ADCC Georgia Nationals Open 2026

Rules & regulations

A quick guide for athletes and coaches: how scoring works, what is illegal, and the time limits for each division. For the full official text, see the ADCC rules & regulations.

Tournament basics

  • The championship follows a tournament format. Only the winner advances to the next round.
  • Gi/kimono and wrestling shoes are optional.
  • Slippery substances on the body or clothing are prohibited.
  • The mat area is 8 × 8 meters.
  • There is no cage or fence.

Positive points

Mount2pts
Back mount3pts
Passing the guard3pts
Knee on stomach2pts
Clean sweep, ending past the guard4pts
Sweep, ending in guard or half guard2pts
Clean takedown, ending past the guard4pts
Takedown, ending in guard or half guard2pts

Scoring positions

Mount

2pts
  • Both knees must be touching the floor.
  • Both knees must be below the shoulder line and the top of the hip line.
  • Half back must be on the floor.
  • Reverse mount also scores.
  • If one or both of the opponent’s hands are trapped under your legs, it still scores.
  • In an Absolute fight with a size difference that prevents a fighter from touching both knees to the mat, referees decide whether sufficient control exists.

Back mount

3pts
  • Both hooks and a body triangle are acceptable.
  • Hooks must not be over either shoulder.
  • If one hook is removed or the body triangle is released for more than 3 seconds, and then the hooks or body triangle are re-established for 3 seconds or more, points are awarded again.
  • If one or both of the opponent’s hands are trapped under your legs, it still scores.

Passing the guard

3pts
  • Control is required, with at least 50% of the opponent’s back on the mat.
  • If passing the guard directly leads to mount or knee on stomach in less than 3 seconds, only guard-pass points are awarded.

Knee on stomach

2pts
  • Either the inside or outside knee can score.
  • The knee must be in the middle of the stomach, not on the chest or sides of the stomach.
  • The opponent cannot be on their side.
  • Half back must be on the floor.
  • If the knee is removed for 3 seconds or more and then re-established for 3 seconds or more, points are awarded again.
  • The position of the other leg is irrelevant. Both knees may be on the mat.

Clean sweep

4pts
  • The athletes face each other and the bottom athlete moves to the top, ending outside the guard.
  • More than 50% of the opponent’s back must be on the floor.
  • The position must be established for 3 seconds or more.
  • The athlete must not be in danger of submission.

Sweep

2pts
  • The athletes face each other and the bottom athlete moves to the top.
  • The position ends in guard or half guard.
  • The position must be established for 3 seconds or more.
  • The athlete must not be in danger of submission.

Clean takedown

4pts
  • End outside the guard.
  • At least 50% of the opponent’s back must be on the mat.
  • The athlete must not be in danger of submission.

Takedown

2pts
  • End in guard or half guard.
  • The opponent’s butt or back must remain on the mat for 3 seconds.
  • If the opponent threatens a submission, points are awarded only after escaping the submission threat and solidifying the position for 3 seconds.

Important scoring rules

  • Reversals are considered sweeps.
  • Reversing from bottom to top while held in side control or mount can score 2 points if ending in guard and 4 points if ending in side control.
  • Every sweep must be completed in one continuous motion.
  • Sweep points are awarded only if the fighter initiates the sweep, not if they end up on top while defending an opponent’s attack.
  • When multiple positions are changed, points are awarded only for the position established for 3 seconds or more.
  • Each position must be established for at least 3 seconds, with no submission danger, for points to be awarded.
  • Passing the guard directly to mount or knee on stomach awards only guard-pass points.

Penalties

A minus point may be given for:

  • Voluntarily jumping guard or going from standing to a non-standing position by any means and remaining down for 3 seconds or more.
  • Disengaging from contact, backing away, and avoiding engagement.
  • Holding without doing anything else.
  • Passivity.
  • Repeatedly fleeing the mat to escape a submission or disengage from the fight.
  • Bad language or bad behavior by a fighter or coach.
  • Disobeying the referee’s commands.

Passivity

  • A passive fighter receives two warnings before a minus point.
  • The referee announces: “WARNING PASSIVITY”.
  • After the first minus point, continued passivity results in further minus points without additional warnings.
  • If a fighter is very passive during the first half of a regular fight, when there are no minuses, the referee may warn them then and issue a negative point when the second half begins.

When a minus point is given

  • The referee stops the action and informs the athlete and coach.

Fixed fights

  • If teammates arrange a fixed fight, both are disqualified from the tournament.

Illegal techniques

  • Attempting any illegal technique results in immediate disqualification.

How to win

A competitor wins when

  • The opponent submits by tapping the leg or arm, or verbally saying “I give up” or “Maita”.
  • The referee determines that a competitor cannot defend themselves or that their life is in danger.
  • The opponent is disqualified by the referee for breaking the rules twice.

Overtime

  • If the fight ends without either fighter scoring points, the referees decide the winner according to fighter dominance.

Ways to win

SubmissionPointsReferee decision

Rules by division

Professional

Legal techniques

  • Any kind of choke, except using the hand to close the windpipe.
  • Any armbar.
  • Any shoulder lock.
  • Any wrist lock.
  • Any leg lock.
  • Any ankle lock.

Illegal techniques

  • Full Nelson.
  • Crucifix.
  • Neck cranks that trap both shoulders and put downward pressure on the neck.
  • Spiking an opponent on their head during a takedown attempt.
  • Spiking an opponent’s head when the opponent is on your back.
  • Rolling forward while someone is on your back.
  • Striking of any kind.
  • Eye gouging or fish hooking.
  • Grabbing the ears.
  • Hair pulling.
  • Holding fewer than 4 fingers or fewer than 5 toes.
  • Thumbing.
  • Scratching or pinching.
  • Punching of any kind.
  • Kicking of any kind.
  • Biting.
  • Squeezing or applying pressure to the groin.
  • Hands, knees, or elbows on the face.
  • Slippery substances on the body or clothing.
  • Crossface guillotine twisting the chin.
  • Gripping or holding the T-shirt or shorts.
  • Slamming, except when there is a submission hold.

Fight time limits

National championships

  • Qualifying rounds: 6 minutes.
  • Overtime: 3 minutes if tied with no advantage.
  • Finals: 8 minutes.
  • Overtime: 4 minutes if tied with no advantage.

Trials

  • Qualifying rounds: 8 minutes.
  • Overtime: 4 minutes if tied with no advantage.
  • Finals: 10 minutes.
  • Overtime: 5 minutes if tied with no advantage.

World championship

  • Qualifying rounds: 10 minutes.
  • Overtime: 5 minutes if tied with no advantage.
  • Finals: 20 minutes.
  • Overtime: 10 minutes if tied with no advantage.
Intermediate & Masters

Illegal techniques

  • Full Nelson.
  • Crucifix.
  • Neck cranks that trap both shoulders and put downward pressure on the neck.
  • Spiking an opponent on their head during a takedown attempt.
  • Spiking an opponent’s head when the opponent is on your back.
  • Rolling forward while someone is on your back.
  • Striking of any kind.
  • Eye gouging or fish hooking.
  • Grabbing the ears.
  • Hair pulling.
  • Holding fewer than 4 fingers or fewer than 5 toes.
  • Thumbing.
  • Scratching or pinching.
  • Punching of any kind.
  • Kicking of any kind.
  • Biting.
  • Squeezing or applying pressure to the groin.
  • Hands, knees, or elbows on the face.
  • Slippery substances on the body or clothing.
  • Crossface guillotine twisting the chin.
  • Gripping or holding the T-shirt or shorts.
  • Neck cranks.
  • Slamming.
  • Heel hooks.
  • Any crossface holds or crossface chokes.
  • Choking with hands wrapped around the throat (Rape Choke).
  • Any foot locks that twist the knee.
  • Blocking the opponent’s nose or mouth using the hands.

Fight time limits

Qualifying rounds

  • Total fight time: 6 minutes.
  • First 3 minutes: no positive points.
  • Positive points begin after the first 3 minutes and continue through the end of the fight and overtime.
  • If tied with no advantage: 3-minute overtime.
  • Maximum 1 overtime per fight.

Finals

  • Total fight time: 8 minutes.
  • First 4 minutes: no positive points. Negative points apply from the beginning.
  • Positive points begin after the first 4 minutes and continue through the end of the fight and overtime.
  • If tied with no advantage: 4-minute overtime.
  • Maximum 1 overtime per fight.
Juniors & Beginners

Illegal techniques

  • Full Nelson.
  • Crucifix.
  • Neck cranks that trap both shoulders and put downward pressure on the neck.
  • Spiking an opponent on their head during a takedown attempt.
  • Spiking an opponent’s head when the opponent is on your back.
  • Rolling forward while someone is on your back.
  • Striking of any kind.
  • Eye gouging or fish hooking.
  • Grabbing the ears.
  • Hair pulling.
  • Holding fewer than 4 fingers or fewer than 5 toes.
  • Thumbing.
  • Scratching or pinching.
  • Punching of any kind.
  • Kicking of any kind.
  • Biting.
  • Squeezing or applying pressure to the groin.
  • Hands, knees, or elbows on the face.
  • Slippery substances on the body or clothing.
  • Crossface guillotine twisting the chin.
  • Gripping or holding the T-shirt or shorts.
  • Neck cranks.
  • Slamming.
  • Heel hooks.
  • Can opener.
  • Any crossface holds or crossface chokes.
  • Choking with hands wrapped around the throat (Rape Choke).
  • Any foot locks that twist the knee.
  • Blocking the opponent’s nose or mouth using the hands.
  • Opposite RNC applying pressure on the neck.
  • Spine twisters.
  • Toeholds.
  • Kneebars.
  • Biceps pressure locks.
  • Calf pressure locks.
  • Banana split.

Fight time limits & safety

Qualifying rounds

  • Total fight time: 5 minutes.
  • First 2.5 minutes: no points.
  • Points begin after the first 2.5 minutes and continue through the end of the fight and overtime.
  • If tied with no advantage: 2.5-minute overtime.
  • Maximum 1 overtime per fight.

Finals

  • Total fight time: 6 minutes.
  • First 3 minutes: no positive points. Negative points apply from the beginning.
  • Positive points begin after the first 3 minutes and continue through the end of the fight and overtime.
  • If tied with no advantage: 3-minute overtime.
  • Maximum 1 overtime per fight.

Referee safety

  • Referees will stop the fight if a submission is applied and is too dangerous for the fighter, even if the fighter has not submitted.

Other important rules

  • If you start a submission from mount, side control, or your opponent’s guard and move from top to bottom, the opponent does not receive sweep points.
  • If your opponent initiates a sweep and you attack a submission during the motion, but they escape and hold you down for 3 seconds, they receive sweep points.
  • If an opponent takes you down and you remain in turtle for more than 3 seconds, there are no takedown points.
  • Shooting for a takedown and pulling guard in less than 3 seconds results in a minus point.
  • Shooting for a takedown and going to turtle in less than 3 seconds to break the attack results in a minus point.
  • If both fighters are standing and one or both knees remain on the mat for more than 3 seconds, a minus point is given.
  • If you attempt a takedown actively for more than 3 seconds and then pull guard, there is no minus point.
  • If you go out of bounds, do not stop. Only the referee can stop the match.
  • When the referee stops the match out of bounds, the fight restarts in the center in the same position.
  • If standing without an established locked position, the fighters restart facing each other.
  • If a competitor has single or double grips before the referee says stop, the athletes resume the same position.
  • If an accidental eye poke or groin strike causes bleeding, the fighter gets 2 minutes to recover. If unable to continue, they lose the fight.
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