Kaiten MMA Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes are preparing for the annual Northern BC Combat Challenge coming up on May 2
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Can you take down a black belt? Northern BC Combat Challenge returns to Prince George

Apr 30, 2026 | 4:11 PM


PRINCE GEORGE – The return of the annual Northern BC Combat Challenge 2026 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament has athletes from Prince George and all across the region excited for another chance to show off their skills in front of a home crowd.

“Home town, the crowd, and showing off what we love to do, is absolutely what it’s all about. And that’s why we created it, to just have the opportunity right here in town, especially for our kids. It can get expensive traveling so we want that one tournament for sure where we make it so big for them every year,” explained Kaiten MMA owner Karmjeet Manhas, as Kaiten MMA hosts and organizes the tournament.

The tournament is taking place on May 2 all day at the Northern Sport Centre, bringing fighters from communities as far away as Grande Prairie and Kamloops. Because it’s an organized Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament, there will be set matches between fighters, although Manhas says the real highlight of the Northern BC Combat Challenge is the Open Challenge. The Open Challenge allows any fighter, regardless of what MMA discipline you practice, to take on a highly skilled fighter by simply attending the tournament and issuing a challenge.

“The Open Challenge, you’re going to have all sorts of really exciting fighters with black belts. We got a judo black belt, he’s on the Ukrainian national team. We have a Kazakhstan fighter, as soon as you look at him you go ‘oh he looks like a UFC fighter,’ so it’s really exciting,” Manhas said.

The Prince George athletes competing are really excited to compete in their home city, and have been practicing extra hard to make sure they’re ready for the moment.

“I’m training a lot harder. I feel like I’m learning new moves, doing better at them, being able to use those moves in my matches,” said 12-year-old Brazilan Jiu Jitsu athlete Akash Manhas.

“You really want to do the extra classes and just train more, and really just get ready for the event,” added 14-year-old Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete Riley Rockey.

Local tournaments like this are also a huge part of a young athlete’s development, a fact that is highlighted given that Prince George has a thriving martial arts community.

“Prince George’s jiu jitsu, all together, all the jujitsu actually is very good, very high level, and it’s been for a long time,” Karmjeet said.

“It’s a great chance to create that network and that opportunity, and we all grow together,” Karmjeet added.

Manhas added another special aspect of the tournament is that you don’t win a belt, you actually win a handcrafted gladiator helmet. This was made in honour of Travis Galbraith, who went by the moniker of “gladiator.’