1LeftAlive rule set.

  • No age, no weight, no belt divisions, no points, no advantages, no penalties, no referees. 100% Jiu Jitsu submissions. Currently, 1LA is adult Gi only. Stay tuned for adult No-Gi and kids 1LA.
  • 1LA (“1LeftAlive”) is a decentralized, “no-tourney tourney”. Think of it like a normal match between friends at your academy, only here you can test yourself against a diverse set of individuals, earn recognition, and/or win prizes.
  • Academies can join our community of 1LA hosts. These participating academies may host your match. You could compete in your own own academy.
  • For 1LA events, We’ll make every attempt to group participant’s rounds/matches by region, town or city. For example, city A, city B, city C > east end, west end.
  • There is never only a single person in your bracket as there is only ever ONE bracket in total for all.
  • 1LA event may take place at several academies and gyms across a local region, except the finals match which is always fought at Oracle Jiu Jitsu.
  • Upon bracket release, a date and time will be assigned to a group of participants. 2 – 3 days notice will be attempted to be given to allow for ample personal scheduling time.
  • Participants unable to attend the date and time of their group will be given a one-time rain check. One (1) rain check per participant, per calendar year maximum. Please email admin@1leftalive.com asap.
  • All matches are 5 minutes in length, using any standard timer i.e stopwatch, mobile phone.
  • Timer will be started by one of the participants in a manner agreeable to both participants within 15min of the agreed-upon match start time unless the other participant(s) agrees to take the late match. There is a 1-minute switch between new matches.
  • An attending black belt instructor/owner may witness/provide oversight/time/record/assist the match if previously arranged and accepted by both parties
  • Late participants will be disqualified unless the other participant allows for the fight to continue. 
  • OJA black belt technique list will be the allowed technique list for ALL participants, regardless of their belt rank. Points, (dis)advantages and penalties are NOT observed. Only submission as per rule set mentioned above.
  • There are no referees to officiate the matches (unless an attending black belt who may wish to provide oversight). We’re all grown adults. We all know the rules. Play fair.
  • All matches MUST be recorded using a participant’s recording device.
  • Recordings are to ensure participants’ identities, safety, and video proof of match, win/lose, over time. Please send video link to admin@1leftalive.com
  • At the beginning of the match each participant must hold up a valid government-issued identification card up to the side of their face, clearly showing the participant holding his/her ID card. The video must be ONE continuous shot, without any breaks. Please keep this recording until the end of the entire tournament for video proof, in the event, a match is contested.
  • At the end of the match if there is NOT a clear submission indicating the winner, then the match goes into over time.
  • Overtime is best of three 1-minute rounds, where the winner of a coin flip MUST take the back of the opponent, with a seat belt on the opponent WITH hooks (legs) inside.
  • The overtime cannot start until both participants indicate readiness, i.e. verbal, tap or equivalent.
  • An overtime can only end either by a successful submission, opponent escapes from back take or time runs out.
  • The opponent is considered to have escaped the back take if the opponent has reversed into full guard or completely regained control and/or both knees on the mat/knee and one foot/both feet.
  • If BOTH participants score 1-1 each (submission or not), then fastest time is the winner (fastest submission or fastest escape)
  • The winner must submit the win result to admin@1leftalive.com within 24 hours of the match completion, stating contestants full names, location of match, and method of win (submission technique, overtime.
  • Once all the results of a round are submitted, results are posted and the next (if applicable) round of matches are posted online. 
  • Note that this is a DOUBLE ELIMINATION tournament. The losers of the first round are automatically entered into the consolation ‘bronze’ bracket for a second chance at bronze.
  • The entire above procedure is repeated until TWO finalists remain.
  • The two finalists must attend the IN PERSON the final match at a designated academy (TBD) within 3 days of notice of the final round announcement. For example, the Toronto Edition finals take place ‘Oracle Jiu Jitsu Mississauga. Finalists must fund and find by their own means, travel and/or accommodations to arrive at the finals event location. Finals location may be subject to change.
  • The no-tournament tournament is done only when there is . . . 1LeftAlive!

“1LA”, “One Left Alive”, “1LeftAlive”, “the no-tourney tourney”, “the no-tournament tournament” are registered trademarks.