Phyrena's official ruleset for ranked competition. Two scoring events,
an alternating overtime, eight ways out, and a clear list of what is
not allowed on the mat. The whole document is below.
[ 01 :: DOCTRINE ]
Continuous engagement. Readable outcomes.
The ruleset is built around five non-negotiable principles. Every
downstream decision - scoring, overtime, conduct - flows from them.
Engagement
Continuous engagement over stalling. Initiative is rewarded;
disengagement is penalised.
Dominance
Positional dominance over isolated actions. The scoreboard
reflects intent to finish, not transient grips or scrambles.
Clarity
Readable outcomes for spectators in real time. Every point is
sparse, deliberate, and high value.
Integrity
Competitive integrity across every match. Fairness takes priority
over complexity.
Authority
The referee on the mat is the final authority on scoring,
penalties, and stoppages.
[ 02 :: SCORING ]
Submissions count. Positions don't.
Two scoring events exist. Nothing else moves the scoreboard - no
takedowns, no sweeps, no guard passes, no dominant positions.
+1 · Submission attempt
One point is awarded for a real, effective submission attempt -
a clearly applied finishing technique that forces the opponent
into a recognisable defence. Loose or non-threatening attempts
do not score.
+1 to opponent · Penalty
One point is awarded to the opponent every time the referee
applies a penalty. Repeated infractions still escalate toward
disqualification.
// What counts as a submission attempt
A real attempt creates visible danger, forces a defensive reaction,
and has realistic finishing potential. Hand-fighting, framing, or
fishing for a grip is not an attempt.
// What triggers a penalty
Intentionally fleeing the combat area
Lack of combativeness · stalling, anti-game
Illegally holding or tying up the match
Prohibited techniques
Disobeying the referee's instructions
Other infractions per Phyrena's standard fight protocol
[ 03 :: WIN IN REGULATION ]
Three ways out. In order.
Submission
A finish at any moment of regulation ends the match immediately.
Score
If no submission, the athlete with the higher score from
submission attempts and penalties wins.
Draw
If regulation ends with the score tied, the match goes to overtime.
See [04].
[ 04 :: OVERTIME ]
Alternated. Positional. Decisive.
Tied matches resolve in an alternating overtime. Two positions are
on the table, and athletes trade turns between offence and defence.
Position 1 · Back · Seatbelt
Attacker starts on the defender's back with a seatbelt grip. The
defender's hands must be inside the seatbelt at the start.
Position 2 · Spider-web · Armbar
Attacker starts in the spider-web (mounted armbar) position with
the arm trapped. The defender starts with hands clasped, posturing
up.
// Start procedure
The referee tosses a coin. The winner of the toss chooses to start
on offence or defence, and chooses the position (back or armbar).
// Round structure
Athlete A attacks
Round ends when (a) the attacker submits - submission time is
recorded, or (b) the defender fully escapes - escape time is
recorded, or (c) one minute elapses with neither - the full
minute is recorded.
Athlete B attacks
Same situation in reverse. Athlete B chooses their starting
position (back or armbar).
Cap
One minute per round. No second chances unless the bracket
format states otherwise.
// Overtime win conditions
Submission
The athlete who submits in the shortest time wins.
Escape
If neither athlete submits, the athlete who escapes the position in the shortest time wins.
Referee decision
If neither athlete submits or escapes within their attempt, the referee decides based on offensive intent, positional control, and combativeness shown during regulation (not during overtime).
[ 05 :: RENDERING DECISIONS ]
Eight ways a match ends.
Submission
An athlete taps, verbally withdraws, or is stopped by the referee in a finishing hold.
Stoppage
Match stopped by referee or doctor for safety, injury, cramps, bleeding, or loss of bodily control.
Disqualification
Athlete violates a rule severely enough to forfeit the match (illegal moves, refusing the referee, fleeing with a submission locked).
Loss of consciousness
Athlete loses consciousness from a legal hold or accident not caused by an illegal maneuver.
Score
Regulation time ends with one athlete leading on submission attempts and penalties.
Referee decision
Used in overtime when neither athlete finishes nor escapes. Based on aggression, control, and regular-time combativeness.
Random pick
Last-resort tiebreaker when no other criterion separates the athletes.
Golden score
Sudden-death extension used at the referee's discretion in specific bracket formats.
// Submission · how the tap is recognised
Tapping twice clearly with the hand on the opponent, the ground, or oneself
Tapping the ground twice with the foot when arms are trapped
Verbally withdrawing and requesting the match be stopped
Screaming or expressing pain while caught in a submission hold
// Stoppage · when the referee or doctor calls it
An athlete reports cramps · the opponent is declared the winner
The referee perceives serious physical injury risk in a held position
The doctor rules an athlete unable to continue from a legal hold
Bleeding cannot be contained after two doctor interventions per injury
An athlete vomits or loses control of basic bodily functions
// Loss of consciousness
An athlete who loses consciousness from a legal hold - or from an
accident not caused by an illegal maneuver - loses the match.
Athletes who lose consciousness from head trauma may not compete
again in the same tournament and must be referred to medical staff.
[ 06 :: PROHIBITED TECHNIQUES ]
What is illegal · by category.
A red dot means the technique is illegal in that category. Rows are
grouped by tier: each banner marks the level at which the techniques
below become legal. Six tiers, twenty-six rows.
#
Kids
4–12 yrs
Teens
13–15 yrs
Juniors
16–17 + adult white
Adult
Blue / Purple
Adult Gi
Brown / Black
Adult No-Gi
Brown / Black
Technique
Allowed from age 13 · Teens
1
Submission techniques stretching legs apart
Allowed from age 16 · Juniors
2
Choke with spinal lock
3
Straight foot lock
4
Forearm choke using the sleeve (Ezequiel)
5
Frontal guillotine choke
6
Omoplata
7
Triangle (pulling head)
8
Arm triangle
Allowed from blue belt
9
Lock inside the closed guard with legs compressing kidneys or ribs
10
Wrist lock
11
Single-leg takedown with the attacker's head outside the opponent's body
Allowed from brown belt
12
Bicep slicer
13
Calf slicer
14
Knee bar
15
Toe hold
16
In a straight foot lock, turning toward the foot not under attack
Allowed only in adult No-Gi · brown / black
17
Heel hook
18
Locks twisting the knees
19
Knee reaping
20
In a toe hold, applying outward pressure on the foot
Always forbidden · safety techniques
21
Slam
22
Spinal lock without choke
23
Scissor takedown
24
Bending fingers backwards
25
Grabbing the opponent's belt and throwing him on his head when defending a single leg, with the opponent's head outside his body
26
Suplex takedown landing with the opponent's head or neck on the ground
Illegal in this category// Empty cell · technique is allowed
[ 07 :: DISQUALIFICATION ]
Three triggers. Automatic.
Out-of-bounds
Leaving the combat area on purpose with a submission locked in
results in immediate disqualification.
Refusing the referee
Failing to obey the referee's instructions results in immediate
disqualification.
Technical fouls
Applying a prohibited technique from the chart in [06], plus any
striking, eye gouging, biting, finger manipulation, or cervical
lock. Severity determines escalation: minor fouls accumulate as
penalties; flagrant fouls disqualify on the spot.
[ 08 :: CONDUCT & SAFETY ]
Opponent safety first. Always.
All athletes follow the Phyrena disciplinary code and prioritise the
physical integrity of the opponent. The tap is always respected.
Holding a submission past a tap is an automatic disqualification.
Verbal abuse, ignoring an instruction, or fleeing the area to escape
a submission is a disqualification.
// studios · presents
