Should I do submission only or points competitions?

Points competitions like IBJJF reward positional dominance and create a structured path to victory. They teach you to value position, manage match tempo, and make tactical decisions about risk versus reward. The downside is that some competitors become overly conservative, prioritizing points over submissions. Submission-only events like many local organizations and some professional events eliminate this by requiring a finish for a decisive victory. This format encourages risk-taking, aggressive attacking, and a finishing mentality. The downside is that matches can stall when two defensive competitors refuse to take risks. Some submission-only events use overtime rules or EBI-style overtime with starting positions to force a resolution. Competing in both formats rounds out your competitive experience. Points competitions develop your strategic game while submission-only events develop your finishing ability. Many serious competitors alternate between formats throughout the year.