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IBJJF illegal moves by belt and age: full chart

All 26 moves on the IBJJF Illegal Moves table in one chart, by age and belt: what kids, teens, white, blue, purple, brown and black belts can and cannot do.

By Kornel DubienieckiUpdated How this page is checked

5 min read

IBJJF illegal moves by belt and age: full chart
FAQ

The IBJJF bans 26 moves across six age and belt columns. Kids 4–12 have the longest list. Each step up removes a few bans: teens unlock leg stretches, juveniles and white belts unlock straight foot locks and omoplatas, blue belts unlock wrist locks, brown and black belts unlock knee bars and toe holds, and only brown and black no-gi allows heel hooks.

The full IBJJF Illegal Moves chart

One row per move on the official Technical Fouls & Illegal Moves table, in the same order. Read across to see the first column where a move is allowed.

Source: IBJJF Technical Fouls & Illegal Moves poster and Rule Book v6.1 (June 2024). Masters use the adult columns for their belt, except the last one: the no-gi brown and black column is Adult only.
MoveAges 4–12Ages 13–15Ages 16–17 and adult whiteAdult blue and purpleAdult and masters brown and black (except adult no-gi)Adult brown and black, no-gi (not masters)
Leg-stretching submissions (splits)IllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Choke with spinal lockIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Straight foot lockIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Ezekiel (sleeve) chokeIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Frontal guillotineIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
OmoplataIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Triangle pulling the headIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Arm triangleIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowedAllowed
Closed-guard squeeze on kidneys or ribsIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowed
Wrist lockIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowed
Single leg with head outside (no penalty)IllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowedAllowed
Bicep slicerIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowed
Calf slicerIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowed
Knee barIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowed
Toe holdIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowed
Straight foot lock: turning toward the foot not under attackIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowedAllowed
Heel hookIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowed
Locks that twist the kneeIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowed
Knee reapingIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowed
Outward pressure on the foot in a toe holdIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalAllowed
SlamIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
Spinal lock without a chokeIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
Scissor takedown (kani basami)IllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
Bending fingers backwardIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
Belt-grip throw onto the head vs single legIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal
Suplex landing on head or neckIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegalIllegal

What unlocks at each step

The table is a staircase. Each column keeps the bans of every column to its right and adds its own.

  • Ages 13–15: leg-stretching submissions become legal. Everything else banned for under-13s stays banned.
  • Ages 16–17 and adult white belt: straight foot locks, omoplatas, frontal guillotines, Ezekiels, arm triangles, triangles that pull the head, and chokes with a spinal lock become legal.
  • Adult blue and purple: wrist locks and closed-guard squeezes on the ribs or kidneys become legal.
  • Adult and masters brown and black: bicep slicers, calf slicers, knee bars and toe holds become legal in gi and no-gi.
  • Adult brown and black no-gi only (not masters): heel hooks, knee reaping and knee-twisting locks become legal.
  • No division: slams, spinal locks without a choke, the scissor takedown, finger bending and throws that land on the head or neck.

Common mistakes when reading the chart

Most disqualifications come from the same few misreadings.

Kids belts follow age, not color

An orange or green belt does not have its own column. A 12-year-old uses the 4–12 column and a 14-year-old uses the 13–15 column, whatever their belt.

Juvenile blue and purple are not adults

A 16- or 17-year-old blue or purple belt still uses the 16–17 column, where wrist locks are illegal, as they are for adult white belts.

Brown belt gi still bans heel hooks

Heel hooks and knee reaping are legal in adult brown and black no-gi. In the gi they are illegal at every belt.

Reaping is a position, not only a finish

Wrapping your leg across the opponent's thigh with your foot past their midline is a foul on its own, even without a submission, in every column except brown and black no-gi.

Key Takeaways

  • The IBJJF Illegal Moves table has 26 moves and six columns from ages 4–12 to adult brown and black no-gi.
  • Wrist locks open at adult blue; knee bars, toe holds, calf and bicep slicers at adult brown.
  • Heel hooks are legal only for adult brown and black belt in no-gi; illegal for masters, the gi, and every age and belt below adult brown belt.
  • Slams, spinal locks without a choke and kani basami are illegal for everyone.
  • Always confirm the current table on ibjjf.com before an event.

Further Study

IBJJF Books and Videos (Rule Book & Illegal Moves poster)

Official Rule Book v6.1 and the Technical Fouls & Illegal Moves poster.

What submissions are illegal at white belt (IBJJF)?

The white-belt column explained move by move.

IBJJF kids rules: illegal submissions by age

The 4–12, 13–15 and juvenile columns in detail.

IBJJF kids and teen divisions: ages and belts

Which division and column a child competes in by birth year.

Are knee bars legal? IBJJF belt rules vs ADCC

Why knee bars wait until brown belt, and the ADCC difference.

Are wrist locks legal in IBJJF?

The blue-belt unlock in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the IBJJF Illegal Moves table work?
It has 26 rows and six columns: ages 4–12, ages 13–15, ages 16–17 with adult white belts, adult blue and purple, adult brown and black, and adult brown and black in no-gi. Each column bans everything the next, more advanced column bans, plus a few more moves.
What becomes legal at blue belt in IBJJF?
For adult blue belts, wrist locks and closed-guard squeezes on the ribs or kidneys are legal. Bicep slicers, calf slicers, knee bars, toe holds and heel hooks are still illegal at blue and purple.
What becomes legal at brown belt in IBJJF?
Bicep slicers, calf slicers, knee bars and toe holds are legal only for adult and masters brown and black belt, gi and no-gi; illegal for every age and belt below adult and masters brown belt. Heel hooks are legal only for adult brown and black belt in no-gi; illegal for masters, the gi, and every age and belt below adult brown belt. Knee reaping and twisting knee locks follow the heel-hook split.
Are any moves illegal for every belt?
Yes. Slams, spinal locks without a choke, the scissor takedown (kani basami), bending fingers backward, and throws or suplexes that drop the opponent on the head or neck are illegal in every IBJJF division.
What submissions are illegal for orange or green belts?
Kids belts follow age, not color. Under 13 uses the 4–12 column; ages 13–15 use the 13–15 column. In both, straight foot locks, omoplatas, frontal guillotines, Ezekiels, arm triangles, wrist locks, knee bars, toe holds and heel hooks are illegal.
Are heel hooks legal in IBJJF gi?
No. Heel hooks are illegal in every gi division, including adult brown and black. In the Adult brown and black no-gi division they are legal. Masters brown and black belts use the gi column in no-gi too, so heel hooks are illegal for them.

Keep training

What to learn next

Rules referenceSubmission legality by beltEvery submission we cover, with IBJJF and ADCC legality in one table.Related techniqueWrist LockSmall-joint attack that hyperextends or hyperflexes the wrist — a high-percentage opportunistic finish from closed guard, mount, and grip breaks.Structured planWhite belt roadmap

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