BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JUDO

The aim of the sport

Two players are pitted against each other in a timed contest. Each attempts to make scores by throwing their opponent onto his back and/or holding their opponent down on his back for a certain amount of time. In competitions which involve adults and older juveniles, scores may also be made by attempting strangle holds and armlocks. The players are roughly matched in weight and, in junior contests, also by age and experience.

As players progress in the sport, learning new techniques and developing their skills, they progress through a series of grades which are denoted by the colour of the belt worn by the player.

The judo mat

Judo is performed on shock-absorbing mats of compressed rubber, covered in a tough non-slip material. The mats are usually an olive green colour, but nowadays any colour is possible.

A Judo contest takes place within a matted area between 8m and 10m square. The mats make up the “contest area”. Surrounding the contest area is a margin of mats up to 2-3m wide which is the “safety area”.

All action must take place within the contest area. If either player steps out of the contest area into the safety area, the contest is stopped and the players are brought back to the centre of the mat. However, deliberately stepping into the safety area is not allowed and incurs a penalty.

Officials

The referee controls the contest. He moves around the mat keeping an eye on the two players while the contest is underway. He calls the scores, gives out the penalties, and stops and starts the contest as necessary.

The referee is assisted by two corner judges who sit at diagonally opposite corners, just outside the “danger area”. They indicate when players go out of the area and they can also suggest a different score or decision if they disagree with that made by the referee. (Corner judges may not be used in smaller competitions.)

At the side of the mat is the control table. Here sit the timekeeper(s), who time the length of the competitions and the length of the hold downs, the scorer(s) who put the scores up on the scoreboard, and the recorder(s) who record the results of the contests and make sure that the correct players are fighting each other. In smaller competitions some of the roles at the control table may be combined.

Judo clothing

Jacket
The Judo jacket is the most important item of clothing worn by the Judo player. It is made of very thick cotton material which, in the most expensive heavy-duty suits, is very strong indeed. Apart from the thickness of the material there is no extra padding, but the collar and lapel of the jacket is particularly tough because this is what your opponent will most likely get hold of to try and throw you. The jacket wraps across the front of the body, left over right.

The rules on the size of the jacket for competitions are quite strict. The body of the jacket must be long enough to cover the hips. If you put your arms by your side and clench your fists, the bottom of the jacket should be roughly in line with your knuckles. The sleeves should come down near to the wrist, and they should be relatively loose fitting. The biggest problem with the jacket is that it is prone to shrink after washing – even the ones that claim to be pre-shrunk! So the sleeves can “ride up with wear”.

Trousers
The trousers are fairly unremarkable. They are made of tough cotton, with a draw-string and elasticated waist and a small amount of padding on the knees. There should be no hard fastenings. There are rules about the length of the leg but a good guide is that the bottom of the trouser leg should come down to the ankle bone, but not below. The leg should also be reasonably loose fitting. There should be no stripes, logos, or other visible writing

T-shirt – girls only!
Female Judo players should wear a plain white, short-sleeved t-shirt under the jacket, long enough to be tucked into the trousers. Logos and other devices across the front of the t-shirt are frowned upon. No leotards or similar garments that fasten between the legs – this could prevent quick medical attention in the event of an accident.

Belt
The jacket is held in place with a coloured belt, obi in Japanese, which denotes the player’s grade. The belt is about 5 cm wide and long enough to go round the waist twice and then tied at the front in a square knot. There should be about 30 cm of belt hanging down either side of the knot. The hardest thing you will have to learn when you start judo is how to tie the belt properly!

Protective gear
The only protection that is generally allowed is strapping on the fingers and toes, and elasticated supports on ankles, knees, elbows and wrists, as long as there is no danger of your opponent getting their fingers caught underneath them. If you are wearing an orthodontic brace, you must wear a gum shield. In training, soft foam-based shin guards might be used by seniors, but definitely not in competition.

Jewellery
None. All forms of jewellery are explicitly banned. No finger rings, necklaces, or any form of body piercing. They are dangerous for you and your judo opponent. In competition, any jewellery or hard object of any kind will get you instantly disqualified.

Hair
Long hair should be tied back with a non-metallic band. If it comes loose during a contest you will be allowed time to retie it, but not too often.

Footwear
Footwear is not allowed on the Judo mat, but on the other hand you should never walk around the dojo in bare feet. The traditional style of footwear is known in Japanese as Zori. These are “flip-flop”-style sandals made of rattan which are easy to slip on and off. Modern styles of sandal are equally suitable.