The rules, designed to reduce stalling tactics, will only impact officiating at IBJJF FloGrappling GPs, and will go into effect on March 3.
The IBJJF has just announced several new stalling rules that will apply to their upcoming schedule of Grand Prix events from 2023 onwards.
The intention behind them is very clear, as they’re attempting to encourage the athletes to push the action and not spend extended periods of time in neutral positions. The main position that they’re taking aim at is 50/50, where they’ve introduced a specific rule to combat stalling with lapel or belt grips in that position.
The following three rules will all come into force for the first IBJJF Grand Prix event of the year on March 3rd, and will continue for the foreseeable future:
1- Lack of combativeness (stalling) is defined by one athlete clearly not pursuing positional progression in a match.
(this is a change from the current rule which also penalizes the athlete working to stop that progression)
2- The penalties for lack of combativeness will follow the sequence below after the referee considers one or both athletes partake in the situations described in item 1.
• The referee shall count 10 (ten) consecutive seconds and signal lack of combativeness with the verbal command “Lute,” referring to the penalty to be applied to the athlete.
(the existing rule does not penalize athletes until after 20 seconds of inactivity)
Finally, the rules update adds new language surrounding the 50-50 guard, where some of the worst instances of stalling and lack of combativeness occur.
Athletes who grab their opponent’s belt or lapel while entangle in 50-50 guard will have ten seconds to utilize the grip, otherwise they will receive a penalty.
This new rule is an attempt to mitigate the use of lapel 50-50 guards, which often render matches into minutes-long stalemates.
3- If an athlete is in the 50/50 guard position and grips the lapel or the belt of their opponent, the athlete will have 10 (ten) seconds to pursue positional progression before receiving a penalty for lack of combativeness, as described in rule 1. An athlete will receive a penalty, as described in rule 2 , if positional progression has not been achieved after 10 (ten) seconds, regardless of intention.
All three rule changes will apply to the main event superfight on March 3, a 30-minute bout between Tainan Dalpra and Isaque Bahiense. It is a rematch from their 2021 IBJJF World Championships final, a match marred by the 50-50 lapel guard.
The news that the IBJJF was introducing new stalling rules in their Grand Prix events was announced in a post to the promotion’s official Instagram account:
