt
Gold Medal • 1 Submission • 2 Total Wins • Event Factor = 2
| Achievement | Base | Multipliers | Calculation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Medal | 12 | PM = 2 | 12 × 2 | 24 |
| Submission | 2 | EF = 2, MM = 2.5 | 2 × 2 × 2.5 | 10 |
| Wins (2) | 1 each | EF = 2, MM = 2.5 | 1 × 2 × 2.5 × 2 | 10 |
| Total Points Earned | 44 | |||
Adult division multipliers depend on belt level:
| Belt Level | Podium Multiplier (PM) | Match Multiplier (MM) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1 | 1 |
| Blue | 2 | 2 |
| Purple | 2 | 2.5 |
| Brown | 2 | 3 |
| Black | 2 | 3.5 |
Adult Example: Purple Belt
Gold Medal • 1 Submission • 2 Total Wins • Event Factor = 2
| Achievement | Base | Multipliers | Calculation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Medal | 12 | PM = 2 | 12 × 2 | 24 |
| Submission | 2 | EF = 2, MM = 2.5 | 2 × 2 × 2.5 | 10 |
| Wins (2) | 1 each | EF = 2, MM = 2.5 | 1 × 2 × 2.5 × 2 | 10 |
| Total Points Earned | 44 | |||
Adult Example: Black Belt
Gold Medal • 1 Submission • 2 Total Wins • Event Factor = 2
| Achievement | Base | Multipliers | Calculation | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Medal | 12 | PM = 2 | 12 × 2 | 24 |
| Submission | 2 | EF = 2, MM = 3.5 | 2 × 2 × 3.5 | 14 |
| Wins (2) | 1 each | EF = 2, MM = 3.5 | 1 × 2 × 3.5 × 2 | 14 |
| Total Points Earned | 52 | |||
