Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii has voiced strong criticism of recent changes to judo rules, arguing they are detrimental to the sport’s traditions and spirit.
In an interview, Ishii, who clinched gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, expressed concerns about the direction competitive judo is taking. “The constant rule changes are making judokas afraid,” Ishii stated. “They have to keep adapting to new regulations, which takes focus away from the essence of judo.”
The 37-year-old highlighted how the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) frequent modifications to rules have altered the nature of competitions. “Now you see fighters gripping and releasing quickly to avoid penalties, or winning matches by accumulating small penalties against their opponent. This isn’t the judo I grew up with,” he explained.
Ishii particularly took issue with the removal of certain techniques, such as leg grabs, from competitive judo. “If you want to prevent stalling in matches, the easiest solution is to allow all attacks but make penalties stricter,” he suggested. “Let judokas use double leg takedowns, single leg attacks, and other moves. Make the matches longer with no golden score. This would bring back the old style of judo.”
The former champion also criticized the leadership of the IJF, stating, “The president is probably a smart businessman, but he doesn’t understand judo. How can someone make rules for a sport they don’t truly know?”
Ishii’s comments reflect a growing concern among judo purists that the sport is moving away from its roots to cater to Olympic requirements and commercial interests. He argued that the focus on Olympic judo has led to a decline in the importance of other prestigious tournaments.
“Now we have World Championships every year, and the value is diminishing,” Ishii noted. “In my generation, we had to focus on the WorldChampionships every two years. Now, everyone seems to be a world champion.”
Despite his criticisms, Ishii remains dedicated to martial arts, currently focusing on his mixed martial arts career. However, his passion for traditional judo is evident, and his voice joins a chorus of experienced judokas calling for a reevaluation of the sport’s direction.
