Tournaments

Shobukan Judo Club

A Non-profit 501(c)(3) Organization

Tournament Guide

As you progress in judo you will want to test your skills against the abilities of others of your own age, weight, and skill level. A judo tournament is the place to do this. Tournaments are hosted and organized by local clubs and national organizations.

Objective

In Judo competition the objective is to score an Ippon (one full point). Once such a score is obtained the competition ends. An Ippon can be scored by one of the following methods:

Executing a skillful throwing technique which results in one contestant being thrown largely on the back with considerable force or speed.
Maintaining a pin for 25 seconds.
One contestant cannot continue and gives up.
One contestant is disqualified for violating the rules (hansoku-make).
Applying an effective arm bar or an effective stranglehold (this does not usually apply for children).
Earning two Waza-ari (half-point). A Waza-ari can be earned by: 1) a throwing technique that is not quite an Ippon (for example the opponent lands only partly on the back or with less force than required for Ippon); 2) holding one contestant in a pin for 20 seconds; or 3) when the opponent violates the rules (Shido) three times.

If the time runs out with neither contestant scoring an Ippon, then the referee will award the win to the contestant who has the next highest score. For example a contestant with one Yuko would win against an opponent who scored 4 Kokas.

Start of a Contest

A typical local tournament begins with registration and weigh-ins at designated dojos. Registrations are usually held on Monday and other days at designated dojos prior to the tournament. Judokas must weigh in between 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm on weigh-in day. No exceptions will be made. Judokas must play in the weight division they fall into on the weigh-in day. Usually there is a $15 fee required to enter the tournament. Make sure to bring your Judo USJF membership card or know your membership number.

IPPON:

An Ippon by throwing is obtained when a person with (1) control throws his opponent (2) mostly on his back with (3) speed and (4) force.
An Ippon by “pinning” is obtained when a person is able to hold his opponent down for 25 seconds after the announcement of osaekomi. Ippons may be obtained by combinations of lower scoring throws, pins, and penalties. A penalty of Hansoku-make awards an Ippon to the opponent.
The hand signal for Ippon is the referee raising his arm straight over his head while calling out “Ippon.” A score of Ippon automatically wins the match.

WAZA-ARI:

A Waza-ari by throwing is obtained when one of the four factors for an Ippon is missing.
A Waza-ari by grappling is obtained when a person holds his opponent down between 20 – 24 seconds.
A Waza-ari may also be obtained by penalty of three (3) Shidos to the opponent.
The hand signal for Waza-ari is the referee extending his arm straight out to the side from his shoulder parallel to the floor.
Two Waza-ari are cumulative and equivalent to an Ippon.

YUKO:

A Yuko by throwing is obtained when two of four factors for an Ippon are missing.
A Yuko by grappling is obtained when a person holds down his opponent down by 15 – 19 seconds.
A Yuko may also be obtained by penalty of two (2) Shidos to the opponent.
The hand signal for Yuko is the referee extending his arm straight from the shoulder toward the floor forming about a 45-degree angle from his body.

KOKA:

A Koka may be obtained by throwing an opponent on his/her buttocks or thighs with speed and force.
A Koka by grappling may be obtained by holding an opponent down between 10 – 14 seconds.
A Koka may also be obtained by penalty of Shido to the opponent.
The hand signal for Koka is the referee raising an arm bent at the elbow with the elbow held at the side of the body.

A Note on Scoring:

While Waza-ari’s may be combined to produce a higher score, Koka’s and Yuko’s do not, and they accumulate indefinitely, and a Yuko will always be higher than a Koka, a Waza-ari always higher than a Yuko no matter how many of the lower scores there are.

Negative scores, however, do not accumulate, and a player may show only one negative score at a time. For example, if a person has a Shido, commits another infraction warranting a Shido, the first is removed from the scoreboard, and he receives the next more serious penalty equating to a positive score of Yuko for his opponent. At the time a penalty is assessed, the corresponding positive score is awarded to the opponent. If the penalty is removed due to the assessment of another penalty, the corresponding positive score for the opponent is also removed and replaced by the current appropriate positive score. This procedure may be followed until the player is disqualified.

Prohibited Acts and Penalties (Updated IJF Rules 2003)

The Prohibited Acts are divided into ‘Slight’ infringements (Shido) and ‘Grave’ infringements (Hansoku-make). The prohibited acts and penalties are meant to insure a safe and orderly conduct of the match.

SLIGHT INFRINGEMENTS: Will receive a penalty of Shido.

GRAVE INFRINGEMENTS: Will receive a penalty of direct Hansoku-make.

The Referee shall award a penalty of Shido or Hansoku-make depending on the seriousness of the infringement.

The awarding of a second or subsequent Shido automatically reflects on the opponent’s technical score. The previous score corresponding to the earlier penalty is removed and the next higher score shall be recorded immediately.

The awarding of a direct Hansoku-make means the contestant is disqualified and excluded from the tournament, and the contest ends.

Whenever a Referee awards a penalty, he/she should demonstrate with a simple gesture the reason for the penalty.

A penalty can be awarded after the announcement of Sore-made for any prohibited act done during the time allotted for the contest or, in some exceptional situations, for serious acts done after the signal to end the contest, as long as the decision has not been given.

SHIDO (Slight Infringements Group)

Shido is given to any contestant who has committed a slight infringement:

To intentionally avoid taking Kumikata in order to prevent action in the contest.
To adopt in a standing position, after Kumikata, an excessively defensive posture. (Generally more than 5 seconds).
To make an action designed to give the impression of an attack but which clearly shows that there was no intent to throw the opponent. (False attack).
To stand, both feet completely within the danger zone unless - beginning an attack, executing an attack, countering the opponent's attack or defending against the opponent's attack. (Generally more than 5 seconds)
In a standing position, to continually hold the opponent's sleeve end(s) for a defensive purpose (Generally more than 5 seconds) or to grasp by "screwing up" the sleeve end(s).
In a standing position, to continually keep the opponent's fingers of one or both hands interlocked, in order to prevent action in the contest. (Generally more than 5 seconds).
To intentionally disarrange his own Judogi or to untie or retie the belt or the trousers without the Referee's permission.
To pull the opponent down in order to start Newaza.
To insert a finger or fingers inside the opponent's sleeve or bottom of his trousers.
In a standing position to take any grip other than a "normal" grip without attacking. (Generally more than 5 seconds).
In a standing position, before or after Kumikata has been established, not to make any attacking moves.
To hold the opponent's sleeve end(s) between the thumb and the fingers (“Pistol” grip).
To hold the opponent’s sleeve end(s) by folding it over (“Pocket” grip).
From a standing position, to take hold of the opponent's foot/feet, leg(s) or trouser leg(s) with the hand(s), unless simultaneously attempting a throwing technique.
To encircle the end of the belt or jacket around any part of the opponent's body.
To take the Judogi in the mouth. (Either his own or his opponent’s Judogi).
To put a hand, arm, foot or leg directly on the opponent's face.
To put a foot or a leg in the opponent's belt, collar or lapel.
To apply Shime-waza using the bottom of the jacket or belt, or using only the fingers.
To go outside the contest area or intentionally force the opponent to go outside the contest area either in standing position or in Newaza.
To apply leg scissors to the opponent's trunk (Dojime), neck or head. (Scissor with crossed
feet, while stretching out the legs).
To kick with the knee or foot, the hand or arm of the opponent, in order to make him release his grip, or to kick the opponent’s leg or ankle without applying any technique.
To bend back the opponent's finger(s) in order to break his grip.

HANSOKU-MAKE (Grave Infringements Group)

Hansoku-make is given to any contestant who has committed a Grave Infringement - see below list (or who having been given three (3) Shidos, commits a further Slight Infringement accumulating to 4 Shidos – see above list):

To apply Kawazu-gake. (To throw the opponent by winding one leg around the opponent's leg, while facing more or less in the same direction as the opponent and falling backwards onto him).

To apply Kansetsu-waza anywhere other than to the elbow joint.
To lift off the Tatami the opponent who is lying on the Tatami and to drive him back onto the Tatami.
To reap the opponents supporting leg from the inside when the opponent is applying a technique such as Harai-goshi etc.
To disregard the Referee's instructions.
To make unnecessary calls, remarks or gestures derogatory to the opponent or Referee during the contest.
To make any action which may endanger or injure the opponent especially the opponent's neck or spinal vertebrae, or it may be against the spirit of Judo.
To fall directly to the Tatami while applying or attempting to apply techniques such as Ude-hishigiwaki-gatame.
To "dive" head first, onto the Tatami by bending forward and downward while performing or attempting to perform techniques such as Uchimata, Harai-goshi, etc. or to fall directly backwards while performing or attempting to perform techniques such as Kata-guruma whether standing or kneeling.
To intentionally fall backwards when the other contestant is clinging to his back and when either contestant has control of the other's movement.
To wear a hard or metallic object (covered or not).

On the scoreboard, the repeated Shido will be accumulated and converted to the opponent’s technical score:

On the scoreboard repeated Shido, would become:

2 Shidos = a Yuko to the opponent

3 Shidos = a Waza-ari to the opponent

4 Shidos = Hansoku-make = Ippon to the opponent

When a contestant has repeated slight infringements and is to be penalized with his/her fourth (4th) Shido the Referee, after consultation with Judges, shall give the contestant “Hansoku-make”, that is to say that the 4^th Shido is not announced as “Shido”, but shall be announced directly as “Hansoku-make”. The contest ends.

Referees and Judges are authorized to award penalties according to the "intent" or situation and in the best interest of the sport.

Should the Referee decide to penalize the contestant(s), (except in the case of Sono-mama in Newaza) he shall temporarily stop the contest by announcing matte, return the contestants to their starting positions and announce the penalty while pointing to the contestant(s) who committed the prohibited act.

Before awarding Hansoku-make, the Referee must consult with the Judges and make his decision in accordance with the "majority of three" rule. Where both contestants infringe the rules at the same time, each should be awarded a penalty according to the seriousness of the infringement.

Where both contestants have been given three (3) Shidos and subsequently each receives a further penalty, they should both be declared Hansoku-make.

A penalty in Newaza should be applied in the same manner as in Osaekomi.

Where one contestant pulls his opponent down into Newaza and his opponent does not take advantage of this to continue into Newaza, the Referee shall announce matte, temporarily stopping the contest and give Shido to the contestant.

“Normal” Kumikata is taking hold the right side of the opponent’s Judogi, be it the sleeve, collar, chest area, top of the shoulder or back with the left hand and with the right hand the left side of the opponent’s Judogi be it the sleeve, collar, chest area, top of the shoulder or back and always above the belt. A contestant should not be penalized for holding with an abnormal grip if the situation has been brought about by his opponent ducking his head beneath the holder's arm. However, if a contestant is continually "ducking" this way, the Referee should give consideration as to whether he is adopting an "excessively defensive posture". If a contestant continues to take an abnormal Kumikata, the time allowed may be progressively reduced, and even to a “direct penalty” of Shido.
Hooking one leg between the opponent’s legs unless simultaneously attempting a throwing technique is not considered to be the normal Kumikata and the contestant must attack within 5 seconds or the contestant will be penalized with “Shido”.
“Non-combativity” may be taken to exist when in general, for approximately 25 seconds; there have been no attacking actions on the part of one or both contestants. Non-combativity should not be awarded when there are no attacking actions, if the Referee considers that the contestant is genuinely looking for the opportunity to attack.
The act of "encircling" means that the belt or jacket must completely encircle. Using the belt or jacket as an "anchor" for a grip (without encircling), e.g. to trap the opponent's arm, should not be penalized.
The face means the area within the line bordered by the forehead, the front of the ears and the jaw line.
Even if the thrower twists/turns during the throwing action, this should still be considered “Kawazugake” and be penalized. Techniques such as Osoto-gari, Ouchi-gari, and Uchi-mata where the foot/leg is entwined with opponent’s leg will be permitted and should be scored.
To attempt such throws as Harai-goshi, Uchi-mata, etc., with only one hand gripping the opponent's lapel from a position resembling Ude-hishigi-waki-gatame (in which the wrist of the opponent is trapped beneath the thrower's armpit) and deliberately falling, face down, onto the Tatami is likely to cause injury and will be penalized. No intent to throw an opponent cleanly onto his back is a dangerous action and will be treated in the same way as Ude-hishigi-waki-gatame.

Referee’s Commands (or, “What’s he saying?”)

HAJIME: This is the command that starts or restarts a match after it has been temporarily stopped.
OSAEKOMI: This command signals that a person is being pinned and the timer is to start osaekomi timing.
TOKETA: This command signals that a pin is no longer effective and the timer is to stop the osaekomi time.
SONOMAMA: This command stops the match and freezes the players in place.
YOSHI: This restarts the match when sonomama was used to stop the match.
SORE-MADE: This command calls an end to the match.
Parents’ Roles during a Tournament

Questions about scoring or anything pertaining to the matches should be directed to the player’s sensei or may be directed to the Tournament Director or Chief Referee. They will be happy to try to answer any questions. There should be no vocal criticism of a referee or official. The mats themselves are off limits to all except participants and officials.

Parents are encouraged to cheer with gusto and to share the delight and disappointment with their children. And despite the results of any match, whether the child wins or loses, the children continue to require the support of those who mean the most to them, their parents. Parents need to acknowledge the children’s efforts at the close of their matches and to encourage them to continue striving.

Negative cheering and scolding for “doing poorly” is certainly and strongly discouraged. It does not represent the spirit of Shobukan Judo Club, it ruins self-esteem and self-confidence, it lessens rather than improves the child’s will to do better, it sets the stage for disinterest in Judo, and in general, runs counter to the purpose for which tournaments are held. Children as well as adults always do better when encouraged to do so.