American Grappling Federation · Any experience in submission grappling arts such as (but not excluded to) Judo, Sambo, Submission

American

Grappling

Federation

General Rules and Competition Guidelines

2014 Last Update: September 2014

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Table of Contents

Page 3 – Divisions

- Age Groups - Experience Levels - Gi and No Gi Weight Divisions

Page 9 – Match Durations

- Gi Divisions - No Gi Divisions

Page 10 – Scoring

- No Gi Division Specific Rules

- Points – Gi and No Gi

- Advantages

- Submission

- Referee Stoppage

- Overtime

Page 12 – Disqualification

Page 14 – Hygiene and Uniform Guidelines - Hygiene Guidelines

- Uniform Guidelines

Page 16 – Illegal Techniques

- Kids / Teens / Juveniles – No Gi Illegal Techniques

- Adults / Masters / Seniors – No Gi Illegal Techniques

- Kids / Teens – Gi Illegal Techniques - Juvenile / Adults / Masters / Seniors – Gi Illegal Techniques

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Divisions

No matter what your weight, age or skill level, the American Grappling Federation has you covered! With well over 1,800 possible weight, age and experience combinations, we are certain we can find a division for you.

When creating divisions, it is common to mix the genders for the Kids divisions in order to ensure matches. Genders will not be mixed in the Juvenile, Adult, Masters, or Seniors divisions.

Age Groups Our age groups are broken down into Kids, Juveniles, Adults, Masters and Seniors. When selecting your

proper age category, you should use the one that properly reflects your age on the date of the

tournament.

Kids (4-15 years old)

- Tiny Kids (4-6 years old) - Kids (7-9 years old) - Pre Teen (10-12 years old) - Teen (12-15 years old)

Juvenile (16-17 years old)

Adult (18-29 years old)

Masters (30-39 years old)

Seniors (40 years old and above)

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Experience Levels

Gi - Kids

o White o Grey

Grey/White stripe Sold Grey Grey/Black stripe

o Yellow Yellow /White stripe Sold Yellow Yellow /Black stripe

o Orange Orange /White stripe Sold Orange Orange /Black stripe

o Green Green /White stripe Sold Green Green /Black stripe

- Juvenile, Adults, Masters and Seniors

o White o Blue o Purple o Brown o Black

In the gi divisions, you must register for the division you hold rank in.

Example:

If you are a Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, you can only compete in the Blue belt division. You cannot register as a Purple belt.

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No Gi - Kids

o Novice (< 6 months) o Beginner (6 months – 1 year) o Intermediate (1 – 2 years) o Advanced (2 – 3 years) o Pro (3+ years)

- Juvenile, Adults, Masters and Seniors

o Beginner (< 1 year) o Intermediate (1 – 2 years) o Advanced (2 – 4 years) o Pro (4+ years)

Any experience in submission grappling arts such as (but not excluded to) Judo, Sambo, Submission Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Catch Wrestling, or Japanese Ju Jitsu will count in experience for the No Gi divisions.

Wrestlers must not start in Novice in the Kids division. Adult wrestlers must start at Beginner and then ADD submission grappling experience to figure out their division level.

Examples:

A child that has been training BJJ for 2.5 years and has a rank of Yellow belt in BJJ, but has only trained a handful of times in no gi grappling, must register in the Intermediate division.

An adult who trained 4 years of wrestling in High School, but has a rank of White belt in BJJ, must register in the Pro division when competing in our no gi divisions.

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Gi and No Gi Weight Divisions Kids can easily fluctuate in weight over the course of a few weeks. Because of this, all kid competitors will be permitted a 1 lb allowance when weighing in for their matches. However, it is advised that if your child is close to the maximum weight limit, that you register them at a higher weight class to avoid disqualification.

All weigh ins are conducted WITHOUT the gi.

Kids weight classes are separated by 10 lbs. Juvenile, Adult, Masters, and Seniors weight classes are separated by 15 lbs.

Kids

Weight LBS

Light Rooster 45

Rooster 55

Light Feather 65

Feather 75

Light 85

Middle 95

Medium Heavy 105

Heavy 115

Super Heavy 125

Ultra Heavy 145

Super Ultra Heavy 146 +

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Juveniles, Adults, Masters and Seniors (Male)

Weight LBS

Light Rooster 115

Rooster 130

Light Feather 145

Feather 160

Light 175

Middle 190

Medium Heavy 205

Heavy 220

Super Heavy 235

Ultra Heavy 236 +

Open Class Any Weight

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Juveniles, Adults, Masters and Seniors (Female)

Weight LBS

Light Rooster 105

Light Feather 120

Feather 135

Light 150

Middle 165

Medium Heavy 180

Heavy 180 +

Open Class Any Weight

Open Class (Absolute) The Open Class divisions are for competitors who wish to compete in their age and experience division, regardless of weight restrictions.

Example:

A competitor can be in the adult Purple belt Open Class (Absolute) and compete against other Purple belt ranked adults of any weight.

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Match Durations

Gi Divisions - Tiny Kids – 3 minutes - Kids – 3 minutes - Pre Teen – 3 minutes - Teen – 4 minutes - Juvenile – 5 minutes - Adult

o White – 5 minutes o Blue – 6 minutes o Purple – 6 minutes o Brown – 6 minutes o Black – 6 minutes

- Master o White – 5 minutes o Blue – 5 minutes o Purple – 6 minutes o Brown – 6 minutes o Black – 6 minutes

- Senior o White – 5 minutes o Blue – 5 minutes o Purple – 5 minutes o Brown – 5 minutes o Black – 5 minutes

No Gi Divisions - Tiny Kids – 3 minutes - Kids – 3 minutes - Pre Teen – 3 minutes - Teen – 4 minutes - Juvenile – 5 minutes - Adult

o Beginner - 5 minutes o Intermediate – 5 minutes o Advanced – 6 minutes o Pro – 6 minutes

- Master - 5 minutes - Senior – 5 minutes

The No Gi divisions have time specific scoring rules. Please refer to the Scoring section for more information.

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Scoring

No Gi Division Specific Rules Points are not scored for the first half of all of our No Gi matches. This is designed to encourage submission attempts and not penalize competitors willing to be more aggressive.

If a person is in a position that would be awarded points, such as back, mount or knee on belly, the position must be held for 3 seconds after the Point Half has started. ‘Action’ points such as passing the guard, takedown and sweeps will not be awarded when points begin. The full action must take place after points begin.

Points – Gi and No Gi

Action Points

Takedown 2

Sweep 2

Knee on Belly 2

Guard Pass 3

Back (Body Triangle or Hooks)

4

Mount 4

All takedowns, guard passes, sweeps to side control/north-south control, knee on belly, mounts and back control must be held for 3 seconds in order for points to be awarded.

Points will not be awarded for competitors who voluntarily abandon a position and then regain that same position.

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Advantages

Advantages are only awarded for strong submission attempts. The submission must be defended in

order for the advantage to be given. If the submission was not defended, it would cause a tap.

Submission

A competitor wins via submission by forcing an opponent to:

- Physically tap

o Tap with hand on an opponent or on the mat

o Tap with foot on the mat

- Verbally tap

o Request the referee to stop the match

o Yell in pain while a match is in progress

Referee Stoppage

The referee has the ability to stop a match when a competitor is caught in a submission that could cause

a serious injury.

Overtime

There is no referee decision. Overtime is applied when the score is tied (points and advantages are

equal).

Overtime will begin immediately after the regulation time period ends. The winner is determined by

first to points or advantage.

In a submission only division, the winner is determined by first to advantage or submission.

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Disqualification

There are numerous ways an opponent can be disqualified. The disqualification can be specific to a

match or the tournament in general.

Verbal request

If a referee or ring coordinator receives a verbal request from the competitor or the competitor’s coach.

Failure to report when bracket is called

If the competitor does not show up when the competitor’s name is called.

Uniform requirements not properly met

Please see the uniform guidelines (page 14).

Equipment malfunction

Please see the uniform guidelines (page 14).

Unsportsmanlike conduct

These infractions may result in the competitor being disqualified or a warning/penalty being assessed.

The fouls are not limited to, but include:

- Striking of any type

- Biting

- Spitting

- Eye gouging

- Groin attacks

- Hair pulling

- Fish hooking

- Small joint manipulation

- Putting fingers in any orifice

- Excessive talking during the match

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Rule infractions

These infractions will result in the competitor being disqualified. The fouls are not limited to, but

include:

- Slamming

- Scissor take downs

- Clawing, pinching or twisting of skin

- Use of foul language

- Immoral acts directed towards any member of the staff, crowd or competitor

- Malicious conduct

- Any contact with the referee

- Interference by a coach

- Attacking an opponent after a match has been stopped

- Performing any illegal submission attempt for that particular division

Medical issues Not limited to, but including: cramping, vomiting, loss of bowels, loss of consciousness, or bleeding that

cannot be stopped a second time.

Example:

If a competitor bleeds from the nose and stops the bleeding, he can continue. If his lip starts bleeding,

he is allowed to stop that bleeding and continue. However, the same spot cannot bleed more than

once.

Excessive penalties/warnings After sufficient warnings have been made, it is the referee’s discretion to disqualify an opponent if the

action continues.

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Hygiene and Uniform Guidelines

Competitors must follow the uniform and hygiene requirements in order to be permitted to compete.

Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

Hygiene Guidelines - Finger and toenails must be trimmed with no sharp edges

- Finger and toenails must be clean with no dirt underneath them

- Competitors with long hair must have it controlled so that it does not interfere with either the

competitor or their opponent

- Competitor must not have any open cuts or lacerations

- Competitor cannot compete if they have any active skin infections: ringworm, staph, herpes,

chicken pox, etc

- Skin must be dry and not be slippery (no lotions, oils or grease that can cause excess slippage)

Uniform Guidelines

General allowances

- Cups are permitted

- Headgear of any type is not permitted

- Mouthpieces are recommended but not required

- Wrestling shoes are not permitted

- Knee braces are permitted only if specific permission has been given by the tournament director

Gi

- Competitor must wear a valid BJJ kimono

- The kimono must not have any tears or loose thread

- The kimono must be clean and be free of any excessive stains and odors

- Any color kimono is permitted, however the top and bottoms must match

- Belt must be intact and in good shape

- Pants cannot be shorter than 4 inches above the ankle bone

- Jacket sleeves cannot be shorter than 3 inches from the wrist

- Patches cannot be used in a manner that prevents grips or to cover tears

- Competitors are not allowed to wear rash guards under their gi unless specific permission is

granted by the tournament director. Female competitors are excluded from this rule.

- Competitors are not allowed to wear t-shirts under their gi

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No Gi

- Competitor must wear a rash guard (t-shirts are not permitted)

- Short and long sleeve rash guards are permitted

- Competitor may wear fight shorts, board shorts, spats or Lycra shorts.

- Kimono pants are not permitted

- Shorts with metal grommets are not permitted

- Shorts with pockets are not permitted

- Shorts with strings are permitted, however the strings must be tucked in and the pants tied tight

so that the pants do not fall off during a match

If a uniform is damaged during a match, the referee will allow a competitor 5 minutes to change the

uniform and return to the match. If the period of time exceeds 5 minutes, then the referee will

disqualify the competitor.

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Illegal Techniques

Kids / Teens / Juveniles – No Gi Illegal Techniques

Novice, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced

- NO Banana splits

- NO Bicep slicers

- NO Body lock inside the closed guard

- NO Calf slicer

- NO Heel hook

- NO Kneebar

- NO Reaping the knee

- NO Scissor takedown (includes hand on mat)

- NO Slam

- NO Small joint manipulation

- NO Spinal lock without choke (Twisters)

- NO Straight foot lock

- NO Toe hold

- NO Wrist lock

Pro

- NO Bicep slicers


- NO Calf slicer

- NO Heel hook

- NO Kneebar



- NO Slam




- NO Toe hold

- NO Wrist lock

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Adults / Masters / Seniors – No Gi Illegal Techniques

Novice

- NO Bicep slicers

- NO Calf slicer

- NO Heel hook



- NO Slam



Beginner

- NO Heel hook



- NO Slam



Advanced and Pro

- NO Slam


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Kids / Teens – Gi Illegal Techniques

Kids

- NO Banana splits

- NO Bicep slicers


- NO Calf slicer

- NO Ezekial choke

- NO Heel hook

- NO Kneebar



- NO Slam




- NO Toe hold

- NO Wrist lock

Teen

- NO Bicep slicers


- NO Calf slicer

- NO Ezekial choke

- NO Heel hook

- NO Kneebar



- NO Slam




- NO Toe hold

- NO Wrist lock

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Juvenile / Adults / Masters / Seniors – Gi Illegal Techniques

White

- NO Bicep slicers


- NO Calf slicer

- NO Heel hook

- NO Kneebar



- NO Slam



- NO Toe hold

- NO Wrist lock

Blue

- NO Bicep slicers

- NO Calf slicer

- NO Heel hook

- NO Kneebar



- NO Slam



- NO Toe hold

Purple

- NO Bicep slicers

- NO Calf slicer

- NO Heel hook



- NO Slam



- NO Toe hold

Brown and Black

- NO Heel hook



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- NO Slam



Documents

American Grappling Federation · Any experience in submission grappling arts such as (but not excluded to) Judo, Sambo, Submission