Polaris Judging System for Exhibition Bouts and Superfights
Bout Duration: 10 minutes
Method of victory: Submission or Judges’ Decision
The ruleset is designed to allow the athletes to use the skills they have obtained in their chosen grappling art, to bring excitement to the audience and showcase grappling in the most dynamic and interesting way possible, and to determine a winner in cases where there is no submission victory.
Three judges decide the winner of the bout based on the following guidelines, positive and negative.
The categories are weighted equally, the only way to ensure victory is to outwork your opponent consistently through each stanza.
For:
A) Effective Attacks and Aggression
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Legitimate submission attempts that cause the opponent to apply effort to escape
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Pushing the pace of the bout
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Initiating exciting exchanges
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Taking risks in an attempt to gain a takedown, advantageous position or submission attempt
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Note on submission attempts:
The definition of a legitimate hold is that the opponent has to apply effort or take a risk in order to escape. If a fighter uses a submission attempt as a positional stalling tactic (e.g. holding on indefinitely to a submission that they are not able to finish) then this would not be looked upon favourably.
B) Escalating Positional Control
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Takedowns
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Sweeps
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Improving position in order to set up a submission
C) Effective counter attacks and dynamic escapes
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Effectively countering takedowns
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Reversals
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Spectacular escapes
Against:
D) Stalling and Passivity
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Not capitalising on good positions
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Constantly moving backwards
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Exiting the competition area
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Being overly defensive and unwilling to take risks
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Not attempting to advance position
E) Poor sportsmanship / fouls
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Attempting illegal submissions or manoeuvres
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Striking
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Any other breach of the rules
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In extreme cases the referee may disqualify or indicate that the judges are to mark a fighter down, at his discretion
Single competitor stalling:
Referee notices stalling and starts stalling timer.
30 seconds of stalling = official warning
Next 30 seconds of stalling = 1 point taken away
Next 30 seconds of stalling = other competitor can choose dominant position (BACK, SIDE CONTROL, MOUNT)
If both competitors are stalling:
Referee notices stalling and starts stalling timer.
30 seconds of stalling = official warning
Next 30 seconds of stalling =
– If the stalling is taking place on the ground, both competitors will be forced to stand
– If the stalling is taking place standing, both competitors will be forced to start in the combat base position half a metre apart
If both competitors are warned for stalling but then only one competitor continues to stall, then conditions revert to ‘single competitor stalling’ guidelines
In a “one up one down” situation eg one competitor in seated guard, one competitor trying to pass, the competitor who is moving backwards will be considered the one who is stalling.
All stalling calls are reset once the athlete or athletes stop stalling.
Notes
Pulling guard must be initiated with contact first.
The judge is encouraged to always look upon the aggressor / attacker more favourably than the defensive fighter.
The judges are to base their opinion on the bout in 3:20 minute stanzas, with consistent effort across all criteria required to swing the score in the direction of one of the fighters.
Each third of the match, the judge must decide which fighter is winning according to the criteria and note it on the score card with a mark on the side of the winner of that stanza.
Stalling and passivity are strongly discouraged and the judges should score appropriately, penalising any kind of stalling tactic that slows down the action.
If there is no submission the bout will be decided by judges’ decision. The bout will either be a “Unanimous Decision” if all three judges give the same fighter as the winner, or a “Majority Decision” if not all judges agree on the winner.
Injuries
Where a fighter sustains an accidental injury during the match, they will be given up to 5 minutes to recover. The timekeeper will stop the time during this. If the fighter indicates they are able to continue before the 5 minutes is up then the match can resume.
If the player is unable to recover during the 5 minutes then the match will be declared no contest and the injured fighter will receive medical assistance off-stage.
If medical intervention is necessary then the judges and referee can confer with the medic to decide if the bout can continue.
If the injury is sustained via an illegal manoeuvre, a negative point will be given to the perpetrator and the fighter given up to 8 minutes to recover. The timekeeper will stop the time during this. If the fighter cannot recover then the bout will be declared a win for the injured fighter.
Poor sportsmanship / fouls
Upon an infraction, the referee will pause the bout, warning the fighter (s) and pointing to the fighter (s) who is receiving a warning, and then the three judges one by one.
After two infractions, or at the referee’s discretion, the match can end, with the fighter committing the offences being declared the loser, and the opponent the winner.
Illegal Methods / Movements
Eye gouging or fish hooking
Grabbing fingers, ears, hair, toes, or other extremity
No posting on faces / necks, and no one-handed windpipe grip (around entire neck is OK, but not for posting)
Slamming from above the knee height of the person doing the lifting to escape a submission or position (high amplitude throws / takedowns will not be penalised)
Legal Techniques
Chokes (except using fingers to crush windpipe)
Joint locks involving shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, ankle. Neck cranks are legal in no-gi bouts.
Illegal in gi bouts: Spine / neck locks, heel hooks
General Rules
Winner is signified via tapout (at least two rapid taps on the opponent or mat), verbal submission (voluntary or involuntary), or being unable to continue the bout due to injury.
In no-gi bouts the athletes must not grip any clothing
Referee will be on stage to officiate the bout, ensure rules are followed and advise fighters when they get too near the edge of the mat, in which case they will be paused and returned to the centre of the mat in the same position. If no agreement on positioning can be made the athletes will be stood up at the centre of the ring
Overall a high standard of sportsmanship is required before, during and after the fights.
“STALEMATE” Rule
Polaris is grappling entertainment, with paying viewers. If a position is deemed a stalemate, the referee may interrupt and force a reset or other break in action, at his or her sole discretion. A stalemate can be called in ANY position (standing, half guard, full guard, mount, etc) where the action does not proceed, either to a more dominant position OR a submission.