The Good Fight: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Rules & No-Gi Submission Grappling Rules
 

First and foremost: ALL jiu jitsu rules and grappling rules set forth for competition are designed with the health and safety of the jiu jitsu and grappling competitors. Please read carefully and understand these rules before participating in competition.

General Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules Regarding Health

General Cleanliness – All athletes must come to the event clean, well bathed and with trimmed toe and fingernails. Competitors with offensive odors before the event starts will be asked to withdraw from the competition. NO REFUND will be issued.
 
Infectious Diseases - Competitors with any of the following infectious diseases will NOT be allowed to compete: herpes (cold sores), fungal infections (ringworm), and any form of staph, viral or other bacterial infections or outbreaks. To avoid embarrassing situations it is advised that you police yourself and your teammates.
 
Uniforms and Clothing - must be clean, in good repair, and free from any offensive odors. Athletes should wash all uniforms and clothing that is to be worn at the event.

 
Long Hair - Athletes with long hair must keep their hair from interfering with their opponent or themselves during the match.

General Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules Regarding Kimonos (Gi's)

Constructed of cotton or similar material and in good condition. The material may not be excessively thick or hard to the point where it will obstruct the opponent.
 
The jacket is to be of sufficient length down to the thighs, sleeves must reach the wrist with arms extended in front of the body. The sleeve should follow the official measures according to the IBJJF from the shoulder to the wrist.
 
Belt width 4-5 cm, with color corresponding to rank tied around the waist with a double knot, tight enough to secure the kimono closed.
 
Athletes are not permitted to compete with torn kimonos, sleeves or pants that are not of proper length. No T-Shirts are to be worn underneath the kimono. Tight fitting rashguards are allowed to be worn but not required.
 
No wrestling shoes are to be worn in the Gi competition. (An exception to this rule can be made if an athlete has a specific medical foot issue that requires coverage.)

Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules Regarding No-Gi Clothing

A tight/snug fitting T-shirt or Rash guard on top is required by all athletes. No bare-chested grappling is permitted.
 

Board shorts, Lycra shorts, or Kimono pants on the bottom are required to be worn by all athletes. Please make sure all pants have a drawstring and or another way to keep them secured at your waist during the match.
 

Wrestling shoes may be worn, but they are NOT required during No-Gi competition.

The Good Fight Weigh-Ins

Most Good Fight tournaments offer the option of night before weig-ins. Night before weigh-ins are an OPTION not a requirement. Please check the specific tournament schedule that you will be attending for details and times.

Day of weigh-ins will be open from 8 - 9 am for ALL kid & teen competitors.

Day of weigh-ins will be open from 11 - 12 noon for ALL adult Gi competitors.

Day of weigh-ins will be open from 1 - 2 pm for ALL adult No-Gi competitors.

Please note: Adults can show up anytime during the day BEFORE their scheduled weigh-in time. However, you do NOT have to. To save you from waiting around all day you can simply show up during your scheduled weigh-in time block.

Also, if you are an adult who is competiting in both Gi & No-Gi then you would only have to weigh-in once at the 11 - 12 noon weigh-in time.
 
Finally, Gi competitors do NOT have to weigh in without their kimono on.

Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules Regarding Sportsmanship

The Good Fight will be fully enforcing a zero-tolerance rule of disrespecting, threatening with physical violence, verbally abusing referees or cursing at referees for the entirety of the event. If any coach, parent, friend or competitor verbally or physcially threatens a referee in any shape or form, they will be escorted out of the venue by security with no refund.
 
If a competitor breaks any of the rules after officially being warned or blatantly attempts to hurt their opponent, shows bad sportsmanship, or slams their opponent illegally, they will lose the match by DQ, immediately with no refund.
 
No cursing or foul language is allowed at any time during the event. If any competitor curses publically or directly at the referee or their opponent, the ref has full discretion on weather the competitor should receive a warning or be DQ'ed.
 
The decisions of the referees and Tournament Officials are 100% FINAL.

Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules Regarding Competition

Winning

Submission - When an opponent gives up by tapping either with their hands or feet; or when the opponent verbally indicates submission. Sudden screaming and/or shouting to indicate sudden pain is considered a tap.
 
Referee or Doctor Stoppage - The referees have the authority to stop the match if he/she believes a competitor is in danger. A doctor has the right to stop a fight for any reason they deem to be appropriate for the safety of the competitors.
 
Points - During the match, your score will be tracked at the judge’s table by an electronic scoreboard.
 
Stopage - Your corner, coach or instructor "throws in the towel".
 
Advantages - If the score is tied, the referee will award the match to the competitor who has recorded the most advantages.
 
Opponent Disqualification - If your opponent is DQ'ed for any reason you win.
 
Opponent Forfeits - For any reason if your opponent forfeits or concedes you win.
 
No  Contest - Your match will be considered a no contest if you opponent does not show up when his/her name is called. Please pay attention to when/where your bracket will compete at.

The Following Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules Govern All Divisions

Illegal Techniques

Specific Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules for Kids

Gi & No-Gi Competition

Specific Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules for Teens

Gi & No-Gi Competition

Specific Jiu Jitsu Rules & Grappling Rules for Adults:

No-Gi Beginner: Straight Foot-Locks are the ONLY leg attack allowed.
 

No-Gi Intermediate: Straight & Twisting Foot-Locks & Kneebars ARE allowed.
 

No-Gi Advanced: ALL leglocks including heel hooks and muscles presses are allowed.

White Belt Gi: Straight Foot-Locks are the ONLY leg attacks allowed.

Blue & Purple Belt Gi: Straight and Twisting Foot-Locks are the ONLY leg attacks allowed.

Brown & Black Belts Gi: Straight and Twisting Foot-locks and kneebars are the ONLY leg attacks allowed.

 
Scoring Points: To gain points for any move or position, the competitor (aggressor) must show clear control for a 3 second count by the referee.

The athlete cannot score new points when he is in a position where he received points previously, changes position intentionally and returns to the same position.

 
Example: For knee on the belly and switching sides, there will be no new points awarded.

Advantages

 
It is considered an advantage when the athlete attempts but does not complete any of the fundamental moves of the fight; i.e. sweep, take down, submission etc.
 
Advantages will be awarded during standing fights or on the ground if the athlete attempts a technique with more aggressiveness and initiative, trying takedowns, other finalizing moves during the fight, or showing that he dominates the fight most of the time by putting the opponent on the defensive.
 
Advantages through takedowns: when there is a visible loss of balance in which the adversary nearly completes the takedown. A visible loss of balance during an attempted throw will also result in an advantage.
 
Advantages will be awarded during ground fighting if the athlete attempts a technique and puts his adversary on the defensive.
 
Advantages will only be used in the case of a tie with points

Penalties

Anti-Stalling Rules – The referee will issue warnings for the following:

(i.e. backing out of the guard without engaging, butt scooting, fleeing

the ring to avoid takedown/submission attempts).

1st offense of stalling = Official Warning

2nd offense of stalling will result in opponent awarded an advantage

3rd offense of stalling will result in a 2 Point deduction

4th offense will result in a disqualification

Disqualification

Serious Fouls - (SERIOUS FOULS ARE THOSE THAT LEAD TO IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION BY THE REFEREE.)

The use of foul language, cursing, or other immoral acts of disrespect towards the referee or any of the assisting public.
 

Biting, hair pulling, putting fingers into the eyes or nose of one’s opponent, intentionally seeking to injure genitalia or the use of fists, feet, knees, elbows, or heads with the intention to hurt or gain unfair advantage.
 
When the fighter has his kimono ripped during the fight, the referee will give him a set time to change it. If the fighter does not change it in time he will be disqualified.
 
The fighter must wear shorts under the pants, keeping in mind the risk that the suit might get torn or unsowed, If this occurs, the athlete will be given a set time determined by the referee to find another pair of pants to wear. If the athlete cannot change within the set time, he will be immediately disqualified.
 
When an athlete has been submitted to a lock and to avoid tapping out he runs out of the ring, he will be immediately disqualified. In such cases when it is considered a technical foul, not a disciplinary foul, the offender may return to the competition to fight the absolute division or in case of a bracket of three.
 
When the athlete breaks any rule of the article.

Out of Bounds or Near Edge: If the competitors near the edge, the referee will wait until a resting period and or until he/she feels the competitor might be in danger and re-start the competitors in the same position in the center. If a competitor scramble takes place near the edge, the referee will yell STOP and restart the competitors in the center of the ring in the standing position.

No Overtime: In Case of a Tie with Points and Advantages, the Referee will decide the winner.

Any rule not covered here will be left to the discretion of the Tournament Officials.

MATCH DURATION

No-Gi Submission Grappling Match Duration:

Kids: 3 minutes

Teens: 4 minutes

Women Beginner: 4 minutes

Women Intermediate/Advanced: 5 minutes

Men Beginner: 4 minutes

Men Intermediate: 5 minutes

Men Advanced: 6 minutes

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi Match Duration:

White Belt: 5 minutes

Blue Belt: 6 minutes

Purple Belt: 7 minutes

Brown & Black Belt: 8 minutes