Fair Play

Competition Rules

Understand the official rules that govern fair and safe competition at NABJJF tournaments.

Navigate the essential guidelines that ensure fair and safe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments for all competitors.

Belt System

Kids (15 Years of Age and Younger)

Children may be promoted through belts in the following order: white, grey/white, solid grey, grey/black, yellow/white, solid yellow, yellow/black, orange/white, solid orange, orange/black, green/white, solid green, and green/black. Each belt has 5 levels, a clear belt and then 4 stripes which may be awarded for time, knowledge, behavior, and tournament performance. Only black belts certified by the NABJJF may promote students through the belts listed.

The minimum age requirement is based and counted from the year the athlete was born (i.e.; if an athlete was born in 2002, her age is considered 10 for all of 2012). However, a child competitor will not be authorized to compete at the same belt level if they are the champion at the same NABJJF tournament for 2 years in a row in a given belt.

Juvenile & Adult (16 Years of Age and Older)

Adults may be promoted through belts in the following order: white, blue, purple, brown and black. Each belt has 5 levels, a clear belt and then 4 stripes that may be awarded for time, knowledge, behavior, and tournament performance.

Instructors decide how long it takes for a student to be promoted, as long as the minimum times required for each belt are fulfilled. However, a competitor will not be authorized to compete for a 3rd time at the same belt level if the competitor has been the champion of the same tournament for 2 years in a row in a given belt, with the exception of black belts.

SJJIF Additional Guidelines

Any grey, yellow, orange, or green belt automatically becomes a blue belt at the year of turning 16 years of age.
In order to be graded a purple belt at 16 years of age it is required that the athlete has spent at least 2 years as a green belt.
In order to be graded a purple belt at 17 years of age, it is required that the athlete has spent at least 1 year as a green belt and 1 year as a blue belt.
In the case where an athlete was graded from green belt straight to purple belt, then the minimum time required before he can be awarded the brown belt is 2 years.

Promotion Criteria

A black belt may promote students from white belt to purple belt.
A 1st degree black belt may promote students from white belt to brown belt.
A 2nd degree black belt may promote students from white belt to black belt.
Only athletes 19 years of age or older may be awarded a black belt.

Black Belt Requirements

In order to request a black belt certificate, it is necessary to be currently affiliated with the SJJIF. To be awarded degrees as a black belt, it is necessary that the black belt be a current SJJIF member and listed as a main instructor or assistant instructor at an SJJIF member school.

Black belts have seven levels, a black belt plus 6 degrees that can only be awarded by the SJJIF.

Belt Integrity

Belt integrity refers to the accuracy in which an athlete's belt reflects their skills and knowledge of the art. The SJJIF believes in the importance of all practitioners following the minimum time in a grade prior to promotion and verifies all members' belt promotions with their professor in an effort to preserve belt integrity and lineage.

The SJJIF has implemented Belt Integrity rules to avoid the practice of professors not promoting athletes to the next rank or when an athlete competes at a skill-bracket deemed less rigorous than their actual level of competitive ability, commonly referred to as "sandbagging". The SJJIF will have no tolerance for "sandbagging" at any sanctioned event. Every competitor is subject to the SJJIF investigating their belt with academies and coaches or examining past tournament results.

The SJJIF will not allow an athlete who has proven to be a Judo or Ju Jitsu Black Belt and/or has experience in wrestling competing at the college level, national level, Olympic wrestling level, or in Greco-Roman, Sambo, or that has fought MMA professionally to compete in any competition as a white belt.

Once an athlete's gradation occurs, the athlete cannot compete in the previous belt anymore. If an athlete gets promoted during a competition after the division is done, the athlete will be unable to compete in the open weight division.

A competitor cannot compete in an SJJIF event for a 3rd time once he or she has placed in 1st place twice for the same event, in same belt rank, except for black belts.

Weight Divisions

The NABJJF utilizes weight divisions to help minimize injuries and reduce weight advantages. Contrary to popular belief, size plays an important role in Jiu-Jitsu just as it does in other competitive sports. Although a highly skilled smaller athlete may defeat a larger, less skilled opponent, history shows that size differences often increase the risk of injury.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a size-factor sport, and weight divisions exist to ensure that skill — not size — determines the outcome. Open divisions are also available at tournaments, and participation in these is optional for Juvenile, Adult, and Master participants. Competitors are grouped by the year of birth rather than actual age, and boys and girls will not compete together after the age of 12.

Health & Safety Guidelines

The NABJJF strongly discourages weight reduction through dehydration, excessive calorie restriction, or the use of diuretics, laxatives, or self-induced vomiting. Children are encouraged to compete at their natural weight, and the NABJJF does not support or promote weight cutting in any form.

Weigh-In Guidelines

All athletes must clear weight prior to their first match.
Athletes must have their uniform for competition on for weigh in.
Athletes are allowed to weigh in without knee or elbow braces, but they will have to be wearing them at the time of the uniform inspection.
The athlete cannot step on the scale with shoes or any item besides his/her regular uniform and equipment permitted for use during matches.
Each athlete shall only mount the official scale of the event to have his/her weight taken once unless authorized.
Competitors in Kids divisions have a 2-pound weight allowance.
Competitors in Juvenile and Adult divisions have zero weight allowance and will be automatically disqualified for not making weight.

Questions about our competition rules?

Reach out to our team for clarification on any rule or procedure.