IBJJF Tournament Ruleset & Format

The IBJJF is known for having. a bit of a stricter rulset than some of the more well-known BJJ organizations that are out there. Frankly, the rules are too much to put into this article and would result in the page being way to long. The entire guide for IBJJF rules, fouls, illegal moves, and code of conduct can be found directly on their site (source).

Uniform Requirements

Gi Material

GIs should be tailored using cotton or cotton-like fabric only. The fabric should not be so thick or hard as to impede an opponent from gripping it. For juvenile, adult, master and senior divisions, a GI fashioned from woven fabric is mandatory.

Gi Color and Patches

GIs must be of uniform color.

The following colors are permissible: white, royal blue or black. Gis with tops and pants of different colors are not permitted; nor are GIs with a collar that is a different color than the rest of the top.

Painted GIs are forbidden, unless the paint is designed in the form of an academy or sponsor logo – and only on regions of the GI where patches are permitted.

Even in cases where they are permitted, the athlete will be obliged to change GIs should the paint mark the GI of the opponent.

Belt Requirements

Athletes should use a durable, 4 to 5 cm wide belt colored according to the athlete’s rank, with a black tip – except for black belts, where the tip should be white or red. The belt should be worn over the top, wrap around the waist twice, and be tied using a double knot tight enough to hold the GI top closed. Once tied in a double knot, each end of the belt should hang 20 to 30 cm in length.

Gi Measurements

The GI top should reach the athlete’s thigh and the sleeves should come to no more than 5 cm from the athlete’s wrist when the arm is extended straight parallel to the ground.

GI pants should reach no more than 5 cm above the ankle bone.

No-Gi Requirements

Shirts and Rash Guards

Both genders must wear a shirt of elastic material (skin tight) long enough to cover the torso all the way to the waistband of the shorts, colored black, white, or black and white, and with at least 10% of the rank color(belt) to which the athlete belongs. Shirts 100% the color of the athlete’s rank (belt) are also permitted.

Shorts For Men

Board shorts must be colored black, white, black and white, or the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs to. Shorts must not have any zipper or any form of plastic that could present hard to the opponent, must cover half the thigh, and cannot be longer than the knees. You can wear spats underneath your board shorts.

Shorts, Compression Shorts and Pants For Women

Shorts, compression pants (skin-tight spats), or compression shorts colored black, white, black and white, and/or the color of the rank (belt) to which the athlete belongs. The shorts must not have pockets or have the pockets stitched completely shut, must not have buttons, zipper, or any other kind of plastic that could gain cause harm to the opponent.

Anti-Doping Clause

Directly on the IBJJF Official Website (source), it states that IBJJF is opposed to the practice of doping in their tournaments and they abide by the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code and World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

The IBJJF Anti-Doping Policy aims To do the following:

• Promote BJJ as a drug-free sport
• Uphold and preserve the ethics of the sport
• Ensure that athletes have an opportunity to compete equally
• Safeguard the physical health and mental health of athletes
• Encourage affiliate federations to execute similar regulations with their athletes

The use, possession and/or trafficking of prohibited substances, methods, or the encouragement or counseling to use prohibited substances, or methods, and/or taking measures to mask the use of prohibited substances, or methods by any participant in competitions over which the IBJJF has jurisdiction is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

How to get an IBJJF Membership Card

To compete in IBJJF tournaments you need a membership card to identify yourself. These cards are used to validate that athletes are who they say they are and are the rank that they are competing in.

Getting a member is a necessity for you to be able to compete in these tournaments, there are no exceptions to this rule.

Lucky for you, getting one is very easy. here are the steps to get your IBJJF Membership Card:

1. Go to IBJJF’s Official Website (here) and start to fill out your application
2. Upload all documentation to prove your identity (Passport Style Photo, Government Issue ID) and pay the $40 processing fee
3. The IBJJF team will then review the documentation that was submitted and upon approval, you are now set to compete in any IBJJF tournament around the world

*Important note* You will need to renew your IBJJF membership card each year to validate any belt changes. This is to protect athletes in the case that they get a promotion and again to validate that you are not sandbagging or competing under someone else’s name

Brief History of IBJJF 

The IBJJF was founded in 1994 by Carlos Gracie Jr., a member of the renowned Gracie family who played a significant role in the development and popularization of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Over the years, IBJJF has played a pivotal role in the global expansion of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It has organized and sanctioned competitions across the globe and contributed to the now worldwide popularity of martial arts.

• What is IBJJF?

Over the years, the IBJJF has refined and expanded its ruleset to govern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions. This includes specific guidelines for belt promotions, competition scoring, and permissible techniques. The IBJJF rules have become a standard reference in the BJJ community. The IBJJF introduced a ranking system that awards points to competitors based on their performance in IBJJF events. These points contribute to an individual’s overall ranking within the organization and recognize their accomplishments and skill level (current rankings).