- ADCC code of conduct now applies to ADCC Open events across North & South America.
- Clear expectations for athletes and coaches: respect, safety, and accountability.
- Ref/official respect, anti-harassment rules, and sandbagging penalties spelled out.
- Sits alongside ADCC Open rules updates that tighten safety in youth/adult divisions.
- Practical impact: fewer sidelines blowups, clearer recourse, and a cleaner competitive environment.
Why ADCC Code Of Conduct Arrives Now
ADCC’s Open calendar has exploded, bringing kids, teens, hobbyists, and elite hopefuls under the same lights—and under the same brand pressure.
An official ADCC code of conduct gives organizers a common playbook for handling flashpoints that routinely plague local shows: confrontations with referees, taunting and post-match shoves, and the grey area between “gamesmanship” and intimidation.
The move is less about optics and more about standardization—what happens in Miami, Dallas, or São Paulo should be handled the same way next weekend in Toronto.
Referees and judges must be treated with respect at all times.
– ADCC Open Tournament Code of Conduct –
The language is simple by design: respect for officials, respect for opponents and teams, and consequences that scale from removal to event bans. For a circuit that runs dozens of brackets per day, clarity is a safety feature.
What The ADCC Open Policy Covers
The new code of conduct addresses three friction points head-on: behavior toward officials, interactions between competitors/teams, and sidelines control.
It bans harassment, slurs, or threats anywhere connected to the event—on the mat, in the stands, and online—and codifies how disputes are handled (video review through the head judge rather than hallway arguments).
It also tackles competitive integrity: register at your real rank, don’t sandbag on Smoothcomp, and expect suspensions if you try.
Any form of harassment, intimidation, or bullying—verbal, physical, or digital—will result in removal and possible ban from future events.
– ADCC Open Tournament Code of Conduct –
Equally important, the text makes safety non-negotiable: illegal techniques for your division are your responsibility to know; yanking on submissions after a tap or referee stoppage is grounds for DQ and suspension.
The message to teams is unmistakable: the brand wants hard, fair matches—not chaos that overshadows them.
How It Interlocks With Current ADCC Open Rules
The grappling competition conduct policy sits next to the evolving Open-specific ADCC rules framework. ADCC’s public “legal techniques” sheet for Opens (revised in 2025) clarifies what’s permitted by age and skill—an essential companion to the ADCC code of conduct.
That table removes certain riskier actions from Open play (notably “slamming out of submission” in most non-elite cohorts) and introduces youth-safety mechanisms (referee discretion to stop mismatches; a coach beanbag to halt a dangerous sequence in kids’ bouts).
The net effect: fewer bang-bang edge cases, cleaner officiating decisions, and less room for arguments about “what’s allowed here.”
Mo Jassim’s Standard-Setting Push
ADCC’s head organizer has spent the last few years scaling the Opens while trying to keep the Worlds mystique.
The ADCC open code of conduct is the cultural piece of that project: it tells athletes, corners, and coaches what “acting like ADCC” means on a random Saturday at a high school gym.
It also formalizes the authority of officials and the head judge’s review process—vital in a sport where viral clips tend to drown out context. Put simply, the leadership wants intensity inside the bounds, not theatrics outside them.
By participating in ADCC Open events, you agree to this Code of Conduct. Let your actions reflect the honor of the sport and the ADCC legacy.
– ADCC Open Tournament Code of Conduct –
What It Means For Competitors This Season
If you’re entering an Open in the Americas, assume the ADCC code of conduct applies from check-in to parking lot. Practical takeaways:
- Plan your corner: designate who talks to officials and keep instructions constructive—no profanity, no threats.
- Know your division’s legal map: Opens use a tailored techniques grid; don’t bring Worlds-only assumptions into a kids or beginners bracket.
- Register honestly: your Smoothcomp rank is on record; sandbagging invites DQs and suspensions.
- Match hard, exit clean: respect taps and stoppages; no post-match contact beyond a handshake.
The bottom line for athletes and coaches: this codifies how ADCC wants its grassroots scene to feel—serious, safe, and scalable. Expect enforcement to follow.
