FILA grappling

Did You Know?

• The UWW-approved grappling mat measures 9 m in diameter, including a 1.5 m protection area border.
• An orange band 1 m wide indicates the passivity zone inside the mat circumference.
• For Championship competitions, the mat may be installed on a platform between 1.1 m or 0.8 m in height.

History

The groundwork for FILA grappling was laid in 2004, when Jason Townsend, along with Chris Carlino and Art Barker from Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Wrestling Club, crafted a set of rules for the sport. Their organization, the International Submission Wrestling Association (ISWA), tested these rules through events across the U.S. When the ISWA sought recognition from the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), GAISF connected them with FILA. This led to a meeting in Abu Dhabi between Townsend and FILA President Raphaël Martinetti, who proposed that FILA adopt the ISWA rulebook and fold it into a new World Grappling Committee led by Jean-Francois Court and Anne Pellaud. The ISWA agreed. Talks with the Abu Dhabi Combat Club, Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Guy Neivens, and Renzo Gracie failed to produce a deal, so the ADCC did not join FILA’s amateur grappling push. Townsend was named Head of Grappling Panamerica in FILA’s Associated Styles department. The first unofficial World Championships took place in 2007 in Antalya, Turkey, where Team USA swept all nine gold medals.

Rules

FILA tournaments generally included both gi and no-gi divisions. The gi uniform resembled a judogi but with tighter cuffs on pants and jacket. No-gi grapplers wore FILA-approved shorts and a tight-fitting rashguard (sleeveless, short sleeve, or long sleeve). Shoes were optional but required FILA approval if worn. Matches were a single round of five minutes. The point system encouraged submissions over technical points. Points were awarded for takedowns and dominant control positions in a progression: side mount, full mount, back mount. After securing a position for three seconds, additional points required achieving a higher position; the progression reset if the opponent returned to neutral or scored a dominant position. A takedown from stand-up to ground with three seconds of top control earned two points; pulling guard awarded the opponent two points if they maintained top control for three seconds. Additional points: side mount added three points (total five), full mount added four points (total six), back mount added four points (total six). A reversal from a disadvantageous position to top control for three seconds earned two points. Maintaining control for three seconds from side mount scored three points, from full mount four points, and from back mount four points.