What are the penalties in ju-jitsu fighting?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and officials · 2 of 3A minor foul brings a shido and gives the opponent one waza-ari. A major foul brings a chui and gives the opponent three. Six penalty points in a match add up to hansoku-make, which is disqualification with the score set at 50-0. A severe disciplinary foul also expels the fighter from the whole event.
How it works
- Minor foul: shido. The opponent is awarded 1 waza-ari.
- Major foul: chui. The opponent is awarded 3 waza-ari.
- Six penalty points: a severe foul, hansoku-make.
- Severe technical foul: hansoku-make. The fighter loses the match, 0-50.
- Severe disciplinary foul: hansoku-make and expulsion from the event, with the loss of all fights, medals and qualification points in every discipline.
- Majority: penalties must be given by the majority of the referees.
- The worst applies: an action that fits more than one penalty gets the most severe.
- Repeats: a second identical minor foul brings a warning, and the third is a chui.
- Both disqualified: a rematch straight away, with nothing carried over.
- Where it is given: with "Mate" in part 1, and with "Sonomama" in parts 2 and 3.
The glossary has the shido, chui and hansoku-make, the hansoku-make, the waza-ari, the mubobi, the forbidden action and the referee team.
Tricky cases
A fighter gets two chui in one match. What happens?
Hansoku-make. Each chui is worth three penalty points, and six or more in one fight is a severe technical foul.
A fighter steps out of the area for the third time. Is that still a shido?
No. The third instance of an identical minor foul is a major foul, and brings a chui.
What does the loser's score become after a disqualification?
Zero, and the opponent's score is set to 50.
Is a fighter disqualified for a technical foul thrown out of the tournament?
No. A severe technical foul loses that match. Only a severe disciplinary foul expels the fighter from the event.
Why the rule exists
Giving the opponent points for each foul makes every offence count on the scoreboard, so a fighter cannot foul tactically at no cost. The six-point limit means a match is lost on fouls well before it becomes a list of them. Expulsion is kept for conduct that has nothing to do with fighting.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Shido | 1 waza-ari to the opponent | JJIF Fighting 7; 7.1 |
| Chui | 3 waza-ari to the opponent | JJIF Fighting 7; 7.2 |
| Six penalty points | Hansoku-make | JJIF Fighting 7.3.3 |
| Severe disciplinary foul | Expelled from the event | JJIF Fighting 7.3.1 |
| Both given hansoku-make | Rematch at once | JJIF Fighting 7.3 |
From the rule book
Ju-Jitsu International Federation, Ju-Jitsu Fighting Rulebook (version 4.0, approved October 2022), Section 7 and Section 5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Ju-Jitsu Fighting Rulebook.