BJJ Advantages Rules: How Advantages Work in Competition

What Earns an Advantage

An advantage is awarded by the referee when an athlete nearly completes a scoring action. In guard passing, an advantage may be given when the passer reaches a knee-slide or headquarters position and the guard player is clearly struggling to maintain guard, even if the pass isn't completed. In sweeps, a near-reversal that forces the top athlete to post a hand and scramble earns an advantage. Submission attempts — armbars, chokes, leg locks — earn advantages when the opponent is forced to defend aggressively, even if the tap never comes. The referee's discretion is significant; advantage calls vary across referees and tournaments. Active guard work that threatens the top athlete, even without completing a sweep, signals aggression that referees reward with advantages.

Strategic Use of Advantages in Matches

If you're behind on points with time running out, earning advantages becomes critical. Push guard passes to near-completion, attack every submission from every position, and make the referee see your aggression. If you're ahead on points, be careful not to accidentally give your opponent advantages through careless attacks that put you in bad positions. A competitor who is ahead by 2 points but gives away 3 advantages and draws no advantages themselves could lose on tiebreakers after a frantic final minute. Track the score mentally every time you hear the referee intervene. If you know you're ahead on advantages, your strategy shifts to protecting position and avoiding scrambles.

• Attack every submission — even failed attempts earn advantages
• Near guard passes in scrambles show aggression to referees
• Stalling forfeits advantages — always appear to be working

Controversies and Organizational Differences

The advantages system is one of the most debated aspects of competitive BJJ. Critics argue that advantages encourage passive matches where competitors fish for near-scores without committing to genuine attacks. This is why several major organizations — including ADCC and most submission-only promotions — have eliminated advantages entirely, forcing competitors to either finish or accept draws. IBJJF has maintained advantages as a tiebreaker mechanism. The reality is that the advantages rule rewards relentless offensive pressure, which is good BJJ regardless of the rule set. Competitors who ignore advantages until the final minute often find themselves in a desperate scramble that could have been avoided with consistent submission hunting throughout the match.