Before You Register
Division Entry Requirements.
Gi Divisions
You Must Enter Your Ranked Belt Level.
You are required to enter your officially ranked belt level in all Gi divisions.
- White belts may NOT enter the Blue belt Gi division
- Blue belts may NOT enter the Purple belt Gi division
- Purple belts may NOT enter the Brown/Black belt Gi division
NoGi Divisions
Enter Based on Your NoGi Skill Level.
You have the liberty to enter the NoGi division based on your NoGi skill level -- not necessarily your belt rank.
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White Belt = Beginner skill level
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Blue Belt = Intermediate skill level
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Purple Belt = Advanced skill level
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Brown/Black Belt = Expert skill level
Wrestlers should enter at the Blue Belt (Intermediate) level.
Age Categories & Timing
Age Groups & Match Lengths.
Adult
16--29 Years Old
Executive
30--39 Years Old
Master
40+ Years Old
Match Lengths by Belt
| White Belt | 6 Minutes | |
| Blue Belt | 8 Minutes | |
| Purple, Brown & Black Belt | 10 Minutes |
Victory Condition
How to Win.
Competitors must submit their opponent within the match time limit to win and advance in the bracket. There are no points or advantages calculated for any positions or moves. You win by submitting your opponent.
If no submission occurs during the allotted time, a winner is determined by Sudden Death Overtime. Awards of 1st, 2nd & 3rd place medals are given to place-winners in every bracket.
If no submission occurs during the allotted time, a winner is determined by Sudden Death Overtime. Awards of 1st, 2nd & 3rd place medals are given to place-winners in every bracket.
When Time Expires Without a Submission
Sudden Death Overtime.
How Overtime Works
In all sudden death overtime rounds, the referee will allow the fight to continue as long as the attacking competitor has a threat of a submission. The attacker may chain as many submission attempts together as they like -- as long as there is a direct submission threat, the round continues.
To win a sudden death round: You must submit your opponent AND escape their attempt to submit you when it's their turn. If both competitors escape, or if both submit during a round, the ref moves to the next sudden death round -- until there is a clear winner.
To win a sudden death round: You must submit your opponent AND escape their attempt to submit you when it's their turn. If both competitors escape, or if both submit during a round, the ref moves to the next sudden death round -- until there is a clear winner.
White Belt Exception: White belts will NOT cycle through a 2nd round of sudden death. If there is no clear winner after the Triangle round, a winner is determined by Takedown (see Round 4 below).
1
Back Take
Objective: Submit your opponent from the back.
The attacker starts with an over/under seatbelt grip. The defender must escape before being submitted.
The attacker starts with an over/under seatbelt grip. The defender must escape before being submitted.
If the attacker ends up mounting the defender during the escape, this IS considered an escape from the back. Any top position the attacker ends up in also counts as an escape.
2
Armbar
Objective: Submit your opponent before they escape.
Attacker: Legs positioned over the opponent's neck and chest. Post the hand closest to the opponent's head on the mat. The other arm vines inside the opponent's defending arm and grabs your own thigh.
Defender: Grab your hand, wrist, or forearm. You may not grab the gi or bring hands on/under the attacker's legs until the referee says fight.
Attacker: Legs positioned over the opponent's neck and chest. Post the hand closest to the opponent's head on the mat. The other arm vines inside the opponent's defending arm and grabs your own thigh.
Defender: Grab your hand, wrist, or forearm. You may not grab the gi or bring hands on/under the attacker's legs until the referee says fight.
3
Triangle
Objective: Submit your opponent from the triangle position.
The bottom competitor applies the triangle and places both hands on the mat or behind their head. The top defending competitor must be able to post their triangled arm, palm-down on the mat.
The bottom competitor applies the triangle and places both hands on the mat or behind their head. The top defending competitor must be able to post their triangled arm, palm-down on the mat.
The bottom attacker may cross their legs any way they want -- as long as they do NOT prevent the top competitor from posting palm-down on the mat.
4
Takedown (White Belts Only -- if no clear winner after Round 3)
Objective: Get the first takedown with 3-second top control.
- Whoever gets the first takedown wins.
- Requires 3 seconds of top control to be awarded.
- If a sacrifice throw fails, the competitor with top 3-second control wins.
- A snap down to a go-behind or side turtle position counts as a takedown.
- If you initiate a takedown and your opponent re-rolls and ends up on top for 3 seconds, the takedown is awarded to the person with top control.
Know Your Level
Leg Lock Rules by Belt.
| Technique | White Belt | Blue Belt | Purple / Brown / Black |
| Straight Foot Lock (Achilles) | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Straight Kneebar | Not Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Twisting Foot Locks (Figure-4, Estima) | Not Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Heel Hooks | Not Allowed | Not Allowed | AllowedPurple belt: NoGi only |
White Belts Only
Additional White Belt Restrictions.
The following techniques are prohibited at the white belt level only:
- Wrist locks
- Twister submission
- Muffler (palm over mouth)
- Compression locks (rib compression, calf & bicep slicers)
Note: The electric chair submission IS allowed in the white belt division.
Every Division
Techniques Not Allowed in Any Division.
⚠ Attempting These May Result in Disqualification
- Chin whips
- Knuckles to front of throat (knuckles to side is permitted)
- Cervical locks, neck cranks, or neck locks
- Leg-scissor takedown
- Jumping guard or flying submissions
- Slamming from guard or triangle choke
Conduct on the Mat
Special Rules.
Stalling -- 3 Warnings = Disqualification
No Stalling.
On the feet: Taking 3 steps backwards will result in a stalling warning. Circling is not considered stalling.
On the ground: Taking 3 butt-scoots backwards will result in a stalling warning. Butt-scooting forward is not considered stalling.
On the 3rd warning the referee will officially disqualify the competitor. The line between engaging, defending, and stalling is a judgment call made in real time. All referee decisions are final.
On the ground: Taking 3 butt-scoots backwards will result in a stalling warning. Butt-scooting forward is not considered stalling.
On the 3rd warning the referee will officially disqualify the competitor. The line between engaging, defending, and stalling is a judgment call made in real time. All referee decisions are final.
Bottom Guard Rule
Closed Guard Head Position.
If your opponent stands while you are in closed guard, you may keep your guard as long as your head stays at or below your opponent's belt level.
If your head rises above belt level, you must either open your guard or bring your head back down to belt level.
If your head rises above belt level, you must either open your guard or bring your head back down to belt level.
Guard Pulling
Jumping Guard vs. Pulling Guard.
Jumping guard is NOT allowed under any circumstances -- jumping with both feet off the ground and expecting to be caught is dangerous and will result in disqualification.
Pulling guard IS allowed -- but you must establish a grip on your opponent's sleeve, collar, head, or wrist before pulling. Open sitting to guard without a prior grip is not permitted. Butt-scooting is not permitted.
Pulling guard IS allowed -- but you must establish a grip on your opponent's sleeve, collar, head, or wrist before pulling. Open sitting to guard without a prior grip is not permitted. Butt-scooting is not permitted.
Rolling or Pulling Off the Mat
Intentional vs. Incidental.
If a competitor purposely pulls their opponent off the mat to escape a submission, they will be considered submitted and will lose the match.
If a competitor counters a submission and rolls off the mat while caught in a deep, fully locked submission, the referee will reset the position at center mat with the submission intact. The defender will have the choice to tap or continue from the submission they were caught in.
If a competitor counters a submission and rolls off the mat while caught in a deep, fully locked submission, the referee will reset the position at center mat with the submission intact. The defender will have the choice to tap or continue from the submission they were caught in.
Athlete Policy
Transgender Athlete Policy.
The Good Fight affirms that biological gender separation creates a level playing field for all athletes participating in our submission-only jiu-jitsu tournament. We believe this is the best approach to fairness across all divisions and brackets.
For full details, visit our Transgender Athlete Policy page →
Above All Else
Safety Is Priority One.
⚠ Unconsciousness Rule
Rendered Unconscious -- Tournament Ends There.
Due to the serious risks associated with traumatic brain injury from strangulation, any competitor who is rendered unconscious during a match -- by rear naked choke or any other means -- is immediately withdrawn from the tournament for the remainder of that day. They may not continue competing in any remaining divisions or brackets, regardless of circumstances. There are no exceptions.
Our referees watch each match closely. Safety is the most important concern at every Good Fight event. A match will be stopped if a submission becomes dangerous -- before it reaches the point of injury.
These decisions are made in real time at the referee's discretion. All referee decisions are final.
These decisions are made in real time at the referee's discretion. All referee decisions are final.