CarJitsu (Pro League Network) Rules Explained

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CarJitsu (Pro League Network) Rules Explained | OpenSourceSports

Full Rulebook(11 sections)

Plain-English summary drawn from the official rulebook — great for getting started. For competitive or formal play, see the Complete Rulebook. Hover any rule to see its source sentence.

Overview

How to win

Decision priority: submission > judge decision (aggression, dominance, submission threats); Tournament: single-eliminat…
Submission beats judges — Submission wins outright; judges decide by aggression, dominance, and submission threats.
Tournament format — Single-elimination bracket, organized by weight class.
Title belts by weight — PLN CarJitsu awards a title belt per weight class.

The game

Two competitors per match; Weight classes: Lightweight (-77 kg), Welterweight (-83 kg), Middleweight (-93 kg), Heavywei…
Two competitors per match — Each match is contested by exactly two competitors.
Weight classes: Lightweight (-77 kg), Welterweight (-83 kg), Middleweight (-93 kg), Heavyweight (+93 kg) — exact tiers …

Cultural norms — not in the rulebook. These are widely understood traditions and expectations among experienced CarJitsu players. Not enforced by referees; enforced by the game’s community.

🚨 Cardinal Rule— Serious violation — may trigger retaliation or social exclusion

Release the submission the instant your opponent taps
— Immediate release on the tap is an absolute expectation in all submission grappling, but CarJitsu's confined space — where limbs can be pinned against door frames, seats, or the B-pillar — makes delayed releases uniquely dangerous. Continuing to crank after a tap is considered the gravest violation of the trust that makes the format possible.(The hard geometry of a vehicle amplifies joint and spinal loading well beyond open-mat grappling, so the margin for error on a late release is essentially zero.)[1]

Section 1: Introduction

CarJitsu is a novelty submission-grappling format pioneered by promoter Vik Mikheev under the Pro League Network (PLN) brand. The sport's defining innovation: matches take place inside the cabin of a stationary 4-door sedan, with competitors changing seat positions between rounds. CarJitsu's confined, claustrophobic format produces a uniquely creative grappling environment that rewards small-space technique adaptation (no traditional sprawls, limited mount possibilities, modified guard work). The format went viral on social media in 2022-2023 and has produced multiple championship cycles. Conceptually rooted in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — see sibling IBJJF Rules for the base sport.

Section 2: Equipment

No gi: rashguard + shorts (or grappling pants)
Mouthguard recommended
Protective cup permitted (men)
No shoes, no jewelry, nails trimmed
Athletes must agree to vehicle waiver covering minor interior damage / non-targeted contact with vehicle structure

Section 3: Playing Area

Vehicle: standard 4-door sedan (typically pre-2020 model with separate driver/passenger/rear bench); approved makes vary by event
Vehicle is stationary throughout the match (engine off, parking brake engaged, wheels chocked)
Padded steering wheel cover for safety
Side windows down or removed for ventilation + camera angles
Interior cleared of valuables; non-essential interior components may be removed (cup holders, hanging air fresheners)
Surrounding "ringside" area: cameras, lighting, official station, medical station

Section 4: Players & Officials

Two competitors per match
Weight classes: Lightweight (-77 kg), Welterweight (-83 kg), Middleweight (-93 kg), Heavyweight (+93 kg) — exact tiers vary by event
Officials: 1 in-vehicle proximity referee (positioned at open door for visibility) + scoring judge + timekeeper + medical observer

Section 5: Rules of Play

Match Length

3 rounds × 90 seconds (approximately 60-second rest between rounds for seat-position changes)

Seat Position Per Round

Round 1: Both competitors in front seats (driver's seat + passenger seat)
Round 2: Both in back seat / bench
Round 3: One in front, one in back (cross-cabin engagement)

Permitted Techniques

All standard BJJ submissions (joint locks, chokes) legal
Heel hooks legal at Senior level
Position-based scoring adapted for cabin (no traditional mount/back; modified definitions)

Win Conditions

Submission via tap = instant win
Verbal tap or referee stoppage = win
If no submission across 3 rounds, judge decision based on aggression, positional advancement, and submission attempts

Section 6: Scoring

Decision priority: submission > judge decision (aggression, dominance, submission threats)
Tournament: single-elimination bracket per weight class
Title belts awarded per weight class within PLN CarJitsu

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Striking: closed-fist punches prohibited (no MMA-style strikes); some events permit "palm strikes" only — verify per-event rule
Intentional damage to vehicle interior beyond reasonable competition: warning → point deduction
Eye-poke / throat strikes / head-butts: DQ
Stalling / refusing to engage: warning → caution → opponent advantage
Unsportsmanlike conduct: DQ
Anti-doping: PLN-administered testing at championship level

Section 8: Safety Considerations

CarJitsu's confined cabin presents unique safety considerations: limited referee access to interior, sharp-edge hazards from vehicle structure (gear stick, headrest brackets, seatbelt anchors), and ventilation/visibility constraints. PLN mandates: pre-match vehicle safety inspection, padding on hard interior surfaces (gear stick, dash, rear-shelf), open driver-side door for referee proximity (referee can reach in to physically separate competitors if needed), comprehensive pre-fight medical screening, on-site EMT + ambulance + medical observer with stoppage authority, AED on-site. Skin-infection screening. Heat-monitoring: ambient cabin temperature monitored (cooling between rounds if extreme); engine off prevents exhaust risk. Vehicle waiver covers minor interior wear; major damage requires repair fund disclosure.

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