BJJ Rules for Beginners: Everything Before Your First Tournament

Stepping into your first BJJ tournament without knowing the rules puts you at a disadvantage before the match even begins. You need to know how points are scored, which techniques are allowed at your belt level, and what gets you disqualified. This guide covers the core concepts common to most major BJJ federations.

How Points Are Scored

Most BJJ federations award points for achieving and holding dominant positions. A position must be held for approximately 3 seconds in a stable, controlled manner before points are awarded. Common scoring positions include:

Takedown: You bring your opponent from standing to the ground and remain on top.

Sweep: From a guard position on bottom, you reverse the situation and end up on top.

Guard Pass: You pass your opponent's legs and establish a dominant top position (side control or north-south).

Mount: You sit on your opponent's torso with both knees on the mat, outside their arms.

Back Control: You are behind your opponent with both hooks (feet) inside their thighs or a body triangle.

Winning by Submission

A submission wins the match instantly — no need to count points. The opponent signals their defeat by tapping on the opponent's body or the mat, or by verbally saying "tap." If they do not tap and the submission is completed, the referee stops the match.

Common submissions include:

• Rear naked choke — from back control, an arm crosses the opponent's neck
• Armbar — hyperextending the opponent's elbow joint
• Triangle choke — using your legs to create a triangle around the opponent's neck and arm
• Guillotine — front headlock that compresses the neck

Belt-Level Restrictions

Not all techniques are legal at all belt levels. This is for safety — many joint locks can cause serious injury if applied by or to someone without the experience to control them. Generally:

• White and Blue belt: More techniques are restricted. Heel hooks and other dangerous leg locks are typically banned.
• Purple and Brown belt: Additional techniques become legal. Some wrist locks and more complex submissions may be permitted.
• Black belt: Most techniques are allowed (though specific rules still vary by federation).

Always check the specific rules for your federation and belt level before competing.

Common Penalties

BJJ penalties are typically cumulative — accumulating enough penalties can cost you points or result in disqualification. Common violations include:

• Stalling / Inactivity: Refusing to engage or make progress during the match
• Fleeing the mat: Deliberately moving out of bounds to avoid a position or submission
• Illegal techniques: Attempting a technique not permitted at your belt level

Tiebreak Rules

If no one submits and the scores are equal at the end of regulation time, the match goes to a tiebreak. The tiebreak rules vary significantly by federation:

• AJP: The last athlete to score wins. If still tied (0-0), a 1-minute overtime period follows; if still equal, a referee decision.
• IBJJF: First by points, then advantages, then fewer penalties, then referee decision.
• ADCC: A single overtime period using the same rules as the second half of the match.

The Most Important Advice

Rules vary significantly between federations (AJP vs IBJJF vs ADCC vs Grappling Industries). Before your first competition:

1. Find out which federation is running the tournament
2. Check your belt level's specific ruleset
3. Know the scoring positions and the tiebreak rule
4. Know which submissions are banned at your level

Use the interactive rule reference on this site to look up the exact rules for your federation, belt, and age category in one place.