Question for Experienced BJJ Competitors

**Fearless Ukemi** · Posted On: 3/15/2006 11:45am

Where I train, leg/ankle locks are allowed but not encouraged. If I were to enter a tournament, would I be allowed to use these techniques? I did a search and could not find a definitive answer.

**Anna Kovacs** · Posted On: 3/15/2006 11:49am

Dedpends on the tournament, in most straight BJJ tournaments, no, you probably wont have many leg lock options, there are other grappling tournaments, such as NAGA, that allow the gamut of leg submissions at all skill levels, at least in the no-gi division.

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 3/15/2006 12:33pm

CBJJ rules are very clear and extremely restrictive. Read up on them if you are at all confused.

That being said, some tournaments use either a modified form of them or disregard them altogether.

No-gi competitions are much more liberal in their use. And as others have said, NAGA allows everything whereas GQ would only allow heelhooks in the advanced division.

Be more specific on your belt level and the kind of competition you are looking to enter and I can give a much more definitive answer. More than likely you are a white belt looking to go into a Gracie event. In that case, you are probably not going to be allowed to do any leglocks - and at BEST be able to use the straight footlock.

**Fearless Ukemi** · Posted On: 3/15/2006 12:55pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

Be more specific on your belt level and the kind of competition you are looking to enter and I can give a much more definitive answer. More than likely you are a white belt looking to go into a Gracie event. In that case, you are probably not going to be allowed to do any leglocks - and at BEST be able to use the straight footlock.

Bingo.

Thanks all for the replies.

**Shinobi187** · Posted On: 3/16/2006 1:13pm

I'm considering starting BJJ myself. I'm 32, are there competitors my age should I choose to attend a tournament?

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 3/16/2006 1:27pm

I'm 34.

A lot of tournaments have a masters bracket that starts at 30 or 35 so you don't have to try and hand with the 20 year olds.

**Mjelva** · Posted On: 3/16/2006 2:12pm

I hate that stupid **** about banned submissions.
I mean, what the ****? What's the point?
It's not like an armbar will hurt me any less than a leglock if I don't tap.

**Darkpaladin** · Posted On: 3/16/2006 2:16pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

I'm 34.

A lot of tournaments have a masters bracket that starts at 30 or 35 so you don't have to try and hand with the 20 year olds.

"As one approaches middle age, there is a tendency toward bruising, my son..."

Originally Posted by mjelva

I hate that stupid **** about banned submissions.
I mean, what the ****? What's the point?
It's not like an armbar will hurt me any less than a leglock if I don't tap.

But a cervical lock or heel hook can do permanent damage by the time it hurts enough to make someone tap.

G8 · Posted On: 3/16/2006 2:45pm

Originally Posted by Shinobi187

I'm considering starting BJJ myself. I'm 32, are there competitors my age should I choose to attend a tournament?

At that age, you're fine. When you hit your 40s, it gets to be a problem--though by the time you're in your 40s, it probably won't be any more.

**Fearless Ukemi** · Posted On: 3/16/2006 3:04pm

Originally Posted by Mjelva

I hate that stupid **** about banned submissions.
I mean, what the ****? What's the point?
It's not like an armbar will hurt me any less than a leglock if I don't tap.

I'm not liking it either. I'll have to hold off on competition until I gain some more experience since the only way I have been able to tap anyone in my class is by using leg/ankle locks. On the other hand, everyone in my class has much greater experience than I do.