🥋Rules Judo

Judo is a Japanese martial art and combat sport in which two judoka try to throw the opponent onto their back, pin them on the ground, or force a submission with an arm lock or a choke. An Olympic sport since 1964, it is governed worldwide by the International Judo Federation (IJF).

Score ippon — the maximum score, which wins the bout instantly — with a powerful controlled throw, a pin, an arm lock or a choke; otherwise win on points (waza-ari) when time runs out.

• •You score by throwing the opponent onto their back, pinning them, or forcing a submission (arm lock or choke).
• •Ippon is the perfect score: it ends the bout immediately.
• •Waza-ari is a lesser score; two waza-ari equal one ippon (and therefore a win).
• •Bouts take place on a mat (tatami); stepping outside the area is penalised.
• •Respect and the bow are an integral part of the discipline.
• •A submission is signalled by tapping the mat or the opponent twice with the hand.

Three positive scores exist: ippon (instant win), waza-ari (an intermediate score) and yuko (a smaller score, reintroduced in 2025 and not cumulative into a waza-ari). Two accumulated waza-ari equal one ippon and win the bout. Penalties (shido) do not give points to the opponent, but a fighter who receives three shido is disqualified (hansoku-make). If the score is tied at the end of time, golden-score overtime is decided by the first advantage scored.

A senior bout lasts 4 minutes of stopped time; the clock is halted at every referee interruption. If tied, a golden-score overtime (no time limit, sudden death) decides the winner.

You win by ippon, by two waza-ari, by disqualification of the opponent (hansoku-make, notably three shido), or by having one more waza-ari at the end of time. If tied, golden score decides.