1. Bout/match duration

  1. Bout/match duration

    The following age categories and fighting times are recognized by the JJIF. Competitors are assigned to the age categories according to the age they will reach the present year (from 1st of January to 31st of December).

    Age categoryFighting time
    Masters (older than 35 years)2 minutes
    Adults (older than 18 years)3 minutes
    U21 (18–0 years old)3 minutes
    U18 (16–17 years old)3 minutes
    U16 (14–15 years old)3 minutes
    U14 (12–13 years old)2 minutes
    U12 (10–11 years old)2 minutes
    U10 (9 years and younger)2 minutes

2. Scoring methodology

  1. In Jiu-Jitsu fighting two competitors fight against each other in a sportsmanlike competition of Jiu-Jitsu. The objective of the fight is to win by full-ippon (scoring a perfect technique in part 1, 2 and 3) or to win by outscoring one’s opponent.
  2. The Jiu-Jitsu fighting is composed of three parts:
    1. Part 1: Punches, strikes and kicks (further summarized as atemis).
    2. Part 2: Throws and takedowns (further summarized as takedowns), as well as locks and strangulations (further summarized as submission holds).
    3. Part 3: Holding or pinning techniques (further summarized as osae-komi), and submission holds.
  3. Atemis: Part 1
    1. Atemis may be applied to the torso or head, excluding straight atemis to the head.
    2. There are 3 criteria that atemis must fulfill to be scored:
      1. It must touch the opponent, but not harder than light contact. (In age categories U16 and younger atemis to the head (above the clavicle) must not touch the opponent.)
      2. It must be applied with hikite/hikiashi. (A kick that has been caught by the opponent is not applied with hikiashi and can therefore score waza-ari at best.)
      3. It must be dealt with good dynamic, balance, and control.
  4. The following techniques can be scored in part 1:
    1. Ippon (3 points): Ippon is awarded for a kick to the head that satisfies all 3 criteria and is not blocked by the opponent.
    2. Ippon (2 points): Ippon is awarded for an atemi that satisfies all 3 criteria and is not blocked by the opponent (and is not awarded a 3-point-ippon)
    3. Waza-ari (1 point): Waza-ari is awarded for an atemi that satisfies all 3 criteria but is partially blocked by the opponent or an atemi that satisfies 2 of the 3 criteria and is not blocked by the opponent.
  5. Takedown: The following techniques may be scored in part 2:
    1. Ippon (3 Points): Ippon is awarded for submission holds that force a submission of the opponent. Submission holds in part 2 are not allowed in the age categories U16 and younger.
    2. Ippon (2 Points): Ippon is awarded for an atemi that satisfies all 3 criteria and is not blocked by the opponent (and is not awarded a 3-point-ippon).
    3. Waza-ari (1 Point): Waza-ari is awarded for an atemi that satisfies all 3 criteria and is not blocked by the opponent.
  6. Osae-Komi: The following techniques may be scored in part 3:
    1. Ippon (3 Points) is awarded for submission holds that force a submission of the opponent. For age categories U16 and under, if submission holds are executed in a technically correct way – with perspective of submission of the opponent – the referee must stop the match and award the Ippon (3 points). Leg locks are not allowed in the age categories u16 and younger.
    2. Ippon (2 Points): Ippon is awarded for effective control techniques announced as osae-komi held for 15 seconds.
    3. Waza-ari (1 Point): Waza-ari is awarded for effective control techniques announced as osae-komi held for more than 10 seconds and less than 15 seconds.

3. Legal scoring techniques

  1. Part 1: Punches, strikes and kicks (further summarized as atemis).
  2. Part 2: Throws and takedowns (further summarized as takedowns), as well as locks and strangulations (further summarized as submission holds).
  3. Part 3: Holding or pinning techniques (further summarized as osae-komi), and submission holds.

4. Legal scoring targets

  1. Part 1: Head and body above belt.
  2. Part 2: No strikes.
  3. Part 3: No strikes.

5. Illegal scoring techniques

Permissable/prohibited actions for U10‐U16
TechniquePenalty
Atemis to the legsShido (Forbidden Action)
Locks on fingers or toesShido (Forbidden Action)
Putting one’s hand or foot in the opponents face in part 2 or 3Shido (Forbidden Action)
Atemis touching the head of the opponentsChui (Dangerous Technique)
Locks or strangulations in part 2Chui (Dangerous Technique)
Compressing the opponent’s kidneys or ribs in the guard with crossed legsChui (Dangerous Technique)
Atemis applied in a hard wayChui (Dangerous Technique)
Straight atemis towards the opponent’s headChui (Dangerous Technique)
Uncontrolled atemis that are not stoppedChui (Dangerous Technique)
Takedown with any part of the opponent’s body landing outside the safety areaChui (Dangerous Technique)
Takedown causing the opponent to land on their face or head or neckChui (Dangerous Technique)
Hard or violent takedownChui (Dangerous Technique)
Locks on the neck or spinal columnHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Twisted locks at the knee or footHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Kani-basamiHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Strangling the opponent with bare handsHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Applying a combination of takedown and submission holdHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Permissable/prohibited actions for U18/U21/Adults/Masters
TechniquePenalty
Atemis to the legsShido (Forbidden Action)
Locks on fingers or toesShido (Forbidden Action)
Putting one’s hand or foot in the opponents face in part 2 or 3Shido (Forbidden Action)
Atemis touching the head of the opponentsPermitted
Locks or strangulations in part 2Permitted
Compressing the opponent’s kidneys or ribs in the guard with crossed legsPermitted
Atemis applied in a hard wayChui (Dangerous Technique)
Straight atemis towards the opponent’s headChui (Dangerous Technique)
Uncontrolled atemis that are not stoppedChui (Dangerous Technique)
Takedown with any part of the opponent’s body landing outside the safety areaChui (Dangerous Technique)
Takedown causing the opponent to land on their face or head or neckChui (Dangerous Technique)
Hard or violent takedownChui (Dangerous Technique)
Locks on the neck or spinal columnHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Twisted locks at the knee or footHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Kani-basamiHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Strangling the opponent with bare handsHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)
Applying a combination of takedown and submission holdHansoku-make (Forbidden Technique)

6. Illegal scoring targets

  1. Part 1 - Strikes to the follow areas:
    1. Below belt.
    2. Back.
    3. Back of head.
    4. Neck.
    5. Throat.
    6. Straight strikes to the head.
  2. Part 2 – No strikes.
  3. Part 3 – No strikes.

7. Scoring fouls/penalties

  1. Minor Fouls, Major Fouls and Severe Fouls - There are 3 types of fouls and corresponding penalties:
    1. Minor Fouls are penalized with shido, awarding 1 waza-ari to the opponent.
    2. Major Fouls are penalized with chui, awarding 3 waza-ari to the opponent. If one competitor accumulates 6 or more penalty points this adds up to a severe foul (hansoku-make).
    3. Severe Fouls: The Severe Fouls are divided between technical fouls and disciplinary fouls.
      1. Severe Technical Fouls are penalized with hansoku-make and disqualification of the offending competitor from the match.
      2. Severe Disciplinary Fouls are also penalized with hansoku-make, but the offending competitor will immediately be expelled from the tournament, losing all fights, medals and qualification points of the entire event (in all disciplines and categories).

8. Result declarations

  1. All results are posted on the competition registration system.

9. Athlete attire and required equipment

  1. An official will inspect the equipment of all contestants prior to competition to ensure that the contestant’s equipment meets minimum standards and is in good repair.
  2. No-Gi uniform policy:
    1. Uniform policy for No-Gi tournaments.
    2. Rashguard must be mostly red or mostly blue, never mixing both colours.
    3. Back side must be reserved to nationality.
    4. Shorts must be black or same colour as rashguard. No pockets, buttons or zipper. No longer than the knee and covering more than half of the thighs.
    5. Compression shorts are not allowed.
    6. Elastic fabric pants as allowed under the shorts for female and male divisions. Must be all black.
  3. Gi/Kimono Sizes and Details:
    1. 7 centimetres (2.75 inches) or more spacing between arm and Kimono.
    2. Maximum of 1.3 centimetres (0.5 inches) in thickness and 5 centimetres (2 inches) in width for the trim around the Kimono.
    3. Belt width between 4 or 5 centimetres (1.5 to 2 inches).
    4. Belt tip length from the knot between 20 and 30 centimetres (8 to 12 inches).
    5. Space from the end of the Kimono sleeve should be less than 5 centimetres (2 inches) from the wrist.
    6. Bottom of Kimono should be longer than the gluteus muscle.
    7. Space between the lower leg and Kimono should be 7 centimetres (2.75 inches) or more.
    8. End of pant should be less than 5 centimetres (2 inches) from the ankle bone (tibial malleolus).