Quintet is the world’s most popular team grappling event and it uses a unique set of rules that have become very successful in creating a way for teams of competitors to battle against each other while also aiming to push the excitement for fans. Quintet is the brainchild of MMA legend and catch wrestling expert Kazushi Sakuraba, and he truly revolutionized the sport when the promotion debuted on April 11, 2018. Not only did he find a way to successfully make Jiu-Jitsu a team sport, but he also managed to do it in such a way that it created narratives over the course of the night that kept fans engaged and excited.
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The Ultimate BJJ Guide To Quintet Rules
The main thing that makes Quintet such a fantastic promotion is the rules that Sakuraba and his colleagues have put in place for the event. Not only did they create a specific format for the teams to compete under, but they also created a unique set of rules that is used in each match as well. It was undoubtedly a triumph, as Quintet are known for not only producing exciting single matches but also fantastic events from start to finish. The action is pushed in each match and fans are able to follow as the story develops across a few hours, rooting for their favorite teams of elite grapplers against one another.
Quintet Team Grappling Format
The unique rules that Quintet use start long before the competitors take to the mats, as they dictate how the teams themselves are made up. Each team competing at a Quintet event is made up of 5 grapplers and they must all adhere to a collective weight limit. Teams at a regular event have a collective weight-limit of 430kg (950lbs), lightweight teams have a collective weight-limit of 360kg (790lbs), and women’s teams have a collective weight-limit of 280kg (620lbs). Once the teams are weighed in, they submit their running order for the first match of the night and that cannot be changed until they make it to the next round of the tournament.
The teams then battle it out in a winner-stays-on format, until one or both of the teams run out of competitors to step on the mats. If all 5 grapplers on one team are eliminated and the other team still has one or more left, the team with competitors remaining is declared the winner. In the event that both teams have no more competitors left, the grappler in the final match with the least penalties wins the match for his team. If they are even, then the team that has the least total penalties between all of their members is declared the winner. In the event that the teams have an equal number of penalties, the referee will decide the winning team based on which grappler in the final fight was more aggressive.
Quintet Individual Match Rules
There are no points or advantages in a Quintet match, and the rules state that there are only two ways to win a match and stay on for the next one. A competitor can only win by submission or disqualification, which happens when their opponent performs an illegal technique or receives a total of three stalling penalties in a single match. Quintet are very liberal with their use of stalling calls compared to other major BJJ promotions like IBJJF or ADCC, and an athlete can be called for stalling from any position if they are not earnestly attempting to finish the fight.
The grapplers compete on a 12ft by 12ft square mat without boundaries, and the referee will reset them in the center if they get too close to the edge. The only submission not allowed under Quintet rules is the heel hook, due to the chance of a team-member getting injured in a match that their team goes on to win. Matches are contested over 8 minutes or over 4 minutes if there is a significant weight difference, 20kg (44lbs) at regular events and 10kg (22lbs) in lightweight events. If there is no winner by the end of the time limit then the match is ruled a draw and both competitors are eliminated.
