There are some significant differences in ADCC rules compared to other popular tournaments, so here is a primer so you know what to expect when the Road To ADCC kicks off on July 17.
Five major distinctions will be in play for this event:
- There are no positive points in the first half of the match - or until the 10:00 mark at The Road To ADCC.
- Pulling guard results in a negative point, starting from the very beginning of the round.
- Negative points are not factored into the final sum of a player's score until the match ends*.
- One can slam out of a submission, but not to escape a position.
- There will not be an overtime period should the match go the full twenty minutes - at that point the winner will be determined by points or judges' decision should the score be a tie.
Example*: A player with three points decides to pull guard is penalized one negative point. Let's say he earns a sweep and ends the match with five positive points. Once the match has ended the penalty point will be added to their score, giving him a total of 4 points.
How To Score Points in ADCC
- Passing the guard = 3 points
- Knee on stomach = 2 points
- Mount position = 2 points
- Back mount with hooks = 3 points
- Takedown (ends Guard or Half Guard) = 2 points
- Clean Takedown (ends passed the guard) = 4 points
- Sweeps (ends Guard or Half Guard) = 2 points
- Clean Sweep (ends passed the guard) = 4 points
ADCC Penalty Points
- When a fighter voluntarily jumps in the guard or goes from standing position to a non-standing position by any means and remains down for three seconds or more, he will be punished by a minus point.
- When a fighter disengages from contact and starts backing up and avoids engaging again he will be punished by minus point.
- A passive fighter will be warned twice and then will be punished by minus point. The referee will warn the passive player by the words “WARNING PASSIVITY” – after the first minus given there are not going to be any more warnings and the minus points will be given immediately if the fighter continues to be passive.
- If a fighter is very passive during the first half of the regular fights when there are no minuses, the referees will still give him WARNINGs for passivity.
Permitted Techniques
- All leglocks
- All armlocks
- Slamming out of submissions
Illegal Techniques
- Neck cranks, including the twister
- Picking up and slamming an opponent to break the guard
- No use of T-Shirt and no holding the shorts allowed