Which submissions are allowed in jiu-jitsu, and how does tapping work?
B · Beginner · Submissions, fouls and referees · 6 of 6An athlete wins at once with a legal choke or joint lock that makes the opponent give up. Tapping with a hand, tapping the ground with a foot, saying "tap" or crying out in pain all end the match. So does losing consciousness. Which holds are legal depends on the age group and, in some events, on the belt.
How it works
- Chokes: all are allowed, except with bare hands or fingers round the throat.
- Shoulder and elbow locks: all rotation or straightening locks are allowed.
- From under 18: wrist locks, straight ankle locks, bicep and calf slicers, straight knee bars and toe holds are allowed.
- Twisting the knee: only in no-gi for under 21 and adults.
- Neck and spine: cranks without a choke are forbidden. A legal choke that also bends the spine is allowed from under 18.
- Tapping: with a hand on the opponent, the mat or oneself, or with a foot on the mat if the arms are trapped.
- Verbal tap: asking to stop, saying "tap" or making any noise of pain.
- Unconscious: the athlete loses, and may not compete again in the event.
- Under 16 and younger: the referee stops a dangerous legal hold and gives the win, even without a tap.
- Younger groups: many holds, from guillotines to wrist locks, are banned.
The glossary has the legal submissions (ne-waza), the tap-out, the submission hold, the prohibited acts by division, the advantage and the age categories.
Tricky cases
An athlete grunts in pain in an arm lock but does not tap. Is the match over?
Yes. Shouting, grunting or any noise expressing pain while trapped in a submission is a surrender.
Is a guillotine choke legal for a 15-year-old?
No. A front headlock choke without the collar is banned for the under-16 group and younger.
Is a heel hook ever legal?
Yes, in no-gi matches for the under-21 and adult groups only. Everywhere else it is a disqualifying foul.
An athlete passes out in a legal choke without tapping. Can they compete later that day?
No. An athlete who loses consciousness may not compete for the rest of the competition.
Why the rule exists
The ladder of permitted holds follows how much damage a hold can do and how hard it is to sense in time. Chokes and arm locks give warning and are allowed for most ages. Twisting knee locks can tear a ligament before the pain arrives, so they are kept for experienced adults without the gi.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 and younger | Most chokes and locks other than basic arm locks and chokes banned | JJIF Ne-Waza table of prohibited acts |
| Under 14 and under 16 | Guillotine, arm triangle, wrist locks and ankle locks banned | JJIF Ne-Waza table of prohibited acts |
| Under 18 and older | Wrist and straight ankle locks, knee bars and toe holds allowed | JJIF Ne-Waza 10.1 |
| Under 21 and adults, no-gi | Heel hooks and other twisting knee locks allowed | JJIF Ne-Waza 10.1 |
| Belt divisions | Further limits for white, blue, purple and brown belts | JJIF Ne-Waza 15; table per belt |
From the rule book
Ju-Jitsu International Federation and Ju-Jitsu Asian Union, Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza) Rulebook (version 2.7, reviewed 2024), Sections 10 and 15 and the tables of prohibited acts. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza) Rulebook.