Regulations & Rules
Competing under IBJJF international standards
IBJJF Rules
All competition matches follow the internationally recognized IBJJF ruleset for both Gi and No-Gi divisions.
Division Categories
Modified kids divisions with non-standard weight classes. Adults use standard IBJJF categories.
Weight Classes
Standard IBJJF weight divisions for adults. Kids have modified weight classes for safety and fair competition.
Absolute Pro
Absolute Pro division matches are 8 minutes (modified from the standard 10 minutes).
AFG OPEN CHALLENGE RULE
Only coaches with a purple belt or above may ask for a video review of a referee's call, as follows.
- Who: only coaches with a valid coach credential (purple belt and above). Stand up, raise your hand and stay standing until the referee acknowledges you.
- When: the referee will pause the match at a stable position. A challenge must be made before the result is announced. Once the winner's hand is raised, the result is final.
- Review: the Head Referee reviews the video with the mat referee. A call is changed only if the video clearly shows an error.
- You may challenge: points, a missed or wrong score, and scoreboard errors. Only the most recent action can be challenged.
- You may not challenge: advantages, penalties for passivity or stalling, safety stops, and anything already reviewed.
- Number of challenges: if your challenge is accepted, you keep the right to challenge. If it is rejected, that athlete has no more challenges for the rest of the event. The right comes back for the final and the third-place match (gold and bronze medal matches).
- Conduct: tell the referee only which action to review. No arguing. Protesting without a formal challenge may lead to a penalty or removal from the mat area. Calls that could have been challenged cannot be protested after the match.