1. No unsportsmanlike conduct will be allowed. You may be disqualified or ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. The referees will be shown maximum respect at all times. Their decisions are final and will not be overturned.
2. No striking, biting, eye gouging (includes chin to eye), head butting, small joint manipulation (finger or toe locks), hair pulling, grabbing the windpipe, or ear pulling will be permitted.
3. No slamming allowed. Illegal slamming will be defined as slamming your opponent to escape submissions and/or to pass the guard; or standing from the guard and/or jumping from a standing position to slam your opponent. Slamming will result in an automatic DQ. There are no exceptions to this rule. Takedowns are not considered slams, but you must deliver your opponent safely to the mat.
4. No infectious skin diseases (such as ringworm, staph, and MRSA) or open wounds will be permitted. No lubricants, oils, or lotions of any kind will be permitted on any part of the body or clothing.
5. Competitors will be allowed to continue grappling anywhere on the matted area, provided they don't interfere with another match. If the competitors near the edge of the mat, they will be restarted from the same position, unless the referee is unable to duplicate the position for any reason. In case the referee is unable to duplicate the position, the competitors will restart from a standing position.
6. If a competitor flees the ring when a submission is locked in and the competitor is obviously fleeing to avoid submission, he or she will be automatically disqualified.
7. Women will not be permitted to compete in Men's brackets UNLESS the number of female grapplers is too low. Men will not be permitted to compete in Women's brackets. Teens (13+) may compete in Men's or Women's divisions with permission from their parent or coach.
8. In Youth (ages 4-17) matches, the referee has the discretion to call a match if the referee believes that a submission will cause immediate damage or injury, especially in the beginner divisions.
9. Mouthpieces are allowed. Groin protection is not allowed.
10. Athletes must bring flip flops or shoes to wear outside the mats.

Note: Bama Grappling reserves the right to expand or combine divisions to accommodate competitors.

Adult Divisions

Youth Divisions - Gi & No-Gi

All competitors must report to warm up area thirty (30) minutes before their matches. We will release the schedule a day before the competition. Weigh ins and clothing inspection will be twenty (20) minutes before your match.

Gi and No Gi Age Level

Youth (4-17 years)
Adult (18-29 years)
Master (30-39 years)
Executive (40 years and up)

Adult, Master and Executive Gi and No Gi Skill Levels
(Men and Women)

*Adult, Masters, and Executive competitive wrestlers or judo practitioners are required to compete at blue belt or intermediate level.

Youth Gi and No Gi Skill Levels

Rules

1. No grabbing of any clothing, including your own, will be permitted.
2. Athletes must wear a shirt or rashguard. Shirts must be tight fitting; rashguards are recommended.
3. Shorts without pockets are required.
4. Wrestling shoes are not allowed.
5. Wristlocks and any submissions below the waist are illegal in all Youth brackets.
6. Athlete must compete in the same belt level in No Gi or Gi divisions.
7. Beginners: The only legal submission below the waist at this level are straight ankle locks (AKA straight footlock).
8. Intermediate: All ankle and wrist locks are allowed at this level. Including the belly down ankle lock.
9. Advanced and Expert: Bicep/calf slicers (crushers) and All kneebars, including reaping the knee and heel hooks, are allowed at these levels.
10. Flying scissors takedowns, neck cranks, and spine locks are not allowed at any level.

Match Lengths

Men and Women Brackets*

• Beginner:        5 minutes
• Intermediate:  6 minutes
• Advanced:      7 minutes
• Expert:            8 minutes

*All master and executive divisions are five (5) minutes.

All final matches for Adult Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert levels will be ten (10) minutes and submission only. If there is not a winner after ten (10) minutes there will be a two (2) minute match. The first competitor to score during the two (2) minutes will be the winner. If there is still no winner after the two (2) minute match the referee will make a decision based on the two (2) minute match.

Youth Brackets

• Ages 4-6:        3 minutes
• Ages 7-9:        3 minutes
• Ages 10- 12:   3 minutes
• Ages 13-15:    4 minutes
• Ages 16-17:    5 minutes

***No submissions allowed for ages 4-6

Rules

1. Heel hooks, reaping the knee, twisting knee locks, "flying scissors" takedowns, and neck cranks are NEVER legal in Gi matches. Straight ankle locks are ILLEGAL for youths, but are legal in all other divisions.
2. Kneebars, figure-four toeholds, and compression locks (AKA "slicers", "crushers") are legal in brown and black belt divisions only.
3. Wristlocks and any submissions below the waist are illegal in all Youth brackets.
4. Gi divisions require a clean, properly fitted Jiu Jitsu or Judo Gi. 
5. All competitors must compete using the rank awarded to them by their instructor. Competitors will not be permitted to compete at a higher belt level than their current belt.

Match Lengths

Men and Women Brackets*

• White Belt:      5 minutes
• Blue Belt:        6 minutes
• Purple Belt:     7 minutes
• Brown Belt:     8 minutes
• Black Belt:      10 minutes

*All master and executive divisions are five (5) minutes.

All final matches for Adult Blue, Purple, Brown and Black levels will be ten (10) minutes and submission only. If there is not a winner after ten (10) minutes there will be a two (2) minute match. The first competitor to score during the two (2) minutes will be the winner. If there is still no winner after the two (2) minute match the referee will make a decision based on the two (2) minute match.

Youth Brackets

• Ages 4-6:        3 minutes
• Ages 7-9:        3 minutes
• Ages 10- 12:   3 minutes
• Ages 13-15:    4 minutes
• Ages 16-17:    5 minutes

*** No submissions allowed for ages 4-6

The Super Absolute Division will be available the day of the competition. It will cost $20 to compete.
You have to compete in at least one division in order to signup for the Super Absolute Division.

• Any belt
• Adult - 18 years and up; Youth 14-17 years
• Match length: 6 minutes
• Expert rules for Adults; Blue Belt rules for Youth
• Submission only - If there is not a winner after six (6) minutes there will be a one (1) minute match. The first competitor to score during the one (1) minute will be the winner. If there is still no winner after the one (1) minute match the referee will make a decision based on the one (1) minute match.
• One winner for No Gi - Men
• One winner for No Gi - Women
• One winner for Gi - Men
• One winner for Gi - Women
• One winner for No Gi - Boys
• One winner for No Gi - Girls
• One winner for Gi - Boys
• One winner for Gi - Girls

1. To gain points for a position, the competitor must show clear control for 3 seconds (including takedowns and throws).
2. Advantages are used as a tiebreaker. The referee will score advantages in the event of a near submission or score (near takedown, near guard  pass, etc.).
3. No Stalling: Referee will issue warnings for the 1st offense of stalling (i.e. backing out of the guard without engaging, hugging the opponent's hips inside the guard, backing away from the opponent out of bounds, etc.). A 2nd offense will result in an advantage for the staller's opponent. A 3rd offense will result in a 2 point deduction. A 4th offense will result in a disqualification.
4. If a competitor flees the ring to avoid a takedown and it is obvious that the competitor is going to be taken down, his or her opponent will be awarded two points.
5. There are no points for reversals. It is a person's obligation to escape a bad position (mount, rear mount, or side control). No points are awarded for these escapes.

2 Points

• Takedown or throw
• Sweep
• Knee on stomach

3 Points

• Passing your opponent's guard

4 Points

• Mounted position
• Back mount with hooks in
• Back mount knees on ground, opponent flat on stomach

We will award the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place team overall.

• 1st place finish gets five (5) points.
• 2nd place finish gets three (3) points.
• 3rd place finish gets one (1) point.

In case of a tie the number of 1st place finishes will determine the winner. If still tied the number of 2nd place finishes will determine the winner.

We will use a bracket system for all divisions. The semi-final winners will compete for 1st and 2nd place. The semi-final losers will get 3rd place.