Waza-ari and combining scores
IJF · 2026Waza-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.
The rule
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.
In practice
A recognised hold lasting 10–19 seconds scores waza-ari. A second waza-ari in the same contest produces waza-ari-awasete-ippon and ends the contest. A previous throwing waza-ari can therefore combine with a holding waza-ari. The scoreboard category matters more than a simple sum of displayed values.
Sources & approach ↗