No-gi jiu-jitsu.

A format, not one universal rulebook.

No-gi tells you something about the training or competition format, but it does not identify the organizer, scoring system, division, or permitted techniques. Start with the actual event and category before copying assumptions from a professional match.

A practitioner can hold a jiu-jitsu belt without wearing it in a no-gi match. Rank, experience categories, and event eligibility need to be understood through the academy and organizer responsible for them.

Choose the organizer first.

The ADCC Open rules and division guidance describes its own Open-event framework. Read it as that framework, not as a substitute for every ADCC World Championship or every other no-gi competition.

For any organizer, record the event, category, scoring, match format, and legal-technique questions on one page. If an answer is unclear, contact the organizer before assuming that a rule from another event applies.

Understand the purpose of a connection.

When a familiar gi connection is unavailable, ask what it was helping you accomplish. Was the goal to manage distance, recognize a response, or stay connected during a transition? That question can help your coach explain a suitable no-gi approach.

Do not force a one-to-one replacement for every fabric grip. Sometimes the route into the position needs to change. Practice within the class’s instructions and partner boundaries, especially when a position or submission is unfamiliar.

Rank does not replace a rules check.

Experience divisions and legal techniques can differ between events and age categories. A move seen in an elite match is not automatically appropriate or permitted in a beginner setting. Ask for direct instruction and use the event’s current rules for competition decisions.

The complete no-gi guide explains how to organize those questions. Compare it with the gi section to identify shared positional ideas without erasing the differences between formats.