How are ties broken in ju-jitsu duo, and what costs a penalty?
A · Advanced · Judging · 2 of 3A pair that arrives late or unprepared starts with a deduction of 4 points. A tie in qualification is split by the score in round 3, then round 2, then round 1, then variety. A tie in a face-off is settled by both pairs repeating two attacks from a series at a time until one pair leads.
How it works
- Penalty: 4 points deducted, for arriving late or arriving unprepared.
- When: at the start of the presentation, agreed by the majority of the referee team.
- The sign: the referee points at the watch and raises a finger.
- Ties after a round: the pair that performed first ranks higher.
- Ties after qualification: round 3, then round 2, then round 1, then variety.
- Four or more tied for fourth: an extra tie round of series A, then B, until three winners are found.
- Ties in a face-off: the red pair repeats two attacks of series A, then the blue pair, then series B, and so on.
- No-show in qualification: zero for the round.
- No-show in a final: the absent pair gets 0 and the other 50.
- Withdrawal through injury: the score already reached is kept.
The glossary has the duo penalty, the fusen-gachi and kiken-gachi, the duo qualification rounds, the duo medal phase, the variety and the couple.
Tricky cases
Two pairs finish qualification level. Which one ranks higher?
The one with the better score in round 3, the weapon series. If that is level too, round 2, then round 1, then variety.
Is a pair penalised for a poor technique?
No. Technique is reflected in the marks. The only penalty in the rulebook is the deduction for wasting time by being late or unprepared.
A pair is injured halfway through a round and withdraws. Is its score lost?
No. The score already reached is kept.
Can the jury penalise a pair in the middle of a performance?
The rulebook says a penalty can be given at the start of the presentation, and lists only lateness and lack of preparation.
Why the rule exists
Lateness is the only thing a pair does wrong that the judges' marks cannot see, so it has a fixed cost. Breaking qualification ties on the last round rewards the pair that finished strongest, on the hardest series.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late or unprepared | Minus 4 points | JJIF Duo 6.2; 6.3 |
| Tie after qualification | Round 3, 2, 1, then variety | JJIF Duo 4.13.5 to 4.13.8 |
| Tie in a face-off | Repeat two attacks a series at a time | JJIF Duo 4.14.8 to 4.14.11 |
| No-show in a final | 0 against 50 | JJIF Duo 8.2 |
| Injury withdrawal | Score kept | JJIF Duo 8.4 |
From the rule book
Ju-Jitsu International Federation, Ju-Jitsu Duo Rulebook (version 4.1, approved March 2024), Sections 4.10 to 4.14, 6 and 8. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Ju-Jitsu Duo Rulebook.