Reffing/ Competitors

  Reffing a Jiujitsu tournament is a tough job. Knowing the rules is not enough. You have to have trained some to understand the rules and techniques that go along with the point scoring system. 
  I have been training Jiujitsu for 16yrs and reffing for most of that, to say I have a complete mastery of tournament rules would be a far stretch. Training at Davis Martial Arts in Humble Texas has giving me a lot of opportunities to not only train, but learn the rules involved with tournament play.
  Scoring: Like other competitive sports, tournament Jiujitsu has a set of rules that governs the point scoring system.  Takedowns, sweeps, passing guard, knee ride, mount, and back mount are all scoring positions or situations. Out of all of these, the sweep and pass are some of the most argued situations that I tend to deal with.
  Sweeps: In order to score 2 points with a sweep, the original position must start from a guard position. Closed, open, spider, half, are all examples of guards. A competitor must transition from the bottom to the top position from a guard position, in order to receive the points and maintain control while on top. Some competitors and coaches tend to argue the points based on their own observations or feeling of where the sweep may or may not have originated from and ended. As a ref,when competitors start a  "DOG FIGHT" or scramble, we must try and keep in mind where the position originated. Which can sometimes be very difficult when if the action drags on, or if they get close or cross boundaries lines. Difficult to do to say the least. All the while the coaches and team mates are screaming and yelling, "HOW IS THAT POINTS, or WHERES MY SWEEP POINTS REF?" Decisions/decisions. Make the wrong on and coaches will eat you alive. 
  Pass: The pass is an unusual situation, in order for the person on top to secure the 3 points, they must first have been in a guard to start off, then clear the legs and hips and secure a control position with the opponent flattened out and stable for 3 seconds. A classic situation is generally in the beginning of matches or when the competitors stand up. In the transition of a take down, the bottom competitors does not establish a guard and the top competitors gains side control. A lot and I mean a lot of coaches scream at me, "WHERES MY SIDE CONTROL POINTS REF?" Nooooooooooooooooooo!! You would think by now, as long as Jiujitsu has been in the Houston area, guys would know that there are NO SIDE CONTROL POINTS!
  Scoring vs Submission:  Submit your opponent. Jiujitsu is about the submission. In a tournament situation you have guys that chase the medals by somewhat subverting the rules through the point game. if you want a decisive victory, submit your opponent.
  I recently had a complaint that I as a ref, just pick and choose who wins. The score was tied at the end of the match, the other competitor was more active, with several submission attempts. Now the complainee had a submission attempt himself. So, of course when the match ended, tie score, someone has to lose. I chose the more active competitor. He then complained that he was on top the entire match so he should win. This was true, but, the guy on bottom was working his ass off while he was surviving by holding on. In my opinion he lost. It sucks to be a ref at that point. Someone is going to be mad. Someone is going to complain. Someone has to lose. DONT LEAVE IT UP TO THE REF. Submit your opponent and there are no discussions. 
  Jiujitsu guys are very assertive. Coaches always have to have their guys back, right or wrong. I get it. I don't stress over the yelling and complaining anymore.  I just try my best to explain the situation and go on. 
  Bottom line guys, SUBMIT YOUR OPPONENT!!!! Don't leave it up to a ref because someone is going home with  out the win either way.
  Jiujitsu in the Houston/humble area has come along way in a short time. It just keeps getting better and better. Larger tournaments. Better competition. Pro shows. This is a historic time for our art.
  Humble Jiujitsu is proud to be part of history in the making. Davis martial Arts in Humble Texas is where I train. find a gym near you and go out, have fun, and change your life.
                                      Davis Martial Arts Academy  
                                      Practice Makes Permanent
 

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