# Montana Grappling Open + Flavio Behring Seminar > Seminar in Bozeman, Montana, United States | August 23, 2025 – August 25, 2025 ## Overview **Event Type:** Seminar **Description:** SCHEDULE: Seminar Schedule: Saturday/Sunday - 8:30-9:30AM NOGI Youth/Teens Ages 7+ Self Defense Seminar Saturday - ADULT NOGI Seminar 10am-Noon Sunday - ADULT GI Seminar 10am-Noon Tournaments. Youth Events Start at 1:00pm. Adults Start Times will be posted closer to the event. There is limited space in the waiting area. No Food in the waiting area. One Coach and Two Family members allowed mat side due to space. Rules Please make sure to read the following to fully understand the rules and regulations in place at Montana Grappling Open events. PRICING (DISCOUNTS ARE AUTO APPLIED AT CHECK OUT) Seminar Only 89.99 Seminar and Tournament 1 Division Early 89.99 Seminar and Tournament 2 Divisions Early 89.99 Regular 99.99 Late 109.99 DIVISIONS AND WEIGHTCLASSES GI and No-Gi Experience Levels Kids/Youth/Junior/Teens No Sub Division (White Belts 4-7 Years Old) Beginner (White Belt 4-17 Years Old) Novice (Grey Belt) +24 months experience Intermediate (Yellow Belt) +36 months experience Advanced (Orange Belt +) +4 years or more experience AGE & WEIGHT CLASSES: KIDS 4/5 years --> -46 lbs, +46 lbs. KIDS 6/7 years --> -48 lbs, -56 lbs, -67 lbs, +67 lbs KIDS 8/9 years --> -54 lbs, -64 lbs, -74 lbs, -84 lbs, +92 lbs KIDS 10/11 years --> -76 lbs, -86 lbs, -99 lbs, -115 lbs, +115 lbs KIDS 12/13 years --> -90 lbs, -107 lbs, -120 lbs, +120 lbs KIDS 14/15 years --> -110 lbs, -125, -140 +140 lbs JUNIORS 16/17 YEARS --> -140. -156 lbs, +156 lbs Adult/Masters Men/Women GI and NOGI Divisions White Belt - Beginner / Under 16 months experience - Any Grappling Art White Belt Wrestler - Novice / (White Belt, Any High School Wrestling, JUDO Belt, Or Amateur MMA Athletes) - 24 to 36 months experience - Any Grappling Art Blue Belt - Intermediate / (Wresters 4+ Years, Judo Brown+, Amateur MMA +3 Wins, Pro MMA -2 Wins) - 36-48 months experience - Any Grappling Art Purple Belt and Above - Advanced, Wrestlers 4+ Years, Judo Brown+, Pro MMA +3 Wins) 48 months or more experience - Any Grappling Art Mushin Division - Mushin (“empty mind” – no ego, calm control) Adult divisions with additional rules for safety. Weight Classes. Weigh-in WITH No-Gi uniform or Gi on. Men -140 lb. | -155 lb. | -170 lb. | -185 lb. | -200 lb. | -215 lb. | +215 lb. Women -115 lb. | -135 lb | -150 lb. | -165 lb. | +165 lb. POLICIES, FORMAT, AND RANKINGS Registration Guidelines When registering for a Montana Grappling Open event, you must abide by the following guidelines: Kids/Teens Merger Guidelines After an event’s change deadline passes, competitors that remain alone in their registered division will be merged as per the following guidelines: Adult/Masters/Seniors Merger Guidelines After an event’s change deadline passes, competitors that remain alone in their registered division will be merged as per the following guidelines: Code of Conduct By registering for and/or attending a Montana Grappling Open event, you agree to adhere to the following code of conduct: Sandbagging Policy To protect the integrity of our events, Montana Grappling Open strictly prohibits sandbagging—competing at a skill level below your actual rank. Examples of sandbagging include: Competitors unsure of their appropriate skill level or who hold rank in other grappling disciplines (e.g., Japanese Jujitsu) must contact Montana Grappling Open prior to the event to ensure they are appropriately registered. Consequences: How to report: Officiating Review Montana Grappling Open will review officiating at events under the following conditions: All requests for review MUST be made at the Head Table and NOT with the referee. Montana Grappling Open Round Robin Scoring System Montana Grappling opens runs in a pool format: competitors will face every athlete in his/her pool. There are no points awarded within a match. Points are only awarded based on the outcome of a match: 3 points for a win (submission), 1 point for a draw (1 point goes to each competitor), and 0 for a loss. At the end of the competition, the “per match average points” are tallied for each competitor and entered into the season table. The top 5 place finishers at each Qualifier event will qualify for the season Championship event. No-Contest (NC) Policy An athlete must compete in more than 50 percent of his or her matches for a Per Match Average (PMA) to be calculated and count for placement in a division. For example, if an athlete is in a pool of 5 competitors, is supposed to compete in 4 matches for the day, wins his first 2 matches, but gets injured to the point where he can’t compete in his last 2 matches, he is disqualified from placing. His day’s performance will be calculated as follows: Match 1: 3 Points Match 2: 3 Points Match 3: NC Match 4: NC PMA: 6/2=3 However, the athlete is disqualified for not competing in over 50 percent of his matches. Same situation, but the athlete wins his first 3 matches, then is injured to the point where he can’t compete in his last match, his day’s performance will be calculated as follows: Match 1: 3 Points Match 2: 3 Points Match 3: 3 Points Match 4: NC PMA: 9/3=3 If an athlete chooses not to compete, that is not a No-Contest (NC). That is a forfeit and is recorded as a zero (0). A No-Contest (NC) is only recorded when an athlete is physically unable to continue competition. The Round Robin format offers competitors multiple matches per division: DIVISION OF 2 COMPETITORS In a division of 2, competitors will face off in a ‘Best 2 out of 3’ offering at least 2 matches per competitor and as many as 3 matches per competitor. DIVISION OF 3 COMPETITORS In a division of 3, all competitors will face off against each other in a ‘Round Robin’ format, offering 2 matches per competitor. DIVISION OF 4 COMPETITORS In a division of 4, all competitors will face off against each other in a ‘Round Robin’ format, offering at least 3 matches per competitor. DIVISION OF 5 COMPETITORS In a division of 5, competitors will face off against each other in a ‘Round Robin’ format, offering 4 matches per competitor. DIVISION OF 6 TO 9 COMPETITORS In a division of 6 to 9, competitors will be divided into groups and face off in a ‘Round Robin’ format. The top 2 competitors will advance to a Finals match, offering at least 4 matches and as many as 5. DIVISION OF 10+ COMPETITORS In a division of 10+, competitors will be divided into groups and face off in a ‘Round Robin’ format. The top 4 competitors will advance to a Semi-Final and Final match to determine medal placements. Divisions of this size offer at least 4 matches and as many as 6. TIEBREAKERS In the case of a tie when determining group and division winners, the following algorithm will be used: Most Wins > Most Submissions > Head To Head Match > Most Points Scored > Least Points Scored Against Rankings Medals won can earn you individual and team ranking points: 100 points for a Gold, 50 points for a Silver, and 20 points for a Bronze. Matches won can earn you individual and team ranking points: 10 points for a match won by Submission, 7 points for a match won by Points, and 5 points for a match won by Referee Decision or Disqualification. Individual ranking points will be tracked across all Montana Grappling Open events for the current competition year. COMPETITOR OBLIGATIONS 1 - Uniform 1.1) Gis and belts will not be formally checked or measured before the tournament, but Montana Grappling Open officials have the right to ask a competitor to change their Gi if they judge it is inappropriate. This situation can happen if: 1.2) Competitors may choose to wear a rash guard which clings to the body under their Gi. Competitors may not wear a t-shirt or loose fitting rash guard under their Gi. 1.3) Competitors may choose to wear Gi and No Gi uniforms of any colour. Uniform tops and bottoms may be of mismatched colours. 1.4) For No Gi divisions, competitors must wear board shorts without pockets or metal and plastic of any kind and they must reach at least halfway down the thigh and at most to the knee. Spats/compression pants can be worn under the shorts. 1.5) Competitors must wear undergarments underneath their uniform. 1.6) Competitors may choose to wear soft pads on their joints. Pads that contain hard material of any kind will not be permitted. 1.7) Competitors may choose to wear headgear only if it is for religious reasons. 1.8) Competitors may not wear groin protectors, jewelry, hairpins, or compression socks of any kind. 1.9) Competitors may tape joints in a thin layer of sports tape. Referees reserve the ability to ask a competitor to remove any tape if they deem it to be an unfair advantage. 2 - Hygiene 2.1) Competitor’s fingernails and toenails must be trimmed and short. 2.2) Long hair must be tied up or braided. 2.3) Competitors will be disqualified if they are wearing hair dye or makeup that stains their opponent’s Gi or the mat surface during a match. 2.4) Competitors presenting signs of illness, skin lesions, or any other skin condition shall be directed to the tournament medical staff and/or Head Table to determine their eligibility to continue competing. 2.5) Applying any lubricant to skin to reduce friction will result in the competitor being disqualified if the substance cannot be immediately wiped off. 3 - Weigh-Ins 3.1) Competitors may check-in and weigh-in anytime up to at least 60 minutes before their scheduled division start time. 3.2) There will be a 1.0LB allowance for all adult divisions and a 2.0LB allowance for all under 18 divisions. Any increment over this amount will be considered a failure to make weight. 3.3) Competitors who fail to make weight during the designated period will be disqualified and will not be moved up to another weight division. Competitors who are disqualified will not be eligible for a refund. It is the competitor’s responsibility to make the weight class they signed up for, or have changed to a higher weight class by that event’s change deadline. 3.4) All competitors competing in Gi divisions may weigh-in WITHOUT their Gi on. 3.5) A competitor who competes in both a Gi and No Gi division only has to weigh-in ONCE. 3.6) Competitors competing in Absolutes and divisions with no weight limit must still check in at the weigh-in desk . 3.7) Competitors may weigh in at any weight under the weight class limit. COMPETITION GUIDELINES 4 - Match Area 4.1) The referee will call out of bounds at their discretion based on factors such as competitor safety and the ability to properly pause the action in a replicable position. 4.2) Action occurring in Area A is considered in bounds and is eligible for point scoring. 4.3) Action beginning in Area A and ending in Area B is eligible for point scoring and will be reset in the center of the mat by the referee at the first opportunity for a pause in the action. 4.4) Action beginning in Area A or B that carries over to Area C will immediately be paused and reset in the middle of the mat. 4.5) Any action beginning in Area B or C is not eligible for point scoring. 4.6) If the referee cannot replicate the position when resetting the action in the center of the mat, both competitors will be restarted standing. 5 - Match Duration 5.1) The time limit for every Adult, Master, and Senior match will be 4 minutes. 5.2) The time limit for Kids and Teens aged 14-17 will be 4 minutes. 5.3) The time limit for Kids 13 and under will be 3 minutes. 7 - Referee Commands FOULS 8 - Minor Fouls 8.1) Pulling to guard without a grip on the opponent results in a penalty and the action being restarted standing. 8.2) Intentionally forcing the action out of bounds while standing or while defending an attack results in a penalty. 8.3) Taking 3 steps backwards away from the opponent’s guard while standing over them/disengaging out of guard results in a penalty. 8.4) Intentionally causing wardrobe malfunctions results in a penalty. 8.5) Gripping inside the opponent’s Gi sleeves or pants, or gripping No Gi attire results in a penalty. 8.6) Disobeying a referee order results in a penalty. 8.7) Unintentionally attempting a knee reap without a submission in Kids and White Belt division results in a penalty. 8.8) Talking to coaches or spectators during the match results in a penalty. 8.9) Exiting the mat prior to the referee declaring the winner results in a penalty. 8.10) Lack of combativeness/stalling will result in a penalty. 8.11) The use of excessive force in otherwise legal techniques—such as collar ties, palming for distance, or foot sweeps—will result in a penalty. If the referee determines that the excessive force caused the action to resemble or result in a strike, the attacking competitor will be immediately disqualified. 9 - Major Fouls 9.1) Intentionally forcing the action out of bounds while in a submission in order to get the action stopped and reset results in a disqualification. 9.2) Exhibiting hostile behavior to officials, competitors, coaches, and/or spectators results in a disqualification. 9.3) Striking, biting, pulling hair, applying pressure to genitals or eyes, or placing fingers and toes in the opponent’s mouth results in a disqualification. 9.4) Disobeying the referee’s order to stop while attacking a submission results in a disqualification. 9.5) If a competitor’s uniform is damaged in any way during the match and they are unable to immediately exchange it, they will be disqualified. 9.6) Attempting a technique not allowed at the division’s skill level as per the Allowable Techniques chart results in a disqualification. 9.7) Attempting to force the opponent to attack with a technique not allowed at the division’s skill level as per the Allowable Techniques chart results in a disqualification. 9.8) A third penalty of any kind results in a disqualification. 9.9) Intentionally causing an opponent to land on their head or neck as a part of a takedown results in a disqualification. Novice (White Belt) - Under 12 months of training in submission wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, and/or wrestling Beginner (Grey Belt) - 12 to 24 months experience Intermediate (Yellow Belt) - 24 to 36 months experience Advanced (Orange Belt +) - 3 years or more experience Men/Women Novice (White Belt) - Under 16 months experience - Any Grappling Art Beginner (White Belt, Any High School Wrestling, JUDO Belt, Or Amateur MMA Athletes) - 24 to 36 months experience - Any Grappling Art Intermediate (Blue Belt, Pro MMA Athletes) - 36-48 months experience - Any Grappling Art Advanced (Purple Belt and Above) 48 months or more experience - Any Grappling Art No-Gi and Gi Weight Classes. Weigh-in WITH No-Gi uniform or Gi on. AGE & WEIGHT CLASSES: KIDS 4/5 years --> -46 lbs, +46 lbs. KIDS 6/7 years --> -48 lbs, -56 lbs, -67 lbs, +67 lbs KIDS 8/9 years --> -54 lbs, -64 lbs, -74 lbs, -84 lbs, +92 lbs KIDS 10/11 years --> -76 lbs, -86 lbs, -99 lbs, -115 lbs, +115 lbs KIDS 12/13 years --> -90 lbs, -107 lbs, -120 lbs, +120 lbs KIDS 14/15 years --> -110 lbs, -125, -140 +140 lbs JUNIORS 16/17 YEARS --> -140. -156 lbs, +156 lbs Men -140 lb. -155 lb. -170 lb. -185 lb. -200 lb. -215 lb. +215 lb. Women -115 lb. -135 lb -150 lb. -165 lb. +165 lb. Competition Rules Matches take place on a 20’ by 20’ mat ring. Matches start from standing. Competitors who move onto or outside the ring border when standing can (at the discretion of the referee) be restarted standing in the center of the mat. If competitors move outside the ring while engaged on the ground, the action may be frozen and moved back to the center of the mat, in position. Deliberately or repeatedly moving outside the area will be considered stalling and penalized accordingly. Ways to Win •Submission (physical and verbal) •Referee stoppage (medical or rule infringement) •Corner/coach stops fight Specific Division Rules: Youth Legal Techniques •Any kind of choke (except for using the hand to close the wind pipe or any type of neck crank)* •Any arm lock: arm-bar, shoulder lock Illegal Techniques NO hitting or crushing the larynx with hand or Forearm. NO Leg Locks of any kind Juniors Legal Techniques • Any kind of choke (except for using the hand to close the wind pipe or any type of neck crank)* • Any arm lock: arm-bar, shoulder lock • Straight ankle Lock Illegal Techniques • All other leg locks • NO hitting or crushing the larynx with hand or Forearm. Adult Novice, Beginner, White and Blue Belts. Legal Techniques • Any kind of choke (except for using the hand to close the wind pipe or any type of neck crank)* • Any arm lock: arm-bar, shoulder lock, or wrist lock • The following leg locks: knee bar and straight ankle/achilles lock/toe holds Illegal Techniques • No Calf Cutters • No Heel Hooks/Reaping * Event reserves the right to change rules on leg locks per event and competitor feedback. Adult Intermediate Purple Belts Legal Techniques • Any kind of choke (except for using the hand to close the wind pipe or any type of neck crank)* • Any arm lock: Armbar, shoulder lock, or wrist lock • The following leg locks: knee bar and straight ankle/achilles lock Illegal Techniques • No Heel Hooks/Reaping • No Calf Cutters * Event reserves the right to change rules on leg locks per event and competitor feedback. Adult Advanced - Brown Belts/Black Belts Legal Techniques • Any kind of choke (except for using the hand to close the wind pipe) • Any arm-bar, shoulder lock, or wrist lock (calf and bicep cutters are legal) • Straight ankle / achilles lock, knee bar and inside toe lock, Heel Hooks. * Event reserves the right to change rules on leg locks per event and competitor feedback. Illegal Techniques: All Divisions (unless explicitly stated for that division) 1.No twisting leg locks (heel hooks or toe locks unless otherwise stated) 2.No neck cranks 3.No “Full Nelson”, no “Crucifix” 4.No twister body locks / spinal cranks 5.No muscle destruction submissions 6.No striking of any kind 7.No deliberate slamming of an opponent, from guard or takedown 8.No spiking an opponent onto their head 9.No eye gouging or fish hooking 10.No grabbing the ears 11.No hair pulling 12.No finger or toe holds 13.No thumbing 14.No scratching or pinching 15.No kicking 16.No biting 17.No touching the groin area 18.No knees or elbows on face 19.No slippery substances allowed on body or clothing 20.No use of T-Shirt in the applying of a submission 21.No passivity or fleeing the mat: deliberately or repeatedly moving outside the designated mat area, stalling or refusing to engage with an opponent are considered a foul. Committing three (3) fouls in a match results in an automatic disqualification. 22.Good sportsmanship is expected at all times: no spitting, swearing, or disobeying of a referee’s verbal commands. 23.The referee has FULL discretion to disqualify a competitor immediately after a serious, dangerous, or deliberate foul. 24. No Can opener to open closed guard. Time Limit Youth and Teen matches will be 3-Minute Rounds •NOGI and Gi matches consist of one 4-minute round. Advanced No-Gi and Purple Belt and above Gi divisions 6-minute rounds. Competition Clothing No-Gi Attire: Lower body – board shorts, fight shorts, singlet, or gi pants are required. Upper body must be covered by rash guard or tight fitting shirt. Tank tops, loose fitting shirts, wrestling shoes, metal knee braces, and groin protector cups are not allowed. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Attire: A clean solid-colored uniform (white, blue, or black for men and additionally pink for women) is required to compete in the gi divisions. Uniform jacket must have a four finger space at cuff and sleeves within 3 inches of wrist. Pants must be within 3 inches of ankles. Adult male competitors are not allowed to wear clothing under the gi jacket. Underwear must be worn under gi pants. Wrestling shoes, metal knee braces, and groin protector cups are not allowed. Team Competition – Team Points Athletes will earn team points for their academy/team under the following system: 1 point per athlete earning 3rd place in his or her division 2 points per athlete earning 2nd place in his or her division 3 points per athlete earning 1st place in his or her division Youth Division Safety Precautions For safety reasons, once a correct position for an arm lock or choke has been achieved, the referee will immediately stop the fight without waiting for the lock to be applied fully. This allows young competitors to learn the basics of submission grappling in a safe environment. No hitting or crushing the larynx with hand or forearm. No crushing or squeezing neck with hands or forearm from bottom (guard) or top position. Our goal is to make sure that every competitor has a positive, fun experience at our grappling tournament. We have made more divisions and created different expectations in each division to more appropriately reflect our young athletes’ age and maturity level. Blood Stoppage Two minutes will be allowed for a cut to stop bleeding. Medical staff can stop a fight immediately if the injury is determined to be too serious. Referees The referee can stop or restart a match at any time if he or she considers it necessary for safety reasons. The referee’s decision is final and non-negotiable. Scoring System Sub League runs in a pool format: competitors will face every athlete in his/her pool. There are no points awarded within a match. Points are only awarded based on the outcome of a match: 3 points for a win (submission), 1 point for a draw (1 point goes to each competitor), and 0 for a loss. At the end of the competition, the “per match average points” are tallied for each competitor and entered into the season table. The top 5 place finishers at each Qualifier event will qualify for the season Championship event. No-Contest (NC) Policy An athlete must compete in more than 50 percent of his or her matches for a Per Match Average (PMA) to be calculated and count for placement in a division. For example, if an athlete is in a pool of 5 competitors, is supposed to compete in 4 matches for the day, wins his first 2 matches, but gets injured to the point where he can’t compete in his last 2 matches, he is disqualified from placing. His day’s performance will be calculated as follows: Match 1: 3 Points Match 2: 3 Points Match 3: NC Match 4: NC PMA: 6/2=3 However, the athlete is disqualified for not competing in over 50 percent of his matches. Same situation, but the athlete wins his first 3 matches, then is injured to the point where he can’t compete in his last match, his day’s performance will be calculated as follows: Match 1: 3 Points Match 2: 3 Points Match 3: 3 Points Match 4: NC PMA: 9/3=3 If an athlete chooses not to compete, that is not a No-Contest (NC). That is a forfeit and is recorded as a zero (0). A No-Contest (NC) is only recorded when an athlete is physically unable to continue competition. OTHER: 1 coach pass per 5 athletes. There are NO REFUNDS. For all Under 18 divisions, the referees may stop the action at any time (including during legal submission attacks) in the interest of competitor safety. For Under 18 and Adult White Belt/Beginner divisions, if a Knee Reap is applied without a submission, the referee will first issue a warning and remove the reap. If a second instance occurs or a submission is applied in conjunction with the Knee Reap, the offending competitor will be disqualified. A slam is defined as any motion where a competitor lifts the other up (whether it is while in a submission, from within the guard or during a takedown), and holds them in mid-air for a brief pause before returning them to the ground in an uncontrolled fashion. Slams do not include controlled suplex style takedowns. Any form of intentional head/neck spiking (causing an opponent to land on their head or neck as a part of a takedown) is not allowed. Standing guillotines are differentiated from a standing front headlock by the attacking competitor arching their back in an attempt to finish the submission. For an attack to be considered a Jumping Guard/Flying Submission, both competitors must be standing. Single Hand Attacks to Trachea include "punch chokes" but do not include No Gi Ezequiel Chokes. Legal Techniques **Status:** Scheduled ## Dates **Start:** August 23, 2025 **End:** August 25, 2025 ## Location **Venue:** Bozeman **Location:** Bozeman, Montana, United States ## Pricing **Price Range:** $89 – $89.99 ## Links - Source: https://smoothcomp.com/en/event/25621 ## Tags Multi-Day --- **Last Updated:** May 17, 2026 **Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/events/montana-grappling-open-flavio-behring-seminar)