Competitor reference
Rules & divisions
The full technique matrix for every division, plus weight classes, weigh-ins, and how brackets get built. The tables on this page and the referee PDFs are the same data, so they cannot disagree.
Download
The rulebooks
Manitoba Open RulebookMatch length, scoring, penalties, uniform, and the full illegal moves table.Illegal moves, all divisionsThe full matrix on its own, kids and adults. Same data as the tables below.Kids quick referenceOne page for the scoring table. Legal techniques by age.Adults quick referenceOne page for the scoring table. Legal techniques by division.Coming from OJAFor Ontario coaches and athletes. Reads the OJA kids chart across to this ruleset.MB BJJ Event StandardThe standard events in this province are run to.
Changed in September 2026
What is different
Three takedowns brought in from the Ontario ruleset in April 2026 are withdrawn and no longer appear on the rule sheets. They are legal again for every kids division, executed with control. Every row that was stricter than the IBJJF rulebook now matches it.
- now legalHead and arm throw
- now legal2-arm seoinage (shoulder throw)
- now legalOver-the-head and sacrifice throws
- now legalStretching the legs apart for Kids 14-15
- now legalJumping guard from blue belt
- now legalBicep and calf slicers at Brown+
- now legalHeel hooks, knee twists and outward toe holds at Brown+, no-gi only
- now illegalBelt grab throwing a single-leg attacker onto their head (IBJJF row 25)
What did not change
- Single leg with the head on the outside stays illegal for kids and for juvenile and beginner adults, as under IBJJF.
- Jumping or flying guard stays illegal for kids and for juvenile and beginner adults.
- Slam, suplex on the head or neck, and the scissor takedown stay illegal for everyone.
- Kids 4-5 still take no submissions of any kind.
- Where the Manitoba Open is more permissive than IBJJF (submissions at 14-15, knee bars and toe holds at purple) nothing changed.
Kids
Legal techniques by age
| Technique | 4-5 | 6-13 | 14-15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General submissions | |||
| Armbar (straight) | None | Legal | Legal |
| Kimura | None | Legal | Legal |
| Americana | None | Legal | Legal |
| Omoplata / gogoplata | None | Illegal | Legal |
| Wrist lock | None | Illegal | Illegal |
| Bicep slicer | None | Illegal | Illegal |
| Leg splitting / stretching the legs apartIBJJF bans this to age 12 only. | None | Illegal | Legal |
| Lock inside closed guard compressing ribs or kidneys | None | Illegal | Illegal |
| Chokes | |||
| Rear naked, collar, bow and arrow choke | None | Legal | Legal |
| Triangle (clean) | None | Legal | Legal |
| Triangle pulling the head to finish | None | Illegal | Legal |
| Frontal guillotine | None | Illegal | Legal |
| Ezekiel (choke with spinal lock) | None | Illegal | Legal |
| Arm triangle | None | Illegal | Legal |
| Neck crank, cervical lock, can opener | None | Illegal | Illegal |
| Leg locks | |||
| All leg attacks: heel hook, calf slicer, knee bar, toe hold, straight foot lock, knee reaps | None | Illegal | Illegal |
| Takedowns | |||
| Slam | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Suplex landing on the head or neck | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Scissor takedown | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Jumping or flying guard and attacksAlso illegal for juvenile and beginner adults. | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Belt grab throwing a single-leg attacker onto their headDefending a single leg with the attacker's head outside. IBJJF row 25. | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Single leg with the head on the outsidePer IBJJF the referee stops the match and restarts standing. No penalty. | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Single and double legs with the head inside, body locks, trips, foot sweeps, inside throwsExecuted with control. | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Conduct | |||
| Suffocation, finger or toe bending, hair pulling, biting, striking, foul language, unsportsmanlike conduct | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
- Kids 4-5 follow the kids rules with no submissions of any kind. Matches are decided on points, positional control, or referee decision.
- Kids 4-5 and 6-13 both sit inside the official Kids 13 and under division. They are split here only to show the 4-5 carve-out.
- Gi and No-Gi are identical.
Adults
Legal techniques by division
| Technique | Juv / Beg | Blue | Purple | Brown+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illegal in every adult division | ||||
| Slam | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Suplex landing on the head or neck | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Scissor takedown | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Belt grab throwing a single-leg attacker onto their headDefending a single leg with the attacker's head outside. IBJJF row 25. | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Spinal lock without a choke (e.g. can opener) | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Bending fingers backward | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Suffocation (e.g. hand over the mouth) | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Hair pulling, biting, striking, foul language, unsportsmanlike conduct | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Division dependent | ||||
| Jumping or flying guard and attacksIllegal for kids as well. IBJJF bans it under 15 and at white belt. | Illegal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Intentional knee reapsPer IBJJF, permitted in no-gi only, at brown belt and above. Illegal in gi at every belt. | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | No-gi only |
| Heel hook | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | No-gi only |
| Knee twists | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | No-gi only |
| Toe hold, outward pressure on the foot | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | No-gi only |
| Bicep slicer | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Legal |
| Calf slicer | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Legal |
| Wrist lock | Illegal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Single leg with the head on the outsidePer IBJJF the referee stops the match and restarts standing. No penalty. | Illegal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Toe hold, inward pressure | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Legal |
| Straight knee bar | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Legal |
| Straight foot lock, turning toward the foot not under attack | Illegal | Illegal | Legal | Legal |
| Straight ankle lockThe only leg attack available to beginners. | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Leg splitting | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Lock inside closed guard compressing ribs or kidneys | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Omoplata, arm triangle, Ezekiel, frontal guillotine | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
- Beginners may use straight ankle locks and no other leg attack. No other foot locks, knee bars, or toe holds.
- No-gi only means legal in no-gi and illegal in gi, at that belt and above.
- Nothing here is stricter than the IBJJF rulebook (v6.1). Where the Manitoba Open is more permissive, the row says so.
- Anything not on the illegal list is permitted by default.
Adults
Weight classes
Maximum weight for the division, in pounds. There is no allowance for adults.
| Division | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster | 127.0 | 107.0 |
| Light Feather | 141.5 | 118.0 |
| Feather | 154.5 | 129.0 |
| Light | 168.0 | 141.5 |
| Middle | 181.5 | 152.5 |
| Medium Heavy | 195.0 | 163.5 |
| Heavy | 208.0 | 175.0 |
| Super Heavy | 222.0 | No max |
| Ultra Heavy | No max | — |
Kids and teens run in 10 lb categories, grouped by age first.
On the day
Weigh-ins
At the venue, before the first match.
Adults
- No weight allowance. You make weight exactly, or you do not compete.
- One attempt. Over weight is a disqualification. No rounding.
- Weigh in wearing gi or no-gi attire, your choice.
- Competing in both gi and no-gi? You weigh in once.
Kids and teens
- 13 and under get a 1 lb allowance. It is discretionary, not a right.
- Kids weigh in wearing the gi for gi divisions.
- We discourage weight cutting for kids. Enter the weight they actually are.
- Parents and coaches are responsible for the correct division. A 55.5 lb kid is in the under-65 division, not under-55.
How brackets get built
Divisions
Kids and teens
- Grouped by age, then weight, then experience.
- Boys and girls compete separately. Since 2023 we split them wherever the numbers allow.
- Kids stay within one weight category (10 lbs) and ideally within two years of age.
Adults
- Divisions are built by belt where the numbers allow. Enough blue belts means a blue belt division.
- Register early. The registered list is public weeks ahead, and it is what pulls other people into your division.
- You may always enter up in weight or experience.
When a division is thin
Merge rules
- 1Merge up by weight class.
- 2If nothing there, move up one age group.
- 3If nothing there either, move up one skill level.
- We never merge up two classes. Only one, and only upward.
- We only merge when we have to. Separate divisions are always the preference.
- Merges are published before the event. No surprises on the day.
If they are still alone
If a competitor is still alone after brackets are posted, they have no matches and receive a full refund.
Not comfortable with a merge? Withdraw for a full refund. No matches means a full refund, always.
Check the division is right before the change deadline. A 55.5 lb kid is in the under-65 division, not under-55. After brackets are posted, check again.
Every division
Always prohibited
These apply to everyone on the mat, kids and adults, gi and no-gi.
- Striking of any kind
- Kicking
- Eye gouging or fish hooking
- Biting
- Hair pulling
- Grinding the face with chin, hand, elbow, knee or shin
- Small digit manipulation
- Slippery substances on the body or clothing
Safety
Kids
- Kids 4-5 follow the same rules as the other kids divisions with one difference: no submissions of any kind. Matches are decided on points, positional control, or referee decision.
- Slam, suplex on the head or neck, the scissor takedown, jumping guard, and single legs with the head outside are illegal for every kids division.
- Everything else is set out in the technique tables above.
Weight and division changes close November 3, 2026. Nothing changes after that.