IBJJF, ADCC, AJP: who runs what, and why the rules change
There is no such thing as “the jiu-jitsu rulebook”. There are different organisations with different ideas about what ought to be rewarded — and the differences are not details.
BJJ Square · Updated on 08/11/2026
Anyone entering a first competition discovers that the rules are not universal. The scoring, the weigh-in, even which submissions you may use change according to who is running it. It is not disorder: they are three different answers to the same question, namely what a jiu-jitsu competition ought to reward.
IBJJF — the gi circuit
It is the most widespread federation and the one that runs the World Championships in the kimono. Its rulebook rewards positional control: points for advancing position, three seconds of stabilisation to validate them, advantages as the tie-break criterion.
- Weigh-in immediately before the first match, one attempt only, in the kimono.
- Anyone over the limit is disqualified.
- Nine men's weight classes, close together: weight cutting is barely practicable.
- Permitted submissions depend on belt rank: some unlock only as you go up.
ADCC — grappling without the kimono
Born in the Emirates in the nineties, it is the reference tournament for no-gi and is held every two years. Its idea is the opposite one: penalise waiting and reward those who try to finish the match. In the first half of regulation time no points are awarded — only penalties for anyone who does not attack — and only in the second half does scoring come into play.
- Few divisions, far apart from one another: about eleven kilos between one and the next in the men's.
- Weigh-in the day before the competition.
- The rulebook allows leg attacks that the IBJJF bans at almost every level.
The two philosophies compared, with the numbers on how much the fighting really changes: ADCC and IBJJF, two rulebooks.
AJP — the Abu Dhabi circuit
Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro runs an international circuit with stops all over the world, gi and no-gi, and puts up prize money for non-black belts too. It is the friendliest of the three on the organisational side.
- The weigh-in may take place the day before, an hour before or during the tournament, depending on the event.
- Anyone who does not make weight is moved up to the division above, not disqualified: it is the most concrete difference from the IBJJF.
- Anyone who does not turn up for the weigh-in, by contrast, is disqualified automatically.
What it changes for you, in practice
- Read the rulebook of the organisation you are entering, not “the BJJ rulebook”. They are public documents and they can be downloaded.
- Check that event's weight table: the limits do not coincide between circuits, nor between gi and no-gi within the same circuit.
- Check what is allowed at your belt. Applying a technique banned for your division leads to immediate disqualification, even if the opponent taps.
Careful ⚠️ The rules on which submissions are permitted by rank are the part that changes most often, and the unofficial sources circulating online are frequently out of date or wrong. The only document to rely on is the one published by the organisation itself: in Italy, before every competition, it is worth checking it again.
In Italy the landscape also includes the federation circuits and several independent organisers: you will find the upcoming competitions below.
The upcoming competitionsFrequently asked questions
- What is the main difference between the IBJJF and the ADCC?
- The IBJJF rewards positional control with scoring active throughout the match. At the ADCC no points are scored in the first half of the time and anyone who does not attack is penalised: it is a rulebook built to push towards the submission.
- Where do athletes weigh in the day before?
- At the ADCC. At IBJJF tournaments the weigh-in takes place immediately before the first match; at AJP tournaments it depends on the event.
- What happens if I do not make weight at an AJP tournament?
- You are moved into the next available weight class, not disqualified. It is the most significant difference from the IBJJF, where you are excluded instead.
- Are the permitted submissions the same in every circuit?
- No, and they also change according to belt rank and to whether you compete with or without the kimono. They have to be checked against the organisation's official rulebook before entering.
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- Why ADCC and IBJJF look like two different sportsSame technical base, two competitions that look nothing alike. The difference is not cultural: it sits in a few lines of the rulebook, and you can read it.
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