The Jitsukas compete at National level, and the best athletes of every Member Nation are allowed to participate in the local Continental Championships (organised by the JJAFU) and eventually the World Competitions (which take place every two years).
A well-determined score system based on Continental and World Championship results is then used to assess who the top 4 or 6 seeded Countries (and not athletes!) are for each category. These Countries will then have the right to present their athletes to compete in the International World Games
(every four years) only in the categories for which they have qualified. The Jiu-Jitsu International Federation currently contemplates two different types of Competitions at world level: the Duo System and the Fighting System.
The former is a discipline in which a pair of Jitsukas from the same team show possible self-defence techniques against a series of 12 attacks,
randomly called by the mat referee from the 20 codified attacks to cover the following typologies: grip attack (or strangulation),
embrace attack (or necklock), hit attack (punch or kick) and armed attack (stick or knife). The Duo System has three competition categories: male, female or mixed, and the athletes are judged for their speed, accuracy, control and realism. It is arguably the most spectacular form of Jiu-jitsu competition and it requires great technical preparation, synchronism and elevated athletic qualities.
With a different approach, the Fighting System is articulated in a series of two-round, one-on-one combats between athletes from opposing teams. The system is divided in 10 categories according to
weight and sex (Male categories: -62 kg, -69kg, -77kg, -85kg, -94kg, +94kg;
Female categories 55kg, -62kg, -70kg, +70kg). The actual combat is divided in three phases (Parts): Part I sees the Jitsukas involved in distance combat (controlled attacks with arms and legs and atemis of various nature). Once a grab has been made the Fight enters Part II and hits are no longer allowed. The Jitsukas try to bring one another down with various throwing techniques (and points are given according to how "clean" and effective the action was).
Once down on the tatamis (mats) the match enters its Part III. Here points are given for immobilisation techniques, controlled strangulations or levers on body joints that bring the opponent to yield.
The winner is the Jitsuka who has accumulated most points during the fight.
Automatic victory is assigned to the Jitsuka who gets an "Ippon" (clean action, full points) in all three Parts or who outscores his opponent with a 14 point score difference by the end of round one.
This type of competition requires timing, agility, strength and endurance
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