Reviewing the Ruleset and Tactics for the ADCC competition format

I write this article as my team enters the last phase of the preparation for the ADCC open in Istanbul, scheduled for 4 September 2022. As I was reviewing the ruleset and pondering the fight tactics, I decided to put together an overview of this particular format of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions.

ADCC World Submission Fighting Championships were created in 1998 to introduce a ruleset that would help promote and popularize the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Today, ADCC is arguably the best grappling tournament in the world where practitioners of BJJ, but also wrestling, judo, and sambo can compete. This helps understand the logic for this particular ruleset — the idea was to allow different grappling styles to compete on more or less equal terms. Sure, since the match starts on the feet, it may seem that wrestlers and judokas have the advantage. But it is BJJ practitioners that hold the ultimate advantage in the submissions department.

Competition is at three levels — beginner, intermediate and professional. Overall, the rules and the point system are the same. But there are differences in terms of the length of the matches and illegal techniques for each level. You can find the detailed description here.

The key distinction of the ADCC ruleset is that the first half of the match is without points. In the second half of the match, points are scored. THIS IS THE KEY. The reason for such a format is to encourage the competitors to be aggressive and active, and to attempt submissions to the extent possible — you can safely put yourself in inferior positions and take risks in the first half of the match. You won’t concede points.

Of course, submissions won’t win you the match only in the first half, but at any point during the match. Except in the second half of the match (and in the overtime if there is no winner in the allocated time), now you have to factor in the point system. Here are the main things to remember:

•     •  Takedown (ending in Guard or Half Guard) — 2 points
•     •  Clean Takedown (ending in passed guard, and a pinned opponent) — 4 points
•     •  Guard Passing — 3 points
•     •  Knee on Belly — 2 points
•     •  Mount — 2 points
•     •  Back mount (hooks must be in, or a body triangle) — 3 points
•     •  Sweep (ending in Guard or Half Guard) — 2 points
•     •  Clean Sweep (ending in passed guard, and a pinned opponent) — 4 points
  
  

Now, a couple of finer points. Note that if you pass the guard straight to knee on belly or mount, you won’t get 3+2 points, but only the 3 points for guard passing. Also, if you are in back mount, you can rack up points by taking your hooks out for 3 seconds, then back in for 3 seconds, and so on.

Remember that if the score is equal at the end of the fight, negative points will determine the outcome. Negative points are assigned due to passivity, including for pulling guard.

If the fight ends in a draw, including after added time, referees will decide the outcome based on dominance and aggression.

Also, if the referee feels a competitor is in danger, or cannot intelligently defend himself, the fight will be stopped.

Now. Tactics.

• •  First off, know what the illegal techniques are for each level. There are illegal techniques that are banned across levels, but there are also differences between the levels. For example, at the beginner level, the only leglocks allowed are straight ankle locks. At the intermediate level, you can also do toeholds, kneebars, and calf pressure locks (or calf slicers). Heel hooks are only legal at the professional level. I might be stating the obvious, but train what you can use in the competition. It does not make sense to spend a lot of preparation time working on heel hooks if you are going to compete as a beginner or intermediate.
  
  
• •  Remember the rule of 3 seconds. To get points for any position, you have to hold it for at least 3 seconds. If you are not sure (time can feel slower or faster during the fight), try to hold the position for 5–6 seconds. Keep an eye on the scoreboard, or have a coach signal you the score every once in a while.
  
  
• •  Stand-up, while not necessarily determining the outcome, is a big factor. So watch out for wrestlers and judokas. I suggest first feeling out the opponent. Once you clinch for the first time, you will get a sense of their strength and stand-up ability. If you feel you won’t be able to overpower this opponent standing, it makes sense to pull guard — as no points are awarded in the first half of the match, you will skip the stand-up part and get straight to the ground game. If this is the path you choose, be prepared to be aggressive from the bottom. The opponent may not be very willing to engage and might want to wait it out until the points start being awarded to try to pass your guard and score. They might therefore try to save energy.
  
  
• •  If you choose to engage standing, remember, that the stand-up experts will typically feel very comfortable on their feet and try to tire you in the first half of the match. Taking you down at this point is not helpful to them, since they won’t get points. It makes more sense for them to score the takedown in the second half of the match, earn the points and then hold on to that advantage. Therefore, if you choose to go toe to toe with them in stand-up, they might just not give you their all in the first half of the match and give you a false sense of security. So let’s say you try to stand up with a wrestler or a judoka, but you’re starting to get tired — you can pull guard seconds before the second half of the match starts and move the match to the ground.
  
  
• •  Takedown fine points. Remember something very important about takedowns. If a takedown ends in a turtle position for more than 3 seconds, no points are awarded. Similarly, if you shoot for a takedown and then pull guard or go for a turtle, make sure your takedown attempt lasts at least 3 seconds before you switch. That way, you avoid a negative point for passivity.
  
  
• •  Sweep fine points. Here is another important tactical point. If your opponent attempts a sweep, and during the sweep motion you make a submission attempt (for example, a guillotine or a kimura) and hold on to it, the opponent needs to escape the submission and then hold you for 3 seconds to score. Use the extra time your submission attempt generates to recover guard, reverse the position, or otherwise avoid being scored on.
  
  
• •  Attacking pays off in ADCC. Personally, I prefer a counter-attacking game, but that is more suited to EBI or no time limit submission only style competitions. In ADCC, you have to be on the offensive to win. If you display the most fantastic defense, but you are down a couple of points, you still lose. Also, keep in mind, that as long as you are on the offensive, you have more leeway for mistakes. The defending party cannot afford mistakes.
  
  
• •  If you go out of bounds, do not stop until the referee stops you. In the gym, with our teammates, if we are about to cross into the neighboring mat space, we tend to stop ourselves or scoot back. This builds an unfortunate habit that won’t do in the ADCC. If you are shooting for a takedown for example or executing a sweep see it through to the end. Only stop once the referee instructs you to stop.
  
  
• •  Be patient in attack. If you reach the side control position and try a submission immediately, and it fails, it’s ok. Keep working. Remember, things don’t have to work immediately. You don’t have to be finishing your matches in 30 seconds. Sometimes it pays to let the opponent “stew”. Say, you get to mount. Only go for an armbar if you are sure, or try to do it securely. If you spend all that effort to get to mount and then lose the position immediately, that’s just dumb. Put pressure, cut off the exits, negate escape attempts, add pressure, and as you see the opponent’s defenses go down, go for the kill. Of course, be mindful of time.
  
  
• •  It pays to not go 100% on your submissions off the bat. When I get into the rear mount for example and lock a Rear Naked Choke, I like to start slow. If you go 100% and the opponent survives this, your morale will take a hit while his confidence will increase. Start with less than 50%. Enough not to let the opponent escape, but also enough to strain him and make sure he has to fight to survive. Your opponent does not know what your 100% is. So don’t show it all immediately. As your opponent defends, but you keep gradually tightening your submission hold, this will affect his morale. When your opponent despairs, you will have an easier time with the finish.
  
  
• •  Other than that, you try what you always try in training — improve your position and chase submissions. If you are in a bad spot, be patient, escape, reverse, sweep, and get to a place where you can control the opponent and attack.
  
  
• •  Last, but the most crucial. Submission is king. It does not matter how many points your opponent is ahead of you, you make them tap — you win. That said, be smart. If you are a few points ahead, with 30 seconds left on the clock, and in a dominant position, it pays to not try crazy submissions that might cost you a position.
  
  

Let me add a personal recommendation. DO NOT STALL. No one respects a sneaky or annoying competitor. You might win a competition or two by just negating your opponent’s attempts, but at the end of the day, we are trying to practice and get better at jiu-jitsu. Keep in mind, unless we are talking about ADCC world championships, no one cares about your gold medals. You might beat me once or twice, but unless you are actually improving at jiu-jitsu, there will be a point where all of the people you used to “beat” will start submitting you mercilessly. So respect the art.