BJJ Points System Explained: How IBJJF Scoring Works

Quick answer: in the IBJJF points system, a takedown, a sweep and knee on belly each score 2 points, a guard pass scores 3, and mount or back control scores 4. Each position must be held for three seconds to count. A submission ends the match immediately; otherwise the athlete with more points wins, with advantages, then penalties, then the referee's decision used to break ties.

Most Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, from local opens in Australia to the World Championships, use a points system based on the one created by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). Once you understand the logic behind it, the scoreboard stops being a mystery. Points reward progress towards a submission: taking someone down, getting past their legs and reaching the positions where finishes happen. This guide explains every scoring action, how advantages and penalties work, how matches are decided and how other rule sets differ.

Contents

• IBJJF points at a glance
• Each scoring action explained
• How points add up in a match
• Advantages
• Penalties
• How a BJJ match is won
• Other BJJ and grappling rule sets
• Using the points system to your advantage
• BJJ points system FAQ

IBJJF points at a glance

Scoring action	Points	What you need to do
Takedown	2	Start standing, bring your opponent down and stabilise on top
Sweep	2	Start in guard or half guard on the bottom and reverse to the top
Knee on belly	2	Place a knee or shin across the torso of an opponent on their back or side, other knee off the mat
Guard pass	3	Get past the legs of a bottom opponent and settle in side control or north-south
Mount	4	Sit on the torso of an opponent facing their head, or mount over their back
Back control	4	Control the back with both hooks in and an arm trapped

The common thread is the three-second rule: in every case, the athlete must hold the resulting position for three seconds before points are awarded. The referee signals the score once the position is stable.

Each scoring action explained

The definitions below summarise how the IBJJF describes each position. If any of the terms are unfamiliar, our glossary of BJJ terms every grappler should know is a handy reference.

Takedown: 2 points

A takedown is scored when an athlete who started on their feet forces the opponent to land on their back, side or seat, and then holds a top position for three seconds. If the opponent scrambles straight back up or rolls to the top before three seconds pass, no takedown points are awarded, though the referee may give an advantage. The most useful techniques to learn are covered in our guide to BJJ takedowns and throws.

Sweep: 2 points

A sweep is a reversal from the bottom. The athlete must begin with the opponent in their guard or half guard, then reverse the position so they finish on top and hold it for three seconds. Coming up into the top position from a turtle or a scramble is not scored as a sweep, because the movement has to start from guard.

Knee on belly: 2 points

Knee on belly is scored when the top athlete places a knee or shin across the stomach, chest or ribs of an opponent lying on their back or side. The other foot must be posted on the mat with that knee off the ground, and the position must be held for three seconds.

Guard pass: 3 points

A guard pass rewards getting past the legs. The top athlete starts with the opponent's guard or half guard in front of them and moves to side control or north-south, where the bottom athlete's legs no longer block them. Again, the position must be held for three seconds.

Mount and back mount: 4 points

Mount is scored when the top athlete sits on the opponent's torso facing their head, with both knees on the mat, or one knee and one foot. A back mount, where the bottom athlete is face down and the top athlete is mounted on their back, also counts. Mount must be held for three seconds.

Back control: 4 points

Back control is scored when an athlete is behind the opponent with both heels hooked inside the opponent's thighs and at least one of the opponent's arms trapped below shoulder level. If the position is not complete, for example only one hook is in, the referee may award an advantage rather than four points. How crossed feet and body triangles are treated is exactly the kind of detail that rule books revise over time, so check the current IBJJF rule book if it matters to your game.

How points add up in a match

Points stack as you progress through positions, which is why the system is often described as rewarding a natural path to the submission. A classic sequence looks like this:

Step	Action	Points	Running total
1	Sweep from half guard to the top	2	2
2	Pass the guard to side control	3	5
3	Step up to knee on belly	2	7
4	Slide over to mount	4	11

Each step only counts if it is held for three seconds. Points for a position are generally earned on reaching it from a lower position, so bouncing back and forth between the same two positions without the opponent recovering their guard will not keep adding to your score. If your opponent recovers their guard and you pass again, though, the new pass can score again.

It also matters how you arrive. Points are awarded for gaining a position through your own action. Positions gained while defending, for example when the opponent sacrifices position to attack a submission, are handled under specific provisions in the rule book.

Advantages

An advantage is a near-score. The referee awards one when an athlete almost completes a scoring action or almost finishes a submission. Common examples include:

• Reaching a scoring position but losing it before three seconds have passed.
• Getting very close to passing the guard or completing a sweep.
• Applying a submission that genuinely threatens the finish but is escaped.

Advantages are not added to the points total. They are recorded separately and only matter when the points are level at the end of the match.

Penalties

Penalties are given for fouls such as stalling, fleeing the mat to avoid a position, grabbing inside the sleeves or trousers in the gi, or breaching uniform and conduct rules. Serious fouls, such as illegal techniques, slamming or unsportsmanlike behaviour, can lead to immediate disqualification.

For ordinary fouls, the IBJJF uses an escalating scale. As the rule book currently describes it:

Penalty	Effect
First	Penalty recorded
Second	Opponent receives an advantage
Third	Opponent receives 2 points
Fourth	Disqualification

The IBJJF does revise its penalty system from time to time, so if you are preparing for an event, check the current IBJJF rule book for the latest version.

How a BJJ match is won

There are several ways to win under IBJJF rules, listed here in order of how decisive they are:

1. Submission. A tap, a verbal submission or a referee stoppage ends the match instantly, whatever the score.
2. Disqualification of the opponent, or the opponent being unable to continue.
3. Points. If time runs out without a submission, the athlete with more points wins.
4. Advantages. If points are level, the athlete with more advantages wins.
5. Penalties. If advantages are also level, the athlete with fewer penalties wins.
6. Referee's decision. If everything is still tied, the referee chooses the athlete who was more active and closer to scoring or finishing.

Match length depends on age and belt, with more advanced divisions wrestling for longer. Lower belts usually have shorter matches, and some techniques that are legal at brown and black belt, particularly certain leg locks, are not permitted at lower belts. Our guide to BJJ belt progression explains how the ranks fit together.

Other BJJ and grappling rule sets

The IBJJF framework is the most common, but it is not universal. Many local Australian tournaments use IBJJF-style scoring, while other promotions adjust it or use something quite different. Before you compete, read the rules for that specific event. A few broad categories to know:

Format	How it scores	What to expect
IBJJF and IBJJF-style events	2 / 3 / 4 point system with advantages and penalties	Gi and no-gi divisions, technique restrictions by belt and age
ADCC-style submission grappling	Its own point values, and in many matches points only count after an opening period	No-gi only, guard pulling and stalling can be penalised, wider range of leg attacks
Other open tournament series	Usually close to IBJJF, sometimes with extra points for near submissions or different tie-breakers	Rules vary by organiser, so read the event handbook
Submission-only events	No points; win by submission, with overtime or a judges' decision if nobody taps	Rewards finishing over position

Gi and no-gi divisions within the same tournament can also run slightly different rules, especially around grips and leg locks. Our guide to gi vs no-gi BJJ covers the practical differences between the two.

Using the points system to your advantage

Knowing the rules well lets you make better decisions in a close match. Experienced competitors keep these ideas in mind:

• Hold for the full three seconds. Rushing from side control to mount before your pass is scored can cost you three points. Settle, count, then move.
• Stay active. Even if you cannot complete a sweep or pass, genuine attempts can earn advantages and make the referee's decision go your way in a tie.
• Know the score and the clock. If you are ahead late in a match, focus on safe control. If you are behind, take calculated risks to get the points you need.
• Think in sequences. Chains such as sweep to pass to mount add up quickly. Drill the transitions, not just the individual moves.
• Do not give away easy penalties. Stalling, running off the mat or grabbing inside the sleeves can turn a narrow win into a loss.
• Remember the scoreboard is secondary. Points are a guide to who is closer to finishing. A submission always wins, which is why a strong finishing game matters. Our list of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu submissions covers the finishes worth knowing.

If you are getting ready for your first tournament, make sure your gear matches the event's uniform rules. Academies sending a squad often order matching custom no-gi team kit so their competitors are easy to spot in the bullpen and look like a team on the mats.

BJJ points system FAQ

How many points is a guard pass in BJJ?

Under IBJJF rules a guard pass is worth 3 points. The top athlete must get past the bottom athlete's guard or half guard and hold side control or north-south for three seconds.

What is the three-second rule in BJJ?

In the IBJJF points system, an athlete must hold a scoring position, such as mount or side control after a pass, for three seconds before the points are awarded. If the position is lost sooner, the referee may give an advantage instead.

What is an advantage in BJJ?

An advantage is a near-score awarded when an athlete almost completes a scoring action or almost finishes a submission. Advantages are not added to the points total and are only used to separate athletes whose points are level.

Do mount and back control score the same?

Yes. In the IBJJF system both mount and back control are worth 4 points, the highest value of any single position, because they are the positions from which submissions are most likely.

What happens if a BJJ match ends in a tie?

Under IBJJF rules, level points are separated by advantages, then by penalties, with the athlete who has fewer penalties winning. If everything is still equal, the referee decides the winner based on who was more active and closer to scoring or finishing.

Do all BJJ tournaments use the same points system?

No. Many events use IBJJF-style scoring, but ADCC-style events, other tournament series and submission-only events use their own rules. Always read the rules for the specific event you are entering.