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One of the best parts of the Olympics is that it gives people the chance to watch sports that they don’t normally have the opportunity or time to understand and enjoy.
One such sport is Judo – it doesn’t have as much recognition around the world and can be very hard to understand the rules and regulations. So, for those planning to spend a majority of their time watching the Olympics, The Sports Lowdown takes a look at the what the sport is all about to make the “beginners” feel acquainted.
Background
Judo is a relatively modern Martial Art that was developed in Japan by Professor Jigoro Kano on 28th October 1860, adapting many of the traits and techniques of the older Martial Art Jujitsu.
Judo, which translates as ‘gentle way’, was first seen at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles as an exhibition sport before becoming an officially recognised Olympic sport at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964. Later on, in the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, women historically competed in Judo for the first time.
In the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, there are seven men’s and seven women’s events, all having different weight categories. The bouts last five minutes and if no match-winning move is made (or infringement given), then the player with the highest score at the end of the bout is the winner.
The matches take place on Tatami (mats) measuring 14 metres/14 metres, with a combat area of 10 metres marked out within it where the competitors must remain throughout.
Scoring
Ippon: By completing an Ippon, a player can be given an immediate victory and the move is achieved by throwing an opponent in any way to make him land on their back.
Other ways of scoring an Ippon include trapping an opponent in an armhold or stranglehold so then it forces him to submit or keeping an opponent on the floor for at least 25 seconds.
Waza-Ari: A score of a half point is awarded for a Waza-Ari, meaning in order to win through this move, you have to score two, after which the winner would then be declared.
Waza-Ari is awarded when the opponent is thrown with total control and accuracy but not to the extent of an Ippon.
Yuko: The move that holds the least scoring weight with an Ippon and a Waza-Ari both outscoring it by some margin. The Yuko is awarded for short immobilising holds and some less effective throws or locks.
Penalties
Shido: Minor rule infringements such as stalling tactics and prolonged periods of non-aggression. The first penalty is a warning, the second ends with the opponent being given a score of a Yuko, the third a Waza-Ari and the fourth an Ippon.
Hansoku: Given against a player for major rule breaches or for the accumulation of four Shidos. Hansoku automatically gives the match to the other player and if a player is in trouble for a major rule infringement, he or she will be expelled from the tournament.
