Understanding the Jiu Jitsu Point System

If you are new to jiu jitsu competitions, the scoring can feel confusing at first. A match may look like two people moving through positions quickly, while the referee is awarding points, advantages, or penalties that are not always obvious from the stands.

This guide is meant to give beginners and parents a simple understanding of how points usually work in a jiu jitsu tournament.

Rules can vary by tournament organization, so always check the specific rules for the event you are attending. Some tournaments follow IBJJF-style scoring, while others may have their own rule set, especially for no-gi divisions.

How Matches Are Won

A jiu jitsu match can usually be won in a few different ways:

• Submission

• Points

• Advantages

• Referee decision

• Opponent disqualification

A submission ends the match immediately. If no one gets a submission, the competitor with the most points at the end of the match usually wins. If the points are tied, advantages and penalties may be used to determine the winner.

What Are Points Awarded For?

In general, points are awarded when a competitor reaches and controls a better position. Most scoring positions need to be held for about three seconds before points are awarded.

Common scoring actions include:

Takedown: 2 Points

A takedown happens when one competitor brings the other competitor from standing to the ground and establishes control.

Not every fall or scramble automatically counts as a takedown. The referee is looking for control, not just movement.

Sweep: 2 Points

A sweep happens when the person on bottom uses guard to reverse the position and come on top.

This is different from simply escaping a bad position. To score a sweep, the movement usually needs to start from a guard position and end with the competitor coming up on top with control.

Knee on Belly: 2 Points

Knee on belly happens when the top competitor controls their opponent with one knee across the belly, ribs, or chest area while the opponent is on their back.

The position usually needs to be controlled for a few seconds before points are awarded.

Guard Pass: 3 Points

A guard pass happens when the top competitor gets past the bottom competitor’s legs and establishes control in a dominant position, such as side control or north-south.

Passing the guard is valuable because the top competitor has moved past one of the main defensive positions in jiu jitsu.

Mount: 4 Points

Mount happens when one competitor sits on top of the opponent’s torso with control.

This is considered a strong position because the person on top has a lot of control and many attacking options.

Back Control: 4 Points

Back control happens when one competitor takes the opponent’s back and establishes control, often with both hooks in or another approved form of control, depending on the tournament rules.

Back control is one of the strongest positions in jiu jitsu because it gives the attacking competitor access to submissions while making it harder for the opponent to defend.

What Are Advantages?

An advantage is sometimes awarded when a competitor comes close to scoring points or nearly finishes a submission, but does not fully complete the action.

For example, a competitor might almost pass the guard, almost complete a sweep, or threaten a strong submission attempt. If the referee believes the action was meaningful but not enough for points, they may award an advantage.

Advantages can matter if the match ends with the score tied.

What Are Penalties?

Penalties may be given for rule violations, stalling, illegal grips, illegal techniques, stepping out of bounds to avoid action, or other behavior that goes against the tournament rules.

Penalties can affect the outcome of a match, especially when the score is close.

Why Escapes Usually Do Not Score

One thing that can confuse new spectators is that escapes usually do not earn points by themselves.

For example, escaping mount or getting out of side control is important, but it usually does not score unless the competitor also improves position in a way that meets the scoring rules.

Jiu jitsu points generally reward advancing to dominant positions, not just surviving or escaping bad ones.

For Parents Watching From the Stands

If you are watching your child compete, you do not need to understand every detail right away. A simple way to follow the match is to look for who is improving their position and maintaining control.

Ask yourself:

• Did they bring their opponent to the ground?

• Did they reverse from bottom to top?

• Did they get past the legs?

• Did they reach mount or back control?

• Did they hold the position long enough?

That will help you understand why points may be awarded.

Final Thoughts

The jiu jitsu point system is designed to reward control, positional progress, and submission attempts. It can seem complicated at first, but the basics become easier to understand once you know what the referee is looking for.

For beginners, the most important thing is not memorizing every rule. It is understanding that points are generally awarded for moving to better positions and controlling those positions.

Before every tournament, competitors and parents should review the event’s rules and ask their coach if they have questions.