Grapplers who traveled from across Asia and Oceania to compete at the ADCC regional trials in Thailand were shocked to discover the mats had been laid directly over concrete flooring, raising serious safety concerns at one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most prestigious qualifying events.
Video footage shared on social media shows puzzle mats sitting flush against what appears to be an unforgiving concrete surface, with visible gaps between the mat sections. The post quickly gained traction among the grappling community, with numerous athletes and coaches expressing disbelief at the conditions.
“That’s insane,” commented Brandon Reed, while another user suggested it “would have been better off doing the event in an academy” rather than the chosen venue.
The controversy has intensified given the substantial entry fees competitors paid for the opportunity to qualify for the ADCC World Championship. While registration for professional men’s divisions was listed at 5,400 Thai Baht (approximately $170 USD), some participants reported paying significantly more. “We payed 200+$,” commented one athlete, while another stated the cost reached “$360 aud” for Australian competitors.
The inadequate mat setup stands in stark contrast to the high stakes of the competition itself. Only one qualification spot was available in each men’s division, making these trials an incredibly selective gateway to ADCC Worlds in Krakow, Poland this September. Athletes traveled internationally and invested months of preparation for these crucial matches.
Despite the subpar conditions, the tournament produced notable performances. Nico Maglicic of Atos dominated the -99kg division with all submissions, while wrestling standout Ryoma Anraku claimed the -66kg bracket. Tito John Carle secured his first ADCC invitation by winning the unlimited weight class.
The incident has sparked calls for greater oversight of ADCC’s regional qualifying system. “There needs to be a centralized control over all regional trials so they have the uniform standard and things like that don’t happen,” one comment urged, tagging ADCC officials directly.
The safety implications cannot be understated. Training and competing on puzzle mats over concrete dramatically increases the risk of serious injury from throws, takedowns, and accidental impacts. The surface provides minimal shock absorption compared to properly installed competition mats with appropriate underlayment.
As of publication, ADCC officials had not publicly addressed the mat setup concerns from the Asian and Oceania trials.
