Polaris Open expands to mainland Europe: the Netherlands edition

The Netherlands expansion happens through Kaizen Grappling, which is moving under the Polaris banner as Polaris Open Netherlands. After eleven years operating primarily out of the UK, it marks Polaris' first formal step into mainland Europe.

How it came together

"Polaris was ready to step outside of England," explains the team behind Polaris Open Netherlands. "It all began with the Polaris Opens in England, where Shay Gerena competed and secured a title shot against Ethan."

From there, existing relationships did the work. Kaizen founders Mathies and Keith had been in contact with Polaris through their gym and athletes for some time. A visit to a sold-out Polaris show in Bournemouth pushed the conversation forward. "From there, talks progressed quickly, which resulted in the expansion to the Polaris Open Netherlands."

A direct pathway to the main shows

For European athletes, the practical impact of bringing Polaris Open to mainland Europe is the part that matters most. Until now, getting on the radar of major promotions like ADCC, WNO, BJJ Stars, IBJJF, or Polaris itself required travelling to the United States, Brazil, or the UK.

"Historically, European fighters had to travel all the way to America, Brazil, or England just to get noticed by major promotions," they say. "By bringing the Polaris Open to the European mainland with stops in Barcelona and Utrecht, we are bringing those massive opportunities directly to European and Dutch athletes."

The pathway runs through the contender spot system. For blue belts and above, winning a contender spot at Polaris Open gives the winner a direct route to the Polaris main show, whether that means a title fight or a high-profile fight. Even without winning the bracket outright, a strong performance can put an athlete on the matchmaking radar for the preliminary cards.

"A good performance can elevate your BJJ career instantly and put you on the big stage in front of a sold-out crowd," they add. "And honestly, who wouldn't want that?"

What stays from Kaizen

Polaris Open Netherlands is not a clean-slate launch. The operation is built on Kaizen's existing structure, with the existing team continuing in their roles. "Under the Polaris banner, the core DNA of Kaizen is not disappearing, it is scaling up," the team explains. "What remains is the smooth organisation, the same dedicated marketing team, and that relentless drive to make every single event better than the last."

Some members of the original Kaizen team are stepping down, but the rest stay fully hands-on. Combined with Polaris' broader reach, resources, and knowledge base, the Netherlands operation aims to retain Kaizen's event-quality reputation while expanding what's possible.

The format

Polaris Open is a Gi and No-Gi tournament run under the official Polaris ruleset. The format is open to all levels: kids, adults, and masters can enter for tournament experience on a professional platform. For blue belts and above, the contender spot system and matchmaking radar turn it into a career step rather than just another competition date.

Looking ahead

For now, Polaris Open Netherlands is keeping the focus on October 24 in Utrecht. Broader plans for mainland Europe exist but are not yet public. "Polaris definitely has big ambitions and plans for mainland Europe," they say. "We are taking it step by step, but as soon as those next moves are locked in, you will be the very first to know."

The Polaris Open Netherlands team includes Maarten Vervenne as organiser and main director, with Jeroen Bouwmeester handling commercial operations and marketing, and Simon Bouwmeester taking care of marketing and logistics.

Follow Polaris Open Netherlands on Instagram to stay up to date.