MASTERs Partners with Margot Cicarelli for IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship Sponsorship and Instructional Collaboration
Margot Cicarelli and MASTERs announce a partnership supporting her 2026 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship campaign and a co-produced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional.
Washington, DC — Martial Arts for Social Transformation, Equity, and Rights (MASTERs), a Washington, DC–based martial arts nonprofit, has entered into a formal partnership with Margot Cicarelli in support of her 2026 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship campaign.
Through this Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete sponsorship, MASTERs will provide direct travel funding for the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In parallel with competition support, Cicarelli will film a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional to be produced and distributed by MASTERs. The instructional will focus on competition-tested systems drawn from her experience on the IBJJF circuit.
This partnership reflects MASTERs’ expanding role in the martial arts community and nonprofit performance funding.
Margot Cicarelli and the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Margot Cicarelli is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt known for aggressive guard work, submission-focused sequences, and consistent appearances at major IBJJF events. She built her reputation through frequent competition on the IBJJF circuit, earning podium finishes at IBJJF Opens and competing at premier tournaments including the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship. She is a 4x World Bronze Medalist in the gi world championships, European Champion, and an ADCC trials winner.
The IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship remains one of the most competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the world, drawing elite BJJ athletes from across the United States and internationally. Success at the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship requires not only technical preparation, but travel funding, structured planning, and sustained sponsorship support.
By backing Margot Cicarelli’s IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship campaign, MASTERs continues to strengthen its commitment to high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition and supporting athletes and instructors doing great work in their communities.
A Sponsorship Model Built on Performance and Education
MASTERs approaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sponsorship differently. Rather than one-time funding, the organization pairs competition support with educational media production and long-term brand development.
Under this partnership:
• MASTERs provides travel sponsorship for the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship
• Margot Cicarelli produces a technical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional
• Both athlete and nonprofit expand visibility within the broader BJJ community
This structure allows Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete sponsorship to create durable value beyond a single event.
A Personal and Professional Connection
“We support athletes who are serious about winning and serious about building,” said Dr. Christopher Round, Executive Director of MASTERs. “Margot competes at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and understands the responsibility that comes with that. This partnership is also personally meaningful to me. In 2022 and 2023, Margot played an important role in helping me complete the final stages required to earn my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. So I am happy we have the opportunity to help her.”
About MASTERs
Martial Arts for Social Transformation, Equity, and Rights (MASTERs) is a Washington, DC–based nonprofit focused on athlete development in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo. Through structured fellowships and targeted sponsorship initiatives, MASTERs supports competitors pursuing national and international excellence while building sustainable pathways for performance and education.
Learn more at
https://www.martialartsforsocialgood.org
