Judo
Judo contests are decided by technical scores or disqualification, not by adding ordinary points as in a ball game. Ippon ends the contest immediately; two waza-ari also make ippon. If regular time ends without ippon, a waza-ari outranks any number of yuko, and yuko decide when waza-ari are equal.
Rules
Winning a contest
Judo contests are decided by technical scores or disqualification, not by adding ordinary points as in a ball game. Ippon ends the contest immediately; two waza-ari also make ippon. If regular time ends without ippon, a waza-ari outranks any number of yuko, and yuko decide when waza-ari are equal.
Contest time and the final signal
IJF senior, junior and cadet contests last 4 minutes of actual contest time. Referee stoppages do not use up that fighting time. A technique begun no later than the last second can score if its effective result follows immediately; a technique first applied after the signal cannot score.
Ippon: an immediate win
A throwing ippon requires a recognised judo technique with speed, force, landing on the back and skilful control through the landing. Simply falling or rolling onto the back without a clear technique is insufficient. An uninterrupted rolling landing can qualify; the referee evaluates the whole action and its continuity.
Waza-ari and combining scores
Waza-ari rewards a throw that meets the rule's near-ippon landing criteria but falls short of a full ippon. The referee considers the shoulder axis, the side or back contact, continuity and the missing ippon qualities. A whole-side landing can score even when the elbow is extended; not every sideways fall is automatically waza-ari.
Yuko and lower scoring landings
Yuko is an active score in this edition. It covers defined side, upper-back, neck and buttock landings that do not qualify for a higher score. Landing with the front of the stomach, both hips or both knees touching before or together with the relevant side landing can prevent a yuko.
Hold-downs and escapes
A valid osaekomi requires recognised control from above, the side or rear with the opponent's back or upper back on the mat. The holder's body or legs must not be trapped by the opponent's legs in the prohibited controlling manner. Merely sitting beside a grounded opponent does not establish a scoring hold.
Golden score
If technical scores are equal when regular time ends, golden score begins without a rest period. It has no time limit. Existing scores and shido remain on the scoreboard. The first decisive technical score wins, and victory can also result from hansoku-make or the opponent's withdrawal.
Shido warnings
Shido penalises lesser infringements, including negative fighting, prohibited grips or actions and specified clothing or time-wasting offences. The first two shido are warnings; the third becomes hansoku-make and loses the contest. Shido do not award technical points to the opponent, and unequal warnings alone do not decide a tied regular-time contest.
Disqualification and dangerous actions
Hansoku-make can follow accumulated shido or be awarded directly for a serious infringement. It ends the contest in the opponent's favour. Dangerous head-diving, prohibited techniques and actions threatening the opponent's neck or spine are among the situations covered by the rules; the precise classification determines the consequences.
Grips and grip breaking
Non-classical grips, including cross, same-side, belt, pocket and pistol grips, can be legal when used positively to prepare attacks. Defensive blocking or forcing a bent posture without attacking can attract shido. This edition allows gripping inside the sleeve in standing and groundwork; it does not allow gripping inside the trouser bottom while standing.
Leg grabs and the standing-groundwork boundary
In standing judo, grabbing legs, gripping trousers or using hands or arms to hook or block the opponent's legs is prohibited. Jacket grips and grips below the belt down to the top of the inner thigh are allowed when used positively; contact farther down is not a general permission to attack the legs.
Positive attacks and passivity
Judoka must seek genuine attacks rather than merely hold, block or simulate throwing. With conventional grips and positive progression, the rules allow 45 seconds to develop an attack. This is not a guaranteed period for stalling: avoidance of grips, excessively defensive posture and negative conduct can still be penalised.
Transition into groundwork
After a genuine throw or counter, either athlete can continue immediately into groundwork when the contest has not ended. Holds, permitted strangles and elbow locks are possible within their rules. Continuity matters: an interrupted transition or loss of contact without a realistic continuation can lead to Mate and a standing restart.
Submissions and permitted joints
A submission can decide the contest when an athlete taps at least twice with a hand or foot or says Maitta. Permitted groundwork strangles and joint techniques are regulated; joint locks are allowed only on the elbow. Applying them to other joints or endangering the neck or spine is prohibited.
The mat and boundary actions
The standard IJF contest area is 8 × 8 m to 10 × 10 m, surrounded by a safety area of at least 3 m; major events have stricter dimensions. A boundary line is not an automatic stop: a continuous action begun inside can remain valid under the specified conditions.
Referee commands
Hajime starts or restarts action; Mate stops it temporarily; Sore-made ends the contest. Osaekomi announces a recognised hold and Toketa announces that the hold has broken. These commands have different effects: Toketa does not automatically require both athletes to stand up or end all groundwork.
Judogi and equipment checks
Athletes compete in compliant white or blue judogi and must pass the required equipment checks. Officials inspect approval marks, size, sleeves, trousers, belt, identification and protective items. The judogi must be clean, dry and in good condition; protective equipment cannot contain rigid or metallic elements that create a risk.
Age and weight categories
IJF competition separates athletes into the applicable weight and age categories. Cadets are ages 15–17, juniors 15–20, and seniors have a minimum age of 15, measured by calendar year. An athlete's eligibility for an event is therefore not determined only by the birthday that has already occurred.
Cadet-specific restrictions
Cadet events impose additional protections. Using the head to throw or defend attracts shido, and the specified reverse seoi-nage is not scored and is penalised. These restrictions do not mean all ordinary seoi-nage techniques are forbidden; the rule distinguishes controllable techniques from the prohibited variation.
Video review and decisions
IJF referee supervisors use the CARE replay system to support correct scoring and decisions. Its use is controlled by the authorised officials; an athlete or coach cannot demand an on-the-spot replay as an unrestricted challenge. Correcting a mistake is part of the official process, not a separate scoring opportunity.
Based on the supplied official rulebook. References use PDF page numbers; topic numbers are editorial.