Grappling Fans, rejoice: the road to the ADCC 2019 World Championships officially begins this weekend in Bucharest, Romania.

How The ADCC Trials System Works

ADCC offers trials events in four regions throughout the world: Europe, Asia/Oceania, North America, and South America. Athletes must be a citizen of one of the countries in the defined zones, or from a nation that has been permitted to compete at one of the trials (for example, an athlete from South Africa can compete at the European Trials). 

Historically speaking, European Trials winners have yet to bring home the coveted ADCC gold medal, but they have played spoiler to some of the favorites along the way: Last year we saw Elvira Karppinen out of Finland defeat Mackenzie Dern and Russian athlete Abdurakhman Bilarov take out Jake Shields in the opening round. 

So far a full athletes list has yet to be released for this weekend's event, but ADCC has teased that Adam Wardzinski from Poland, Darragh O'Conaill of Ireland, and British grappler Ross Nicholas should all be present in Bucharest.

Jake Shields vs Abdurakhman Bilarov – ADCC 2018

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A Quick ADCC Rules Overview

Qualifying Rounds* = six minutes / three minutes overtime if there is a draw with no advantage. (max 1 overtime per fight)
Finals** = eight minutes / four minutes overtime if there is a draw with no advantage. (Max. one overtime per fight)

*On the “Qualifying Rounds” (six min), the first three minutes are without points. The points are starting after the first three minutes until the end of the fight as well as on the overtime.

**On the “Finals” (eight min), the first four minutes are without positive points, but negative points start from the beginning of the fight until the end. The positive points are starting after the first four minutes until the end of the fight as well as on the overtime.

How To Score Points in ADCC

• Passing the guard = 3 points
• Knee on stomach = 2 points
• Mount position = 2 points
• Back mount with hooks = 3 points
• Takedown (ends Guard or Half Guard) = 2 points
• Clean Takedown (ends passed the guard) = 4 points
• Sweeps (ends Guard or Half Guard) = 2 points
• Clean Sweep (ends passed the guard) = 4 points

ADCC Penalty Points

• When a fighter voluntarily jumps in the guard or goes from standing position to a non-standing position by any means and remains down for three seconds or more, he will be punished by a minus point.
• When a fighter disengages from contact and starts backing up and avoids engaging again he will be punished by minus point.
• A passive fighter will be warned twice and then will be punished by minus point. The referee will warn the passive player by the words “WARNING PASSIVITY” – after the first minus given there are not going to be any more warnings and the minus points will be given immediately if the fighter continues to be passive.
• If a fighter is very passive during the first half of the regular fights when there are no minuses, the referees will still give him WARNINGs for passivity.

What's Next?

After the European trials come the first installment of the North America trials happening in Bayville, New Jersey on Nov. 3. Athletes interested in competing can sign up here, and the event will be streamed LIVE on FloGrappling.com

3x North American Trials Winner Tom DeBlass.