Officials chosen to participate on the international level must be certified by the WORLD KOBUDO SPORT JIU-JITSU BOARD. Officials on the national level must be certified by their respective countries for SJJ.

1. Each player must present him/herself suitably attired in a clean, traditional martial arts gi (uniform) with sleeves no more than one fist distance up the arm from the wrist (a jiu-jitsu or judo top is recommended). If a player's uniform becomes bloodied or torn in a manner that may affect the outcome of the match, he/she will be asked to replace it immediately or forfeit the match.
2. All jewelry (rings, watches, necklaces, etc.) must be removed.
3. Wearing of eye glasses during competition is prohibited
4. Competitors may be required to wear a coloured flag or belt during the actual match for identification purposes
5. All competitors must be suitably attired with proper safety  equipment, (see article 2)

A chief referee and arbitrator will be appointed prior to the beginning of the tournament.

Equal training emphasis must be placed on officials as well as competitors. Only highly trained official who have a working knowledge of the rules can be accepted for international competition. The chief referee in his/her wisdom, may select or reject officials who do not meet these criteria at any time during the tournament, with no recourse for protest or debate.

Each contest must have: One referee, two judges, one scorekeeper, and two timekeepers, (one to time the duration of each round, and one to keep time for the 30 second ground fighting).

NOTE: Tournaments other than major National or International, may get by with one timekeeper.

All officials should be identifiable by wearing appropriate clothing, (for international competition).

The referee shall communicate clearly with the scorekeeper and timekeeper, as well as announces the winner of each match. The referee shall announce in a loud clear voice all official decisions, and shall indicate with voice and gestures the player affected by his/her decisions.

Centre referee is the only person who can call for and administer a penalty.

The centre referee is encouraged to give verbal commands throughout the competition where a penalty has not been called, such as "watch the contact, or, stay in bounds, etc."

The referee is responsible for counting the five (5) second allowed for stand up grappling.

The referee will check the score counters at the end of round one, to declare the leader, and at the end of round two in order to declare the winner.

When the competitors are on the ground and a hold down has started, the referee will extend his/her arm out over the competitors, this is the signal for the timekeeper to start the ground time. (For juniors and Kyu belts the referee may count the time.)

1. To allow equipment adjustments.
2. To award points, assess penalties, administer warnings.
3. To attend to an injured competitor.
4. To hear a legal protest.

The centre referee will occasionally confer with the judges when in his/her opinion the scores are not consistent, this will help to ascertain the competence of the judges.

1. One Point
   

   1:	For crisp, clean striking techniques delivered with either hand or foot to legal target areas, (To score a point to the body in Black Belt division medium to hard contact is mandatory) Hand strikes to the head (to the head gear area) with light or touch contact only, will be awarded one point. (The head contact must indicate that the potential was there for a harder blow)
   2:	Kicks to the inner and outer thigh with light to medium contact using roundhouse kicks only (mawashi geri) will be awarded one point. (Kicks at or near the knee will be a major penalty loss of 2 points.)
   3:	A flurry may be considered a repetitive number of doubtful strikes and only one point will be awarded. (At judges discretion).
   4:	Each strike must be seen to be a potentially damaging or injurious blow and will be awarded one point (except for head kick).
   5:	Any combination strikes will be considered on their own merit, they will be considered as multiple points or a flurry, at judges discretion.
   6:	Once stand up grappling  commences, multiple strikes will be allowed and counted for both competitors within the 5 seconds allowed, then they must break the grappling hold.

2. One Point – To be awarded for any takedown, other than a half or full throw. (Where it is shown that one competitor initiated and was in control of the takedown.)
3. Two Points – Will be awarded for a controlled kick to the head that makes no more than light or touch contact to head gear area.
4. Multiple Points – Will be awarded for achieving any legitimate hold down position during the allotted ground time.
   Points for hold downs are:  (Black Belts) 2 points for every 10 seconds up to the 30 second time limit
   (Kyu belts and Juniors). One point for every 5 seconds up to the 15 second time limit. The time will be monitored and determined by the timekeeper.  The hold down time will start officially by a signal from the centre referee (his/her arm extended out over the competitors).
   *NOTE* A competitor cannot be saved by the bell (time limit of rounds) once a hold down has started, it will be allowed to continue to completion for 2 points Black Belt, or 1 point Junior or Kyu Belts.
   This will apply only if ground time has not run out.
5. Two Points – Will be awarded for a legitimate and controlled half-throw or sweep scored on an opponent that causes one foot to leave the mat (such as O'Soto Gari, or Ko Soto Gari).
6. Three Points – Will be awarded for a full throw or sweep scored on an opponent that causes both feet to leave the mat (such as various hip throws, or shoulder throws).
7. Four Points – Will be awarded for a submission by referee intervention, (this is when, in the opinion of the centre referee there would be severe injury caused if the lock or choke continued).
   *NOTE* Any submission that causes a competitor to tap out is an automatic win.

What constitutes a submission? A competitor tapping out, from a joint lock or choke, or a competitor who receives a strike to the body, (without malicious intent), or a throw, (without malicious intent) and cannot continue after a 10 second count is given will constitute a submission (Black belt only). Also, (See previous 4 point submission).
*NOTE* If there has been a penalty assessed to a competitor that deems he/she loses 2 points, two points are to be added to the opponents score, since the counters cannot deduct points.

Competitors may also score with counter throws, hold downs or submissions.

At the end of the time limit they will be separated, brought to their feet and will resume stand up fighting.

If a hold down has started, or it looks like a submission is close, the referee can use his/her discretion as to calling out of bounds.

Absolutely NO neck restraint techniques (chokes) for juniors will be allowed, the primary objective for juniors on the ground is to achieve a hold down, although arm locks will be allowed for junior blue belts and above.

A competitor who ends up on the ground because of an illegal technique may not be scored upon.

If there is a penalty call while competitors are on the ground, depending on the position of the competitor, the referee may stop the fight and assess the penalty, or he/she may let it continue, (if the penalty was against the competitor that was being held down), and assess the penalty after they stand up.

During the ground time if in the opinion of the referee there is a stalemate and no action is happening, the referee can order the fighters to stand up without waiting for the ground time to run out.

The scoring counters are not to be cleared between rounds, so that the total accumulated points at the end of the match will determine the winner. At the end of round two the centre referee will assemble the competitors in the centre of the ring, he/she will then check the judges' counters and declare the winner.

In the event of a tie, additional rounds will be fought. (Duration of overtime rounds to be determined by the tournament coordinator.)

EXECUTIVE (for team) not over 210 lbs. (92.5 kilos)
Adult Kyu Belts
Light..................Under 170 lbs. (Under77 kilos)
Heavy.................Over 170 lbs. (Over 77 kilos)

LADIES: Adult (All ranks)
Light.........Under 130 lbs. (59 kilos)
Middle................130 lbs. to 159.9 lbs (59 kilos to 72.5 kilos)
Heavy.................160 lbs. and over (over 72.5 kilos)

EXECUTIVE  Ages 35 to 45
Light.....Under 180 lbs. (81.5 kilos)
Heavy...180 lbs. and over (81.5 kilos)
Ages Over 45
Light.....Under 180 lbs.  (81.5 kilos)
Heavy...180 lbs. and over (81.5 kilos)
WEIGHT CATEGORIES MAY BE ALTERED FOR TOURNAMENTS DUE TO NUMBER OF COMPETITORS OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS WILL BE UP TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.

JUNIORS UNDER 16 - To be determined by age, size and rank, at the option of Tournament Directors. Male and Female may be in the same divisions, at the Tournament Directors discretion.
*NOTE* Tournament directors have the option to change and alter all divisions depending on the number of competitors in each division.

Inner and outer thighs are legal target areas for adults only. (must be away from the knee with light to medium contact)

Shaded areas are legal head targets (No facial contact)

1. Head butts
2. Hair pulling
3. Scratching
4. Biting
5. Elbow or knee strikes
6. Any finger strikes
7. Any blind techniques
8. Kicking a competitor on the ground
9. Striking to the head while on the ground
10. Kick to the knee (this will be assessed as a major penalty)
11. Intentional attack to nerve points of the head, face, or neck areas.
12. Any finger, toe or heel locks. (twisting of the heel, not ankle lock)
13. Respiratory chokes (across the throat)

JUNIORS - Any technique that puts severe pressure on the neck,  such as neck take downs or twisting the neck during hold downs, all strangulation techniques.

Medium Contact: Slight penetration or slight target movement defines medium contact. Only clean crisp techniques delivered to the body's legal target areas with medium contact will be awarded points. (This will vary depending on the ages and experience of the competitors.)

Hard Contact: Controlled semi full contact and hard contact strikes to the legal body areas are permitted only in Black Belt divisions and they must be delivered in a controlled manner. (If delivered with malicious intent it will be cause for a penalty.)

Excessive Contact: A call for excessive contact indicates that a referee saw a competitor using strength or force in excess of the force necessary to score a point. Any strike, throw, takedown, or submission hold delivered with malicious intent will be considered excessive force and may result in immediate disqualification.  Though it is largely a judgment call, indications that contact has been excessive are to be seen in the following reactions:

1. Negligent and reckless malicious intent by using techniques without control
2. Visible severe movement of the head from the force of a blow.
3. The appearance of severe swelling or other obvious internal or external injury

during the match, is of itself grounds to be called excessive contact. (A bleeding nose would be judged on the force of the blow, not by the blood alone, but would be an automatic penalty for illegal target).

1. Use of excessive contact, (a major penalty).
2. Attacking illegal target areas (kicks to knee area will be a major penalty and will be treated the same as excessive contact)
3. Using illegal techniques.
4. Running out of bounds to avoid fighting. (fighting out of bounds does not apply).
5. Falling on the ground to avoid attack, (A competitor attempting a throw or takedown is exempt this penalty).
6. Continuing to fight after being ordered to stop.
7. Negligent or reckless attacks (regardless if contact is made).
8. Disrespect to officials or other competitors.
9. Unsportsmanlike conduct.

1. Warning, (unless it is excessive contact, or a knee kick, then must be loss of 2 points)
2. Disqualification, if warranted by disrespect, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

1. Loss of two points
2. Disqualification, if warranted by disrespect, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

 Second Offense — Different Infraction:

1. Warning.
2. Loss of two points (if excessive contact, or a knee kick).
3. Disqualification, if warranted by disrespect, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

1. Loss of two points (mandatory).
2. Disqualification, if in the opinion of the referee it was intentional.

A second offense of excessive force would automatically constitute a disqualification, (minor or major)

*NOTE* Definition of Loss of two points:
Because you cannot deduct points, the centre referee will instruct the judges to add these penalty points to the opposing competitor's score.

*NOTE*
EXCESSIVE FORCE AND INJURIES SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED. SPORT JIU-JITSU IS DESIGNED FOR PARTICIPANTS TO HAVE FUN AND TO TEST THEIR MARTIAL ARTS EXPERTISE, NOT TO PROVE HOW TOUGH THEY ARE.  ALL REFEREES WILL BE GRADED FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION BASED ON HOW THEY CAN CONTROL THE CONTACT IN A MATCH.

Minor Disqualification: Will be for the existing contest only (providing there is double elimination, or round robin)

Major Disqualification: Will be for the balance of the tournament or designated period of time, to be suggested by the involved ring referee and submitted to the tournament director and the governing body for that country or area.

*NOTE*
Every penalty call should be taken as a very serious offence by competitors and officials, because it could be one of the calls that leads up to disqualification.

Stopwatches shall be available for each timekeeper
(three per table)