Global Grappling Day once again proved what makes this community so special. What started as a shared idea turned into a worldwide movement, bringing athletes together across borders, time zones, and academies — all with one common goal: making an impact beyond the mats.
This year’s Global Grappling Day saw more than 500 registered participants, rallying support from friends, family, teammates, and supporters around the world. Together, they inspired an incredible 2,965 individual donations, helping raise over $280,000 — and counting. From local open mats to full-day events, the creativity, energy, and heart poured into this day were nothing short of inspiring.
The reach of Global Grappling Day continues to grow year after year. In 2025, participants took part across 34 U.S. states and 4 countries, turning one day on the mats into a truly global show of unity. No matter where they rolled, the message was the same: the Jiu-Jitsu community shows up when it matters most.
We also want to recognize some truly standout performances from this year’s event. The top individual fundraiser honors go to Makenzie Belcher of Ruffhouse Jiu-Jitsu Columbus, who led the way with an incredible $12,104 raised. Close behind was Raymond Chaparro of Garden State BJJ, raising $11,546, followed by Michael Costello, also of Garden State BJJ, who brought in $8,113. Their commitment, hustle, and leadership helped inspire countless others to get involved.
On the team side, Garden State BJJ once again set the bar, finishing as the top fundraising academy with $51,296 raised. This marks their third time leading Global Grappling Day fundraising efforts, bringing their total impact to an astounding $157,000 raised through this event alone. Ruffhouse Jiu-Jitsu Columbus earned the second spot with $17,574 raised, while 10th Planet Allentown rounded out the top three teams with $12,585 raised.
Global Grappling Day is about more than numbers — but moments like this remind us just how powerful collective action can be. Every registration, every donation, every round rolled helped fuel life-saving cancer research and support programs through Tap Cancer Out’s beneficiary partners.
To everyone who participated, donated, shared, hosted, or cheered from the sidelines: thank you. Global Grappling Day continues to grow because of your passion, generosity, and belief that Jiu-Jitsu can change lives. We can’t wait to see how this movement continues to evolve — and we’re just getting started.