Tell Me More About The Judo Art Form

Judo Rules, Regulations, And History

Judo is currently a well-established Olympic sport practiced and trained by judokas in most countries worldwide.

It is, nonetheless, more than exceeds simply being a sport. It is also regarded as an art form.

It is regarded by some as merely a system of hand-to-hand combat since it presumably has its origins in Jujitsu. This is a fallacy.

The sport’s creator Dr. Jigoro Kano included a stringent code of ethics and humanitarian principles in the system.

This is not astonishing since Dr. Kano earned a degree in philosophy following his first acquired degree in English Literature which he received from Tokyo Imperial University in 1881.

Jujitsu was trained as a combat sport in the course of Japan’s feudal period. Different styles of jujitsu were developed and created within the Sengoku from 1477 to 1603 and the Tokugawa periods from 1604 to 1868 in Japanese history.

The restoration of the emperor in 1868 witnessed the extinction of the samurai, and the feudal lords, and endangered jujitsu with extinction. Dr. Kano had already trained in numerous schools of jujitsu. He then proceeded to examine multiple other schools and by incorporating the functional and academic elements of his knowledge, created a safe sport that could be appreciated by everyone. He removed or altered the possibly harmful skills and grappling in order to keep a safety-first approach yet at the same time supply a challenging system for players. This delivered what we understand as Kodokan Judo.

For the purpose of gaining the favor of Kodokan Judo in Japan, spokespeople toured around Japan offering lectures. During this period numerous backstreet gyms known as machidojos considered the Kodokan arrogant and challenged the Kodokan to fight. The Kodokan consistently triumphed. The lecture tour concluded with a match to see which style of jujitsu should be embraced by the police, military, and schools. A group of 15 Kodokan beat their opponents and judo was made a government-endorsed sport.

The foremost Judo World Championships were held in Tokyo in 1956. It was presented at the Olympics Games in Rome in 1964, despite the fact that it was to be a Judo exhibition in 1940. Women would be allowed to compete for Olympic medals occurring for the first time in 1992.

Rules & Regulations

A judo match is fought for more than five min for senior men and women. There are seven weight classes each.

For men, the weight classes begin at under 60 kg for lightweight to over 100 kg for heavyweight. Women begin at under 48 kg and go above 78 kg. The match occurs in a dojo hall. The contests occur on the mat known as a tatami. The fighting space is 10 × 10 meters. There are three referees, one in the center and two seated at opposite corners. There’re four scoring counts.

An ippon is a top score and will win the match unconditionally. A Waza-ari gets only half a score. There are also two lower scores, a Yuko, and a Koka. A match can be won by either one opponent achieving a full score, ippon, or two-half score. If the match has reached the full span without a complete score the Judoka with the highest score wins.

The Four Fundamental Judo Methods

Nagewaza Throwing Technique

A Judoka throws another Judoka from his standing stance. Throws ought to be performed with control so you can land your challenger on his or her back. There is a considerable amount of throwing techniques:

• Shoulder throws (e.g., Signage)
• Hip throws (e.g., O Goshi)
• Leg hooks (e.g., Osotogake)
• Leg sweeps (e.g., Deashi Harai)
• Sacrifice throws (e.g., Tomoe-Nagi)

These techniques all present a chance of injury to the thrower known as a tori and the fighter being thrown called a uke.

Katame-Waza Mat Techniques

If a competitor is kept on his back called osaekomi for 25 seconds, then the Judoka is awarded an ippon. If the grip is for 20 seconds, then a Waza-Ari is rewarded.

Shime-Waza Choke Technique

If a challenger is choked out until they blackout or surrenders to evade being choked, then a complete point is rewarded and the match is won.

Kansetsu-Waza Joint Holds

This can be used only on the elbow. When a competitor’s elbow is kept in extension and is threatened they will surrender and a complete ippon is rewarded. Each judo method can impart an opportunity for specific damage.

Their country’s governing body will grant each judo participant a license so that the fighter is permitted to compete. There is a grading scheme, which shows increasing proficiency in the sport. The grading begins at the white belt and advances through to the black belt. Some matches permit only specific grade levels to compete to discourage mismatches and therefore lower the possible damage rate.

When learning judo for the first time, Judokas are trained in the break fall known as ukemi. This is devised to decrease the chance of damage to the uke. When landing on their back they have their head flexed and one arm horizontally stretched to avert damage to the head and neck and also to the outstretched hand. Damage during badly performed break falls is not unusual.

Regulations Regarding Competitions

In conformity with the European Judo Union (EJU) Medical Handbook, only medical physicians are permitted onto the tatami. They are asked to accompany the mat by the referee. Since 2004 doctors are only permitted to evaluate and handle blood wounds and assess head and spine damage. Doctors can use hemostatic agents to contain the bleeding. Before a continuing match, the bleeding site must be wrapped and any blood cleansed from the tatami utilizing either absolute alcohol or a 10% bleach agent.

Doctors are only authorized to evaluate other injuries. Therapy is not permitted. In light of this, doctors should request approval from the referee to handle the fighter as an assessment may be taken as a treatment. A fighter is only permitted two visits to the mat by the physician for the exact injury. If the physician has to follow up for the third time the match is awarded to the challenger. If a judoka asks a physician to come to the mat for any additional reason the match is awarded to the challenger.

If the fighter is harmed because of a prohibited technique used by the challenger, a physician may be asked to attend. If the physician deems that the athlete is capable of resuming, they are awarded the match. If the physician deems that he cannot resume, the match is awarded to the challenger. This is in conformity with International Judo Federation Rule Article 29.

Also in conformity with the EJU handbook, the following are critical for the contest location:

• A medical room
• Hospital is 15 minutes away
• Ambulance is on-site with complete revival gear and spinal board
• One physician per mat with subordinates to assist in first aid
• Sanitization equipment to remove blood