With the start of a new decade, there are also new opportunities for Jiu Jitsu competitors to make their names. One of the grandest stages to showcase your Jiu Jitsu is the Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro. The organization recently implemented a set of new rules that have the potential to drastically change competitor’s strategies.
Since the ruleset is new, it has not been tested throughout AJP’s entire tournament circuit. However, the changes were tested at the Abu Dhabi King of Mats last year. According to AJP, the new ruleset “made matches much more active and thrilling.”
What is the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship?
The Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro is a tournament circuit that began in 2009 to create a destination for a higher form of Jiu Jitsu competition. According to AJP, the organization was created to “to move Jiu-Jitsu towards professionalism and to make Abu Dhabi the world capital for the sport.”
The Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro breaks down into roughly 80 events held in a circuit that spans six continents. A few of the major events include the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour.
When is the Abu Dhabi World Pro?
While the Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro tournament circuit is nearly underway, Abu Dhabi World Pro will take place second quarter of 2020. The event is one of the biggest and prestigious in Jiu Jitsu Calendar and it will begin April 11, and last for an entire week.
What are the most important changes in the scoring system?
It is important to note that the rule amendments AJP is implementing will only affect the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, at this time.
The amendments cover three fundamental categories of a match: scoring, time, and referee decisions. In regard to scoring, one standard point will now be awarded to a competitor, where an advantage point would have originally been earned. Conversely, if a competitor receives a penalty, his or her opponent will now receive one standard point.
The definition of an advantage point is largely defined by the context of the action. However, generally speaking, an advantage point is earned when an action, such as a sweep, pass, or submission is attempted, but not fully secured.
On the other hand, AJP’s rulebook defines a penalty (or foul) as, “disciplinary or technical infractions addressed in the rules that are committed by athletes before, during or after the match.”
Considering the discretionary nature of penalties and advantages, the new ruleset may help to simplify a match’s results for both competitors and referees.
Additionally, referees will abide by a new standard for deciding matches that result in a tie. In the event of a tie, where both competitors have scored points, the competitor who scored last will be declared the winner.
However, in a 0-0 tie, one minute will be added to the clock, and the first competitor to score will win. If, after the extra minute, competitors are still tied 0-0, the winner will be decided by the referee.
Lastly, all matches, including finals, will be uniformly set at five minutes. Previously, a match’s length was “determined according to the category,” according to the AJP rulebook.
Additional amendments consist of updates and support to the new systems for scoring and fouls.
During the initial test run of the amendments, AJP stated that, “fans, athletes and officials gave an overwhelmingly positive feedback to the new scoring system, which allowed much more movement in the scoreboard.”
Jeremy is brown belt and has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, but he also enjoys creative writing. Originally from Connecticut, where he began his 11 years of Jiu Jitsu training.