No-Gi Ruleset Comparison Guide
ADCC, submission-only, EBI, and IBJJF No-Gi compared at a glance — legal submissions, scoring, what each format rewards, and what to prepare for before you compete.
No-gi submission grappling does not have a single ruleset. ADCC, submission-only, EBI, Polaris, WNO, and IBJJF No-Gi each create a different competitive game. What is legal, what scores, and what the winning strategy looks like varies significantly between formats. If you are preparing to compete, know the rules of your specific event — not just the format family it belongs to.
For deeper analysis of what each format rewards and how it should shape training, see the competition ruleset analysis in the standards section.
Submission Legality by Format
The most significant differences between formats concern which submissions are permitted. Get this wrong and you will be disqualified, penalised, or — more importantly — training submissions you cannot use in your target format.
| Submission | ADCC | Sub-only (most) | IBJJF No-Gi | EBI / OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rear naked choke | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Guillotine | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Triangle choke | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Armbar | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Kimura / shoulder lock | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Straight ankle lock | Legal all divisions | Legal (most orgs) | Legal all divisions | Legal |
| Kneebar | Legal (advanced+) | Legal (most orgs) | Adult brown/black only | Legal |
| Outside heel hook | Legal (advanced+) | Legal (most orgs) | Illegal | Legal |
| Inside heel hook | Legal (advanced+) | Legal (most orgs) | Illegal | Legal |
| Toe hold | Legal (advanced+) | Legal (most orgs) | Adult brown/black only | Legal |
| Reap / valgus knee stress | Illegal | Illegal (most orgs) | Illegal | Illegal |
| Cervical spine locks | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
ADCC divisions: "Advanced+" means the advanced, elite, and absolute divisions. Beginner and intermediate divisions use a more restricted submission list. Confirm the division rules for your weight and experience level.
Sub-only variations: Submission-only organisations (Polaris, WNO, local events) set their own rules. Most major organisations permit heel hooks at adult/open divisions. Always confirm with the specific event.
IBJJF No-Gi: Heel hooks and toe holds are illegal across all divisions. Kneebars and some other leg attacks are permitted only at brown/black belt. The reaping rule additionally restricts certain ashi garami positions that create heel hook opportunity.
Scoring at a Glance
| Action | ADCC | Sub-only | IBJJF No-Gi | EBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submission | Win | Win | Win | Win |
| Takedown | 2 pts | — | 2 pts | — |
| Sweep | 2 pts | — | 2 pts | — |
| Guard pass | 3 pts | — | 3 pts | — |
| Mount / back control | 4 pts | — | 4 pts | — |
| Knee on belly | 2 pts | — | 2 pts | — |
| Guard pull | −2 pts (some divs) | — | 0 pts | — |
| Overtime (tied match) | Sub-only OT | N/A or positional OT | Advantages, then ref decision | Positional OT (spider web / back) |
What Each Format Rewards — and What It Doesn't
ADCC Format
The complete game. Standing matters. Overtime is submission-only.
Rewards
- Takedowns and wrestling entries
- Guard passing
- Back control and finishing
- Submission under overtime pressure
- Complete positional game
Does not reward
- Passive guard play (can score negatively)
- Stalling from dominant positions
- Single-position specialists
Preparation priorities
Standing entries and takedown defence. Guard passing. Back attack system with full submission sequence. Overtime simulation — short, sub-only rounds under time pressure. Know your format's specific guard pull rules.
Submission-Only
Finish or keep hunting. No time limit. No points.
Rewards
- Sustained offensive engagement
- Chained submission attacks
- Leg entanglement systems
- Guard systems with submission threat
- Patience and positional investment
Does not reward
- Positional dominance without finishing
- Point-fighting tactics
- Defensive guard with no attack system
Preparation priorities
Long rounds with no reset. Submission threat from every dominant position. Chained attacks — when the first attempt is defended, what follows? Leg entanglement game fully developed if heel hooks are permitted. Cardio and pacing for extended matches.
IBJJF No-Gi
Points-dominant. Leg entanglement game significantly restricted.
Rewards
- Guard passing and position advancement
- Back control (scores heavily)
- Efficient early scoring
- Neck attacks and arm locks
- Positional defence once ahead
Does not reward
- Heel hook systems (illegal)
- Extended leg entanglement exchanges
- Waiting for overtime to decide
Preparation priorities
Know the exact submission list for your division — it varies by belt and age. Back attack system is highest-value. Upper body submission chains (triangle → armbar → kimura). Understand the reaping rule — inadvertent infractions are common for athletes who regularly train heel hooks.
EBI / Overtime Formats
Regulation is sub-only. Overtime is positional — spider web or back.
Rewards
- Finishing in regulation
- Back control and RNC system
- Armbar system from spider web
- Escape ability in overtime
- Speed from positional starts
Does not reward
- Guard-heavy games without finishing
- Passive engagement in regulation
Preparation priorities
Drill the OT starting positions specifically — spider web and back control with a clock. Both attack and escape from each. Speed matters in OT: the practitioner who can establish finishing position fastest wins. Finishing from back control under time pressure is the single most important OT skill.
Before You Compete — Checklist
Regardless of format, confirm the following before your event.
Read the specific event rules, not just the format
ADCC-style events vary. Sub-only events vary. EBI clones vary. The organisation's general ruleset and the rules of this specific event are not always the same. Read the actual rule document for this event.
Confirm your division's submission list
ADCC beginner ≠ ADCC advanced. IBJJF blue belt ≠ IBJJF brown belt. Know which submissions are permitted in your specific weight and experience division.
Understand the overtime or tiebreak mechanism
How does a tied match resolve? Sub-only overtime? Positional overtime? Advantages? Referee decision? This changes strategic decisions in the final minutes of a match.
Know the guard pull rule
ADCC penalises guard pulling in most divisions for the first portion of the match. IBJJF does not score it positively or negatively (it does not score at all). Sub-only has no position-neutral position — pulling guard into an attacking guard system is fine; pulling guard to stall is not strategically sound.
If you train heel hooks, understand the reaping rule
Athletes who regularly train heel hooks often enter ashi garami positions reflexively. In IBJJF, some of these positions trigger the reaping rule and result in a penalty or disqualification. Know the rule specifically — not "heel hooks are illegal" but "these specific ashi garami entries with these leg positions are the ones that trigger a penalty."
Simulate the format in training before the event
If your event uses a 10-minute format with overtime, run 10-minute rounds with overtime in training. If your event is submission-only with no time limit, run long rounds with no reset. The format you compete in should not be novel on the day.
Further Reading
For a deeper analysis of what each format rewards and how it should shape a training programme, see the competition ruleset analysis. For current high-percentage approaches by format, see the competitive meta section. For preparation at the proficient and advanced level, see the proficient curriculum notes.