Have you ever seen Coach grin 😎 and say “That would be worth two points!” and wondered what that meant?

As parents of budding BJJ athletes, you’ll notice coaches often “announce” or “point out” scoring opportunities during practice, even though many of our kids won’t compete formally. This is a fantastic teaching method that helps children develop awareness of position and progress in both sport and self-defense situations!

At our club, we believe in balancing the sporting aspects of BJJ with its practical self-defense applications. Understanding the points system helps children recognize effective techniques that work in both contexts. Here’s how scoring works in BJJ and why it matters even beyond competitions:

1. Takedowns (2 points): When your child takes their opponent down to the mat and maintains control, you might hear the coach call out “two points!” This skill is valuable not just for tournaments but also in real-life situations where safely bringing someone to the ground can create safety and control.

2. Sweeps (2 points): Sweeps are exciting techniques where your child reverses a bottom position to end up on top! When they’re on their back or in guard position and manage to flip or roll their partner over to gain top position, that’s a sweep. Coach might call out “Nice sweep! That’s 2 points!”

3. Guard Pass (3 points): Our coaches get excited when they see a good guard pass! “Three points for that pass!” they might announce as your child moves past their training partner’s legs to establish a top position. This movement teaches children how to overcome defensive barriers and reach safer, more dominant positions—a core principle in both competition and self-defense.

4. Knee on Belly (2 points): “Nice knee on belly, that’s two points!” This position allows your child to maintain control while staying mobile, ready to respond to their partner’s movements. It’s a versatile position that teaches balance and control, useful skills both on and off the mats.

5. Mount (4 points): When coaches call out “Mount! Four points!” they’re recognizing your child has achieved one of the most dominant positions in BJJ. From here, they can control their partner effectively while keeping themselves safe—a principle that translates directly to self-defense scenarios.

6. Back Control (4 points): “Back control, four points!” Back control is emphasized in our training because it allows control without risking harm to either person—a perfect blend of competitive advantage and self-defense wisdom.

Why Doesn’t Everything Count?

Here’s where it gets tricky! Your child might be working super hard, but points only count when:

1. They stay in position: Most rulesets require holding a position for 3 seconds before points are awarded.

2. They show clear control: Just briefly reaching a position isn’t enough.

3. They follow the right sequence: You can’t get points for the same position twice in a row without something happening in between.

Different Tournaments, Different Rules

Just like how some playgrounds have different rules, BJJ tournaments can vary too:

• IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation): The most common ruleset with the point system described above.

• NAGA (North American Grappling Association): Adds points for submission attempts (2 points) and gives different values to some positions.

• Kids’ Tournaments: Often simplified versions that focus more on technique and participation than complex scoring.

You might notice your child in what looks like a strong position, but why no points? Here’s why that might happen:

• Learning the Guard: If your child is working from guard position—holding their partner with their legs—they’re in a defensive position that’s incredibly important for self-defense but doesn’t earn points. Our coaches emphasize that this position is still valuable as it protects them while they work on their next move!

• Developing Control: Sometimes your child might achieve a good position but not yet have the control needed to make it effective. Our coaches use these moments as teaching opportunities rather than just focusing on points.

• Building Transitions: BJJ is all about smooth movement between positions. Often, coaches will wait to announce points until your child demonstrates they can maintain a position, encouraging them to develop stability before moving on.

Real Examples From Kids’ BJJ

Imagine a matchup between two kids: Sofia is fighting against Max:

• Sofia takes Max down (2 points!)

• Max wraps his legs around Sofia from the bottom (he’s in “guard” – no points for this)

• Sofia tries hard to move past Max’s legs for 2 minutes but can’t (lots of effort, but no points)

• Max suddenly flips Sofia over (that’s a sweep – 2 points for Max!)

• Time runs out with the score 2-2, but Max got the last points, so he wins!

This might seem confusing if you don’t understand the rules, but in BJJ, the quality of control matters more than just being on top or looking busy.

Remember, while understanding scoring helps children recognize effective techniques, we equally celebrate improvements in confidence, focus, and problem-solving skills. Whether your child is interested in competition or learning practical self-defense, the points system serves as a helpful guide to effective movement and control.

As your child continues their BJJ journey, they’ll naturally develop an intuitive understanding of positions and transitions that work well both in practice and in real life. And you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll start recognizing these moments too, cheering them on as they grow in this beautiful martial art!