Judo

From jiujitsu to judo

Jigoro Kano was born in 1860 in Mikage, Japan. A small, slight boy who was often bullied, he began practising traditional jiujitsu. He studied, among others, Tenjin Shinyo-ryu and Kito-ryu and combined their useful techniques into a safer and more systematic system: judo.

In 1882, Kano founded the Kodokan in Tokyo. He removed the most dangerous techniques from traditional jiujitsu and developed randori, free practice with resistance, as the basis for safe yet realistic training. This combination of technique, physical development and mental education made judo different from an ordinary collection of fighting techniques.

The philosophy of Jigoro Kano

• Seiryoku zenyō - achieving maximum effect with minimum effort. Use your energy efficiently and learn to use an opponent’s strength to your advantage.
• Jita kyōei - mutual benefit and general welfare. You learn judo together, with respect for your partner and responsibility for each other’s development.

Technique over brute strength

In the original ideal, a smaller and physically weaker person should be able to defend themselves against a larger attacker through technique. In competitive judo, strength obviously plays a role, but timing, balance, grip, posture and technical choices still determine who wins an exchange.

Judo goes worldwide and becomes an Olympic sport

Kano spread judo internationally through demonstrations and training programmes. In 1964, judo became an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games. The first World Championships for men were held in 1956, and the first World Championships for women in 1980. From 1987 onwards, the tournaments were combined. The International Judo Federation (IJF) is the sport’s international governing body.

The Dutch judo tradition gained worldwide recognition through Anton Geesink, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 1964, Wim Ruska, who won two gold medals in 1972, and Mark Huizinga, who became Olympic champion in 2000.

Important developments in judo

Judo began as a system for personal development and self-defense, grew into an international competitive sport, and remained connected to traditional dojo values. The Kodokan safeguards its technical and historical foundation, while federations and competition organizations continue to develop the sport for different ages and skill levels.

The Dutch contribution

Anton Geesink achieved more than just a historic Olympic victory. The use of white and blue judogi in major competitions became more important partly due to his influence, as this makes it easier for referees, spectators, and viewers to see which judoka is performing which action. In smaller competitions and in Japan, red and white belts are also used to distinguish the judoka from one another.

The rare 10th dan

The 10th dan is an exceptional rank that historically has been awarded to only a very small group of judoka. Well-known holders include Kyuzo Mifune, Yoshitsugu Yamashita, Anton Geesink, Charles Palmer, Toshiro Daigo, Ichiro Abe, Yoshimi Osawa, Jaap Nauwelaerts de Agé, and George Kerr. The red belt represents the highest dan ranks; the precise awarding and recognition may vary by federation.

Judo for everyone

Judo is practiced by children, adults, and seniors. Recreational judo emphasizes safe movement, learning to fall, cooperation, and enjoyment. A-judo for athletes with a disability is integrated into the sport, with adapted training and competitions where necessary.

Kata: the formal side of judo

Kata are fixed forms in which judo techniques are performed formally, precisely, and in an agreed sequence. You can think of kata as the grammar of judo: they make the technical principles visible and help judoka develop posture, timing, distance, control, and movement with precision.

Performing kata is a mandatory part of the dan examination, but kata are also practiced separately. Many judoka begin practicing them around the age of thirteen and from 2nd kyu onward. The partner who performs the technique is called tori; the partner who receives the technique is called uke.

Important Kodokan kata

• Nage no Kata - fixed forms for throwing techniques.
• Katame no Kata - ground control techniques.
• Ju no Kata - forms centered on yielding and fluid movement.
• Kime no Kata - techniques for defense and decisive control.
• Koshiki no Kata - ancient techniques with a direct link to traditional martial arts.
• Kodokan Goshin Jutsu - forms for self-defense.
• Itsutsu no Kata - a kata based on the five laws of nature.

Other kata

• Seiryoku Zenyo Kokumin Taiiku no Kata - exercises for maximum efficiency.
• Go no Kata - strength techniques.
• Joshi Goshin Ho - self-defense for women.
• Gonosen no Kata - counter techniques.
• Hikomi no Kata - standing reversal techniques.

Kata does not require competition pace, but attention to detail. Every posture, movement, and technique conveys the purpose of judo. That is why kata remains important for judoka who want to refine their technique, even when they do not participate in official competitions.

Match: shiai

An official judo match is called shiai. Judoka are grouped by age and weight so that the match is as fair and safe as possible. For seniors, a match generally lasts four minutes. For juniors, the match duration is usually between two and four minutes, depending on age.

The referee's commands

• Hajime - begin. The match and match time start.
• Mate - wait. The match and time are interrupted.
• Sono-mama - do not move. The judoka remain in their positions, for example during a hold-down.
• Yoshi - continue. The match resumes from the same positions as before sono-mama.

Scores and judging

A throw is judged on control, force, speed and the way the opponent lands. The main match scores are ippon, waza-ari and yuko. An ippon ends the match immediately. A waza-ari is a strong but incomplete score; multiple scores may determine the result according to the applicable competition rules.

• Ippon - a full score for a convincing technique with control and a clear landing or other decisive action.
• Waza-ari - a high score for a well-executed technique that does not meet all the requirements for ippon.
• Yuko - a lower score under the applicable competition rules.

Standing techniques and groundwork

In tachi-waza, standing techniques, attention is paid, among other things, to breaking the opponent's balance, control during the throw and the landing. In ne-waza, ground techniques, a hold-down may score when the opponent is controlled on their back or shoulder and the person applying it maintains pressure from above. The exact score and duration follow the current rules of the governing body or competition organiser.

Jonai and jogai

An action is jonai, or in bounds, when the result of the technique is clearly within the contest area. In a standing technique, the landing may take place outside the area if the technique was initiated within it. In groundwork, the action remains in bounds as long as a judoka maintains physical contact with the contest area. If the action is jogai, or out of bounds, the referee stops the match with mate.

Weight categories

• Men: under 60 kg, 60–66 kg, 66–73 kg, 73–81 kg, 81–90 kg, 90–100 kg and over 100 kg.
• Women: under 48 kg, 48–52 kg, 52–57 kg, 57–63 kg, 63–70 kg, 70–78 kg and over 78 kg.

The exact categories may vary by age, competition and current international regulations. Therefore, the regulations of the organising governing body always take precedence.

Penalties in judo

Penalties are intended to correct unsafe, passive, or unsportsmanlike behavior. The two main penalty names are shido for a minor violation and hansoku-make for a serious violation or disqualification. The exact application may vary by age category and the current competition rules.

Shido

A shido may be given for behavior that improperly disrupts the flow of the contest. Examples include excessively defensive or passive judo, a false attack, unnecessarily stepping outside the contest area, a one-sided grip without an immediate attack, speaking during the contest, and continually avoiding a genuine judo grip.

Rearranging your own judogi or that of your opponent, bringing your hands or feet toward the face, unnecessarily interrupting the grip fight, and performing techniques that are not permitted in a particular age category can also result in a shido. Under the competition framework provided, three shidos are equivalent to hansoku-make.

Hansoku-make

A direct hansoku-make follows a serious violation and means loss of the contest. Depending on the violation, exclusion from the rest of the tournament may also follow. An indirect hansoku-make results from three shidos and basically leads to loss of the contest.

• performing an arm lock anywhere other than on the elbow joint;
• deliberately attempting to injure an opponent or acting against the spirit of judo;
• gripping the judogi below the belt or wearing metal objects;
• ignoring the referee or displaying contemptuous behavior;
• lifting an opponent who is already lying on the mat and immediately throwing them again;
• from a standing position, gripping one or both legs, i.e. grabbing, when no exception applies;
• diving headfirst into a standing technique, i.e. diving.

Grabbing and diving

The ban on grabbing was introduced to make the distinction between judo and other wrestling sports clearer. According to the competition framework, a first violation may be penalized with a shido and a repetition with hansoku-make. Diving, in which a judoka dives headfirst into a throw, is also heavily penalized. The exact exceptions and consequences always follow the current rules of the organizing federation.

How a contest ends

• an ippon through a throw, hold-down, arm lock, or choke;
• three shidos or a direct hansoku-make for the opponent;
• concession, for example by tapping out or calling maita;
• a higher score at the end of regular contest time;
• golden score when the score is tied and a decision is still required.

In golden score, the contest continues until a score or penalty determines the result. Different rules may apply to youth contests, including different treatment of a tied score.

Youth Rules and Safety

Safety is highly important in judo. That is why youth competitions, including the under-12 category, have additional rules. The aim is for young judoka to gain competition experience in an environment suited to their age, development, and physical capacity.

Key differences for youth

• Arm locks are not allowed.
• Chokes are not allowed.
• A match usually lasts two minutes when no overtime is required.
• First-aid staff may enter the mat as often as necessary, including at the judoka's request.
• Techniques performed on one or both knees are not allowed.
• Sacrifice throws in which the opponent is pulled over the thrower's body are not allowed.

Because youth competitions also have an educational purpose, explanations are often given sooner and a shido is imposed less quickly. The usual safety rules still apply. Grabbing, diving, and other prohibited actions also remain forbidden. Avoiding a valid grip may be penalized severely and immediately under the youth rules.

First aid during competitions

At youth competitions, first-aid staff may enter the mat whenever necessary. Stricter procedures apply to older judoka, and doing so without the referee's invitation may affect the match. The referee may call for first aid in cases including an injury to the head, back, or neck, an injury to the scrotum, a torn nail, or a bleeding wound.

According to the provided framework, a bleeding wound may be bandaged up to twice. In the event of a third bleed, the judoka may lose the match. The exact application of the first-aid rules and the consequences for the match always follow the current regulations of the organizing federation.

Safety starts on the mat

Good youth training starts with breakfalls, clear agreements, and controlled contact. Coaches, referees, parents, and judoka share responsibility for a safe atmosphere. Technique, respect, and enjoyment are just as integral to judo as winning.