Tournament Rules · IBJJF Ruleset
How the matches are scored
Flow Academy in-house tournaments run under the IBJJF ruleset. Here's the quick reference for athletes, parents and coaches. The official rulebook is linked at the bottom.
How to win a match
SubmissionYour opponent taps (or the ref stops it). Instant win.
PointsIf no submission, the athlete with more points when time expires wins.
OvertimeIf the score is tied at time, the match goes to overtime, then sudden death, then a referee decision (see below).
DisqualificationIllegal technique or reaching the penalty limit ends the match.
Overtime & ties
If the score is tied when regulation time runs out, the winner is decided in this order:
- Overtime period — a full extra round the same length as the match (a 3:00 match gets a 3:00 overtime). Scoring continues as normal; whoever is ahead when overtime ends wins.
- Sudden death — if it's still tied after overtime, a 1:00 sudden-death round. The first athlete to score wins immediately.
- Referee decision — if no one scores in sudden death, the referee decides the winner based on control and aggression.
⏱️ On the mat screens, OVERTIME and SUDDEN DEATH banners appear so athletes, coaches and spectators always know the stage.
Points
| Position / action | Points |
|---|
| Takedown | 2 |
| Sweep (reverse from guard) | 2 |
| Knee on belly | 2 |
| Guard pass | 3 |
| Mount | 4 |
| Back control (with hooks) | 4 |
A position must be controlled for 3 seconds to score.
Penalties
- Given for stalling, fleeing the mat, illegal grips, or breaking the rules.
- Each penalty is a warning; repeated penalties give points to the opponent and can lead to disqualification.
- Serious fouls (illegal techniques for the level, slamming) are an immediate DQ.
🥋 Flow in-house scoring: we score points + penalties. (IBJJF also uses "advantages" for near-finishes; we keep it simple for in-house events — submissions and points decide it.)
Match times
| Division | Match length |
|---|
| Kids (under 10) | 2–3 min |
| Youth / Teen (10–15) | 3–4 min |
| Juvenile / White belt | 5 min |
| Adult — Blue | 6 min |
| Adult — Purple | 7 min |
| Adult — Brown | 8 min |
| Adult — Black | 10 min |
Times follow IBJJF guidelines; the exact length for each division is posted at the event.
Divisions
Age grouped into Tots, Kids, Youth, Teen, Adult and Masters.
Belt White · Blue · Purple · Brown · Black (adults); the youth belt system for kids.
Weight athletes weigh in and are placed in a weight class for their age & belt.
Gender male and female brackets run separately.
The app builds these divisions automatically from each athlete's age, belt, weight and gender at registration.
Legal techniques by level
- Kids & Youth: no neck cranks, no leg locks, no slams. Chokes and joint locks are limited by age — only what's safe for the level.
- White & Blue belt (adult): no heel hooks, no knee reaping, no bicep/calf slicers. White belts: no wrist locks.
- Purple belt and up: more leg attacks become legal; still no heel hooks under standard IBJJF gi rules.
- Always illegal: slamming, eye/ear/groin attacks, fingers/toes small-joint locks, and any technique unsafe for the athlete's level.
The referee's call is final, and safety always comes first — especially for our kids' divisions.
Weigh-in & check-in
- Athletes weigh in at the event to confirm their weight class.
- Check in when you arrive so the brackets know you're present.
- Bring a clean gi in good condition (sizing per IBJJF gi standards).