Judo made understandable with amended rules

At the Olympic Games in Tokyo many long-lasting contests didn’t exactly make judo easier to understand. In a time where many sports want to be upgraded to the Olympic Games, judo can use spectacular matches. Judo can be an exciting and dynamic sport, where athletes are constantly exposed to new competition situations. In June 2022 a new Olympic cycle will begin with the Olympic qualification for Paris 2024, the IJF is adapting the refereeing rules to reflect the developmental needs of our sport.

Due the pandemic situation, the Paris Olympic cycle will be three years long and so, the refereeing rules are going to be adjusted in order to present judo in its best form.

Vladimir Barta, IJF Head Sport Director said, "We have received proposals and recommendations from national federations for rule amendments and changes. The IJF is working hard to modernise our beloved sport with input from partners. These new rules will come into force from the beginning of 2022, in place until 2024.

"The principle of the rules is to protect athletes and the sport as a whole, while promoting judo to be more dynamic, more attractive for the public and the media." Tricks that will delay the contest will be penalized, so will dangerous situations and throws to prevent scoring in the traditional ways.

In an extensive video, Neil Adams, Olympic medallist, world champion and today IJF Refereeing Supervisor, explains, in detail, all the rules that will be applied in the first instance during the Odivelas Grand Prix in Portugal from 28th-30th January and on until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Vizer’s season's greetings

In his season's greetings, IJF President Marius L. Vizer talked about the success at the Olympic Games where the team event was scheduled for the first time in Olympic history. Vizer: “It has been a lot of work and dedication and sacrifice for our beloved sport. Our beauty is to protect the judo family and promote our sport and defend the interest of our athletes. In such difficult year we can be proud of what we have achieved. We have adapted to our difficult situation and organized the IJF World Judo Tour with all sanitary guarantees and developed social programs. We have organized the World Championships and Olympic Games and events for judoka of all ages. Tokyo was a huge success and we will always remember that we have had the first ever mixed team event in Japan, the home of Judo. Judo made History.”

IJF World Judo Tour starts in Portugal

The opening of the judo season will be at the end of January in Portugal in Odivelas, close to Lisbon. In Lisbon the world of judo will be able to see how the judoka have coped with the festivities, those whom have eaten too much and those who start the year on time. There will be a powerful Portuguese delegation such as 2021 world champion U100kg Jorge Fonseca.

With a few weeks to go Portugal is prepared to absorb the new rules in perhaps a year full of promise and good intentions but judo will need to take the full Olympic cycle to make judo understandable for the sports fans outside judo. All eyes on the French team that is holding the prestigious mixed team title.