1997

1997-2002 IJF RULE CHANGES & CLARIFICATIONS SYNOPSIS

Provided by: Richard Celotto, IJF-A Referee

JANUARY 1998 Effective January 1, 1998

1. It is recommended that 8mx8m (26 feet x 26 feet) competition areas be used.

2. The blue judogi should be used when a player is called first.

3. The judogi jacket (Uwagi) must be folded left over right. No penalty unless they repeat or refuse.

4. Women may wear a white leotard instead of the white tee shirt.

5. Braces on the teeth are acceptable, but a mouthpiece should be worn.

The Duration of Osaekomi has been reduced: 25 seconds for Ippon, 20-24.9 seconds for Waza-ari, 15-19.9 seconds for

Yuko, 10-14.9 seconds for Koka.

7. Sacrifice throws such as Hikkomi gaeshi or sumi gaeshi where there is NO separation, but there is control, speed and force

will be considered for scoring purposes.

8. Koka can be scored on the top of the shoulder in addition to the buttock(s) and thigh.

9. Osaekomi must meet an additional criteria "(e) That tori must be in a kesa or shiho position." (One glut-One blade)

10. Scissoring the legs from the top or bottom is toketa. The reverse scissors is toketa if the referee sees control is lost.

Normal kumi kata is acceptable. That is white’s right hand on blue’s left side of the jacket above the belt and white’s left

hand on blue’s right side of the jacket above the belt. Any cross gripping (when white’s right hand reaches over to blue’s

right side of the jacket or visa versa) that takes place, the player has to attack within 3 to 5 seconds.

12. The execution of Hikkomi (Dragging down) was a chui, it is now a shido. (Took effect in 1997)

13. Stoppage of the contest to tie the hair back is acceptable twice, but after that the penalty is shido. (Took effect in 1997)

14. An illegal Waki gatame or any Kani basami will now warrant Hansoku make.

15. If a contestant is guilty of bad behavior (direct hansoku make) The referee team will report it to the Chief Referee.

16. The New Weight Divisions:

Women 45 (99)(PJU) 48 (106) 52 (114) 57 (125) 63 (139) 70 (154) 78 (172) +78 (+172)

Men 56 (123)(PJU) 60 (132) 66 (145) 73 (161) 81 (178) 90 (198) 100 (220) +100 (+220)

JANUARY 1999 Effective January 1, 1999

Medical Situations: A doctor has one (1) minute, with the Referee's discretion, to attend to a competitor. In the U.S. this

time frame is not enforced in most cases.

2. Vomiting: If a contestant vomits the contest is over and the opponent wins by kiken gachi.

Pistol Grip: The holding of the bottom of the sleeve(s) between the thumb and the forefingers (pistol grip) from below, top or side will be a penalty of Shido

Black Blazers: Referees will change from Navy blue to Black blazers.

MAY 1999 Effective May 1999

During a throwing technique on the edge, the referee believes the throw should score, the judge indicts the throw is out.

The IJF Referee Commission recommends that a conference be held.

No longer has to have the first and last competitors on an area bow to joseki at the beginning and end of each session

Pistol grips away from the end of the sleeve are all right. Only when a pistol grip is secured at the end of the sleeve is the penalty given. Normal grips of the end of the sleeve are allowed, if not used defensively.

Elements of Osaekomi (along with the listed five)

Body cover (Not listed in the rules, however an integral part of Osaekomi)

Osae means to press down from the top. For a hold to be valid some part of tori’s trunk (front of shoulders, chest, abdomen, front pelvic area) must be on top of uke.

OCTOBER 1999 Effective October 1999

All minor medical incidents (free touch) will now be included as medical examinations. (No more free touch!)

Report to the commission if the medic takes longer than 1 minute and the referee team intends to award the win to the opponent. (International)

In exceptional cases, the commission will request to stop a contest and voice a "Strong Opinion", but the decision will still rest with the team on the mat.

Starting with the 2000 Olympics, female contestants will no longer wear a belt with a white stripe.

In a direct Hansoku make situation, after the agreement of the three officials, the referee should give the penalty and then report to the table that the competitor cannot continue on in the event.

Holding the lapel tight against the body, turning away and pulling the lapel back is a shido.

Slapping the gi under the armpits is shido, if the sleeve end goes under the elbow or near the elbow.

Fingers on throat choke is chui

Ryote jime without collar grip is shido.

1997-2002 IJF RULE CHANGE AND CLARIFICATION SYNOPSIS Page 2

JANUARY 1, 2001 Effective January 1, 2001

Holding the end of the sleeve on the top, bottom or side, by folding the sleeve end over (Cat’s paw grip) will be an immediate penalty of shido. Used to break a grip also included. Cat’s Paw is legal if used above sleeve end.

In Article 27 (a) 1, 2, 5, 6 (Avoid taking hold, excessive defensive posture, gripping sleeve end(s), and fingers interlocked) change, "more than five seconds" to "attack within 3 to 5 seconds".

3. The competitors will be given one free time to retie their hair and the next time will be a penalty of shido.

Hooking one leg between the opponent’s legs with no intent to throw. The IJF Referee Commission agrees that this is not standard kumi kata and the competitor must attack within 3 to 5 seconds or the competitor will be penalized with "shido".

One-handed grip (whether normal or cross) is not "normal or standard" kumi kata and the competitor has 3 to 5 seconds to attack or the competitor will be penalized with "shido". If the player is fighting for grips one handed play should be allowed. Article 27.10

The IJF Referee Commission recommends that Article 27 (c) xxvii, which reads, "To make unnecessary calls, remarks or

gestures derogatory to the opponent or referee during the contest", will now become Hansoku Make, even after sore made.

Cross back gripping of the gi for kumi kata, 3-5 seconds to attack, is shido (not normal kumi kata). Any grip that passes over the half way line (spine) even on the collar is not normal kumi kata. Grips under (O goshi) or over the arm (O tsuri goshi) of uke are normal kumi kata. If the gripping hand is on the line it is legal. Article 27.10

Reverse Scissors The IJF Referee Commission recommends that scissoring from below like tate shiho gatame (feet/ankle)

without loss of "control" is not toketa.

Rubber bracing on the ankle or other material that gives an advantage (increases friction with the mat) to a competitor will

be prohibited. Hansoku make. Against the Spirit of Judo. Bandages under the foot are allowed, if not advantage perceived.

10. Head Diving When tori does such techniques as Uchi mata, Harai goshi, Forward or Backward Kata guruma

makikomi,(standing or from the knees), Sode tsurikomi guruma or any similar, where tori dives directly down and tori’s

head, neck or back goes under tori’s hips in an arc and makes contact with or comes close to the mat (the head need not

touch), the penalty for tori should be Hansoku make. If tori throws turning laterally (diagonally) and lands on the shoulder

and side of head from tori’s hips the throws should be valid.

11. Spray Any type of spray or other solutions (i.e. silicone, Tack, methyl silicilate), to give an advantage over the opponent is

strictly prohibited. Article 27 (d) xxviii Hansoku Make, against the spirit of Judo.

Kicking the contestant in order to injure the opponent is a penalty. The competitor may use an ashi-waza technique to set up

the opponent with another throw if done with intent to throw the opponent. Chui 27.?

13. Direct Hansoku Make In direct hansoku make situations, the referee, after conferring with the judges and awarding the

penalty, will advise the jury at the table. The jury will then make a recommendation to the tournament director that this

player be eliminated from further competition in that division. This does not necessarily eliminate this player from

competing in another division or in the team competition.

14. Judogi lapel thickness 1 cm thick, 5cm wide. Some Judogi are too thick/ tight in the chest & back, opponent cannot grip.

Yellow and Red warning cards or lights to inform coaches of unexceptable behavior.

Removal of Article 9 Appendix paragraphs 2 and 5. Tori may touch out prior to uke impacting on edge throws.

Continuity of Impact. The throw isn’t over, until the action is completed.

JANUARY 1, 2002 Effective January 1, 2002

1. Women’s contests will be five minutes in duration. Parity with Men.

If there is a pause before impact the score of a throw should be down graded by one score.

Reduced six penalty gestures NOT IN EFFECT! Use all previous acceptable gestures.

Arriving with Illegal Judogi on the mat-Hansoku make NOT IN EFFECT! Use old criteria.

Expansion of Kawazu gake definition NOT IN EFFECT! Entwining allowed in o soto gari, uchi mata, o uchi gari, etc.

Kawazu gake moving from Keikoku to Hansoku make NOT IN EFFECT?? until after Junior Worlds (September 2002)

The U.S. Referee Commission has ruled that Hansoku make will be given for Kawazu gake violation, effective immediately.

U.S. Issue Kawazu gake. Attempt versus Complete

Golden Score Sudden Death Over Time (Currently used in Europe with good success)

If contest ends with no score or even call Soremade, clear scoreboard and start overtime immediately (same duration), first point or penalty, the contest is over. When an Osaekomi goes 10 seconds it is Koka and the contest is over. If even, go to flags.

With Team contest( If not using Hiki wake) or Round Robin Osaekomi goes full time.

Allow Ne-waza. Many referees are not allowing ne-waza. ALLOW IT!

Be vigilant about Negative Judo. Penalize it. It makes for faster and better Judo in the long run.

May 2002: 1997-2002 Rules Changes & Clarification Synopsis Richard J. Celotto