New IJF Rules for 2018-2020 analysed

IJF President Marius Vizer introduced the new rules at the IJF homepage with a few extra personal words. “In the process of development of our sport, it is of utmost importance to do the best, first of all for the content and the image of our sport, for a better comprehensibility and consistence of the rules for judokas, judo lovers and the World.”

Marius Vizer: “We are continuously reforming the strategy in all the sectors of the IJF to make our sport a modern one, outstanding and understandable for everyone. I'm convinced the new elements of the rules and judo methodic will be a great benefit for the judo family, spectators, partners and media.”

In a cooperation between JudoInside and JudoCrazy judo analyst Oon Yeoh has gone through the 10 key elements of the renewal of the rules. Check out for yourself what implications they have on you.

1. Waza-Ari-Awasatte-Ippon is being reinstated. That means two waza-ari equals ippon. Yuko has not been reinstated. That means what was formerly yuko is considered waza-ari.

2. Under previous rules when uke rolls over his back, a waza-ari would be given. Under the new rules it seems there is such a thing as a rolling ippon provided "there is no break during the landing".

3. Landing on the elbow or hands is counted as waza-ari.

4. Bridging (on the back) by uke has long resulted in ippon. But in the past year, referees having been giving hansoku-make for uke landing on the front of his head. I guess you could call this a front bridge. Now it's official: front-bridging is hansoku-make However, just because uke's head hits the mat doesn't mean it's automatically hansoku-make for uke. For throws like drop seoi-nage, drop sode and drop koshi-guruma, sometimes uke's head just hits the mat whether he likes it or not. In such cases, it's not hansoku-make

5. There is a type of osaekomi ocassionally seen whereby tori has both legs underneath uke. This used to be recognized as a legitimate hold-down. Not anymore. This is not osaekomi anymore.

6. Golden score can only be won by a technical score (waza-ari or ippon) or hansoku-make

This one is a bit vague but it seems that shido cannot win during Golden Score anymore. Only waza-ari, ippon and hansoku-make can decide a contest. If this interpretation is correct it means that during Golden Score, assuming both players have no scores and no shido, the match doesn't end even if someone gets one or two shidos. Only scores and hansoku-make count.

7. Not taking a classic grip will be penalised by shido if there is not an immediate attack

When the rules were revised after the 2016 Rio Olympics, it was initially decided that the refs would give more time for unconventional grips (e.g. cross grip) compared to before that where there needed to an immediate attack. Now, it seems to have reverted back to immediate attack for any grip that is deemed unconventional. The following trips all require "immediate" attack other shido will be given.

8. Leg grabs will be given shido each time.

When leg grabs were first banned, it resulted in immediate hansoku-make. After the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first leg grab is given shido and the second hansoku-make. Now, a leg grab is considered a normal shido infringement so you could theoretically infringe the no-leg-grab rule twice and still survive. The third time of course results in hansoku-make.

9. Strangles are often done with tori holding onto one of uke's legs. If that leg is stretched straight, a matte will be called. A situation where tori could previously injure the legs and muscles of uke. 

10. Just because uke is on both knees doesn't mean it's newaza. If tori has grip control and attacks immediately, he can score. However, if there is a break in action, matte will be called. 

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