Bold text and italics are taken from the IBJJF rule book (download PDF from https://ibjjf.com/books-videos). Regular text is my additional notes.
The rules are complex, confusing, and at times contradictory. In my opinion, they still cover the majority of situations as well as any. YMMV. Not all referee decisions can be clear cut and the decision in some situations will come down to interpretation and subjectivity. I counsel people wishing to push hard against the edge of the rules with particular techniques or strategies not to, as the referee’s interpretation of the rules governing a particular grey area may differ from yours or those of your coach.
Refereeing requires intense concentration over prolonged periods. Referees are human and can make mistakes. Not all coaches or competitors know the rules as well as they should. Most competitors with long careers will tell you in confidence that questionable referee decisions have as often gone their way as not. I would encourage anyone wishing to become a sport jiu-jitsu coach to spend some time refereeing.
4.1 Takedown (2 points)
Pulling someone to the mat on top of you is not a takedown.
A successful takedown direct to mount and stabilised for 3 seconds will accrue 2 points for the takedown and 4 for the mount.
A successful takedown direct to kneeride and stabilised for 3 seconds will accrue 2 points for the takedown and 2 for the kneeride.
4.1.1 When one of the athletes, starting the movement with 2 feet on the ground, causes the opponent to land on his/ her back, sideways or seated, establishing top position for 3 (three) seconds.
You can run around and control the opponent’s back while he is seated and still get the points. It would be prudent to stay on your feet or on one knee until points are awarded before moving to seated back control.
4.1.2 When an athlete forces his/her opponent to the ground on all fours or belly-down, points shall only be awarded once the athlete performing the takedown controls the opponent’s back without the requirement of placing hooks and keeping at least one of the opponent’s knees on the ground for 3 (three) seconds.
I was told at a rules meeting that controlling the back means you are behind the opponent’s shoulder line. It is not necessary to lock in a clinch, just keep him on one or both knees, or flat (in which case his knees are on the ground).
4.1.3 If an athlete forces his or her opponent to the ground in the outlying safety area, the athlete performing the takedown should have both feet within the match area when the movement begins. In this case, if the athletes land in a stabilized position, the referee will only stop the match after 3 seconds of stabilization in the position. Then the referee will score the points and restart the match at the center of the match area. The athletes will be placed in the same position they were in when the match was stopped.
Ideally, the referee should interrupt the match as soon as one of the athletes steps into the safety area and restart in the center, unless the takedown has already commenced. Your takedown will not score if you are outside the match area when it is commenced. If the takedown starts in the match area but ends with 3 second stabilisation in the safety area, you will get the points. The ref should stop the match and move the athletes back into the competition area in the same position, then restart.
If the takedown starts in the match area, moves into the safety area, but finishes in the match area with 3 seconds of control, there is no need for the match to be stopped. Points will be awarded as usual.
If the takedown attempt takes one or both competitors outside the safety area, the match will be stopped immediately. No points will be awarded, though possibly the takedown attempt may earn an advantage. The match will be restarted in the center.
If the opponent flees the match area to avoid a takedown or sweep: PAROU (stop the match), bring them back to the centre, apply a penalty to the one running away, and give 2 points to the athlete performing the takedown or sweep. Restart standing in the center.
In the above case, if it is the second or third penalty recorded against the infractor, only the two points will be given to the opponent, not the additional advantage (for second penalty) or additional two points (for the third penalty). The penalty will be recorded against the infractor as any other.
4.1.4 In a sweep movement, when both athletes remain standing for less than 3 seconds and the athlete on defense throws the opponent to the ground on their back or sideways, or on his knees and controlling the back, shall not be awarded the two points or advantage for the takedown.
A sweep is regarded as a continuous movement that starts from guard and ends up with the sweeper in top position (not seated) for 3 seconds. If both competitors stay on their feet for 3 seconds, the sweep attempt is regarded as over and as having failed, and you are both back to standing combat.
If you commence a sweep that goes to a standing position, the sweep is regarded as still in play until after 3 seconds with both standing. Him putting you back down is not regarded as a takedown, but as your sweep having failed from his successful counter.
“Continuous movement” can include you rolling around, standing up, changing position multiple times, as long as neither of you is controlled or standing for 3 seconds or more. It is the starting and final position held for 3 seconds that determine whether the sweep or takedown gets scored.
4.1.5 While in any position starting from guard, where the athletes remain on their feet for 3 seconds, the combat shall then be considered standing combat.
Note: In order to start the 3-second countdown, one of the athletes must have two feet on the ground and the opponent at least one foot on the ground without the knee of the opposite leg touching the mat.
This should be self explanatory, though I have to say the note confuses things a little. The sweep is over after three seconds, then you are back to standing combat and anything that happens from there to put someone on the mat is considered a takedown. Sweeps must end with the opponent on his back, side, or knees with you behind him, held for three seconds. Sitting someone down and holding them for 3 seconds is good enough for a takedown, but not a sweep.
4.1.6 When the opponent has one or two knees on the ground, the athlete performing the takedown will only be awarded points if he/she is standing at the moment the takedown is carried out, unless it is a sweep-defense situation, as described in this article, and meets the 3-second stabilization-count criterion.
Note: No points shall be awarded in situations where the opponent is taken down from their knees, whether initiated in the guard or any other ground-fighting situation.
Takedowns that start from the knees in a continuous movement will not be awarded points. The takedown must start from a standing position. The opponent must be in a position to be taken down for takedown points to be awarded, i.e. at least one of his feet must be on the ground.
4.1.7 When the athlete forces his/her opponent to the ground using a single or double-leg takedown and the opponent lands seated and successfully applies a counter-takedown (another takedown), only the athlete performing the counter-takedown shall be awarded the two points when he/she can stabilize this position for 3 (three) seconds.
4.1.8 For any takedown technique where the athlete, delivering his/her opponent back-down or sideways on the ground, lands in guard or half-guard and immediately suffers a successful sweep by the opponent, he/she shall be awarded an advantage relating to the takedown and his/her opponent shall be awarded the two points from the sweep.
If athlete 1 takes athlete 2 down landing in side control (or front control, mount, kneeride?) and athlete 2 rolls athlete 1 to attain the top position, athlete 1 will get an advantage for the takedown and athlete 2 will receive neither points nor an advantage. This parallels the difference between a sweep from guard, and a reversal from mount or side control, a sweep gets 2 points but a reversal gets no points.
4.1.9 An athlete who takes the opponent down in order to defend a standing back-take, where the opponent has both hooks in place, or one hook in place and neither foot on the ground, will not be awarded the two points or advantage for the takedown. Even after the position has been stabilized for three seconds.
4.1.10 An athlete who initiates a takedown before the opponent initiates the guard pull shall be awarded the two points or advantage for the takedown, as described in item 4.1 (Takedown).
4.1.11 An athlete who initiates a takedown after the opponent initiates a guard-pull attempt shall not be awarded the two points or advantage for the takedown.
4.1.12 When an athlete has a grip on the opponent’s pants and the opponent pulls guard, the athlete with the grip on the pants shall be awarded two points for the takedown if he/she stabilizes the top position on the ground for 3 (three) seconds.
Or some sort of grip on the leg for no gi.
In 4.1.10, 4.1.11, and 4.1.12, whoever initiates the movement (guard pull or takedown) is the one regarded as initiating the move. Going first rather than reacting.
Note: If the opponent pulls closed guard and remains suspended in the air, the athlete will have to put the opponent’s back on the ground within 3 (three) seconds and stabilize the top position for 3 (three) seconds to be awarded with Takedown points.
Jumping closed guard is not allowed for white belts and will earn a penalty. The athletes will be stood up and the match restarted. If this occurs in the context of a takedown by the other player, the player performing the takedown will receive 2 points.
Slamming a guard player will earn the slammer an immediate disqualification. If someone jumps guard on you, you must take them to the mat in a controlled fashion.
5.6.1 Advantage from takedown
When an athlete achieves a takedown and his/her opponent lands back-down, sideways or in sitting position on the ground without stabilizing the position for 3 (three) seconds.
When an athlete applies a takedown or series of takedowns, and the opponent returns to their feet before stabilization is achieved on the ground. The advantage shall only be awarded when there is no longer a possibility of completing the takedown attempt, in accordance with items 3.4 and 5.5.
3.4 Athletes shall be awarded cumulative points when they progress through a number of point-scoring positions, as long as the three-second positional control from the final point-scoring position is a continuation of the positional control from the point-scoring positions from earlier in the sequence. In this case, the referee shall count only 3 (three) seconds of control at the end of the sequence before signaling the points be scored. Where advantages are concerned this only applies to taking the opponent down directly to kneeride or mount, not stabilising position, and possibly earning cumulative advantages instead of points.
Advantages here can accumulate, e.g. a takedown to kneeride or mount which is completed but not stabilised for three seconds should earn an advantage for the takedown and a second advantage for the potential scoring position, i.e. the knee ride or mount.
5.5 The referee may only award an advantage point once there is no longer a chance of the athlete reaching a point-scoring position.
A takedown landing in top half guard and stabilized for three seconds will receive 2 points for the takedown, plus a potential advantage for the half guard. If the top player successfully passes the half guard, they will receive 3 points for passing the guard, but no advantage. If the top player cannot pass the half guard, they should then receive the advantage for getting to half guard. The referee should award the takedown points after 3 seconds but wait for the half guard to be passed – or not – before awarding either the guard pass points or the advantage for getting to half guard.