BJJ Rules
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Typical BJJ Rules
Note: The rules listed here are for jiu-jitsu point tournaments. The rules are not universal; each tournament may have some special local rules. In any case, the following rules are typical.
Competitive belt ranks are white, blue, purple, brown, black. Some tournaments do not have white belt competition. Weight categories are usually about 15 pounds.
Competitors begin standing on an open, padded mat surface. Blue belt matches are typically 4 to 6 minutes long; higher ranks may be longer. Straight ankle and knee locks are usually allowed at upper belt ranks, but twisting ones are not.
Any submission (tap out by competitor) ends the match with a winner. If time expires and no submission has occurred, then the competitor who has earned the most points wins. If time has expired and points are even, then it is a referee's decision, based on typical elements such as aggressiveness, control of the fight, minor progress, etc. Techniques which earn points are:
* 2 points. Takedown from standing * 2 points. Knee-on-stomach position * 2 points. Scissor, sweep, or flip, using legs (from bottom position to top) * 3 points. Passing the guard * 4 points. Mount * 4 points. Mount on back (with leg hooks in)
Note in particular that no points are given for reversals, e.g. escaping from the bottom of the mount. Also, not all tournaments award points for sweeps.
CBJJ Rulebook
The most widely accepted rule book is the official CBJJ Rules The CBJJ has been hosting the premiere events of BJJ such as Brasileiros (Brazilian Championships) the Pan Americans (United States Championship) and the Mundials of BJJ (World Championships) since 1996.
The rule book of the rival CBJJO is word for word almost identical to the CBJJ. The CBJJO has held events in Brazil since 2002, most notably their world championships in the Copa do Mundo. Unlike the CBJJ, the CBJJO actually pays prize money to the athletes.
See also CBJJ Rules
IGJJF Rulebook
Sponsored by the Gracie Academy in Torrance, the IGJJF rules are sanctioned by Gracie Jiu Jitsu founder Helio Gracie and vary greatly from standard rules in that time limits are 30 minutes for each match, and after three minutes of attempting to pass the guard the positions will be reversed. The rules are actually designed to decrease stalling and increase submissions. So far, there have been three tournaments, and most competitors have remark it feels more like training at the academy then a typical tournament.
See also IGJJF Rules
Budo Challenge Rules
In late 2005, Rickson Gracie introduced another variety of rules for his professional event the Budo Challenge. Rather than one continuous period of action, the match is divided into three 3 minute rounds. Typical point gaining positions in standard matches are only worth one point, while submission attempts or "catches" were worth 3 points. Points were also deducted for stalling. At this point there has only been one event.
See also Budo Challenge Rules
