The IBJJF created the most widely-used rules in the sport, so understanding the best tactics to use in that format is absolutely vital for long-term success. Other than tournaments that simply use IBJJF rules, a number of them have taken the same ruleset and made some small tweaks that don’t have a huge effect on the optimal approach. The rules have also undergone a number of changes over the years, although the fundamental point-scoring positions and transitions have remained the same. Most of the changes to the rules have come from either banning or legalising specific techniques, or introducing penalties for specific actions in order to reduce the amount of stalling.
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What Are The Best Tactics For IBJJF Rules?
The IBJJF rules are just a way to determine a winner if no submission is secured, focusing primarily on the positions and transitions achieved during the match. Not only does that mean that specific sequences are more desirable than others, but that then guides the flow of the match as well. Because both competitors are under the same set of incentives, there’s a predictable set of scenarios that are more common than anything else. The key to winning under IBJJF rules is in employing the right tactics to get the better of those scenarios, and training specifically to win them.
Scoring And Conceding Points In General
The most important thing to remember about IBJJF rules when considering what tactics to make use of is that all points are only scored when the position has been established for 3 seconds. That means that any time you use a technique or secure a position that scores points, your first goal is always to stay right where you are for 3 seconds. Likewise; any time that your opponent uses a technique or secures a position that scores points, you should be aiming to escape or recover within the first 3 seconds at all costs. This simple rule will immediately make it a lot easier for you to score, and a lot harder for them to score against you.
If those 3 seconds have passed and points have been scored, then the goal switches immediately. If you have scored against your opponent then you should now be looking to progress either to a submission or to another point-scoring position. If your opponent has scored against you then you no longer need to rush your escape and you can focus on staying defensively sound while also working your way free at a steady pace. This approach should help make sure that you’re constantly advancing position when you have the advantage, while simultaneously staying in the game when at a disadvantage.
One of the most common point-scoring scenarios is the guard-pass, and it’s vital to remember that turning to turtle does not count as passing guard. That means that if you can’t recover guard within 3 seconds of a pass, your best option is always to turn to turtle. Although that does concede an advantage, they will only ever matter if the points are even. Additionally a sweep only scores points if it’s done through the use of some kind of guard and although the goal is to score, that should never be done at the expense of taking top position. Dominant position is it’s own reward, and achieving it is not something that should be turned down.
How To Start The Match
The start of a match is the only time that competitors are truly on a completely equal and neutral position. Statistically speaking, whoever scores the first points of the match is the most likely to go on to win by either decision or submission. These two factors combined mean that winning the very first exchange of the match is actually more important than any other exchange after that. Every other exchange can be entered on unequal footing where you have an advantage already in terms of grips or positioning, or one competitor will have a mental advantage from already being ahead on the scoreboard.
The path to scoring the first points is either through taking the opponent down, pulling guard and sweeping them, or passing their guard after they pull. The third option is one that is forced upon you, so the first decision to make is which of the first two options you will be taking. Either one is fine, so decide prior to the match what you’re going to do to score your first points and immediately set about achieving that goal when the match begins. If your opponent does manage to pull guard then it’s important to react quickly and start setting up your pass before they can get too deep into taking the grips they want.
After The First Points Are Scored In IBJJF Rules
If you have scored the first points of the match then you will be in top position, either in your opponent’s guard or already past it, or on your opponent’s back. If you’re in your opponent’s guard then although you may be up on points, this is not a good place to slow down and rest. You should continue trying to advance position and pass, building up an even greater lead. If you are past their guard then all of the pressure is off at this point. The goal from here is to take your time and steadily work towards either a submission or another point-scoring position like mount or the back.
The most likely sequence that results in the first points being scored when you take your opponents back is that they have pulled guard, and then turtled when you attempted to pass. If you’ve taken your opponent’s back after that point then you are already four points up and in the most dominant position in the sport. The deficit is huge and your opponent needs to escape before then submitting you or scoring more than 4 points to win. That is an incredibly unlikely outcome and now you can work patiently for the finish, as time running out will only make them more desperate and increase your chances of finding it.
It’s entirely possible that your starting tactics for IBJJF rules have not worked, and you find yourself at a deficit of your own instead. If you are down on points and playing guard after being taken down then all is not lost, as you are still in a position that you can score points from. The best course of action here is not to panic, because there should still be a lot of time left and you can either level the score with a sweep or win by submission. Rushing at this point can be a death sentence, as conceding more than two points is when winning becomes even more unlikely.
If you are down on points and your guard is passed, you need to get back to guard first and foremost. Although you still shouldn’t be rushing or panicking here, you should be approaching the position with a sense of urgency. The longer that you spend stuck in bottom side control, the less time you have to sweep or submit when you get back to guard. Escaping to top position might not score points, but it’s still better than not escaping at all. The same applies to having your back taken too. A quick escape to a position you can score from is the optimal route, but never at the risk of being submitted.
The Final Minute Of The Match
After the first points have been scored, the match progresses as a chain of these exchanges where further points can be scored or a submission can be secured. If you make it to the final minute of the match with no submission then there’s a few different possible outcomes. If you are ahead on points then be assured that you are going to win, the odds are statistically in your favor and even moreso when the lead is greater than 4 points. This means the opponent needs to score twice in order to make a comeback, and the goal from here should be controlling the until the time runs out while working towards a submission.
Sacrificing position for submission in a match you are winning is not a good idea, but that risk to reward ratio can move in either direction when you are not winning. If the score is tied in the final minute then the risk of losing position by attempting a submission is massive. The best course of action here is to remain patient and work towards scoring more points, and only attacking a submission if it presents itself or if the risk of losing position is minimal. If you are behind on points, the risk to reward ratio tips the other way in favor of hunting the submission finish.
If you find yourself at a deficit of more than 4 points with just a minute left in the match then you really do have nothing to lose. It’s not impossible to score enough points to win but it’s incredibly hard to do so and not a common outcome from here. If the deficit is either three or four points then you need to pass guard or take mount or the back in order to win. Hunting the submission and securing these transitions should be of equal importance at this point. If the deficit is either one or two points then any point-scoring sequence is enough to at least pull level, which means it should be of slightly more importance than the submission win.
How Do You Prepare For IBJJF Rules In Training?
Although the ideal tactics can you help go far under IBJJF rules, training specific skills to increase your chances of winning those key exchanges is just as important. Drilling your opening exchange is hugely beneficial, in order to make sure that your ideal first attack is as good as can be. Additionally, positional sparring where rounds starting from standing are vital. Both players should be looking to score the first points and then resetting to standing from there. That means that either one can land a takedown, pull guard and sweep, or pass guard after the other pulls. Although it’s less common; it’s also possible for the opponent to pull guard and turtle when almost passed, allowing you to take the back to win.
One of the best positional sparring drills to develop those skills are variations of the guard pass vs turtle sequence. First start with one person executing an uncontested guard pass while the other turns to turtle, and begin the round once they’ve fully turned. The goal for the top player is to take the back while the bottom player looks to wrestle up or reguard. Then you can take it back a step and open the sparring up a little, so one person is passing guard and the other is playing guard with both people looking to either score or submit in order to win.
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