In most cases, your average Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition will follow the IBJJF rule set. While this isn’t the case for certain competitions such as NAGA or ADCC, most of the time, you will follow the IBJJF rules. As a newcomer, learning the IBJJF rule set may initially seem complicated. However, when you get used to it, it’s actually not too difficult to follow.
In fact, the ease of the IBJJF point system is perhaps why it’s so widely used. Even if a competition isn’t hosted by the IBJJF, they will still often use their rule system anyway. Read on to learn more about IBJJF point scoring in competition matches.
Table of Contents
How to score points in a BJJ match
Sweep – 2 points
A sweep is when you go from the bottom position and end up on top. This should not be confused with a reversal or escape either (more on those later). Basically, for a sweep to be completed, you will need two things to happen. Firstly, you should have some kind of leg or arm entanglement. This means either your own legs or feet wrapped around your opponent’s leg (or arm) or your arm holding their leg or foot.
From here, you go from the bottom position and end up on the top. When you get to the top, you will need to hold and solidify the position for at least 3 seconds. Usually, it is deemed a sweep when your hips go from lower than your opponent’s, to a position when you’re hips are higher than theirs.
Examples of sweeps
Most of the time, a sweep is done by grabbing the opponent’s leg and using this to swap positions. For instance, if you’re in bottom half guard, you can sweep them by grabbing their far knee or ankle with an underhook on the near side and driving into the far leg. This is called the dogfight position and will bring you from the bottom to the top.
Similarly, you could go from a bottom spider guard position which doesn’t involve entangling the opponent’s legs. Here, you’d have your hands and feet connected to the opponent’s arms. If you quickly release one of these grips with your leg and stomp on the ground whilst straightening your other leg, the force can bring you from the bottom to the top.
Pass – 3 points to side control, 4 points to mount
Passing the guard is done by getting around your opponent’s legs and hips and then solidifying the position for at least 3 seconds. This means, your opponent no longer has any form of entanglement with your legs, such as a quarter guard. Instead, you’ve cleared their legs and now have them in some form of pin such as mount or side control.
So, even if you’ve got a seemingly good position, but your opponent has caught your ankle with their feet, then this is not a pass. Also, if you manage to get passed the legs but they manage to quickly re-guard within 3 seconds, then this is not a pass either. Lastly, if whilst you’re passing – they move into a turtle position then this is not a pass either.
Examples of passes
A common pass into side control is a knee slice. From half guard, you should grab an underhook and control the near arm. With your legs, you then slide your knee to the floor, whilst removing your foot from the opponent’s legs in the process. This will remove any lower body connection between you and your opponent whilst ending up in a top, pinning position.
From a similar position, you could also pass to the mount. Imagine getting double underhooks from the top half guard position and forcing a quarter guard in the process. Instead of knee slicing, you instead insert a butterfly hook and pry your free foot out, landing in the mount. Unlike passing to side control, this would score an extra point.
The reason for this is that mount is often considered as a more dominant position, so is rewarded higher. Also, it’s arguably more difficult to pass directly to mount, compared to passing to side control. Theoretically, you could also pass to side control to gain 3 points. After waiting for over 3 seconds, you could then proceed to mount to gain an extra 4 points if you wanted to be tactical.
Takedowns – 2 points
As long as you correctly finish a takedown, you will earn 2 points. This means that if you land in any guard, mount, or side control – then you will be rewarded with 2 points. Over the years, this rule has been met with some controversy. This is because a takedown into mount is far superior to hitting a takedown into half guard. Nonetheless, those are the rules.
Speaking of rules, takedowns count as wrestling takedowns such as single and double legs, to Judo throws such as the Uchi Mata. Similarly, Judo footsweeps are also included. One nuance of takedowns is that if someone pulls guard but gets their leg or foot held as they touch the floor, then technically it counts as a takedown. Therefore, if your guard pull is slow and sloppy, you could technically get taken down and begin the match with 2 points down.
It’s important to also remember what actually qualifies as a takedown. For example, if you try a suicide throw that results in the opponent standing up whilst you’re on the floor then this is not a takedown. Depending on the grips, it will probably count as a guard pull.
However, if you’re unlucky and it looks like they’ve hit a foot sweep or something then it could be scored against you. Similarly, if the opponent only hits the floor for under 3 seconds before returning to their feet, then this is not deemed as a takedown either, as the position has not been settled.
Examples of takedowns
A classic wrestling takedown is the ankle pick. This is where you crouch down and grab at the opponents near ankle, From here, you should pull their leg towards you, off-balancing them and putting them to the ground.
A textbook Judo throw is the Harai Goshi. This involves grabbing the opponent’s lapel and arm, lifting them onto your hips, and then tipping them to the floor. This is an example of how Judo primarily relies on the gi and certain grips, whereas wrestling is better suited towards no gi as it doesn’t rely on grips or materials to grab.
Knee on Belly – 2 points
Arguably, the knee on belly position isn’t used as much as it should be – as it’s good for wracking up points. As the name suggests, this is when you put your knee on the opponent’s belly and is typically done from side control, or stepping off from mount. Also, if you’re able to somehow place your knee on the opponent’s belly from some kind of guard, then this does not count as knee on belly.
Like mount and side control, the knee on belly is mostly seen as a controlling, pinned position. It is potentially easier to do in the gi as you can also make grips on the opponent’s gi which can be used to solidify your position and limit movement. As always, remember to hold this position for at least 3 seconds for it to count as a score.
Examples of knee on belly entries
Imagine you’ve just been given 3 points for a pass to side control. After holding the position, you can then try to jump into knee on belly. If successful, you would be given another 2 points. From here, you can attack various moves such as going into mount or using it to hunt for armbars or darce chokes.
It should be noted that once you’ve got knee on belly from one sequence, you can’t keep dropping off and re-gaining it to wrack up points. If the opponent escapes and re-guards and you got to knee on belly later, then this would be another 2 points. However, you can’t game the system by jumping on and off either.
Back control – 4 points
Controlling the back is seen as the most dominant position in BJJ. As a result, it is awarded 4 points for getting there. This is when you’re on the opponent’s back with book hooks in. By hooks, we mean that your feet should be placed on the opponent’s front side of their body, such as over their hips.
Interestingly, if you choose to use a back triangle instead, then this doesn’t score a point in BJJ. This is a contested subject as arguably, a back triangle is also a dominant position, however it doesn’t score. Similarly, although the crucifix is a dominant position, entering this position will not get you any points either. So, for tactical purposes, getting back control and holding it for 3 seconds with hooks will get you 4 points, however, other forms of back control may leave you pointless.
Back control entries
Perhaps the best way to get to the back from the top position is by grabbing a gift-wrap from either mount or side control. By controlling the opponent’s elbow, you can safely go to the back without fear of the opponent escaping.
From the bottom, one of the best ways to get to the back is using an arm-drag. This relies on dragging the opponent’s arm across their body and moving into the space and then climbing on their back. Whilst back entries are never easy, they are rewarded strongly with points and the possibility to end the match with a choke.
Back mount
Interestingly, the back mount position isn’t commonly thought about when it comes to scoring points in BJJ. Sadly, there have even been cases where back mount doesn’t get scored by referees. Imagine you have someone’s back, and then they somehow turn belly-down, with their face towards the mat. At this point, the rest of their body is flat out onto the floor.
Whilst this is happening, you’re sitting on top of them with your hooks in as if you have a regular mount but your opponent’s body is turned at an 180 degree angle. This will score you 4 points, as is it viewed as total control. Theoretically, you could have scored 4 points for back control, only for someone to give you back mount, resulting in a further 4 points.
Advantages and disadvantages in IBJJF rules
Under IBJJF rules, you can also win by getting an advantage too. These aren’t as valuable as points but can still be the difference between winning and losing. For instance, if it’s 2-2 but someone has an advantage, they will win.
The way advantages are scored is when something nearly happens. For instance, you could attack a submission and be given an advantage, even if it fails. However, most of the time, advantages are given when points are nearly scored. For example, if you took someone down but they got back up after 2 seconds, you would be given an advantage instead of points. This example of getting an advantage for nearly scoring can be applied to all of the other BJJ positions.
Disadvantages in BJJ
Similar to advantages, disadvantages can also come into play in BJJ. Imagine this time, the score is 2-2 but no one has any advantages. However, one person has a disadvantage. Here, the person with the disadvantage will lose.
Typically, disadvantages are given for negative behavior, such as stalling, or rolling off the mat to escape submissions. Imagine being in your opponent’s closed guard who is constantly attacking you. Instead of trying to escape or pass, you sit there and stall. This could get you a disadvantage. At the same time, if it’s 2-2 and the one person has an advantage and a disadvantage, then the person with the advantage will still win. This means that advantages are scored higher than disadvantages.
Digging deeper into the rules, if you get three disadvantages, then this will award your opponent 2 points. This acts as a deterrent to avoid stalling or using underhand tactics. However, usually it’s quite difficult to wrack up this many disadvantages in the first place.
Advantages from a double guard pull
One quirk of the IBJJF point system is the double guard pull. This is something that has been part of BJJ tactics for some time. Simply put, if two people do a double guard pull, then if someone stands within 3 seconds, then they will be awarded an advantage.
This is because, they’re seen as pushing the action, and coming to the top isn’t as passive. Therefore, if this happens to you then you could score a quick advantage. Whilst not as important as the two points from grabbing the leg during a takedown, it’s still a positive to start a match with.
How BJJ matches are scored when there’s a draw
If your BJJ match is a draw with no advantages or penalties, then it will go to the referee’s decision. Therefore, the match is literally decided by referee who will raise the hand of the winner. Often, these decisions are very close and can cause controversy. In big matches, they may even consult judges.
Basically, at this point, the match is deemed to be incredibly close and falls into the hands (and interpretation) of the referee. Oftentimes, the practitioner who exerts the most energy and looks the most active will be given the victory.
The turtle position and BJJ points
When it comes to point scoring in BJJ, the turtle position has always been an interesting one. Some people view this as a guard in its own right, whereas others view it as a desperation position to avoid a guard pass. If you’re confused, here is how the turtle scores in BJJ.
Firstly, if someone is trying to take the back and falls off then this doesn’t count as a sweep. In fact, the top player would possibly be given an advantage for attacking as well. At the same time, the turtle position is still technically a guard – and can be used to earn points.
Imagine shooting for a takedown but your opponent sprawls on you. Technically, you’d now be in turtle guard with the score 0-0. If you managed to sweep the opponent and go from the bottom to the top then you would be scored 2 points. The scoring system for the turtle is exactly the same for other guards. So, you would need some kind of grip on the opponent’s hands or feet to score points.
The difference between a reversal and a sweep in BJJ
In BJJ, there is a big difference between a reversal and a sweep. Whilst sweeps earn points and are seen as being proactive, a reversal does not score points or advantages and is not viewed as being proactive. As we’ve already established, sweeps happen from the guard position. On the contrary, reversals happen from positions that aren’t guards.
For example, imagine being in bottom mount, and then reversing the position so that you end up in top, closed guard. This isn’t a sweep as it doesn’t begin with a guard, to begin with. Similarly, escaping from a mount should not be rewarded as it’s a poor position in the first place.
Similarly, if you hit a reversal from bottom side control and end up on top, this isn’t a sweep either. Once again, it’s a case of escaping a poor position that isn’t a guard. Even if you do well from your newly earned side control position, this is not the same as a sweep or a pass. As a BJJ teacher, it’s important to teach the difference between sweeps and reversals. Sadly, many people do not know the difference.
BJJ Referees do make mistakes
Despite the aforementioned rule structure, BJJ referees do make mistakes. This is definitely the case for matches at local competitions and is less likely to be seen at the higher levels of competition BJJ. Nonetheless, it still goes on.
Examples of sloppy rule applications include failing to score points for sweeps, giving points for reversals, and missing advantages. Overall, this can have a big outcome on how a match plays out. So, unfortunately, a bad referee can turn a loser into a winner.
Lastly, it’s also important to realize that the IBJJF rule system is vastly different compared to something like ADCC. In fact, the ADCC rules are vastly different. With this said, if you’re confused about BJJ competition rules, then remember they may not be doing IBJJF rules in the first place.
