Closing out is a term used in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu relating to competitions. However, it can also be referred to as a Close out under different circumstances. For those wondering, the term is used to describe when two competitors from the same team decide not to compete when in the finals.
For example, let’s say there’s a bracket of 10 men. The final 2 men are from the same gym and train together regularly. Instead of competing against each other to see who wins, one instead forfeits and takes the silver medal, giving their teammate gold by default. Sometimes, this behavior is called out as being dishonest to the sport, whilst on other occasions, it is applauded for sportsmanship and shows comradery.
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Why Closeouts are considered good
The whole point of a Closeout is to show that ultimately you didn’t win a competition, your team did. Some competitors genuinely believe their team is bigger than themselves as an individual. This means they are more than happy to represent the team, even if it means winning silver instead of gold.
Besides, if you’ve already won a few matches to get to the final, you’ve arguably earned it and it’s your decision. Some people simply don’t enjoy competing against friends in a competitive setting. Sparring and tapping in the gym is one thing, but doing it in a high pressure environment with many watching is a different concept entirely.
One example of this could be the dominant opponent locking in a submission, whilst their training partner is too proud to tap. This could result in a broken limb which would lead to tension and awkwardness down the line. Away from the team concept, this is just one other reason why Closeouts happen.
In some cases, Closeouts are usually agreed upon before the competition begins and aren’t a spontaneous thing. With this said, it may not even be up to the athlete and may be ordered from their coach. Further, sometimes Closeouts are done by siblings or family. In this sense, Closeouts seem reasonable.
Why Closeouts are considered bad
Some argue differently, that Closeouts aren’t good for the sport and discourage the competitive nature. For instance, Andre Galvao’s ATOS HQ gym is famous for this as his competitors would go against each other full pelt. As a competitor, you may know your team mate is superior or inferior, but you may as well get more experience under your belt, right?
Another example of this was Garry Tonon vs Gordon Ryan in the 2019 ADCC Absolute division. Here, Ryan submitted his long-term friend and training partner Tonon. There were no hard feelings and it was a hard fought match.
There’s even a counter argument that this behavior actually encourages togetherness. If you can put it on the line and go hard against their friend then it shows you’re not afraid to show vulnerabilities on the sage. If you win or lose, it’s nothing personal and you should be mature enough to forget about it by the next training session.
Another argument for this is that it shows the true winner. Unlike a Closeout, you get to know for certain who is the victor and the superior competitor on the day. Imagine being far better than your friend but having to settle for a silver or a Closeout gold. Whilst it shows solidarity, deep down you may be annoyed at not getting a more genuine medal.
Is Closing out frowned upon?
Not really, no. In fact, in most cases it’s more common than two competitors competing from the same gym which is considered fairly rare. As said, it’s usually down to the individual and their personal preference. With this said, the Closeout is completely legal and in the big scheme of things, nobody is really judging either.
To participate in a Closeout, you can do two things. Before the final is scheduled to happen, one competitor should pull-out. To do this, they can simply tell the competition organizer that they are dropping out. This saves a lot of time and organization and ends in default. The alternative way which is less common is for the two competitors to put on a bit of an exhibition match.
Sometimes people will enter the final and instantly shout ‘tap’, or they have some kind of planned submission like a standing wrist-lock. Most likely, this style Closeout won’t happen and is more of a novelty rather than anything. Nonetheless, if you compete enough times you may see it happen.
What happens when there’s a Closeout earlier on in the bracket?
This can happen, where two team mates get each other earlier on in a draw which isn’t the final two. Most often, they will simply compete against each other as they would against a random opponent. This means Closeouts generally don’t happen earlier on when the final three medals are still at stake.
There are some cases where a training partner may drop out if this happens. Usually, it’s when they are going up against a far superior friend who is practically guaranteed to win. One example of this is being a blue belt and going up against a coach who is also a blue belt. You both know deep down there will only be one winner, so there’s no point wasting their energy on route to the final.
Are Closeouts legal?
The answer to this is yes and no. Generally, Closeouts are done in IBJJF competitions where it is legal. Similarly, competitions with IBJJF rules will also have this structure in place. Not only this but even most tournaments with other hybrid rules will also allow for Closeouts.
However, Closeouts are illegal in the ADCC format. This is because ADCC banned Closeouts to try and get the best out of their competitors. As a result, you will not see competitors do Closeouts in ADCC. Throughout the history of ADCC, there probably hasn’t been many if any at all. Nonetheless, this is the ruleset by ADCC. As a simple guide, IBJJF allows Closeouts, whilst ADCC doesn’t.
Final Thoughts
Closeouts have been done in BJJ since the beginning of competitions. With this said, they probably won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. For those wondering about whether they are right or wrong is up for debate with the above evidence. However, even if you aren’t interested in the culture of Closeouts, this article should still be helpful in terms of teaching you the rules. By understanding the rules of Closeouts, you won’t get caught out if you tried one during an ADCC ruleset.
