IBJJF No-Gi Rules vs Gi Rules: Every Competition Difference Explained (2026)
Heel hooks, grips, uniforms, and scoring -- a complete breakdown of how IBJJF No-Gi competition rules differ from Gi rules, and how each ruleset changes your game plan.
Same Federation, Two Different Games
The IBJJF runs both Gi and No-Gi world championships, and while the points and positions look the same on paper, the two rulesets create genuinely different sports. The biggest gap -- heel hooks -- means a brown belt has a legal submission in No-Gi that would get them disqualified in the Gi five minutes earlier.
If you compete in both, you need to know exactly where the rules diverge. This guide focuses on the competition rule differences. For a training-focused comparison of the two styles -- techniques, benefits, which to start with -- see our No-Gi vs Gi BJJ guide. For the Gi uniform specifics, see the IBJJF Gi rules and uniform guide.
The short version: Scoring and match times are identical. What changes is (1) which submissions are legal, (2) what you're allowed to grip, and (3) what you have to wear. Each of those reshapes strategy.
Difference #1: Legal Submissions (Heel Hooks & Reaping)
This is the headline difference. As of January 1, 2021, the IBJJF allows heel hooks and knee reaping for adult brown and black belts in No-Gi competition only. In the Gi, heel hooks and reaping remain illegal for everyone, at every belt, forever.
| Submission | Gi | No-Gi |
|---|---|---|
| Heel hook (adult brown/black) | ❌ Illegal | ✅ Legal |
| Knee reaping (adult brown/black) | ❌ Illegal | ✅ Legal |
| Heel hook (white-purple) | ❌ Illegal | ❌ Illegal |
| Knee bar, toe hold, slicers (brown/black) | ✅ Legal | ✅ Legal |
| Straight ankle lock (all adult belts) | ✅ Legal | ✅ Legal |
| Cervical neck cranks | ❌ Illegal | ❌ Illegal |
Warning: Heel hooks and reaping are a No-Gi, brown-and-black-belt-only privilege. A No-Gi blue or purple belt who reaps the knee will be penalized or disqualified just like in the Gi. The full belt-by-belt breakdown is in our IBJJF illegal techniques by belt guide.
Difference #2: Grips and Control
In the Gi, the fabric is the game. You grip collars, sleeves, lapels, and pant cuffs to control, sweep, and choke. In No-Gi, there is no fabric to grab -- and the rules specifically prohibit grabbing the shorts or rash guard (your opponent's or your own) for grips and control.
This single difference rewires the sport:
- Gi: Slower, more methodical. Grip fighting dominates. Collar chokes (cross-collar, bow-and-arrow, loop choke, ezekiel) are everywhere. The friction of the fabric makes pins and guard retention stickier.
- No-Gi: Faster and slipperier. Control comes from underhooks, overhooks, wrist control, and body locks instead of cloth grips. Front headlocks, guillotines, D'arce and anaconda chokes, and leg entanglements become primary weapons.
Pro Tip: If you're crossing over from Gi to No-Gi for the first time, expect your guard to feel "leaky." Without sleeve and collar grips, opponents slip out of positions you'd normally control. Build your No-Gi game around inside position (underhooks, two-on-one) and head control rather than trying to recreate Gi grips.
Difference #3: Uniform Requirements
Both rulesets have strict uniform standards, but they're checking for completely different things.
Gi Requirements
- Cotton or cotton-like woven fabric, in white, royal blue, or black (uniform color top and bottom)
- Correct measurements for sleeve and pant length, collar thickness, and sleeve opening
- Belt of the correct rank color and width, properly tied
- Patches only in authorized regions
No-Gi Requirements
- A skin-tight rash guard covering the torso to the waistband, colored black, white, or black-and-white with at least 10% of your rank (belt) color -- or 100% of your rank color
- Board shorts in black, white, black-and-white, and/or rank color -- with no pockets, buttons, exposed drawstrings, zippers, or metal/plastic
- Shorts long enough to cover at least halfway down the thigh, no longer than the knee
- Optional skin-tight compression shorts/leggings in approved colors
Rank on your rash guard: In No-Gi you don't wear a belt, so your rank color has to appear on your rash guard (at least 10%). A purple belt can't compete in an all-black rash guard with no purple on it. Buy your competition rash guard in your belt color to stay compliant.
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What Stays Exactly the Same
It's just as important to know what doesn't change between Gi and No-Gi:
Scoring Is Identical
The IBJJF points system is the same in both:
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Takedown | 2 |
| Sweep | 2 |
| Knee on belly | 2 |
| Guard pass | 3 |
| Mount | 4 |
| Back control | 4 |
Advantages and penalties work the same way too.
Match Times Are the Same
Match duration is set by belt and age division, not by Gi vs No-Gi. An adult black belt match is 10 minutes in both; an adult blue belt match is 6 minutes in both. See the full breakdown in our complete IBJJF rules guide.
The Universal Bans Apply to Both
Slamming, spiking, cervical neck cranks, scissor takedowns, and striking are illegal in both Gi and No-Gi at every belt.
Strategy: How the Ruleset Should Change Your Game Plan
Pro Tip: Don't just "take the Gi off." The smartest competitors build slightly different A-games for each ruleset. In the Gi, lean on grip-dependent sweeps and collar chokes. In No-Gi, lean on wrestling, front headlocks, and -- if you're a brown or black belt -- a legal leg-lock game including heel hooks.
- Pace: No-Gi matches tend to move faster with more scrambles. Condition accordingly.
- Submissions: Your highest-percentage finish may differ. A Gi player living on collar chokes needs a new finishing system for No-Gi.
- Leg locks: For brown and black belts, No-Gi is where your heel-hook game becomes a legal weapon. Lower belts should still treat reaping as off-limits.
- Takedowns: Without grips, wrestling and body-lock entries become more valuable in No-Gi.
The 2026 No-Gi Season
The IBJJF No-Gi calendar heats up in the fall and winter. Key 2026 events include the Pan No-Gi Championship (Oct 2-4, Secaucus, NJ), the European No-Gi Championship, and the No-Gi World Championship (Dec 10-12, Las Vegas). If you're planning to test the No-Gi ruleset in competition, that's your window. Check our IBJJF 2026 schedule and calendar for dates and details.
Official Sources
- IBJJF Rules Book & Videos - Official ruleset for Gi and No-Gi
- IBJJF New Rules Updates (2021 heel hook / reaping) - The No-Gi brown/black leg-lock allowance
- IBJJF Uniform Requirements - Gi and No-Gi uniform standards
- IBJJF Events Calendar - Gi and No-Gi championship schedule
Competing in both Gi and No-Gi? Use Rollbook to track your training and tag sessions by ruleset, so you can see whether your Gi and No-Gi games are both sharp heading into a tournament. Start logging your rolls today.
Oss!
