The IBJJF points system scores takedowns, guard passes, knee on belly, mount, and back control, with advantages as a tiebreaker and penalties for stalling or illegal technique. Exact point values live in the official IBJJF rule book, which changes between editions, so always check the current PDF before competing.
How Do You Score Points In Jiu Jitsu?
You score points in IBJJF jiu jitsu by achieving specific dominant positions before your opponent does, and by holding that position long enough for the referee to call it. The full list of scoring positions and how many points each is worth lives in the IBJJF rule book, and every claim in this post traces back to that document. Points reward control, not damage. That's the biggest mental shift for anyone coming from wrestling or a striking background.
I teach one-on-one out of Darfight in Brighton Beach, and competition scoring is one of the most common things students ask me to break down before their first tournament. If you're newer to the ruleset in general, my post on how to understand BJJ rules is a good companion to this one.
What Positions Actually Score Points In IBJJF Rules?
Under IBJJF rules, points come from takedowns, guard passes, knee on belly, mount, and back control — each worth a different point value laid out in the IBJJF rule book. The exact numbers shift slightly between rule book versions, so I'm not going to guess a figure here — open the current PDF and check the scoring table before you compete.
- Takedown — landing a throw or single-leg/double-leg that puts you in control on top
- Guard pass — clearing your opponent's legs and establishing side control or a similar dominant position
- Knee on belly — stabilizing your knee on the opponent's torso with control
- Mount — controlling from full mount on top
- Back control — securing back mount with at least one hook or a body triangle
Notice what's missing: submissions attempts, guard retention, and sweeps that don't lead anywhere don't score points by themselves under most of these categories. A sweep that reverses position and puts you on top does score — again, check the current rule book for the specific value, since it's the kind of number that gets revised between editions.
What Are Advantages In BJJ Scoring?
Advantages are the tiebreaker IBJJF uses when neither competitor scores enough points to separate them, awarded for near-misses like an almost-finished sweep or a guard pass stopped just short of the criteria. They matter less than they sound like they should. If you're up on points, an advantage against you usually doesn't change anything. If the match is scoreless, advantages decide it, and the IBJJF rule book spells out exactly what referees are told to look for when granting one.
What Penalties Cost You Points Or The Match?
Penalties in IBJJF competition range from a warning, to a point deduction, to disqualification, depending on the infraction and how many times it's repeated. Common penalty triggers include stalling, illegal grips, and technique violations tied to belt level — knee reaping against a lower belt is a good example, and I wrote a full breakdown of knee reap defense for beginners if that rule is new to you. The specific escalation from warning to point loss to disqualification is documented in the IBJJF rule book, and it does get updated, so don't rely on secondhand summaries when you're prepping for a specific bracket.
How Do You Win A Match With No Submission?
You win a jiu jitsu match with no submission by having more points at the final horn, or more advantages if points are tied, or by referee decision if both are tied. This is where a lot of white and blue belts get frustrated the first time they compete — you can dominate a scramble, feel like you won the exchange, and still lose the match on the scoreboard because you never got your hips into the position the rules actually count. That's not a flaw in the sport, it's just a different skill than out-muscling someone in the gym.
This is also why I spend real time on positional control in privates, not just submissions. A student who understands how to hold knee on belly for the full count, or finish a guard pass instead of settling for half of it, scores more consistently than one who only hunts the finish. If you want that worked into a session, private BJJ lessons in Brooklyn let us drill the exact scenario you're weakest in instead of splitting time across a whole class.
How Should You Train For Points-Based Competition?
Train for points-based competition by drilling the specific positions that score — takedowns, passes, mount, back control — until holding them under pressure feels automatic, not just familiar. Most gyms teach the rules once and move on. In a one-on-one session we can run the exact scoreline situations that show up in a real bracket: you're up by a small margin with two minutes left, how do you play it; you're down and need a takedown, what's the actual entry. That kind of rehearsal is hard to get in a group class where the whole room is working the same drill regardless of what you personally need.
I run these sessions solo or with a training partner sharing the mat, gi or no-gi, out of Darfight Martial Arts at 130 Brighton Beach Ave — a short walk from the B and Q train. Details on format and cost are on the pricing section, and if you're still deciding whether privates make sense versus a class schedule, private lessons versus group classes lays out the tradeoffs honestly.
Rules change — check the current edition
IBJJF updates its rule book periodically, and point values, penalty escalation, and legal/illegal technique lists have all shifted between versions in the past. Always check the current PDF at ibjjf.com before you compete, not a blog post's summary of an old one.
Competition rules and scoring criteria change between rule book editions. This post reflects general structure as of the current IBJJF rule book at the time of writing — verify specifics with IBJJF or the organization running your event before you compete.
Want to drill the exact positions that score before your next tournament? Book a private session and we'll work your scoring weak points directly.
Questions people ask
How do you score points in jiu jitsu under IBJJF rules?
You score by achieving specific dominant positions — takedowns, guard passes, knee on belly, mount, and back control — each assigned a point value in the IBJJF rule book. Simply attempting a submission or reversing position without controlling it usually doesn't score on its own.
What happens if both competitors have the same points?
If points are tied at the end of the match, the referee looks at advantages — near-misses on sweeps, passes, or submissions — as the tiebreaker. If advantages are also tied, the match goes to referee decision, per the current IBJJF rule book.
Does an armbar attempt score points if it doesn't finish?
No. A submission attempt that doesn't result in a tap generally doesn't score points by itself under IBJJF rules — it may earn an advantage if it was close, but the scoreboard only moves for the positions listed in the rule book.
Where can I find the official IBJJF scoring chart?
The complete scoring chart, including point values and penalty structure, is published in the IBJJF rule book PDF. It's the only source I'd trust over a summary, since values have changed between editions.