IBJJF Points System: Scoring Rules for Takedowns, Sweeps, Passes & Submissions

Understanding the IBJJF Points System

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation uses a points-based scoring system that rewards positional dominance and control. Understanding how points work is essential for competitive success in BJJ tournaments. For the full overview of all IBJJF competition rules, including penalties and illegal techniques, see our complete rules guide.

This guide breaks down every aspect of IBJJF scoring: point values, advantages, penalties, referee signals, and strategic considerations for maximizing your score.

The Point Values

Quick Reference Table

Action	Points	Requirement
Takedown	2	Take opponent down onto back, side or seat, hold top 3 seconds
Sweep	2	Reverse from guard to top, hold 3 seconds
Knee on Belly	2	Establish and maintain position 3 seconds
Guard Pass	3	Pass guard, establish side control 3 seconds
Mount	4	Achieve mount, hold 3 seconds
Back Control	4	Both heels hooked inside the thighs, legs not crossed, hold 3 seconds

All values and definitions in this guide follow the IBJJF Rule Book v6.1 (June 2024), which is still the current edition.

Detailed Scoring Breakdown

Takedown (2 Points)

What Counts:

• Foot sweep taking opponent down
• Single or double leg takedown
• Throw or trip to the ground
• Any technique bringing standing opponent to ground

Requirements:

• Start the movement with both feet on the ground
• Opponent lands on their back, side or seated
• Top player establishes control
• 3-second stabilization
• If they land on all fours or belly-down, you score only once you control their back with at least one of their knees on the mat for 3 seconds

What Doesn't Count:

• Pulling guard (no points to either)
• Opponent falls without clear technique
• Top player doesn't establish control
• Taking down an opponent who is already on their knees

Landing in your opponent's guard does score the 2 points if you hold top position for 3 seconds. If they sweep you immediately, you get an advantage and they get the 2 points for the sweep (Rule Book v6.1, 4.1.1 and 4.1.8). And if you already have a grip on their pants when they pull guard, you score the takedown once you stabilize on top (4.1.12).

Sweep (2 Points)

What Counts:

• Reversing from bottom guard to top
• Coming up from half guard to top
• Getting up from guard, taking the opponent down and keeping them on the bottom

Requirements:

• Must start in guard or half guard
• End in stable top position
• 3-second control required
• Clear reversal of position

What Doesn't Count:

• Technical stand-up to feet (escape, no points)
• Scrambles without clear sweep
• Opponent pulling you into mount
• Coming up without establishing top control

Knee on Belly (2 Points)

What Counts:

• Knee placed on opponent's stomach/chest
• From side control position
• Clear control established

Requirements:

• Knee or shin (the leg closest to the opponent's hips) on the belly, chest or ribs (Rule Book v6.1, 4.3)
• Other leg posted for base, with that knee off the mat
• Opponent on their back or side
• 3-second hold

Returning to Knee on Belly: If your opponent escapes and you retake knee on belly, you score again. But if you step off on purpose just to re-establish it, the second time earns nothing: points are not awarded again for a position you voluntarily gave up (Rule Book v6.1, 3.2).

Guard Pass (3 Points)

Passing the guard is one of the highest-value skills in competition. If you want to sharpen your passing game, check out our guard passing fundamentals guide.

What Counts:

• Getting past opponent's legs
• Establishing side control
• Bypassing any guard variation

Requirements:

• Clear both legs
• Establish lateral or north-south control
• Hold for 3 seconds
• Opponent's guard cleared

What Doesn't Count:

• Landing directly in mount (score mount points instead)
• Landing directly on back (score back points instead)
• Half-passes where leg is still trapped

Jean Jacques Machado's complete breakdown of breaking down and passing the closed guard — the foundation for earning those 3 IBJJF points in competition:

Mount (4 Points)

What Counts:

• Sitting on opponent's torso
• Knees on both sides of opponent
• High mount or low mount
• Technical mount (one leg extended)

Requirements:

• Both legs past opponent's guard
• Seated position on opponent
• 3-second stabilization
• Clear top control

Mount Variations:

• Standard mount
• S-mount
• High mount
• Low mount
• Technical mount (grapevine position)

All count for 4 points if held 3 seconds.

Back Control (4 Points)

What Counts:

• Taking opponent's back
• Having both hooks in (both heels inside the opponent's thighs)
• Legs not crossed
• Up to one of the opponent's arms trapped, but not above the shoulder line

Requirements:

• Chest to opponent's back
• Both heels hooked inside the thighs (Rule Book v6.1, 4.5)
• 3-second hold
• Controlling position

Advantage Only, Not 4 Points:

• Body triangle (legs locked in a figure-four around the waist)
• Crossed feet
• Only one heel inside the thighs
• Both of the opponent's arms trapped

Gordon Ryan demonstrating the arm drag to back take — one of the highest-percentage entries to the 4-point back control position used at the elite level:

The 3-Second Rule

Why 3 Seconds?

The stabilization requirement ensures:

• Actual control, not just passing through
• Reward for positional dominance
• Prevention of scramble-only points
• Clear scoring for referees

How Referees Count

• Referee mentally counts to three
• Hand signal indicates points awarded
• Scoreboard updated after signal
• Verbal confirmation sometimes given

Continuous Action

If you transition between scoring positions in one continuous sequence:

• Each position counts separately
• The referee counts 3 seconds only once, at the end of the sequence (Rule Book v6.1, 3.4)
• Can score multiple point combinations
• Example: Pass (3) straight into Mount (4) = 7 points with a single 3-second count in the mount

Advantages

What Are Advantages?

Advantages are secondary scoring criteria used to break ties:

Awarded For:

• Almost sweeping (you reach top position but can't stabilize it for 3 seconds)
• Almost passing guard (close but not completed)
• Near submissions (opponent in real danger but escapes)
• Almost taking back, including back control with a body triangle or crossed feet
• Almost achieving mount

Advantage Value

• Points always beat advantages
• 10 advantages don't beat 1 point
• Only matter if points are tied
• If advantages are tied too, the athlete with fewer penalties wins (Rule Book v6.1, 2.5)

When Advantages Matter

End of Match Scenarios:

Points	Advantages	Penalties	Winner
4-2	0-5	0-0	4 points (points beat advantages)
2-2	3-1	0-0	3 advantages (advantages break tie)
2-2	2-2	1-2	1 penalty (fewer penalties wins)
2-2	2-2	1-1	Referee decision

Penalties

The Penalty Ladder

Serious fouls, including stalling, follow a fixed progression (Rule Book v6.1, 7.2):

1. First Penalty: Marked on the scoreboard (no points, but it decides a match that is tied on points and advantages)
2. Second Penalty: Advantage to opponent
3. Third Penalty: 2 points to opponent
4. Fourth Penalty: Disqualification

Severe fouls, such as a technique that is illegal for your division or a slam, are an immediate disqualification.

Common Penalties

Stalling:

• Going 20 seconds without pursuing positional progression (never called in mount or back control)
• Running from engagement
• Backing to edge of mat
• Holding closed guard without attacking

Illegal Grips:

• Inside pants or sleeves
• Fingers inside Gi openings (except collar)
• Holding the belt while standing just to block takedowns

Guard Pull Penalty:

• Pulling guard without a grip is a penalty
• If both competitors pull guard simultaneously, the first to come up on top earns an advantage
• If nobody comes on top within 20 seconds, both receive a penalty and restart standing

Referee Signals

Point Signals

Referees use hand signals to indicate scoring:

• 2 Points: Two fingers raised toward scoring athlete
• 3 Points: Three fingers raised
• 4 Points: Four fingers raised
• Advantage: Arm extended parallel to the mat toward the athlete, hand open, palm down
• Penalty: Points at the penalized athlete's chest, then raises a clenched fist to shoulder height

These signals are defined in the Rule Book v6.1, 1.4.

Other Important Signals

• Match Start: Arm extended forward, then lowered to point at the mat ("Combate!")
• Match Stop: Arms open at shoulder height ("Parou!")
• Disqualification: Forearms crossed over the head with fists clenched, then pointing at the athlete's belt
• Match Result: Winner's arm raised

Strategic Scoring Considerations

Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu on building a complete IBJJF tournament game plan for white and blue belts — covering how to structure your scoring sequences and adapt strategy based on the match situation:

High-Percentage Points

Most Common Scoring Patterns:

1. Guard pass to side control (3 points)
2. Side control to mount (4 points)
3. Sweep from guard (2 points)
4. Back take from turtle (4 points)

Point Fighting Strategy

When Ahead:

• Maintain position
• Don't take unnecessary risks
• Keep opponent from scoring
• Let clock work for you

When Behind:

• Must be aggressive
• Take calculated risks
• Go for sweeps and submissions
• Create scrambles

Submission vs Points

Consider:

• Submission always wins immediately
• Failed submissions can give up position
• Sometimes securing points is safer
• Balance risk and reward

Match Duration Impact

Short Matches (5 minutes)

• Every point crucial
• Time pressure significant
• Quick scorers have advantage
• Late comebacks difficult

Check the match time for your belt and age division so you know exactly how much time you have.

Longer Matches (8-10 minutes)

• More time for strategy
• Can recover from early deficit
• Conditioning matters more
• Position battles intensify

Scoreboard Awareness

During Your Match

• Glance at scoreboard when safe
• Know the score before final minutes
• Adjust strategy based on score
• Don't obsess over watching

Scoreboard Information

Typical display shows:

• Athlete names
• Points for each
• Advantages for each
• Penalty indicators
• Time remaining

Common Scoring Scenarios

Scenario 1: Guard Player

You pull guard, sweep, and mount:

• Guard pull: 0 points
• Sweep: 2 points
• Mount: 4 points
• Total: 6 points

Scenario 2: Guard Passer

You take down, pass, take back:

• Takedown: 2 points
• Guard pass: 3 points
• Back control: 4 points
• Total: 9 points

Scenario 3: Back-and-Forth

Multiple reversals:

• Opponent sweeps you: 2 points
• You pass guard: 3 points
• Opponent sweeps again: 2 points
• You take mount: 4 points
• Score: 7-4 in your favor

Official Sources

• IBJJF Books & Videos - Official scoring rules and point values

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If this is your first time competing, our first IBJJF tournament guide walks you through registration, weigh-ins, and competition day logistics.

Master the points game with Rollbook. Log the passes, sweeps and back takes you drill, see which techniques have gone stale with Time to Revisit, and map your scoring sequences as a System. Rollbook is free on iOS and Android.

Oss!