Registration Integrity
Sandbagging Prevention.
⚠ Interview Process
You May Be Asked to Visit the Interview Table.
The Good Fight may conduct a short interview process for all kids and teen competitors. After checking in at the registration table, you may be directed to the interview table where staff will verify your information and confirm you are registered in the correct division. Any adjustments needed will be made there.
If sandbagging is discovered, the competitor will be bumped up to their appropriate skill level. Any competitor who refuses to move up to their appropriate skill level will be disqualified without a refund.
If sandbagging is discovered, the competitor will be bumped up to their appropriate skill level. Any competitor who refuses to move up to their appropriate skill level will be disqualified without a refund.
Division Structure
3 Skill Levels: Beginner · Intermediate · Advanced
When you win Gold in two separate tournaments in the same division (Gi or NoGi), you should register in the next skill level at your next event.
It doesn't matter how long you've been training or what color belt you have. If you can run through beginners, you are not a beginner.
Beginner
You should be in this division if you are new to jiu-jitsu tournaments or have not yet won 1st place in the Beginner division at two separate tournaments.
Intermediate
You should be in this division if you can run through the Beginner division and/or have won Gold at two separate tournaments in the Beginner division.
Advanced
You should be in this division if you can run through the Intermediate division and/or have won Gold at two separate tournaments in the Intermediate division.
Match Format
How to Win.
Victory Condition
Submit Your Opponent.
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.
If no submission occurs during the allotted time, a winner is determined by Sudden Death Overtime.
Awards
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Medals.
Medals are awarded to place winners in every bracket.
Kids match length: 4 minutes
Teens match length: 5 minutes
If your child turned 16 this year, Good Fight identifies them as an adult. If you cannot update their profile, email support@smoothcomp.com for assistance.
Kids match length: 4 minutes
Teens match length: 5 minutes
If your child turned 16 this year, Good Fight identifies them as an adult. If you cannot update their profile, email support@smoothcomp.com for assistance.
When Time Expires Without a Submission
Sudden Death Overtime.
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.
As the defender begins to escape, if the attacker ends up mounting them -- 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
Takedown
Objective: Get the first takedown with 3-second top control.
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Whoever gets the first takedown wins.
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Requires 3 seconds of top control to be awarded.
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If a sacrifice throw fails, the competitor with top 3-second control wins.
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A snap down to a go-behind or side turtle position counts as a takedown.
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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.
Specific Rules to Know
Special Rules.
Stalling
No Stalling. 3 Warnings = Disqualification.
On the feet: Any competitor who takes 3 steps backwards will be warned for stalling. Circling is not considered stalling.
On the ground: Any competitor who takes 3 butt-scoots backwards will be warned for stalling. 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 can be a judgment call -- these decisions are made in real time at the referee's discretion. All referee decisions are final.
On the ground: Any competitor who takes 3 butt-scoots backwards will be warned for stalling. 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 can be a judgment call -- these decisions are made in real time at the referee's discretion. All referee decisions are final.
Bottom Guard Rule
Closed Guard from the Bottom.
If your opponent stands up while you are in closed guard, you may keep your closed guard as long as your head remains at your opponent's belt level or lower.
If your head rises above belt level, you must either open your guard or bring your head back down to belt level or lower.
If your head rises above belt level, you must either open your guard or bring your head back down to belt level or lower.
Rolling Off the Mat
Intentional vs. Incidental.
If a competitor purposely rolls or pulls their opponent off the mat to escape a submission, they will be considered submitted and will lose the match.
If a competitor is countering 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.
If a competitor is countering 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.
Guard Pulling
Jumping Guard vs. Pulling Guard.
Jumping guard is NOT allowed under any circumstances. Jumping into guard with both feet off the ground and expecting your opponent to catch you 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 prior to pulling. Open sitting to guard without any prior grip is not permitted.
Pulling guard IS allowed -- but you must establish a grip on your opponent's sleeve, collar, head, or wrist prior to pulling. Open sitting to guard without any prior grip is not permitted.
Know Before You Compete
Illegal Techniques.
| Technique | All Kids/Teens | Teens & Advanced Kids |
| Pulling the head when applying a triangle | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Head/arm chokes (D'arce, Anaconda, etc.) | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Ezekiel choke or bread-cutter choke | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Choke where forearm is pressing the throat | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Omoplata (shoulder lock with the legs) | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Front guillotine choke (standing or ground) | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Chin whips | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Knuckles to front of throat (knuckles to side is allowed) | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Wrist locks | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Any submission below the waist | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Reaping the knee / twisting knee unnaturally | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Cervical locks, neck cranks, or neck locks | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Bicep locks, calf locks, or compression locks of any kind | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Leg-scissor takedown | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Electric chair submission | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Twister submission | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Jumping guard or flying submissions | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Slamming from guard or triangle choke | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
| Rib compression (scorpion lock) | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
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.