BJJ is won by submission, not on points
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, points matter only if the match runs to the buzzer. But the goal hasn't changed since Hélio Gracie refined the art: make the opponent tap. Paak tracks progression toward the submission, not just the points a tap renders moot.
Your students, their belt, their fees, their progression — in one view. Paak manages your club, not just your sport.
Before BJJ: what Paak does for your whole club.
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Two formats, one art: GI and NoGi
BJJ is practised with or without the kimono. Both share the technical root (Gracie lineage, positions, submissions), but change tactics radically. With kimono (GI), lapel and sleeve grips structure the match — closed guard, lapel chokes, collar-sleeve. Without kimono (NoGi), sweat and fluidity dominate — no textile grips, more frames, fewer static guards. A serious BJJ practitioner trains both. Paak tracks them separately in the profile.
GI — with kimono
Heavy kimono (2-3 kg), reinforced pants. Lapel, sleeve, and collar grips (lapel grips) are central. Kimono submissions (collar choke, baseball choke, bow-and-arrow). Slower, more tactical tempo.
NoGi — without kimono
Rash guard and shorts. No textile grips: wrist, foot, hip control. Lapel-less submissions: rear-naked choke, guillotine, leg locks, heel hooks. Faster, more physical tempo.
Submission = end of fight
The goal is submission. A tap (hand or foot striking the mat, or verbal "tap tap tap"), and the fight stops instantly. Like ippon in judo. Points only break ties for fights that reach the buzzer.
Belt + stripes
5 adult belts (white to black), with 0-4 stripes each. Kids have their own system (white/grey/yellow/orange/green). Slow, demanding progression. Brown to black can take 10 years.
IBJJF scoring — points by position
Points quantify the match, but submission wins. Paak records each position in real time: who took the back, who passed the guard, who swept, who tapped. At the buzzer, points decide; before the buzzer, the submission decides.
| Action | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Takedown | 2 pts | Bringing the opponent down from standing. |
| Sweep | 2 pts | Reversing position from guard (bottom → top). |
| Knee on belly | 2 pts | Knee on opponent's belly, one hand collar, other free. Transition position. |
| Guard pass | 3 pts | Passing the opponent's guard and stabilising in side control. |
| Mount | 4 pts | Straddling the opponent in dominant position. |
| Back control | 4 pts | Back control with both hooks (heels under the hips). |
| Successful submission | WIN | Tap = instant end of fight. Points no longer matter. |
Adult & kids belts
BJJ has two belt systems: adults (from age 16) and kids. Kids do NOT receive blue/purple/brown/black — those grades begin at 16. Each belt accepts 0 to 4 stripes (progression milestones within the belt).
Adults
Kids (under 16)
At 16, the student enters the adult system and receives a white or blue based on demonstrated skill.
An AI advisor who has tapped champions
Paak Pro includes Rixson Grace as sport-specific AI advisor — inspired by the Gracie family legacy, historical standard-bearer of BJJ. He won't talk strikes, won't talk knockdowns: he talks closed guard, transitions, breathing, and submission timing.
Position-by-position fight analysis
Time-spent distribution across positions (guard / side control / mount / back). Identify where the student dominates and where they struggle.
Submission attempts vs finishes
Many attempts, few finishes = technical problem, not mental. The advisor pinpoints submissions where timing is off.
Progression toward the next grade
Seniority, mat frequency, competition results, varied submissions, posture mastery. The advisor suggests when a student is ready — for the teacher to decide.
GI vs NoGi rotation
A student who practises only GI misses 50% of the modern game. The advisor suggests a practice ratio by level and goals.
Federation licences, IBJJF, compliance
- Federation licences — in France: FFJDA (Judo) has historically issued BJJ licences. Paak tracks licence, age, expiry.
- IBJJF certification — for international competitions. Tracks grade certifications and IBJJF entries per fighter.
- Child-protection compliance — background-check requirement for staff working with minors (in France, the 8 March 2024 law).
- Teaching qualifications — BPJEPS AMP, DEJEPS martial arts (France) or equivalents. Validity and renewal.
- Belt grades — gradings with date, examiner name, minimum seniority respected.
- Medical certificates — mandatory for competition. Paak blocks competition registration on expiry.
What Paak doesn't do yet for BJJ
Transparency beats empty promises.
- No IBJJF sync. IBJJF has its own portal for competition entries. Paak doesn't push data there automatically — export CSV, re-import.
- No integrated tournament bracket. For club-internal opens, Paak doesn't organise a full elimination bracket. On the roadmap.
- No automatic AI video position detection. The coach clicks during rolling to record passes, sweeps and taps.
- No recognition of alternative federation belts. IBJJF is the reference, but other federations (ADCC, CBJJ, UAEJJF) have their own grades. Paak defaults to IBJJF; others are configurable but not pre-loaded.
Coach honorabilité — French loi du 8 mars 2024
The French law of 8 March 2024 makes club presidents personally liable for the honorabilité (background-check status) of every instructor and adult volunteer in regular contact with minors — in BJJ, this covers the head instructor, assistant coaches, kids' BJJ animators (Pequenos Lutadores), any belt-rank holder teaching minors and corner staff at junior tournaments. Paak makes that tenable for a volunteer-run academy.
- Status per instructor — valid / expiring soon / expired
- Automatic reminders 30, 14 and 7 days before each attestation expires — email to the instructor and notification to the president
- CSV export in the ministry SI Honorabilité / FIJAISV column order, one click
- Federation licence (FFJDA since 2021), belt-rank certificate and medical certificate on the same instructor profile
Honorabilité tracking is included in every plan, including Free. The 30/14/7-day reminder cadence runs automatically via the qualification-expiry job — no per-instructor setup.
Frequently asked questions
We only practise NoGi in our academy. Does Paak adapt?
Yes. Declare the default format at club setup. GI remains available as an option if you add it occasionally.
Does Paak handle club-internal opens?
For informal opens (round robin), yes: create a session of type "Open", add fighters, record results. For full bracketed tournaments, not yet — roadmap.
Do kids in green belt lose their rank when they turn 16?
No, they enter the adult system at the appropriate level (typically blue). The professor evaluates technical level at transition. Paak keeps the full history of both systems.
Is it really free?
Yes, up to 100 members, 3 groups, 1 sport. Online payments included via Mollie.
Three plans, nonprofit rates.
Free up to 100 members · Hosted in France · GDPR compliant