IJF Updates Judo Rules Ahead of 2028 Olympic Cycle: Know Details

Judo rules are set for an overhaul. The International Judo Federation (IJF) has rolled out an update to its Sport and Refereeing Rules (SOR), heralding a new era in the sport  ahead of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

The new Judo rules are set to come to force at the Paris Grand Slam 2025 and will remain in effect through the World Championships in Budapest in June 2025 before undergoing a review.

The new rules will be formally presented at a technical meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 14-15 December, attended by delegates of national federations.

Here’re are the technical changes to judo rules in refereeing as announced on December 13:

• Addition of a third score yuko, in ne-waza it will be given at 5 seconds.
• ⁠Use of head to throw and defend allowed except in cadet events where it will be penalised with shido.
• ⁠All jacket grips and gripping under the belt to the level of the top of the inner thigh are allowed but shido will be given if using the jacket grip or under the belt to the level of the top of the inner thighs grip negatively.
• ⁠Hooking the legs with the hand or arm, leg grabbing, gripping the trousers and touching the leg from the top of the inner thigh down is forbidden and will be penalised with shido.
• ⁠Kumi-kata will be given 30 secs time for an attack.
• ⁠Bear hug in tachi-waza is allowed except with hands or hands and arms clasped, forming a circle which will be penalised with shido.
• ⁠Unintentionally leaving the contest area in tachi-waza and ne-waza will be given “Mate!”
• ⁠Kansetsu-waza applied while performing throws, with high injury risks (where uke cannot escape), will be penalised with hansoku-make. For kansetsu-waza applied with techniques, with lower injury risks (where uke has the possibility to escape), performed with two hands on one arm, it will be “Mate!” and “Shido!”
• ⁠Positive activity in ne-waza will be taken in consideration.
• ⁠Reverse seoi-nage is allowed except in cadet events where it will be penalised with shido.

Also Read: What are the advantages and disadvantages of Judo?

The above judo rules have been promulgated after a thorough evaluation of  proposals for the rules of judo that were submitted by all national confederations. 

All proposals were combined and presented at the IJF technical meeting that was held following the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2024.

The submissions were discussed by a group of experts before being approved by the IJF Executive Committee and new judo rules have been put in place.