S² rules and scoring system have been designed to focus on fairness and action while maintaining safety for all competitors.  See what makes our scoring system different.

It is to your advantage to take a moment to familiarize yourself with the rules and scoring before competition.

GENERAL RULES

-    All shorts must have a drawstring or be re-enforced in some way

-    Shoes are not allowed

-    Excessive taping of hands, wrists and feet is not allowe

-    Competitors may not wear clothing that has words, logos, patches or graphics that are deemed offensive or degrading.

-    Competitors may not wear joint supports that contain any metal or hard plastic pieces.  Neoprene sleeves for joint support will be allowed.

-    Competitors must have fingernails and toenails cut short

-    All hair that hangs below the shoulders must be, at the very least, put into a ponytail

-    For Gi divisions….a full Gi and belt must be worn, no cut off or short sleeve Gis will be allowed. Gis may be any color.  Rash guards, t-shirts and/or sports bras for women may be worn underneath the Gi.

COMPETITION RULES

-    If there is stalling on the ground by both competitors, the referee will issue one warning.  If that warning is not heeded the referee will reverse the position, top to bottom.

-    If there is stalling on the ground by one competitor, the referee will issue one warning.  If that warning is not heeded the referee will deduct 2 points from the stalling competitor. 

-    If there is stalling while the competitors are standing, the referee will issue one warning.  If that warning is not heeded the referee will stop the match and the competitors will be restarted in the full guard position.  The referee will flip a coin at which time the winner of the coin toss will select the top or bottom position for the restart.

-    If the competitors go off the mat, or out of the ring, the match will be stopped and the competitors will be restarted in the middle of the ring in the same position in which they were stopped.  If that position cannot be determined both competitors will be restarted in the standing position.

-    If a competitor purposely flees the mat either to avoid a takedown attempt or a submission attempt the referee will issue one warning.  If this infraction occurs again the referee will deduct 2 points from the fleeing competitor.

-    The referee has the right to stop time and check the condition of a competitor (cuts, injuries, etc.)

WAYS TO WIN  

-    By submission whether by tapping or verbally acknowledging surrender.  A competitor can tap with their hands, feet, or even a nod of their head.  If a competitor is caught in a submission, yelling or screaming out will be considered a tap.  It is very important that all competitors understand how to “tap out” when caught in a submission hold.

-    Doctor stoppage

-    Corner throws in the towel

-    Disqualification

-    Forfeit

-    Point accumulation a.k.a. the “Skunk Rule” (see scoring)

LEGAL TECHNIQUES

ALL CHILDREN’S DIVISIONS

-    All submissions except for submission attacks below the waist (footlocks, kneebars, toe holds, heel hooks, etc.) & neck cranks

ALL TEEN, BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE (no gi), WHITE BELT (gi), & BLUE BELT DIVISIONS (gi)

-    All submissions except for heelhooks & neck cranks

ADVANCED (no gi), PRO (no gi) & PURPLE BELT + ABOVE (gi)

-    All submissions are legal in No Gi.  Heel Hooks not allowed in Gi divisions.

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES FOR ALL DIVISIONS

-    Slamming from the guard.  Slamming from the guard constitutes picking your opponent up above waist level and forcefully slamming them to the mat.

-    Strikes of any kind to any part of the body or head

-    Attacks to the front of the windpipe (clutching the trachea or fingers directly into the throat)

-    Attacks to the eyes with any part of the body (eye gouge, elbow to the eye, etc.)

-    Pushing palm or elbow directly into the nose

-    Fish hooking, biting, pulling hair, spitting, swearing, pinching or twisting of skin

-    Sticking a finger into a cut of an opponent

-    Small joint manipulation (fingers and toes).  Illegal to use as a submission or as an escape from a submission hold.

-    Putting a finger into any orifice

-    Purposely throwing an opponent off of the mat

-    Unsportsmanlike conduct

-    Interference by a corner with any fighter or tournament official

-    Attacking an opponent either before the match has started or after it has ended, or during a rest period in between rounds

SCORING

Skunk Rule:  A competitor may win the fight by the “Skunk Rule” if he reaches 15 total points before the end of the regulation time period.

Dominant Control:  Dominant Control is referred to as holding a point awarding position for at least 3 seconds (mount-position, back-mount, knee on stomach, or side-mount after pass)

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POINTS ARE AWARDED FOR:      

TAKEDOWN WITH NO DOMINANT CONTROL – 2 POINTS

-    2 points will be awarded when one competitor completes their takedown but ends up in a neutral position (in opponents guard or half guard) or when there is a scramble for position on the ground when the takedown occurs (no dominate control).

TAKEDOWN TO DOMINANT CONTROL – 3 POINTS

-    3 points will be awarded when one competitor completes their takedown and ends up in a position off of the takedown with dominant control.

Notes on Takedowns: 

1.    To determine the takedown, the referee will look to who initiated the takedown and how it ended up.  For example, if one competitor shoots, his opponent sprawls, and the sprawling opponent then pulls guard, a takedown is awarded because the initial movement was a takedown attempt.  If however a competitor aggressively pulls guard from standing as the initial movement no takedown is awarded.
2.    Playing for takedown points will not be rewarded.  For example, if a competitor gets a takedown to guard, opens the guard, stands, walks away and disengages the ground fighting he will be given a warning for the first offence.  If the same or like scenario occurs again the referee will cease awarding takedown points to this competitor for the remainder of the match.  Obviously during the natural progression of a match both competitors may scramble and end up on their feet again; this is normal.  What this Note refers to is when one competitor purposely disengages their opponent for the sole purpose of getting the fight back to the standing position in an attempt to rack up points.
3.    Points will be awarded for the takedown only.  For example; if you take your opponent down
directly into the mount position you will be awarded 3 points but will not be awarded an additional 4 points for the mount.  To obtain points for the mount it must be because you bettered your position on the ground.
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GUARD PASS TO DOMINANT CONTROL – 3 POINTS

-    After passing the opponents legs the competitor must clearly establish a dominant control position. 
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SWEEP – 2 POINTS

-    A sweep is considered an offensively attempted and completed turnover from the guard or half-guard position.
-    Escapes will not be considered as a sweep. The following will be considered non-point awarding escapes.  For example…

a.    From bottom mount you bridge into the guard
b.    From bottom side-mount you bridge and roll your opponent over where you now are on top
c.    From bottom north-south you bridge and roll your opponent over where you are now on top.

-    If you make a sweep into mount (like the umpa turnover) or directly to knee on stomach and
hold that position for 3 seconds you will be awarded the points for the sweep plus the control position.
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MOUNT POSITION – 4 POINTS

-    Must have control with both feet and knees on the ground or clearly be fully mounted on your opponent with dominant control.
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BACK MOUNT POSITION – 4 POINTS

-    Must have control with both hooks in or with a fully locked in body triangle.  The only exception to this is if your opponent is completely flat, face down on the mat and you are straddled on his back with both knees and feet on the ground.  This will be considered dominant control.
-    You will not be awarded another 4 points for back mount if, for example, you have both hooks in, your opponent removes one hook and then you replace that same hook.  There will only be another 4 points awarded for back mount only if there is a complete change of position and then the back mount is achieved again. 
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KNEE ON STOMACH – 2 POINTS

-    Must have both knees off of the ground. One knee on the stomach, the other completely off the ground to be considered dominant control.
-    You will not be awarded another 4 points for knee on stomach if, for example you transition from knee on stomach to side-mount and immediately hop back up to knee on stomach in an attempt to rack up points.

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STRONG SUBMISSION ATTEMPT – 1 POINT

-    1 point will be awarded for a strong submission attempt.  A submission attempt is considered strong when one or more of the following takes place:

a.    The opponent takes time to escape
b.    Once an escape is made the opponent does not instantly move to an attack of his own, but instead assumes a defensive posture.
c.    The submission attempt is locked in or is nearly locked in properly.
d.    The defender is in “danger”
e.    The attempted finish is not a “low percentage” attempt or submission (wrist lock, body scissor, forearm pushing into the neck)

TIME LIMITS

* In the event of a tie point total at the end of the regulation time period, the competitors will be given an additional 3-minute time period to determine the winner.  If, at the end of this extra 3-minute time period there is a tie, the referee will decide the winner of all divisions except during the No Gi Absolute Championship matches.  In the No Gi Absolute Championship matches there will be a no time limit at all. 

Click Here for more information about the Inaugural Championship.