Synergy Viper MMA Yogyakarta

INDONESIAN GRAPPLING FEDERATION

RULES & REGULATIONS

GOAL

The main objective of these rules is for winning athletes to secure a submission-hold and make

the opponent physically or verbally submit with due regard for all athletes safety. A

submission-hold is any kind of legal joint lock or choke.

MATCH TIME

Most matches end in submission in less than 6 minutes. At the 6 minute mark, a points system

will be used to determine the winner. The referee will first assess who has the least Yellow

cards (which are awarded for stalling or minor infractions) to determine a winner. In the event

that both athletes have the same number of Yellow cards (0, 1, or 2) then the referee will

continue the match without stopping the action adopting a sudden death clause; the first

athlete to score any points will be declared the winner. No points accrue for either athlete for

the first six minutes of a match.

WEIGHT DIVISIONS

Under 54 Kg

55-65 Kg

66-76 Kg

77-87 Kg

88+ Kg

Absolute

POINT SYSTEM

Any Takedown points

Any Reversal points

Passing the Guard points

Mount (front, side or back) points

Backmount points

Points will only be awarded during overtime which starts after the 6 minute mark. Points will

only be awarded after all submission attempts have been defended, and the takedown,

reversal, guard pass, mount or backmount position has been properly secured for at least 3

seconds.

Whichever athlete initiated the move first, will be awarded the points once the athlete has

successfully established his position.

The stalling rule is strictly enforced during the whole duration of a match. In case there was no

submission and equal number of yellow cards awarded, the athlete who scores the next point

will win (Sudden Death overtime).

Note 1: In case both athletes were given yellow cards, the athlete with least yellow cards is

the winner.

TAKEDOWN

Points are awarded for any kind of takedown or counter-takedown. The athlete must maintain

the top position for at least 3 seconds.

Note 1: A takedown that lands outside of the fighting area will be valid as long as the athlete

that applied it stood with both feet in the fighting area while starting the takedown and the

takedown happened in one continuous sequence of action.

Note 2: A point is awarded if the athlete that lands on top maintains the top position with both

his feet on the ground, while the opponent on the bottom is lying on his back, side or is facing

down with at least one knee on the ground for at least 3 seconds.

REVERSAL

Points are awarded for any kind of reversal where the athlete on the bottom ends up on top and

maintains the top position for at least 3 seconds.

Note 1: If an athlete on the bottom attempts a submission and in doing so lands on the top, it

will be considered a reversal, but if an athlete on top initiates a submission and in doing so

lands on the bottom, it will not be considered a reversal.

Note 2: A point is awarded when the athlete reversing advances his position on top to the

back or front of his opponent and maintains the top position for at least 3 seconds, while his

opponent has at least one knee on the ground.

PASSING THE GUARD

Points are awarded for passing the guard to side control, including the north/south position for

at least 3 seconds. The athlete on top has to pass his opponent’s legs (the guard) and

establish a perpendicular position (side control), including knee on stomach, or a longitudinal

position (north/south) over his opponent’s torso to receive points.

Note 1: It will be considered a guard pass whether the athlete on the bottom is lying flat on

his back, side or facing down.

Note 2: If the athlete on the bottom is in the turtle position, the athlete on top will only

receive points for the guard pass if the athlete on the bottom is turned on his back or side for at

least 3 seconds.

MOUNT

Points are awarded for maintaining the mount position for at least 3 seconds. The mount is

when the athlete sits on top of his opponent’s torso with at least one knee on the mat. The

opponent can be lying on his back, side or facing down.

Note 1: The mounting athlete can be on top of one of his opponent’s arms, but not on both.

It will also be considered a mount if he has one knee and one foot on the ground (sidemount).

Note 2: No points will be awarded if one or both of the mounting athlete’s feet or knees are on

his opponent’s leg.

BACKMOUNT

Points are awarded for maintaining the backmount position for at least 3 seconds. The

backmount is when an athlete is facing his opponent’s back, wrapping his legs around his

opponent’s waist, with both his heels leaning on the inner side of his opponent’s thighs, not

allowing him to leave the position.

Note 1: The points will not be awarded if both heels are not properly positioned on the inner

part of the opponent’s thighs. It will also be considered a backmount if the athlete has his leg

over only one arm of the opponent but not over both arms. In this case, the leg that is over

the opponent’s arm does not have to be inside the opponent’s thigh.

STALLING

Stalling is when an athlete is not trying to secure a submission hold. When an athlete avoids

engaging and is not actively trying to make progress in the match. Examples are: backing out

of the guard; fleeing the ring to avoid a takedown; only being defensive; being inactive and not

actively trying to secure a submission hold. Players must engage and try to advance their

position in order to avoid Yellow cards.

The referee will warn the passive athlete of stalling and give him 3 seconds to show visible

signs of engagement to advance; otherwise the referee will briefly stop the match to penalize

the passive athlete with a yellow card.

The athletes will restart from the same position once a Yellow card has been awarded.

The 1st offense of stalling will result in a Yellow card.

The 2nd offense will result in the 2nd

Yellow card. The 3rd offense will result in a red card for immediate disqualification.

Note 1: An immediate yellow card will be given when an athlete runs from the matted area in

order to avoid a takedown or reversal that the referee considers would be completed.

WAYS TO WIN

- By the opponent submitting whether by tapping or verbally - Consciously Submitting - It is

VERY important that all competitors understand how to "Tap Out" when caught in a

submission technique. Tapping out can be done verbally or through a physical tap. A

competitor can tap with their hands, feet or even a nod of their head. This "tapping" is a

conscious admittance of loss or surrender to an opponent.

- The referee may end the match giving victory to the one that applied a lock if the referee

sees a lock being properly applied and is certain that the athlete is exposed to serious

physical damage.

- Winning by assessing that one player has more yellow cards than the other at the end of

the first 6 minutes.

- Winning by points awarded in over-time.

- By disqualification. If an athlete breaks the rules he will be disqualified by the referee.

- By unconsciousness. If one athlete has fallen unconsciousness the other is declared the

winner. In case both athletes have fallen unconscious, the first one to wake up is declared

the winner.

- Corner throws in the towel. The coach of either may request that the fight be ended either

by directing himself to the referee or by throwing the towel into the ring for any reason.

- The referee may end the fight when one of the athletes is injured or the doctor’s

examination proves he is incapable to continue. If this occurs, the victory will be given to

the opponent as long as the injury was not caused intentionally by conduct worthy of

disqualification.

LEGAL TECHNIQUES

- Any kind of choke.

- Any kind of neck crank.

- Any arm lock, including shoulder, elbow and wrist locks.

- Any leg lock, including knee and ankle locks.

- Any spine or hip lock.

- Using the kimono to control and submit opponent.

ILLEGAL TECHNIQUES

Offences leading to Instant Disqualification

• No slamming. ZERO tolerance on slamming. This is to avoid slamming to escape the

guard and various submission holds. Note: Takedowns are not considered

slamming, unless intent to injure is determined by the referee, for example if the

athlete’s head touches the mat first during a takedown. You must deliver your

opponent safely to the mat, meaning, if you take your opponent down, you must

come down with your opponent. Anyone violating this rule will be immediately

disqualified.

• No striking of any kind.

• No attacks to the windpipe either by strikes or clutching the trachea (including use of

fingers and toes to poke/close the windpipe).

• No eye gouging (includes chin to eye) or fish hooking.

• No ear pulling.

• No hair pulling.

• No small joint manipulation (finger and toe locks).

• No putting fingers into any orifice.

• No scratching, pinching & twisting of skin.

• No biting.

• No touching the groin area

• No slippery substances allowed on body or clothing

• No use of belt to strangulate opponent

• No unsportsmanlike conduct allowed as observed by the referee including spitting,

use of foul language, and obscene gestures.

• Gradual force must be used for all submission techniques. The referee may award

the win to the submitted player if he judges that malice is a forethought in the way a

submission technique is applied. The use of foul language, cursing, or other immoral

acts of disrespect towards the referee or any of the assisting public.

• The use of fists, feet, knees, elbows, or heads with the intention to hurt or gain

unfair advantage.

• When an athlete has his kimono or clothes ripped during the fight, the referee will

give him a set time to change it. If the fighter does not change it in time he will be

disqualified.

• The athlete must wear shorts under the pants, keeping in mind the risk that the suit

might get torn or unsowed. If this occurs, the athlete will be given a set time

determined by the referee to find another pair of pants to wear. If the athlete can

not change within the set time, he will be immediately disqualified.

• When an athlete has been submitted to a lock and to avoid tapping out the athlete

runs out of the ring he will be disqualified. In such cases when it is considered a

technical foul, not a disciplinary foul, the offender may return to the competition to

fight the open division.

• When an athlete intentionally tries to injure the opponent.

Offences leading to Yellow Card

• No shirt, rash guard and shorts grabbing. Note: Only long pants and any type of gi

jacket/kimono (long or short sleeve) are legal to grab. In case an athlete uses

unfamiliar clothing, the association will determine if the clothing is considered legal to

grab or not.

• No thumbing and poking. • No knee, nor elbow, nor hand contact with the eyes.

REFEREEING

The referee is the highest authority on the mat and has the authority to disqualify competitors

during the match. No one can overturn his decision. In special cases the association can

review and overturn a referee’s decision if the decision is unjust. Also, video footage that

undeniably proves that the referee made a mistake can overturn his decision. The referee is

assisted by a scorekeeper and a timekeeper in every match. In cases where a referee shows to

be incapable to continue refereeing because of obvious mistakes, the inspector of the event

who is appointed by the association has the authority to replace him.

During the match the referee should always be directing the athletes to the center of the ring.

In the event that the athletes move out of bounds during the match, the referee will call

"STOP", and the athletes must hold their position without movement. The same occurrence will

happen when 2/3 of the athlete’s body is outside the boundary. The referee may be assisted

by the timekeeper in moving the athletes back to the center of the ring. In case the referee

and the timekeeper are unable to move the athletes back to the center of the ring, the athletes

will be asked to walk back to the center and continue from the same position.

The referee will oversee that everything is correct; for example: the mats, equipment, kimono,

clothing, hygiene, officials, before starting the fight.

The referee must ensure that neither the public, photographers nor anyone else is in any

position that could interfere with, risk or harm the competitors.

The referee will not allow interference from outsiders during the match. The medical team or

nurse will be allowed on the mat at the referee’s discretion.

During the match, the referee or persons at the scoring table are not allowed to converse with

the athletes, this will be strictly enforced.

Expiration of time will be determined by the timekeeper during the match.

The timekeeper has the responsibility to take notes during every match.

The scorekeeper will actualize the referee’s gestures and comments on a scorecard.

REFEREE’S GESTURES & VERBAL COMMENTS

The referee will point at the athlete that just scored and announce the color of the athlete’s

ankle-band, how many points and what the points where awarded for.

- Awarding points: The referee will say, for example: “Red – 1 point for Takedown”.

- Stalling: The referee will say: “Red – Warning: you are stalling”. Then once penalized he

will briefly stop the match and pull out the yellow card and say: “Red – Stalling – 1st

Offense”.

- For interruption of time during the fight: The referee puts his hands one above the

other forming a "T", signaling the timekeeper to stop the time, and say: “Time-out” - For disqualification: The referee will pull out the red card and say: “Red - Disqualified”

- Taking off awarded points: The referee will say: “Red – Cancel last point(s) awarded”

COACH’S CORNER

Two chairs will be placed approx. 5 feet away from the scorers table on either side of the

competition area. Coaches must remain seated during the duration of their competitor’s match.

Only one coach per competitor is allowed. A coach’s failure to remain seated or disrespecting

the referee will result in the following penalties:

On the 1st

Offense: Stoppage of match - verbal warning

On the 2nd

Offense: Stoppage of match – yellow card.

On the 3rd

Offense: Default win by disqualification for the other competitor

APPAREL & HYGIENE

A) Kimono & wrestling/martial arts shoes, board shorts, fight shorts, singlet, gi pants, rash

guards, t-shirts, tank tops, knee pads, headgear, cups and mouth pieces will all be

permitted. T-shirts and tank tops must be tucked into shorts.

B) Apparel must be washed and dried with no unpleasant odors.

C) Toe and fingernails must be cut short and clean.

D) People with long hair must keep their hair from interfering with there opponent or

themselves during the match.

E) Jewelry or body accessories of any kind are forbidden to wear during a match.

Competitors must abide by the hygiene and kimono/clothing specifications for them to

compete; otherwise the opponent will be considered the winner.