Clear rules. Published in advance.
No surprises on event day. Every athlete and coach can read the standard we run to, before they register.
Match times
Match length is set by age group and experience division. Kids matches are shorter than adult matches, and advanced adult divisions run the longest. Exact times per division publish in the official rulebook and on each event page.
| Kids (4-12) | Shorter fixed rounds |
|---|---|
| Teens (13-17) | Standard teen rounds |
| Adults (18-29) | Length scales with experience |
| Masters (30+) | Standard masters rounds |
Scoring system
NEXTWAVE uses a positional scoring system. Points are awarded for establishing and holding dominant positions, advantages break otherwise even matches, and submissions end matches immediately.
| Takedown / sweep | Positional points |
|---|---|
| Guard pass | Positional points |
| Knee on belly | Positional points |
| Mount / back control | Highest positional points |
| Advantage | Tiebreaker only |
| Submission | Immediate win |
Legal and illegal techniques
Technique legality changes by age group and experience division. What is legal for an advanced adult is not legal for a beginner or a child. Athletes and coaches are responsible for knowing the technique set for their exact division.
| Kids | No joint locks beyond the approved kids set |
|---|---|
| Beginner / White | No heel hooks, no twisting knee reaps |
| Intermediate | Expanded submission set |
| Advanced / Brown-Black | Full approved submission set |
| All divisions | No strikes, slams or unsafe grips |
Uniform standards
Gi competitors need a clean, undamaged kimono in an approved colour with a correctly fitted belt. No-Gi competitors need a fitted rash guard and shorts or spats without pockets, zips or exposed hardware. Uniforms are checked before you step on the mat.
| Gi | Approved colours, clean, no tears |
|---|---|
| Gi fit | Sleeve and pant length within standard |
| No-Gi top | Fitted rash guard |
| No-Gi bottom | Shorts or spats, no pockets or zips |
| Nails & jewellery | Trimmed nails, no jewellery |
Weigh-ins
Weigh-ins are same-day and happen before your division starts. You weigh in wearing what you compete in. Missing your weigh-in window or missing weight moves you out of your registered bracket under the published policy.
| Timing | Same day, before your division |
|---|---|
| Gi divisions | Weigh in with the gi |
| No-Gi divisions | Weigh in in competition attire |
| Missed weight | Handled per published policy |
Bracket policy
Brackets are built by age, then weight, then experience — in that order. Brackets release before event day so athletes know their division, their matches and their mat in advance. Small divisions may merge into the closest fair bracket rather than being cancelled.
| Build order | Age → weight → experience |
|---|---|
| Release | Published before event day |
| Small divisions | Merged into closest fair bracket |
| Corrections | Until the correction deadline |
Athlete and coach conduct
Competitors, coaches and spectators represent their academies. Referee decisions are respected on the mat. Unsportsmanlike conduct, abuse of officials or unsafe behaviour results in disqualification and, where warranted, removal from the venue.
| Referee decisions | Final on the mat |
|---|---|
| Protests | Through the published protest process |
| Unsportsmanlike conduct | Disqualification |
| Coach credentials | Required for mat-side access |
The full rulebook publishes with our first event.
The summaries above describe how NEXTWAVE competition is run. Exact match times, point values and division-by-division technique lists are finalized in the official downloadable rulebook, released alongside registration.