Quick answer: NAGA runs two rulesets. No-gi matches use NAGA’s own rules: positions must be held 2 seconds, takedowns and submission attempts score 1 or 2 points — yes, you get points for near-submissions — and sweeps, side control, mount, back control, and knee-on-belly all score 2. Gi matches follow IBJJF-based rules with 3-second holds and bigger positional scores: guard pass 3, mount and back control 4 each. Adult matches run 4 to 6 minutes depending on skill level, and there is no overtime in gi — ties go to a referee decision. Divisions cover six age groups with NAGA’s own names — Adult (18–29), Master (30–39), Director (40–49), Executive (50+), plus Children and Teens — four skill tiers from Novice to Expert, and named weight classes from Flyweight (129.9 lbs and under) to Ultra-Heavyweight (250+). Heel hooks are legal only in adult Intermediate and Expert no-gi — and never in gi.
Last updated: July 19, 2026. This guide covers the official NAGA rules and divisions for 2026 — no-gi and gi points, time limits, skill levels, age groups, weight classes, and legal techniques — from the official NAGA rules page, the official divisions page, and the NAGA rulebook. It is a planning guide, not a substitute for the rulebook or your event page.
NAGA’s two rulesets: no-gi is its own game
The single most important thing to understand before a NAGA event: the no-gi division uses NAGA’s own unique ruleset, while gi divisions follow rules based on the IBJJF’s. Points, hold times, advantages, and even overtime work differently between the two — so if you’re entering both, you’re learning two scoring systems, not one.
NAGA no-gi points system
A NAGA no-gi match is won by submission, points, referee decision, or disqualification. Positions must be established for 2 full seconds. The distinctive feature is submission-attempt scoring: a legitimate attempt earns 1 point, and a “full and strong” attempt that puts the opponent in danger earns 2 — chaining different attempts stacks points. NAGA’s own rulebook is explicit that the format “emphasizes submission attacks and not just playing for points.”
| Action (no-gi) | Points |
|---|---|
| Takedown | 1 or 2 (2 with two seconds of top control) |
| Submission attempt | 1 or 2 (2 when the opponent is in danger) |
| Sweep (from guard) | 2 |
| Side control | 2 |
| Mount | 2 |
| Back grab / back control | 2 |
| Knee on belly | 2 |
Two caps to know: a maximum of 6 positional points can be earned in one sequence (for example side control → knee on belly → mount) — after that, only submission attempts score until the opponent escapes and resets the positions. And reversals from anywhere other than guard score nothing. There are no advantages in no-gi; a points tie goes to referee decision on aggression, pace, place, and position, with a single 2-minute overtime as a rare last resort.
NAGA gi points system
Gi scoring looks much more like IBJJF: 3-second holds, advantages for near-points and near-submissions, and heavier rewards for dominant positions — takedowns, sweeps, and knee-on-belly score 2, passing the guard scores 3, and mount and back control score 4 each. One sharp difference from IBJJF competition: there are no overtimes in any NAGA gi match. Tied matches go straight to the referee, who picks the competitor who most aggressively tried to win. For how the IBJJF handles the same situations, see our BJJ points system guide.
NAGA age divisions: Adult, Master, Director, Executive
NAGA uses its own age-division names, and they run older-friendly than most federations: Children (13 and under), Teens (14–17), Adult (18–29), Master (30–39), Director (40–49), and Executive (50 and over). Adults may also enter one age group below their own — a 32-year-old Master can compete in both Master and Adult divisions by registering for two divisions. Skill levels run Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert (kids and teens add Advanced), tied to total grappling experience across BJJ, wrestling, judo, and sambo — with belt floors: blue belts must enter at least Intermediate no-gi, and purple, brown, and black belts must enter Expert.
NAGA weight classes
NAGA is one of the few grappling organizations with boxing-style named weight classes, listed in pounds at U.S. events (European events use a kilogram table).
| Class | Men (all adult age groups) | Women (all adult age groups) |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-atomic | — | 99.9 lbs & under |
| Atomweight | — | 100–109.9 |
| Strawweight | — | 110–119.9 |
| Flyweight | 129.9 & under | 120–129.9 |
| Bantamweight | 130–139.9 | 130–139.9 |
| Featherweight | 140–149.9 | 140–149.9 |
| Lightweight | 150–159.9 | 150–159.9 |
| Welterweight | 160–169.9 | 160–169.9 |
| Middleweight | 170–179.9 | 170–179.9 |
| Light-Heavyweight | 180–189.9 | 180–189.9 |
| Cruiserweight | 190–199.9 | 190–199.9 |
| Heavyweight | 200–224.9 | 200 & over |
| Super-Heavyweight | 225–249.9 | — |
| Ultra-Heavyweight | 250 & over | — |
Children’s divisions run thirteen weight classes from 39.9 lbs and under to 170+, and teens run eight from 99.9 and under to 200+. Unlike IBJJF weight classes, these are ranges rather than single maximums — you register into a bracket, not under a limit.
Match times
NAGA matches are short: kids and teens run 3 minutes (4 for Expert), adult Novice and Beginner run 4 minutes, all Master, Director, and Executive divisions run 4 minutes at every level, adult Intermediate runs 5, and adult Expert runs 6. That pace rewards early aggression — under NAGA no-gi rules, a single strong submission attempt in a 4-minute match can be the whole scoreboard.
Legal techniques: who can do what
- Adult no-gi: almost everything is legal — neck cranks, twisters, wrist locks, calf and bicep slicers, electric chairs. Heel hooks are legal only at Intermediate and Expert; Novice and Beginner may not use them.
- Gi: heel hooks are never legal at any belt. Brown and black belts add knee bars, toe holds, and slicers; blue belts and up add wrist locks and body compressions; scissor takedowns are banned at every level.
- Teens: straight ankle locks and (no-gi) straight knee bars only; no neck cranks, twisters, or wrist locks.
- Kids: no leg or ankle attacks of any kind, no standing guillotines — and Kids Novice divisions allow no submissions at all, deciding matches purely on points.
- Everyone: no slams (including as a submission escape), no windpipe grabs, no strikes, no small-joint attacks.
Penalties
Stalling is penalized from any position — and can be re-called every 20 seconds. In no-gi, the ladder runs warning → warning → 1 point to your opponent → another point → disqualification. In gi it escalates faster: warning → advantage to your opponent → 2 points → disqualification. Malicious slams, strikes, fleeing the boundary to escape a submission, and refusing to release after a tap are instant disqualifications.
NAGA vs IBJJF: the differences that catch competitors
- Any gi color or combination is legal at NAGA — a black top with red pants is fine, where IBJJF gi requirements allow only all-white, all-royal-blue, or all-black.
- You weigh in without the gi — IBJJF weighs you with it on.
- Rashguards under the gi are permitted and encouraged for everyone — IBJJF prohibits them for men.
- Points differ: NAGA no-gi mount scores 2 and rewards submission attempts; IBJJF mount scores 4 and attempts earn at most an advantage.
- No overtime in gi — ties are refereed decisions, not golden score.
Bottom line
NAGA is a submission-first, all-comers format: short matches, points for genuine submission attempts, six age groups reaching to Executive 50+, and skill tiers that count every grappling art you’ve trained. Learn the 2-second no-gi holds, respect the 6-point positional cap, and don’t bring IBJJF assumptions — or an IBJJF-only gi bag — to a NAGA weigh-in. Confirm everything on the official NAGA rules page before you register — and if you compete across federations, see how ADCC and JJWL score the same positions differently.
FAQ
Are heel hooks legal at NAGA?
Only in adult Intermediate and Expert no-gi divisions. They are illegal for no-gi Novice and Beginner, all teens and kids, and every gi division at every belt.
Do you get points for submission attempts at NAGA?
Yes — in no-gi, a legitimate submission attempt scores 1 point and a full, strong attempt that endangers the opponent scores 2. This is unique among the major rulesets.
What are NAGA’s age divisions?
Children (13 and under), Teens (14–17), Adult (18–29), Master (30–39), Director (40–49), and Executive (50 and over).
Can you wear any color gi at NAGA?
Yes — any color or combination, including mixed tops and pants. Karate-style thin or V-neck gis are the only banned designs.
How long are NAGA matches?
3 to 6 minutes: kids and teens 3 (Expert 4), adult Novice/Beginner and all 30+ divisions 4, adult Intermediate 5, adult Expert 6.
