WHAT IS JUDO?

Judo is a combat sport where the aim is to overcome one's opponent by the use of throwing techniques (nage-waza), holding techniques (osaekomi-waza), including arm-lock techniques (kansetsu-waza) and strangle techniques (shime-waza) which are performed by seniors players only.
Judo also involves striking and other joint lock techniques but these are not used in competition or randori (free practice).
They are preserved in Kata (pre-arranged forms).
The practice of Judo develops high degrees of stamina, strength and flexibility, while also developing very effective self-defence skills.
Grades are awarded in Judo for technical knowledge and competition experience. The grades progress as follows:

GRADE	MON up to 10 yrs	YONEN 10 - 13 yrs	SHONEN 13 - 16 yrs	SEINEN 16+ yrs
6th Rok Kyu	White Belt	White Belt	White Belt	White Belt
5th Go Kyu	Yellow Belt Three White Bars	Yellow Belt Two White Bars	Yellow Belt One White Bar	Yellow Belt
4th Yon Kyu	Orange Belt Three White Bars	Orange Belt Two White Bars	Orange Belt One White Bar	Orange Belt
3rd San Kyu	Green Belt Three White Bars	Green Belt Two White Bars	Green Belt One White Bar	Green Belt
2nd Ni Kyu	Blue Belt Three White Bars	Blue Belt Two White Bars	Blue Belt One White Bar	Blue Belt
1st Ik Kyu	Brown Belt Three White Bars	Brown Belt Two White Bars	Brown Belt One White Bar	Brown Belt

Competitions are held for novices through to Olympic level. Each match in a competition can last for 5 minutes for men and 4 minutes for women.
There are 4 ways to win to win in a competition:

Throw your opponent on to his/her back to gain a score.
Hold your opponent on his/her back for 10 to 25 seconds to gain a score.
Gain a submission from your opponent by use of a strangle or armlock (seniors only).

Scores There are 4 scores in Judo:

Ippon is awarded when:
One point scored in a single manoeuvre to win a bout, either by throwing the opponent onto his or her back with force, speed and control, by holding an opponent for 25 seconds or by gaining submission to a strangle hold or armlock.

Waza-ari is awarded when:
A half-point, awarded for either a throw meeting three scoring criteria or holding the opponent for 20-24 seconds.

Yuko is awarded when:
Meaning "almost Waza-ari", a score given to a judoka for either completing a throw that has two of the four scoring criteria for an Ippon or holding an opponent for 15 to 19 seconds.

Koka is awarded when:
A minor score, rated less than a Yuko and given to a judoka for either completing a throw with only one of the four scoring criteria for an Ippon or holding an opponent for 10 to 14 seconds.

Last Updated ( Monday, 09 February 2009 )

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