KNOW ABOUT IBLLF TOURNAMENTS.

 - NO PLACE FOR THE DISRESPECTFUL -

Sportsmanship, respect and camaraderie are 3 of the cornerstones on which the learning of Brazilian Luta Livre is based and they are jealously cared for in the competition rules.

The values of both the sport and the philosophy of martial arts are protected by the rules in our tournaments and actions or attitudes that oppose them are severely sanctioned down until the smallest detail.

 - TO ERADICATE REFEREE ERRORS -

4 eyes see better than 2.

The referee fulfills different tasks in Grappling tournaments such as taking care of the integrity of the competitors, ensuring compliance with the competition rules and awarding points.

In the case of IBLLF tournaments, it is recommended to add 1 judge to be dedicated exclusively to awarding points, in order to eradicate errors in such a decisive aspect for athletes.

- TO PREVENT INJUSTICES -  

Human beings are not infallible and can make mistakes and both referees and judges are human beings.

Not only does IBLLF add a judge to be exclusively in charge of scoring, but each Coach also has an Appeal Card, which will remain valid as long as its use is correct.

- TO CLARIFY PENALTIES -

Both the public and the protagonists of a competition (competitors and coaches) must be able to easily recognize the actions of referees and judges. 

That is why the card system is incorporated to mark warnings and disciplinary sanctions. 

The card system and a very clear way of marking points guarantee everyone's understanding of what happens in the bouts.

- RULES BASED ON A REAL FIGHT -

If there is something that differentiates Brazilian Luta Livre from other sports, combat systems and martial arts, it's that its techniques are the most effective for a real fight; and on the sport competitions field there is nothing closer to reality than MMA.

To be congruent with this, in IBLLF we are convinced that the rules must accompany by rewarding exclusively those actions that benefit a competitor in a real fight or MMA and not give points to other techniques that would not give any advantage.

- TO NOT LOSE THE ROOTS -

Accompanying the previous point, it is not logical that a combat system that became famous in the ancient Vale Tudo has restrictions on its techniques and actions within its own competition rules.

If these limitations existed, they would not be consistent with the roots of our martial art. 

That is why all techniques are allowed within the limits of a Grappling system.

Therefore, all feet, ankles, heels, knees, wrist and cervical submissions are allowed in all their variants and without conditions.

In the same way, defenses such as Slam and cervical compressions are also allowed.

They are the most real competition rules of ground fighting and wrestling systems; (from beginners to advanced; kids and adults), because Brazilian Luta Lirve is a Vale Tudo just without strikes.

 - TO NOT LIMIT THEIR LEARNING - 

The rules for children and young competitions of Grappling systems are usually very limited in the permitted actions in order to protect the integrity of the competitors.

This limits their learning by postponing for a long time actions that could be very useful in self-defense situations in which their physical integrity or even their lives may be in danger.

This could not only be dangerous for them but would distance the teaching from the roots of Brazilian Luta Livre, which is a real combat system for self-defense.

The IBLLF rules for children and youth allow the application of almost all the techniques of the adult rules but in a key way that avoids negative physical consequences (such as pain or injuries).

  - GOODBYE TO ETERNAL BELTS -

If there is a controversial and recurring problem in tournaments divided by belts (in the divisions prior to Black Belt) it is the case of those who compete in a belt division whose level and estimated time in it they have already surpassed.

They do it with the aim of winning dishonestly (abusing the good faith of both the organizers and colleagues) or they do it to avoid being at a disadvantage in case another competitor does it.

In IBLLF the way to divide the levels is based on the training time that the competitors has had since he started, regardless of their belts, so it's not their decision to enroll in a lower division than their experience.

To reinforce this, IBLLF has a Data Monitoring Committee to investigate and receive anonymous complaints in this regard to help obtain maximum veracity.

Furthermore, in the tournaments there is an assigned inspector, whose task is to verify that the competitor's level is consistent with the practice time that he claims to have.

In the case of non-compliance with this regulations, the sanctions not only include the competitors but also the team their represents, thus harming his own teammates.

  - + INCENTIVES = + GROWTH -

In IBLLF tournaments, the points distributed are directed towards a ranking by time division (which determines the level at which a competitor can participate) and a general ranking (where all competitors are included).

It is a system originally from tennis and padel that was adapted especially for IBLLF.

In this way, the points that each competitor obtains in the tournaments of their level division not only count for the ranking of that division but are also added to the general ranking.

With this, the incentive is double, because an athlete can be 1st in the ranking of his division and 5th or 20th in the general ranking. 

This fact can lead them to dare to compete, also, in higher level divisions with the aim of adding a greater number of points for the general ranking.

For new or intermediate competitors it is usually an incentive and even an honor to integrate a professional ranking (which is the general ranking), sharing it with the main names of the Brazilian Luta Livre sports scene.

So this double distribution of points not only encourages our competitors but also makes them grow as athletes because it encourages them to compete with colleagues from more advanced divisions without losing their positions in their own rankings.

 - FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE -

Each competitor to a greater or lesser extent goes through a process of technical, physical, mental and even nutritional preparation, which is accompanied by a long time of dedication, hopes and even moments of pressure, frustration and anguish.

The duration of matches in the Brazilian Luta Livre rules are short and, in tournaments with single elimination, many times everything goes down the drain in a few minutes when the competitor loses in his first bout and must return home, without a chance of vindication.

IBLLF guarantees, at a minimum, a second chance to give both competitors and their teams the opportunity to continue in the tournament, live the experience and compete to get points.

We want everyone to experience IBLLF tournaments in a positive way.

  - THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE WIN -

Most tournaments that award point for rankings only award points to the best places obtained without considering that all competitors make a great effort to participate in them.

Although it’s clear that the better the position obtained, the greater the points that must be awarded, we consider that those who advanced in a tournament (even if they haven’t reached the best positions) have a merit that deserves to be rewarded with the granting of points. 

Furthermore, we are also convinced that those who made an effort to compete (even if they haven’t won any bout) have merits just for having competed and deserve more than those who did not participate and, therefore, they obtain points for participation.

For this reason, we expanded the score per position obtained up to number 16 and, from position 17 onwards, athletes receive points for participation. And, to these points, must be added the Bonus Points that they can obtain.

In short, if an athlete made the effort to participate in a tournament, he will score more points than other who did not attend, regardless of the results obtained.

 - PARTICIPAR ES UN MÉRITO QUE PREMIAMOS -

As we said in the previous point, for IBLLF, the athlete who participates in an official tournament has an important merit.

He has invested and sacrificed a lot, so his participation is a merit in itself beyond the results he can obtain.

Therefore, each athlete obtains a participation medal just for having competed.

This is already customary in other sporting disciplines such as short, medium and long distance races (10k, 21k, 42k).

In IBLLF tournaments we value their participants (athletes, coaches and teams) and we reward their efforts through these medals.

 - EFFORT HAS A REWARD -

Both the effort to win and the effort to win without speculation are merits that IBLLF tournaments reward.

Not winning any fight is not the same as winning 1; nor is winning 1 fight the same as winning 5. 

Both cases have different degrees of merit. For this reason, in our tournaments each victory is awarded with Bonus Points for a fight won. These extra points are added to the rankings (division and general).

So, as each fight is a challenge to overcome and it is not the same to reach a certain stage (for example, a final) having won 2 or 4 fights, there is a difference in the rankings through Bonus Points.

In the same sense, being able to win without speculating with the points, finishing the opponents, are also merits and therefore are awarded Bonus Point for submission, which are added to the rankings in the same way as the Bonus Points for a fight won.

- AN ALTERNATIVE COMPETITION -

The Duo System shows the self-defense side of Brazilian Luta Livre through a competition of technical resolutions against possible attacks in real situations.

2 competitors per team participate and must demonstrate how they would use Brazilian Luta Livre techniques to respond and control aggressions with specific characteristics outlined by the regulations, which include attacks with fists, kicks, and grabs.

It is a variant used in other martial arts that is adapted and incorporated into IBLLF to provide athletes a different way to compete.

It covers all ages and has 3 different categories: Women's Duo, Men's Duo and Mixed Pairs Duo.

 - 100% CAMARADERIE -

There are much more important factors in IBLLF than sporting victories and they all depend on the human factor.

Values such as integrity, honesty, respect, solidarity, camaraderie and discipline must be transmitted and disseminated in the daily practice of Brazilian Luta Livre and, consequently, be applied in the competition area.

We consider that we all belong to the same flag, to the same world and to the same community, which is Brazilian Luta Livre.

Camaraderie is a key virtue to transmit these values within our community; tournaments are not empty competitions but meeting points so that all this flows between everyone.

For all this, IBLLF tournament organizers have the directive to have a mandatory third period, so that everyone interacts so that the spirit of brotherhood reaches everyone.

Each competitor must bring something to eat or drink and something to share with others.

And those who cannot do so will be able to attend as well, being invited with what others contributed.

For IBLLF the third period has as much value as the bouts themselves.