New Rules For Judo

JUDO RULES

For the first time I could not attend the IBF UK National Judo Championships, I am told it was extremely well attended and well run, well done to all concerned. I am still waiting for the organisers to send in a report with photos when they come I will publish them on the IBF Website.

Two things were brought to my attention one was dress standards and secondly was the change of rules. It seems that some officials were under the misconception that the Junior Rules used at the Young Judo Club 50th Anniversary Championships i.e. “You can only enter Ne Waza if you had scored with a throw” were now standard IBF rules, this is not the case. IJF rules with the IBF amendments still are to be used in all IBF competitions.

Yet this mistake was enthusiastically welcomed by the majority of people present, so that leads me to the question “Should IBF UK abide by IJF rules or adopt their own”. As most of you are aware Judo in Europe is on a down turn and lots of very experienced Judoka and associations are looking for ways to revitalise our Grappling Art, IBF members have been very lucky in the fact that members also participate in other grappling sports such as Sombo, Kurash, Belt Wrestling and CombatSombo Wrestling, they have seen how different styles and their scoring system works. I have been involved in Judo for 52 years and the one thing I have come to realise that a lot of Judoka consider they and Judo superior to every other Grappling Sport, as Judoka they think that participating in other styles some how will create a virus in Judo which will destroy it.

Rules of Judo should be a topic at the IBF Coaches seminar in January and here a few ideas:

1) Continue using the rule where you have to score before Ne Waza, for years people have moaned that the high throws have gone and children just drag each other to the floor. The BJA concept of dealing with this was to restrict the amount of time in Ne Waza, this has led to competitions with hardly any Ne Waza. I was at the Kent International and if you did not get hold, arm lock etc in 5 seconds you were stood up, for those who understand Ne Waza will know it can take time to manoeuvre your opponent in position. After all in Tachi Waza you do not attack every 5 seconds.
2) Should we change the scoring system do away with Japanese terminology and use accumulative scoring, you may remember I tried this 15 years ago with some success. If we done this we could get the referees to dress the same as Olympic Wrestling Officials i.e. White tracksuits with coloured sleeves this is less intimidating and officious then wearing a Blazer.
3) For those who wish to keep the Japanese scoring what about indicating the points first then the Judo signal i.e. 1pt indicated closed fist with thumb raised followed by the Koka sign etc
4) Coloured Gi and Judo boots
These are just a few ideas but can I say I have just return from the World Sombo Championships and this was the most exciting Jacket Grappling event I have seen in 20 years, big high throws, brilliantly executed arm locks, continual action throughout the whole competition and most importantly easy to understand scoring. The British Sombo Federation was asked to take a Press Officer with the team, he had never seen any form of Jacket Grappling including Judo, within 30 minutes he could understand the scoring and by the second day he was questioning referee scores could this happen in Judo?

So I say to the entire Judo Fraternity wake up and smell the coffee other wise Judo will die.

I would welcome you constructive comments either via the Blog or by direct email


Martin Clarke 8th Judo Sombo Grandmaster