Grappling Competition Rules and Regulations
The following rules govern all competition at the Sioux Falls Open Martial Arts Tournament. By registering for and/or participating in this event, all participants (and their legal guardians if under the age of 18) expressly acknowledge, accept, and agree to be bound by these rules, including any amendments or exceptions as outlined below.
All rules are subject to modification at any time, without prior notice, at the sole discretion of the tournament organizers or head officials. A pre-event rules review and Q&A session will be conducted for black belts and division officials via Zoom and in person prior to the start of the event. This session is intended to provide clarification and guidance but does not limit the authority of the officials to make real-time adjustments.
Tournament officials and judges reserve the right to interpret, modify, or make exceptions to these rules as deemed necessary to maintain fairness, ensure participant safety, or address unforeseen circumstances. Every reasonable effort will be made to communicate material rule changes to competitors (and parents or guardians, if applicable) prior to competition. However, the tournament and its organizers assume no liability for failure to provide advance notice.
Judges and officials are authorized to pause or stop competition at any time if they observe unsafe behavior or believe continuation may endanger any participant. All decisions made by tournament judges, referees, or promoters are final and binding and are not subject to protest or appeal.
Participants with questions about the rules or seeking clarification in advance of the event are strongly encouraged to contact Tournament Director Joe Herreman at [email protected] or by phone at 605-370-0085.
The following rules govern all competition at the Sioux Falls Open Martial Arts Tournament. By registering for and/or participating in this event, all participants (and their legal guardians if under the age of 18) expressly acknowledge, accept, and agree to be bound by these rules, including any amendments or exceptions as outlined below.
All rules are subject to modification at any time, without prior notice, at the sole discretion of the tournament organizers or head officials. A pre-event rules review and Q&A session will be conducted for black belts and division officials via Zoom and in person prior to the start of the event. This session is intended to provide clarification and guidance but does not limit the authority of the officials to make real-time adjustments.
Tournament officials and judges reserve the right to interpret, modify, or make exceptions to these rules as deemed necessary to maintain fairness, ensure participant safety, or address unforeseen circumstances. Every reasonable effort will be made to communicate material rule changes to competitors (and parents or guardians, if applicable) prior to competition. However, the tournament and its organizers assume no liability for failure to provide advance notice.
Judges and officials are authorized to pause or stop competition at any time if they observe unsafe behavior or believe continuation may endanger any participant. All decisions made by tournament judges, referees, or promoters are final and binding and are not subject to protest or appeal.
Participants with questions about the rules or seeking clarification in advance of the event are strongly encouraged to contact Tournament Director Joe Herreman at [email protected] or by phone at 605-370-0085.
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Equipment:
The following equipment is required for competition in Grappling Competition. If you are not sure if you equipment is acceptable for competition, please have it inspected by your center judge prior to beginning competition. Any equipment does not meet the following guidelines will need to be changed prior to competition. |
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Mandatory Equipment:
Divisions:
For youth (12 & Under) boys & girls will be in the same divisions, for everyone 13 & up, males and females will be separated.
Weight Classes will be established day of the tournament based on competitors that register. Our number one goal is to get you as many matches as possible.
Judging:
For all grappling divisions, the center judge will do all scoring.
Match time:
Scoring:
Awarding Points:
Points will be awarded whenever a competitor stabilizes a position for three seconds or a takedown is completed with control. An audible three count will be given by the judge before the points are awarded. Points may only be awarded for advancing position. This means that you may not give up a 4 point position such as mount to get points for a 3 point position such as side control. However, competitors will be awarded cumulative points as they progress through scoring, as long as the three second control is established at each position. In the case of the mount, when there is a transition straight from back mount to mount or vice-versa with distinct positions, the competitor will be awarded four points for the first mount and another four points for the subsequent mount, so long as the three-second stabilization period was achieved in each position, but not for transitioning back.
- Gi Grappling Uniform:
- Complete Karate/Judo Uniform (Jacket, pants, belt)
- Jacket sleeves must come to within at least two inches of the wrist when the arm is extended straight parallel to the ground and must have a minimum of a 2-inch opening of the sleeve at full extension.
- Pant legs must be no more than 2 inches above the ankle bone.
- Uniform must be in good repair, dry and may not emanate unpleasant odors
- Complete Karate/Judo Uniform (Jacket, pants, belt)
- No Gi Grappling Uniform
- T-shirt or rash guard for no-gi divisions
- T-shirts and rash guards must be tucked into pants / shorts.
- Shorts or pants for no-gi divisions
- Shorts must cover at least halfway down the thigh
- T-shirt or rash guard for no-gi divisions
- Mouth Guard
- Male groin protection
- All clothing / uniforms must be free of pockets (or pockets must be sewn shut), zippers, snaps or any other kind of metal or plastic that may present a risk to the opponent.
- No Jewelry is allowed during competition
Divisions:
For youth (12 & Under) boys & girls will be in the same divisions, for everyone 13 & up, males and females will be separated.
- For Youth Divisions (12 and under) there will be NO SUBMISSIONS
- In Teen and Adult Divisions (13 and up) a submission will be an AUTOMATIC WIN
Weight Classes will be established day of the tournament based on competitors that register. Our number one goal is to get you as many matches as possible.
Judging:
For all grappling divisions, the center judge will do all scoring.
Match time:
- Youth Divisions – Two (2) minutes with a one (1) minute overtime in the event of a tie
- Adult Divisions – Three (3) minutes with a one (1) minute overtime in the event of a tie
Scoring:
Awarding Points:
Points will be awarded whenever a competitor stabilizes a position for three seconds or a takedown is completed with control. An audible three count will be given by the judge before the points are awarded. Points may only be awarded for advancing position. This means that you may not give up a 4 point position such as mount to get points for a 3 point position such as side control. However, competitors will be awarded cumulative points as they progress through scoring, as long as the three second control is established at each position. In the case of the mount, when there is a transition straight from back mount to mount or vice-versa with distinct positions, the competitor will be awarded four points for the first mount and another four points for the subsequent mount, so long as the three-second stabilization period was achieved in each position, but not for transitioning back.
- 2 Points – Minor Takedown: From the standing position, the competitor trips or tackles opponent to the ground ending in control.
- 3 Points – Major Takedown: From a standing position, competitor executes a solid martial arts takedown with control, style and obvious skill.
- 3 Points – side control: competitor hold opponent flat on his or her back using side mount or knee on belly for 3 seconds
- 4 Points – Mount: The competitor establishes the mount with both knees and feet on the ground for 3 seconds
- 4 Points – Back Mount/Rear Guard: The competitor establishes the back mount/rear guard with both feet hooked in position.
- 2 Points – Reversal: Competitor moves from a losing position to a dominant position in one smooth series of moves
- 1 Point – Escape: Competitor moves from losing position to neutral standing position in one smooth move.
- 1 Point – Submission Position (Youth Divisions Only): The competitor places his or her opponent in a submission that attacks the wrist, elbow, shoulder, ankle, knee or hip, without applying the technique.
- Submission – Automatic win (Teen and Adult Divisions Only)
Illegal Techniques/Positions (All Divisions):
- Neck cranks
- Toe & finger locks
- Biting & gouging
- Slamming an opponent from guard position
- Kicking, Punching or striking of any kind.
- Any other techniques which the judges feel are unsafe or inappropriate
Declaring a Winner:
A winner will be determined by one of the following criteria:
- Competitor with the most points at the end of allotted time
- Competitor submits his or her opponent with a legal technique (Teen and Adult Divisions Only)
- Opponent bows out of the match or is unable to control bleeding
Ties:
If at the end of the regular time limit the score is tied, the match will continue for one (1) minute of overtime. If at the end of the one minute over time, the score is still tied, winner will be determined by the first competitor to score.
Stoppages:
The clock may be stopped any time the judge finds it necessary. Common reasons may include: out of ring, blood, injury, need to confer with scorekeepers. If this occurs, time will be recorded and the match will continue from that time frame for the full length of the match.
Blood Time:
Any contestant who is bleeding will be charged with bleeding time. The number of time-outs for bleeding is left to the discretion of the referee. If bleeding is not controlled within a cumulative time of five (5) minutes, the match shall be terminated and the opponent shall be awarded the match by default. If bleeding occurs as a result of unsportsmanlike conduct, illegal holds/maneuvers or unnecessary roughness and the bleeding contestant uses 5 minutes of bleeding time, the injured contestant will be the winner of the contest by default. Any cleanup necessary after bleeding has been curtailed is not counted against the maximum time limit of 5 minutes.
The match shall be stopped for any competitor who is bleeding, has an open wound, has any amount of blood on his/her uniform, or has blood on his/her person, shall be directed to be treated until the bleeding is stopped, the wound is covered, the uniform and/or body is appropriately cleaned, and/or the uniform is changed before returning to competition.
Out of Ring:
When fighting on your feet “Out of Ring” warnings will be issued to any competitor who steps out of the ring with one foot. When on their feet, competitors who are out of the ring cannot score, but can be scored upon as long as one foot is still in the ring. When fighting on the ground, if 2/3 of both competitors bodies are out of the ring, or at the judge’s discretion, the match will stopped, and competition will be moved back to the center of the mat. Exceptions to the stoppage may occur in the following situations:
- When an athlete has a submission hold in place in the outlying safety area, the referee should not interrupt the match unless necessary to prevent injury
- When one athlete takes his opponent off the mat while trying to stabilize a scoring position, the referee shall wait, whenever possible, for an athlete to stabilize the position for 3 seconds before stopping the fight. If this happens, the referee will give the points and then restart the fight in the center of the combat area.
Warnings:
Warnings are divided into four categories.
Illegal Technique Warnings:
A warning will be awarded for any intentional strikes to the illegal areas, strikes with excessive contact, striking during the grappling phase, or use of an illegal technique.
- First warning – Verbal warning from judges
- Second warning – One (1) point awarded to other competitor
- Third warning – Competitor will be disqualified
Out of Ring Warnings:
Out of ring warnings will be issued to any competitor who steps off the mat with one foot while on his or her feet, or deliberately attempts to move off the mats while on the ground.
- First warning – Verbal warning from judges
- Second warning – Verbal warning from judges
- Third warning or more - After 2 out of ring warnings the other competitor will be awarded 1 point for each additional infraction
Stalling Warnings:
Stalling warnings will be issued to any competitor who deliberately attempts to prevent the progress of the match without improving his or her position.
- First warning – Verbal warning from judges
- Second warning – One (1) point awarded to other competitor
- Third warning or more – Two (2) points awarded to other competitor
Poor sportsman Conduct Warnings:
Because the purpose of competition is to engage in healthy competition with others to improve and test one’s self, it is in the interest of all that both competitors and spectators conduct themselves within the proper spirit of the arts. With that in mind, a competitor may be penalized for poor conduct from themselves, their coaches/instructors, or their fans.
- First warning – Verbal warning from judges
- Second warning – One (1) point awarded to other competitor
- Third warning – Competitor will be disqualified
At the Judges’ discretion a competitor may be disqualified from competition at any time.