It is widely considered the most important and prestigious jiu-jitsu tournament of the year.

The first World Championship was held on 3 and 4 February 1996 at the Tijuca Tênis Clube in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In 2007 the tournament moved to California State University in Long Beach, US where it has been held ever since.

As of 2024, Marcus Almeida has won 13 Men's IBJJF World Championships, and Beatriz Mesquita has won 10 Women's IBJJF World Championships, the highest numbers in history.

The women's division started in 1998 with two weight classes "Light" and "Heavy".