Mindful Samurai Jiu-Jitsu
Youth Competition Format

1. Catch, Don't Submit

 

Kids are encouraged to use submission holds to immobilize the other person, rather than using pain to force a tap.

 

This is what we want them to actually do in most self-defense situations — control the other person and not rip their shoulder apart, for example. Also, an untrained kid won't know how to tap.

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We assume that most self-defense situations will occur with an untrained other kid, since martial arts students are trained to be disciplined, controlled and ethically minded.

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It’s better self-defense (legally, ethically, and practically) to use only what's necessary to stop an attack.​

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For Older Kids, 8yrs+:

There are two (2) approved Submission Control Positions, or Catches which, after a 10-second hold, earn 8 points. After a Catch, the action is reset from the feet.

 

For Younger Kids, 4-7yrs:

Any Dominant Position held for more than 10 seconds is counted as a Catch and the action is reset from the feet.​

 

2. Protect Your Face

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Kids are encouraged to protect their face whenever they're on Mount Bottom (or Guard Bottom??), like they should in a real self-defense situation.

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A participant in Mount Top (or Guard Top??) position may earn an additional 4 points by placing their hand on the forehead or temple of the other person for 3 seconds, establishing Hand On Head.

 

To protect the other person's eyes, the top person may not force or slide their hand underneath the bottom person's defending hands.

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For All Ages: Two consecutive Hand on Head positions count as a Catch and the action is reset from the feet.

 

3. Simplified Points System

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The points system has been simplified to make it easier to understand for students, parents, and referees. 

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2 Points:

- Getting a top position from any bottom or neutral position (including from standing, guard, half-guard, side-control, mount-bottom, etc).*

- Passing Guard

- Knee On Belly.

 

4 Points:

Any of the 4 Dominant Positions:

- Mount

- Back Mount

- Back Control

- Punching Access

 

8 Points:

Either of the 2 Catch positions.

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*Seated Back Control does not count as a top position for either person.

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*Guard-pulling gives the other person two points.

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4. Illegal:

A few techniques have been made illegal because they're a bad idea when fighting on a hard surface. Basically, you should never be clinging to someone who is standing when on the street.​

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1. No jumping guard.

2. No jumping onto Back Control.

3. No holding onto Guard when someone stands up.

4. No holding onto Back Control when someone stands up.​

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(Question: Should grinding pressure on the face or neck from the top person be made illegal??

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Perhaps yes, because it's rough and painful.

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Perhaps no, because it's quite likely to happen in a real fight with an untrained person.

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If no, then perhaps the referee should be instructed to pause the action to check in with the bottom person to make sure they're okay and to give them the option to tap, which would be counted as a Catch.)

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5. CATCH DETAILS

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The following are the legal Catch or Submission Control positions:

 

1. Armbar Control, performed from Mount Top position.

2. Rear Naked Choke Control, finished from Back Control or Back Mount.

 

The attacker must use controlled pressure and may not squeeze on an armbar or choke until the finishing position is secured and only in proportional response to an escape attempt.

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If a student taps while their opponent is securing a legal Catch, the Catch counts.

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Note that if an armbar performed from Mount Top transitions to a belly-down armbar, that's okay.

 

Why "From Mount Top" or "Back Control"?

In self-defense, the priority should always be getting a Dominant Position before seeking a submission.

 

As my instructors have taught me, "Seek position before submission."

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A failed submission attempt from the bottom can also piss off the top person and lead to ground and pound disaster.

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No Armbars From Bottom

Note that the above rule disallows armbars from bottom.

 

Eliminating armbars from bottom has an added benefit for the gols of this rule set.

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This is because armbars from bottom can create a lot of pain very quickly, before the recipient has time to tap, especially if they fall into a belly-down armbar position.

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I (Coach Gabe) want participants in this format to know that they can avoid intense pain as long as they tap in time. ​​​​

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Why Catch Rather Than Submit?

It’s better self-defense (legally, ethically, and practically) to use only the force necessary to stop an attack.​ It also makes competition safer and less painful for participants.

 

Functionally, they can still submit the other person if that's what's required to prevent escape and secure a hold, and  as long as it's done with control.

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Why These Two Catches?

The Armbar and Rear Naked Choke  are two of the most highly effective and utilized techniques in all of BJJ and MMA and translate very well to no-gi self-defense.

 

How is it better self-defense practically?

Beyond the legal and ethical considerations, because we live in a small community, inflicting gratuitous damage could lead to thoughts of revenge.