Brave Jiu-Jitsu Bracketing Methodology: Days of Life (DOL) System
Brave BJJ utilizes a unique bracketing system that ensures fair and competitive matchups: the Days of Life (DOL) Bracketing Methodology. This system considers an athlete’s exact age in days rather than just their birth year, leading to more precise and equitable brackets.
1. Days of Life (DOL) Bracketing
Traditional bracketing systems rely on broad age groups based on birth year, which can create significant developmental differences between competitors. Brave BJJ's DOL system refines this by considering the exact number of days an athlete has been alive, resulting in closer, fairer age groupings.
Age Grouping Options
When registering, parents can select one of the following age grouping preferences for their child:
- 365 days (1 year)
- 550 days (~1.5 years)
- 730 days (2 years)
This flexibility ensures that children are matched within a reasonable and safe range of their age group.
2. Mixed Brackets Based on Parental Preference
- Brave BJJ prioritizes making sure that every competitor has the opportunity to compete.
- If there aren’t enough participants in a given category, we may create mixed brackets—adjusting weight, age (within the selected preference range).
- Parental consent is required for mixed bracketing, and parents can indicate their preference during the registration process. Simple "Yes" or "No" question. Yes Mixed or No Mixed.
- If no match is found within the chosen parameters, competitors will be contacted with potential matchup options.
3. Ensuring Fair & Competitive Matchups
- The DOL methodology prevents extreme age and development gaps by keeping competitors within their exact age range.
- Smaller grouping increments (365, 550) allow for better physical and developmental parity.
4. Accuracy is Critical
- Competitors and their guardians must double-check all registration details (age, weight, and experience).
- If there are any errors, corrections must be made immediately—not on the day of the event.
5. Commitment to Competitor Experience
- If no match is found within the set parameters, Brave BJJ actively searches for suitable opponents.
- Parents will be notified of any adjustments or potential matchups before finalizing the brackets.
- The goal is to ensure everyone gets to compete in a fair and balanced division.
What Sets Brave Apart?
- More Accurate Age-Based Bracketing: Using Days of Life (DOL) and parental preferences ensures fairer matchups.
- More Opportunities to Compete: Mixed brackets are created only with parental approval, ensuring every child has a chance to participate.
- Better Competitive Experience: No more large age gaps—competitors face opponents within a realistic developmental range. The DOL Bracketing Methodology is one of the defining innovations of Brave Jiu-Jitsu, ensuring a better, fairer, and more inclusive competition experience.