Tournament Guidelines

Tournament Rules & Competition Guidelines

Competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu requires more than good technique. Understanding the rules, scoring system, penalties and legal techniques for your age and belt division is an important part of becoming a confident competitor.

At Grand Union Jiu Jitsu, we encourage all students who compete to understand the rules of the tournament they are entering. Rules can vary between organisations and may also differ depending on age, belt level and Gi or No-Gi competition.

Our coaches will help competitors understand key areas including:

• Points and advantages
• Takedowns, sweeps and guard positions
• Positional scoring
• Penalties and stalling
• Competition boundaries
• Legal and illegal submissions
• Match strategy and referee decisions

Always Check the Official Rules

Competition rules can change, and different organisations may use different rulesets. Students should always check the official rules for their specific tournament before competing.

For IBJJF competitions, refer to the current official IBJJF Rules Book and Technical Fouls & Illegal Moves guidance.

If you're unsure about a rule or technique, speak to one of our instructors before competing.