Simple Guide to Judo

There are seven weight classes for men and women.

The maximum weights are:

Extra lightweight: 60kg, men; 48kg women

Half lightweight: 66kg men; 52kg women

Lightweight: 73kg men; 57kg women

Half middleweight: 81kg men; 63kg women

Middleweight: 90kg men, 70kg women

Half heavyweight: 100kg men; 78kg women

Heavyweight: over 100kg men; over 78kg women   

At a competition the players are drawn into pools. A draw places the "judoka", contestants, into a knockout system, ending with a gold, silver and two bronze medals being awarded. The knockout also has a repechage system, meaning that those who lose to a competitor who then makes it to the semi- final are brought back for a second chance and the opportunity to fight for the bronze medal.

At EJU and IJF events, a player must make the quarter-final in order to be brought back into the competition through the repechage.

Each contest last five minutes.

If the score is equal after five minutes the contest will go into “golden score”. In golden score time the next score or penalty will win the bout, whatever that may be.

Ranking and Seeding:

The International Judo Federation (IJF )is the overriding governing body for the Olympic sport of judo in the world.

The IJF introduced a World Ranking List (WRL) in order to identify the leading athletes in each weight category. It is used for seeding purposes at major championships as well as for Olympic Games Qualification.

Scoring:

To win a contest a player can beat their opponent by either throwing them flat on their backs with control and force, by holding them down for 25 seconds, or by a stranglehold or arm lock until submission. Either of these would be a winning move and score the player an Ippon, or ten points, which ends the contest no matter how long it has been running.  In effect a competition could be over in seconds if an Ippon is scored. 

Below the Ippon, various scores that are awarded. 

Waza-ari, for 7 points.  This is awarded for almost getting an Ippon i.e. throwing an opponent on their back but without control and force or holding them down for 20-24 seconds. Two waza-ari scores by a competitor are more than the equivalent of an ippon and end the contest.

A Yuko, for 3 point, would be awarded if a player made a throw but their opponent landed on their side instead of flat on their backs or a hold for between 15-19 seconds. No amount of Yukos make a Waza-ari.  

Yuko scores are not cumulative so their target is to get the superior throw.  For example, one player might acquire 3 Yukos, however in the last ten seconds of the contest the other player may score a Waza-ari and win. 

Penalties or Shido are given to players who infringe the rules. Shido are converted to scores for their opponent and four Shido convert to an ippon to the opponent and therefore ends the contest.

FACTSHEETS:

British Judo - The Facts

British Judo - Medal History

BBC Video - How to win at judo