The BJJ Scoring System is Very Important at my Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu School
By Ryan Berry
Indianapolis, IN
02/25/2012
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a game! Like most games there are points that can be earned throughout the course of the match and often times the winner of the match is determined by those points. By focusing on points during practice and training you not only gain a ‘big picture’ understanding of the overall game of BJJ but you are also more prepared for success in competition. Knowing how the points system works and how the game is played helps you to not lose your position, to not make mistakes, and to patiently set up for timely submissions.
At my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school in Indianapolis, IN, Marcello Monteiro talks a lot about points. He has trained champions at all levels by focusing on improving their mental game, which the points scoring system has a lot to do with. Tonight at the end of the first jiu jitsu class, my Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu Coach had us all circle around and he discussed in detail how we should be aware of what points have been scored in the practice matches between us and our training partner. He discussed how, by scoring points and leading in the match, we can build confidence in ourselves in the match as well as break our opponents down. Marcello shared with us a couple of stories about how exceptional purple belts have been able to beat mediocre brown and black belts by playing the points game correctly and not making mistakes. For instance, a higher ranked belt needs to be well-developed and strong in all positions. A high ranked guy should not just give up the top position to go into guard, even if he prefers having his opponent in his guard. By giving up top position they have given up two points in the match. Those two points could be the deciding factor in the match. You must play from all positions, for jiu jitsu is a game and you can’t just restart in your favorite position because you prefer it. You need to develop a game that is well-rounded. By being cognizant of the points system at all times, you can develop a stronger all-around game.
Here is how the points system works, according to the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation Rules. Four points are awarded for a mount position or a back position. A mount is basically an athlete sitting on his opponent, taking the back refers to wrapping up an opponent from behind with your arms around his torso and your legs wrapped around his waist. Both of these positions are places that you don’t want to end up on the receiving end of, they both make you very susceptible to discomfort and submissions of all sorts. They also give your opponent 4 points, the highest number awarded in one single move.
Passing your opponents guard is the primary focus on your mind when inside your opponents closed, open, or half guard. It moves you from a neutral position to a dominant position. It is worth three points in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Two points will be awarded when, in a match, you can sweep your opponent, apply the knee on the belly, or get a takedown. A sweep is when you are on the bottom and you reverse the position, putting yourself on top. Knee on the belly is exactly what it sounds like, and is a way to neutralize your opponent and is very uncomfortable for them. A take down is any kind of knocking down your opponent or taking the opponent down on his back. All of these are worth two points, and these are the kinds of things you should be thinking about when in a match.
Both gaining points for yourself as well as keeping your opponent from gaining points should be at the forefront of your mind in competition. You have to condition yourself to think like that, however, by focusing on these aspects of the game in practice. Marcello, while observing training matches going on, is always calling out things like, “three points,” or “two for the sweep and four for the mount.” He helps us rookies to understand what is going on while also reinforcing the points system to the more advanced practitioners. There is much more to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scoring system then what I have just briefly outlined in this blog. You can check it out in more depth for yourself at http://www.bjjcoach.com or at Marcello's Students Handbook.
By Ryan Berry
Indianapolis, IN
02/25/2012
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a game! Like most games there are points that can be earned throughout the course of the match and often times the winner of the match is determined by those points. By focusing on points during practice and training you not only gain a ‘big picture’ understanding of the overall game of BJJ but you are also more prepared for success in competition. Knowing how the points system works and how the game is played helps you to not lose your position, to not make mistakes, and to patiently set up for timely submissions.
At my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school in Indianapolis, IN, Marcello Monteiro talks a lot about points. He has trained champions at all levels by focusing on improving their mental game, which the points scoring system has a lot to do with. Tonight at the end of the first jiu jitsu class, my Indianapolis Jiu Jitsu Coach had us all circle around and he discussed in detail how we should be aware of what points have been scored in the practice matches between us and our training partner. He discussed how, by scoring points and leading in the match, we can build confidence in ourselves in the match as well as break our opponents down. Marcello shared with us a couple of stories about how exceptional purple belts have been able to beat mediocre brown and black belts by playing the points game correctly and not making mistakes. For instance, a higher ranked belt needs to be well-developed and strong in all positions. A high ranked guy should not just give up the top position to go into guard, even if he prefers having his opponent in his guard. By giving up top position they have given up two points in the match. Those two points could be the deciding factor in the match. You must play from all positions, for jiu jitsu is a game and you can’t just restart in your favorite position because you prefer it. You need to develop a game that is well-rounded. By being cognizant of the points system at all times, you can develop a stronger all-around game.
Here is how the points system works, according to the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation Rules. Four points are awarded for a mount position or a back position. A mount is basically an athlete sitting on his opponent, taking the back refers to wrapping up an opponent from behind with your arms around his torso and your legs wrapped around his waist. Both of these positions are places that you don’t want to end up on the receiving end of, they both make you very susceptible to discomfort and submissions of all sorts. They also give your opponent 4 points, the highest number awarded in one single move.
Passing your opponents guard is the primary focus on your mind when inside your opponents closed, open, or half guard. It moves you from a neutral position to a dominant position. It is worth three points in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Two points will be awarded when, in a match, you can sweep your opponent, apply the knee on the belly, or get a takedown. A sweep is when you are on the bottom and you reverse the position, putting yourself on top. Knee on the belly is exactly what it sounds like, and is a way to neutralize your opponent and is very uncomfortable for them. A take down is any kind of knocking down your opponent or taking the opponent down on his back. All of these are worth two points, and these are the kinds of things you should be thinking about when in a match.
Both gaining points for yourself as well as keeping your opponent from gaining points should be at the forefront of your mind in competition. You have to condition yourself to think like that, however, by focusing on these aspects of the game in practice. Marcello, while observing training matches going on, is always calling out things like, “three points,” or “two for the sweep and four for the mount.” He helps us rookies to understand what is going on while also reinforcing the points system to the more advanced practitioners. There is much more to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scoring system then what I have just briefly outlined in this blog. You can check it out in more depth for yourself at http://www.bjjcoach.com or at Marcello's Students Handbook.
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