Think of it as touch rugby vs tackle rugby; the core skills remain, but the risk is minimized. The same philosophy applies here: protect the kids, sharpen the craft.
As IMMAF enforces the rules, RDX builds the gear to support them. Together, we’re not just hosting a tournament; we’re working for the future of combat sports safely.
The Fouls That Save Futures
Every foul that’s banned in youth MMA is banned for a reason because it’s high-risk, injury-prone, or encourages bad habits.
These rules don’t weaken MMA they build smarter, longer-lasting fighters.
Universal Prohibited Actions (All Ages)
- Headbutting
- Eye gouging
- Spine and back-of-head strikes
- Downward elbow strikes (12-to-6)
- Grabbing the throat/trachea
- Suplexes, slams, or elevated throws
- Heel hooks, neck cranks, twisters, can openers
- Attacking after the bell
- Verbal abuse or fake injuries
- Interference from corners or applying foreign substances
Submission Safety, By Age: What’s Not Allowed
1. Youth D (10–11 years old) – Introduced in 2025
This newly introduced age tier is structured purely for technical development and safe movement, with zero risk-based techniques allowed. Youth D is not full-contact MMA; it focuses on education, control, and movement patterns in a supervised format.
Youth development starts with better physical control, sharp hand-eye coordination, and unshakable discipline. Strong routines build focus, confidence, and lifelong fitness habits not just for the sport, but for life.
It’s more than training; it’s an educational journey and a powerful motivational booster for every young athlete.
Prohibited:
- All submissions (chokes and joint locks)
- All strikes (head, body, or ground)
- Suplexes, shoulder throws, slams
- Aggressive takedowns that lack head and arm control
Permitted:
- Controlled positional grappling (e.g., mount, side control)
- Transitions and reversals
- Technical takedown entries (hip tosses with head/arm control)
- Movement-based scoring under referee discretion
This category emphasizes non-competitive technical growth, and referees are instructed to intervene immediately to prevent any escalation into submission or impact risk.
2. Youth C (12–13 years old)
IMMAF Youth C introduces safe grappling techniques but strictly prohibits any submission that places stress on the spine, neck, or smaller joints.
The goal isn’t just safety, it’s teaching the athletes to learn situational awareness, quick decision-making, and the discipline to tap, reset, and fight another day.
It’s a skill-based, intellectual tier that promotes growth through control, not ego, and rewards those who can learn, unlearn, and adapt.
Prohibited:
- All leg submissions (heel hooks, ankle locks, knee bars)
- All guillotine chokes (any variation)
- Wristlocks, omoplata, calf/bicep crushes
- Grounded strikes or knees of any kind
- Slams, suplexes, or elevated shoulder throws
- Up-kicks, foot stomps, linear knee kicks
Permitted:
- Straight armlocks (e.g., armbar)
- Shoulder locks (e.g., Americana, Kimura)
- Triangle chokes
- Safe takedowns involving hip throws with head and arm control
Referees are instructed to call technical submissions immediately once a child is caught there is no time allowance for escape attempts.
3. Youth B (14–15 years old)
Youth B allows more submission variety but remains cautious of any high-risk leverage or spinal stress.
This level builds instinctive defense, muscle memory, and confidence under pressure skills that stay with them beyond the mat. It prepares young athletes to handle confrontational situations with control, clarity, and the power to safely disengage.
Prohibited:
- Standing guillotine chokes
- Knee bars, heel hooks
- Wristlocks, omoplata, calf/bicep crushes
- Slams, suplexes, or elevated throws
- Foot stomps, linear knee kicks, and up-kicks
Permitted:
- Arm-in guillotine choke (must be finished from a grounded position)
- Straight Achilles lock and figure-four ankle lock (only when the leg is fully straight)
- Basic armlocks and shoulder locks
- Safe takedowns with control and no impact
All submissions must be applied with visible control. Any bending of the knee while applying a figure-four ankle lock renders the submission illegal.
4. Youth A (16–17 years old)
This level allows near-complete submission development with continued enforcement of safety-first principles.
Prohibited:
- Heel hooks and twisting leg submissions
- Suplexes, elevated shoulder slams
- Standing guillotine chokes
- Wristlocks, calf/bicep crushes
- Figure-four ankle locks applied to a bent knee
- Up-kicks, foot stomps, and linear kicks to the knee
- Kicking the body of a grounded opponent
Permitted:
- All major submissions (armlocks, triangle, Americana, Kimura)
- Grounded guillotine chokes (standing variations still banned)
- Straight ankle locks (only with extended leg)
- Tactical positional grappling with control and pace
Referees expect clean application and may still end matches early to prevent unnecessary joint or spine pressure.
RDX Gear That Backs the Rules
RDX’s youth-specific equipment is engineered around IMMAF rules to reinforce safety, not restrict performance:
- Ergonomic gloves = no accidental eye pokes
- Padded shin guards = reduced injury in takedown scrambles
- Reinforced rash guards = no illegal grips or friction burns
- Shock-absorbent compression = enhanced joint protection for growing bodies
Our gear allows kids to compete fearlessly within a protected framework.
For more insights read:
RDX x IMMAF: The Official Gear Behind the 2025 Youth MMA Championships
Global Impact: Trusted by Parents, Adopted by Nations
As of 2025, IMMAF’s youth development framework has been implemented across 120+ countries including the UK, USA, EU, Australia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Mexico, Uganda, Russia.
Thousands of families, coaches, and youth athletes now support IMMAF’s “foul-first, safety-focused” competition model, recognizing its commitment to reducing trauma, overtraining, and ego-based violence in youth combat sports.
RDX Sports proudly stands behind this mission supplying gear that meets IMMAF’s protective standards and advocating for global youth safety in every cage, gym, and federation.
For more insights read:
RDX & IMMAF: Partnership to Empower the Safest Next Generation of Combat Sports Athletes
Social Responsibility:
RDX’s partnership with IMMAF actively supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
1. SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
- Promoting safe, dignified sport careers
- Supporting ethical manufacturing and fightwear labor
- Helping youth athletes learn discipline and growth without injury
2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Collaborating globally with IMMAF and national federations
- Enabling safe, fair, educational youth sport across borders
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Supporting equal access, gear, protection, and opportunity for girls in MMA
Success Story: Zamzam’s Fight Beyond the Cage
At the intersection of talent, tenacity, and transformation stands Zamzam Al Hammadi, a UAE-born fighter who’s not just racking up championships but rewriting the narrative for women in MMA.
Signed by the PFL & backed by the IMMAF Foundation, Zamzam proudly represents the Middle East on the global stage, breaking outdated stereotypes about gender and combat sports.
Her journey embodies the very principles we fight for: equal access to training, quality gear, safety, and opportunity especially for girls who dare to dream big in the ring. Every round she fights is a win for representation, proving that courage is universal and equality belongs in every corner of the cage.
Final Words
RDX supports youth development in MMA not just through gear but through vision. By aligning with IMMAF’s world-class safety rules, we help create a system where young fighters grow with discipline, learn with confidence, and compete without fear.
From protective design to global advocacy, we’re proud to back the movement that’s safeguarding the future of combat sports.
