How do penalties work in jiu-jitsu, and what is stalling?
I · Intermediate · Submissions, fouls and referees · 3 of 3Minor fouls are counted. The first is a penalty only. The second also gives the opponent an advantage, the third gives two points and the fourth is disqualification. Passivity is the most common: ten seconds without trying to progress when standing, or ten seconds after the referee's warning of "Fight!" on the ground.
How it works
- 1st minor foul: a penalty.
- 2nd: a penalty and an advantage to the opponent.
- 3rd: a penalty and two points to the opponent.
- 4th: disqualification.
- Under 16 and younger: the 4th and 5th each give two points, and the 6th disqualifies.
- Passivity standing: ten seconds without trying to progress, and the referee gives a penalty.
- Passivity on the ground: the referee says "Fight!" and counts ten. No real attempt to advance brings a penalty.
- Not passive: a defending athlete, and an athlete holding mount or back control.
- Double guard pull: both sit to guard. After 20 seconds both are penalised, and the first to come on top gets an advantage.
- Other minor fouls: grabbing inside sleeves or trouser legs, going down without a grip, a hand or foot in the face, talking during the match and leaving the area.
- During a submission: a minor foul by the defender is upgraded to disqualification.
The glossary has the order of penalties (ne-waza), the passivity (ne-waza), the double guard pull, the minor fouls (ne-waza), the fleeing the mat and the advantage.
Tricky cases
An athlete is penalised for the third time. What does the opponent get?
Two points, as well as the penalty on the offender's record.
Can an athlete holding mount be penalised for stalling?
No. Passivity is not called on an athlete who holds full mount, back mount or back control as defined.
Both athletes sit down to play guard. What happens?
The referee counts 20 seconds. If both still refuse the top, both are penalised and the match restarts standing.
An athlete defending an arm lock grabs inside the opponent's sleeve. What follows?
Disqualification. A minor foul by the athlete defending a submission is upgraded to disqualification.
Why the rule exists
A rising scale gives a warning first and then makes each further foul cost more on the scoreboard. The passivity count is short because stalling is easy on the ground: a tight guard or a hold can freeze a match. Exempting the dominant positions avoids punishing the athlete who has earned control.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 and older | Penalty; advantage; two points; disqualification | JJIF Ne-Waza 11 (order of penalties) |
| Under 16 and younger | Disqualification on the sixth | JJIF Ne-Waza 11 (order of penalties) |
| Passivity | Ten seconds | JJIF Ne-Waza 7.11; 11.1.1 |
| Double guard pull or 50-50 lapel guard | Twenty seconds | JJIF Ne-Waza 11.1.2; 11.1.3 |
| Ju-jitsu fighting | Each penalty gives waza-ari directly | JJIF Fighting 7 |
From the rule book
Ju-Jitsu International Federation and Ju-Jitsu Asian Union, Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza) Rulebook (version 2.7, reviewed 2024), Sections 7.11 and 11.1 and the order of penalties. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Jiu-Jitsu (Ne-Waza) Rulebook.