Judo Rules

In any form of martial arts, rules are extremely important. Judo is one of the most martial arts that is practiced today. This article is a brief overview of some of the rules that are to be followed while playing judo. The rules mentioned are as per the the International Judo Federation. It is mandatory for the contestants to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations.

The opponent is not to be injured intentionally. Punching and kicking are prohibited. The players are not allowed to touch the face of each other. The players can attack no joints other than the elbow. Head dives and wearing hard metallic objects are prohibited. There are a few basic etiquettes to be followed by the contestants while playing judo. It is a must that the contestants bow prior to stepping into the mat. In addition to this, they must bow to each other before and after practice or competition. Also, they are required to bow to the competition area before the commencement of the match.

The contestants should not adopt any sort of defense postures. The players should not enforce any kind of false attacks on the opponent. If any such false moves are implemented, they will be considered invalid. Stalling is strictly banned, i.e., the contestants should not waste time, by any means during the match. Violating the rules result in penalties. There are two types of penalties. They are Shido and Hansuko. The former is awarded for the violation of Minor rules and the latter is awarded for the violation of major rules. Hansuko is also awarded if a player acquires 4 Shidos.

Certain other rules must be followed while a competition is conducted. It is a must that the competition area must be padded with tatami, which is a special kind of Japanese floor mat. The size of the mat must be at least 14 meters by 14 meters. The area in which the match takes place must be of size 8 meters by 8 meters. A match area of 10 meters by 10 meters is also permitted. Maintenance of a safety zone is a must while competitions are conducted. When more than one competition takes place side by side, it is a must to maintain a safety zone of at least 3 meters. In the competitions for players under 13 years of age, chokes are not allowed. Arm bars are prohibited for a certain age group. The match length varies according to the age of the contestants. The match length is three minutes for children, five minutes for teen - agers and young adults, and is three minutes for adults who have crossed 30 years of age. The contestants should not wear jackets with very short sleeves. When the arms are extended in front of the body, the sleeves must be at least 5 cm above the wrists. Even the trousers are not allowed to be too short. These must reach at least 5 cm above the ankle of the players.