IBJJF Rules Explained: Everything You Need to Know Before Competing

Understanding IBJJF Rules

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) has established the most widely used ruleset in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Whether you're preparing for your first tournament or looking to compete at the highest levels, understanding these rules is essential for success.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about IBJJF rules: the points system, advantages, penalties, illegal techniques, match duration, and how a tied match is decided. Everything here follows the IBJJF Rule Book v6.1 (June 2024), which is still the current edition. If you are preparing for your first competition, also read our first IBJJF tournament preparation guide for practical tips on registration and competition day.

A clear breakdown of the complete IBJJF/BJJ ruleset for newcomers — covering scoring positions, submissions, and how matches are decided:

The IBJJF Points System

Points are awarded for achieving and maintaining dominant positions. For an even deeper dive into scoring strategy, see our dedicated IBJJF points system breakdown. Here's the complete breakdown:

Points Breakdown

Action	Points	Requirements
Takedown	2	Take opponent down onto their back, side or seat, hold top position 3 seconds
Sweep	2	Reverse position from guard to top, establish control
Knee on Belly	2	Establish and maintain knee on stomach/chest
Guard Pass	3	Pass opponent's guard, hold side control or north-south for 3 seconds
Mount	4	Achieve and hold mount position for 3 seconds
Back Control	4	Both heels hooked inside the thighs, legs not crossed (a body triangle or crossed feet earns only an advantage)

Key Points Rules

Stabilization Required: You must maintain a position for 3 seconds for points to be awarded. The referee will signal when points are given.

Re-Scoring: If your opponent escapes and you retake the position, you score again. But if you give up a position on purpose just to retake it, you get nothing the second time (Rule Book v6.1, 3.2).

Top Position Required: Sweeps only score if you end up on top. Coming up to a kneeling position after a sweep scores, but must lead to establishing top control.

Gracie Barra's visual breakdown of every scoring position — takedowns, sweeps, guard passes, mount, and back control — with the exact requirements for each:

How Advantages Work

Advantages are secondary scoring metrics used to break ties. They're awarded for:

Advantage Situations

• Near Submissions: Opponent defends a submission that put them in real danger
• Almost Sweeps: You reach top position after a sweep but can't stabilize it for 3 seconds
• Near Guard Passes: Close pass attempts where opponent barely defends
• Takedown Attempts: Opponent lands on their back, side or seat, but you don't hold top position for 3 seconds
• Dominant Position Attempts: Almost achieving mount, back, or knee on belly -- including back control with a body triangle or crossed feet (Rule Book v6.1, 4.5 and 5.6.5)

Advantage Value

Advantages only matter if points are tied. A competitor with fewer points but more advantages still loses. If points and advantages are both level, the athlete with fewer penalties wins, and only if those are level too does the referee decide (Rule Book v6.1, 2.5-2.6).

Penalties in IBJJF Competition

Penalties can significantly impact match outcomes. The rule book sorts fouls into three groups:

Serious Fouls (the Penalty Ladder)

• Gripping inside opponent's sleeve or pant leg, or inside the Gi
• Stalling or lack of combativeness
• Pulling guard or sitting down without a grip
• Running off the mat, or pushing your opponent out, to avoid engagement
• Staying in your opponent's closed guard without trying to pass while stopping them from working
• Both athletes pulling guard with nobody coming on top within 20 seconds (both penalized)
• Jumping to closed guard -- only for white belts of every age and all under-15 divisions

These escalate on a fixed ladder (Rule Book v6.1, 7.2): the 1st penalty is marked on the scoreboard, the 2nd gives your opponent an advantage, the 3rd gives them 2 points, and the 4th is a disqualification. Running away to avoid an inferior position or your opponent's score costs a penalty plus 2 points to your opponent.

Severe Fouls (Disqualification From the Match)

• Any technique illegal for your belt and age division -- including slams, which are illegal at every level
• Fleeing the match area to escape a submission
• Using oils, creams or any slippery substance
• Covering your opponent's nose and mouth, or choking with your hands around the neck without using the Gi

Disciplinary Fouls (Disqualification From the Event)

• Striking, biting, hair pulling, eye or groin attacks
• Profanity, obscene gestures or hostile behavior toward an opponent, referee or the public
• A disciplinary disqualification in the Gi also removes you from the No-Gi at the same event (Rule Book v6.1, 7.1)

Illegal Techniques by Belt Level

IBJJF rules restrict certain techniques based on experience level to protect competitors. The full table is on page 29 of the Rule Book v6.1, and our IBJJF illegal techniques by belt guide walks through it row by row:

White Belts (and All 16-17-Year-Old Juveniles)

Illegal Submissions:

• Heel hooks (inside and outside) and any lock that twists the knee -- for a deeper look at leg lock defense, see our heel hook defense guide
• Knee reaps
• Knee bars and toe holds
• Calf slicers and bicep slicers
• Wrist locks
• Compression locks with your legs squeezing the kidneys or ribs from closed guard
• Twisters and neck cranks (spinal locks without a choke)
• Scissor takedowns
• Slams

Also a Foul at White Belt:

• Jumping to closed guard on a standing opponent -- a penalty rather than a disqualification, and the match restarts standing (Rule Book v6.1, 6.2.2 W). It applies to white belts of every age and to all under-15 divisions.

The straight ankle lock, armbars, kimuras, americanas and chokes (including the Ezekiel) are all legal at white belt.

Blue Belt

Wrist locks and closed-guard compression locks become legal. Everything else on the white-belt list stays illegal, including calf slicers, bicep slicers, knee bars and toe holds.

Purple Belt

No additional submission techniques become legal at purple belt compared to blue belt.

Brown and Black Belt

Additional Legal Techniques:

• Knee bars
• Toe holds
• Bicep slicers
• Calf slicers

Still Illegal in the Gi (and for Masters in No-Gi):

• Heel hooks and other knee-twisting locks
• Knee reaping
• Toe holds with outward pressure on the foot

Illegal at Every Level:

• Slams
• Spinal locks without a choke (twisters, neck cranks)
• Scissor takedowns
• Bending fingers backwards
• Suplexes that drive the opponent's head or neck into the mat

Tyler Spangler on which moves are illegal in BJJ competition and why — covering the most commonly misunderstood restrictions by belt level:

No-Gi Rule Differences

In IBJJF No-Gi, brown and black belts in the Adult division may also use:

• Heel hooks (inside and outside) and other knee-twisting locks
• Knee reaping
• Toe holds with outward pressure on the foot

Masters brown and black belts do not get these in No-Gi, and every other belt follows the same list as in the Gi.

Match Duration by Division

Match times vary by belt level and age division. Make sure you also understand IBJJF weight classes so you register for the right division:

Adult Gi Divisions

Belt	Match Duration
White Belt	5 minutes
Blue Belt	6 minutes
Purple Belt	7 minutes
Brown Belt	8 minutes
Black Belt	10 minutes

Adult No-Gi Divisions

IBJJF No-Gi is organized by belt, just like the Gi, and uses the same match times:

Belt	Match Duration
White Belt	5 minutes
Blue Belt	6 minutes
Purple Belt	7 minutes
Brown Belt	8 minutes
Black Belt	10 minutes

Masters Divisions

Division	Gi Duration	No-Gi Duration
Master 1	5 min (white, blue) / 6 min (purple, brown, black)	Same as Gi
Master 2	5 minutes	5 minutes
Master 3	5 minutes	5 minutes
Master 4+	5 minutes	5 minutes

Juvenile matches (ages 16-17) are 5 minutes. All match times come from the Rule Book v6.1, General Competition Guidelines 1.3.

Finals Matches

Finals last exactly as long as every other match in the division -- there are no extended finals and no overtime. What changes is rest: you get at least one regulation match length of rest between matches up to the semifinals, and double that before a final (General Competition Guidelines 1.4).

How Tied Matches Are Decided

There is no overtime or golden score in IBJJF rules. When regulation time ends, the result is decided in this order (Rule Book v6.1, 2.5-2.6):

1. Points: most points wins
2. Advantages: if points are tied, most advantages wins
3. Penalties: if both are tied, the athlete with fewer penalties wins
4. Referee decision: only if all three are level

Referee Decision

If points, advantages and penalties are all tied, the referee (or the majority, when three referees are used) picks the winner based on:

• Who displayed greater offense during the match
• Who came closest to scoring positions or submissions

Random Pick

If both athletes are accidentally injured in a final with the score tied and neither can continue, the winner is decided by random pick (Rule Book v6.1, 2.7).

The Guard Pull Rule

Guard pulling is a common tactic with specific rules:

Single Competitor Pull

If one competitor pulls guard:

• The puller needs a grip first -- pulling guard or sitting down without one is a penalty
• No points awarded to either competitor, unless the opponent already had a grip on the puller's pants: then they score the 2-point takedown once they stabilize on top for 3 seconds (Rule Book v6.1, 4.1.12)
• Match continues from guard position
• Puller must engage (cannot stall in guard)

Double Guard Pull

If both competitors pull guard simultaneously:

• The referee starts a 20-second count
• The first athlete to come up on top earns an advantage
• If after 20 seconds nobody is on top, has a submission locked in or is about to score, both receive a penalty and the match restarts standing

Strategic Considerations

• Pulling guard avoids takedown battle
• Top player gains scoring opportunities
• Guard puller must be active to avoid stalling calls

Stalling Rules

IBJJF enforces anti-stalling rules to keep matches active:

What Constitutes Stalling

• Holding position without attempting advancement
• Running away from engagement
• Backing to edge of mat to stop action
• Excessive defensive posture without countering

Stalling Penalties

The referee calls stalling after 20 seconds without positional progression, and it follows the same ladder as every other serious foul (Rule Book v6.1, 7.2-7.3):

1. First Penalty: Marked on the scoreboard (no points, but it counts in a tie)
2. Second Penalty: Advantage to opponent
3. Third Penalty: 2 points to opponent
4. Fourth Penalty: Disqualification

Position-Specific Stalling

Standing: Must engage and attempt takedowns Guard: Bottom player must attempt sweeps/submissions Top: Must attempt to pass or submit Mount/Back: Holding mount or back control correctly is never stalling, and neither is defending from under mount, back control, side control or north-south (Rule Book v6.1, 6.2.1)

Out of Bounds Rules

Matches that go off the mat have specific procedures:

When Action Goes Out

• Referee stops the match
• Both competitors return to center
• Match restarts in the position they were in (approximately)

Standing Restart

If competitors were standing or no clear position, match restarts with both standing in the center.

Ground Restart

If a clear position existed:

• Competitors placed in that position
• Match resumes from there
• Close to submission attempts may result in advantage

Edge Playing

Intentionally going out of bounds is penalized. Competitors should stay in the center when possible. If your opponent escapes your submission by leaving the match area, you are awarded 2 points (Rule Book v6.1, 3.1.1) -- and fleeing deliberately to avoid a submission is a disqualification.

Coaching Rules

Coaches have specific guidelines during IBJJF matches:

What's Allowed

• Verbal coaching from designated corner
• Encouragement and strategic advice
• Calling out time remaining

What's Prohibited

• Entering the mat area
• Physical contact with competitor
• Abusive language toward referees
• Coaching from multiple locations

Coach Penalties

Coaching violations can result in:

• Warning to coach
• Removal from corner
• Administrative punishments for the athlete or professor (General Competition Guidelines, Art. 6) -- and an athlete who joins in contesting a referee's call, by word or gesture, receives a penalty (Rule Book v6.1, 6.2.2 J)

Medical Timeouts

Injuries during competition have specific protocols:

Minor Injuries

• Brief stoppage allowed
• Must be able to continue
• Match resumes from current position

Serious Injuries

• Medical staff evaluates
• Competitor may continue if cleared
• Match stopped if unable to continue

Blood

• Bleeding must be stopped before continuing
• The doctor can treat the same injury on two occasions
• If the bleeding still can't be contained, the match is stopped (Rule Book v6.1, 2.2.4)

Injury Default

If a competitor cannot continue due to injury:

• Opponent wins by default
• Unless injury was caused by illegal technique
• Claiming cramps also ends the match in your opponent's favor

Competition Brackets

Understanding how brackets work:

Single Elimination

Every IBJJF division uses single elimination (General Competition Guidelines 2.2):

• Lose once, you're out
• Winners advance until final
• There is no bronze-medal match: both losing semifinalists receive a bronze medal, so each division awards two bronzes (General Competition Guidelines 4.1)

Three-Athlete Brackets

The only exception is a bracket of exactly three athletes (General Competition Guidelines 2.3):

• Two athletes fight first, and the winner goes straight to the final
• The loser of that match faces the third athlete
• The winner of the second match meets the first winner in the final

Alone in Your Division

IBJJF does not merge divisions or switch to round robin. If nobody else is in your division, you still have to pass uniform inspection and weigh in to receive the gold medal (General Competition Guidelines 4.4).

Competition Day Checklist

To comply with all IBJJF rules on competition day, review the complete IBJJF Gi uniform requirements well in advance:

Documents:

• IBJJF membership (current)
• Photo ID
• Registration confirmation

Equipment:

• Legal Gi (proper color, size, patches)
• Belt (correct color for division)
• No-Gi attire (if applicable)
• Mouth guard (recommended)
• Brief-type underwear (mandatory in Gi and No-Gi) -- but no cup: genital protectors and other hard protectors are forbidden (Rule Book v6.1, Article 8.3)

Physical:

• Nails trimmed
• No jewelry
• Hair secured (if long)
• Clean and hygienic

Common Rules Questions

Can I Jump to Closed Guard?

Only if you are not a white belt and not in an under-15 division. For white belts of every age and all under-15 divisions, jumping to closed guard on a standing opponent is a foul: the referee restarts the match standing and gives a penalty, plus 2 points to your opponent if you jumped while defending their takedown or sweep (Rule Book v6.1, 6.2.2 W). Everyone else may jump guard, but you still need a grip before you pull.

What If My Gi Rips?

The referee gives you a set time to change it; if you can't, you are disqualified. Bring a backup Gi to every competition.

Can I Slam to Escape Submissions?

No. Slamming is illegal at every belt and age, and it is an immediate disqualification.

What About Knee Reaping?

Knee reaping is illegal in the Gi at all belt levels. In No-Gi it is legal only for brown and black belts in the Adult division -- not for masters, and not below brown belt.

Ready to Compete?

Now that you know the rules, plan your competition year. See the 2026 IBJJF tournament schedule for all major championship dates and registration deadlines, or use one of the best BJJ training apps to track your preparation.

Official Sources

• IBJJF Books & Videos - Complete competition rules and regulations

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