November 5, 2008

TOP NEWS - IJF NEW REFEREEING RULES!!!

From,

Mr. Takao Kawaguchi
JUA Referee Director

The IJF Refereeing Rules Alteration will be effective on January 1st, 2009.

The Refereeing Rules Alteration was tested at the World Junior Judo Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 23-26, 2008, and it was successfully conducted without any problem.  As a result, this alteration will be officially adopted from January 1st, 2009.

As the JUA Referee Director and a member of the IJF Referee Commission, I would like to urgently inform you of this news as a top matter.  The official NEW IJF Refereeing Rules will be provided later by IJF as soon as it is ready.

In the meantime, please see below the IJF notification and my further comment. This is for your information that this refereeing rules alteration will be tested again at the Jigoro Kano Cup Tokyo International Judo Tournament World Grand Prix 2008 to be held on December 12-14, 2008.

1. No more “Koka”

IJF Notification: SCORING
The number of scores will be reduced to: YUKO, WAZA-ARI and IPPON.

IJF Notification: TIMING IN OSAEKOMI-WAZA
15 sec = Yuko
20 sec = Waza-ari
25 sec = Ippon

Kawaguchi Comment:
�@Score of Koka will not be used any more.  At the end of the contest, in case of no score or exact same point (Waza-ari, Yuko) for both competitors, the winner shall be decided by the Golden Score contest.  In Osaekomi, less than 15 seconds will be no score.

2. “First Shido” is Free Warning

IJF Notification: SCALE OF PENALTIES
The scale of Penalties will be as follows:
1st Shido = Free warning!!!
2nd Shido = Yuko for the opponent
3rd Shido = Waza-ari for the opponent
4th Shido = Ippon for the opponent
(The fourth Shido obviously means Hansoku-make)

Kawaguchi Comment:
�@First Shido is no score, just free warning.  But Referee calls “Shido” and 1 Shido shall be shown on the scoreboard.

3. Golden Score is 3 minutes

IJF Notification:
The ‘Golden Score’ will be reduced to 3 minutes only (Juniors & Seniors).
1st Shido = Free warning only!!! (No winning score)

Kawaguchi Comment:
If the “Golden Score” contest goes to the full duration without any advantage on either contestant, the winner shall be decided by Hantei.

4. Border Line-Rules

IJF Notification:
All the actions are valid and may continue (No Matte) as long as either contestant has some part of their body touching the contest area.
(Similar criteria than in Ne-waza).

Kawaguchi Comment:
�@In a standing position, when both contestants completely go outside the contest area, the referee shall announce Matte.

5. Grasp of Trouser

IJF Notification:
The contestant takes hold of the trouser leg with a hand to block or attack. 

Kawaguchi Comment:
�@In a standing position, directly grasping the opponent’s trouser for offensive or defensive purpose shall be penalized with Shido.  However, grasping the opponent’s trouser simultaneously attempting Ouchi-gari or throwing techniques with holding opponent’s leg(s) such as Morote-gari, Kuchiki-daoshi, Sukui-nage, and etc are not penalized.

6. Strict Application of the Rules

IJF Notification:
• KUMI-KATA: Refusal of Kumi-Kata grasp, Blocking by Kumi-Kata with repulsing, or Blocking by kumi-kata with crushing
• EXCESSIVE DEFENSIVE POSTURE
• FALSE ATTACK: Sutemi or With the knee

Kawaguchi Comment:
In case of refusal https://www.seindo.com/formacion/ of Kumi-Kata grasp, referee should give Shido to both at an early stage. Also, covering own lapel by hand to block Kumi-Kata, or only crushing opponent’s back lapel from the top to prevent opponent’s Kumi-Kata should be penalized by Shido.