The International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation, or the IBJJF, has put forth a new series of updates for the Jiu Jitsu Rule Book, as a regularly part of its activities. Though not annual, these changes are designed to better streamline and make safe the wonderful sport of jiu jitsu for all its practitioners. Three new and specific alterations have been made. The first of these pertains to the jump when it is used to put an opponent into a closed guard, though only when it is being used in white belt matches. Secondly, the suplex take down has been changed. It has been fine tuned to be safer for the fighter, while establishing a clearer take down. Finally a very important change has been made to the rules around the 50/50 guard.
The first alteration only pertains to white belts, where the jump has been prohibited in these matches, no longer counting during the fight. Usually, the jump is used to put an opponent in a closed guard, but it has been deemed too advanced in white belt matches. The jump is no longer allowed with newer fighters and those with little experience with jiu jitsu. This particular rule change is aimed to make the lower tier matches easier and safer for those new to the sport. However, it is important to note that the jump is still allowed in all other belt rank matches.
Second in the new series of rule changes is the disablement of the suplex take down, which ends with an athlete on his or her head or neck. While the suplex is still allowed, the athlete must make contact with the mat on their side or back for the take down to be considered technically valid.
The biggest change, and perhaps the most important to these matches, is the alteration made to the advantages of the 50/50 guard. From this point on, the referee will not give athletes advantages for coming out on top when in a 50/50 guard. This rule change hopes to make matches more fluid and less rewarding for fighters to remain in the guard to attempt to win the match by that advantage alone. This update goes hand in hand with an already implemented rule that prevents athletes from staying in a double pull guard position for more than 20 seconds at a time without a opponent coming out on top.
Check out new rules: http://ibjjf.org/rules/
