The International Judo Federation (IJF) is set to implement significant changes to the sport’s Olympic ruleset following the 2024 Paris Games. Florin Daniel Lascau, the IJF’s head refereeing director, revealed plans for a comprehensive review and update of judo rules, aiming to modernize the sport and enhance its appeal to younger athletes.
Lascau emphasized the need for judo to adapt to contemporary expectations, particularly in how the sport is presented at World Championships and Olympic events. The upcoming reforms were delayed due to the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but now the IJF sees an opportunity for substantial changes.
A large-scale meeting is planned, inviting IJF experts and representatives from national federations to contribute suggestions and proposals for the new ruleset. This collaborative approach aims to ensure a broad consensus on the future direction of competitive judo.
The federation plans to finalize the new rules by 2025, allowing time for practical implementation and fine-tuning before the next Olympic qualification cycle begins. Lascau stressed the importance of maintaining flexibility, noting that adjustments may be necessary if the practical application differs significantly from the theoretical framework.
Key priorities for the rule changes include:
1. Ensuring athlete safety
2. Promoting equality in competition
3. Enhancing the sport’s attractiveness to spectators
4. Simplifying rule interpretation
It’s unclear what the exact context of changes will be. Key points raised in a recent video include the recognition that current rules don’t fully embody judo’s spirit, with too much focus on penalties (shidos) and restrictive regulations. The IJF aims to prioritize ippon—the perfect throw that represents judo’s essence.
Discussions with national federations are ongoing, and feedback from the All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF), which recently reinstated leg grabs, is expected to contribute. While leg grabs are part of the traditional Kodokan judo technique list, their reimplementation faces a complex debate. On one hand, restoring leg grabs aligns with judo’s heritage and offers more tactical variety. On the other hand, concerns over safety, simplicity, and preserving the aesthetics of upper-body throws remain central.
The IJF also aims to harmonize various judo styles practiced worldwide while adhering to the established classification of judo techniques. Lascau expressed his commitment to creating a cohesive set of rules that serves the broader judo community and aligns with the sport’s Olympic status.
This upcoming reformation represents a significant moment for judo, potentially reshaping the sport’s competitive landscape for future Olympic cycles.
This comes on the wings of significant rule reform from the Japan Judo Federation.
The All Japan Judo Federation (AJF) has made a significant move by reinstating the “Ashitori” or foot-grabbing technique in the All Japan Judo Championships, a decision that has reignited debate within the judo community. After years of discussions, the AJF and Kodokan announced on October 10 that this traditional technique will return, balancing respect for judo’s heritage with the demands of modern competition. The reinstatement aims to address the unique challenges posed by unrestricted weight divisions, allowing lighter judoka to use lower-body grips strategically against larger opponents.
While this decision has been met with mixed reactions, it offers new tactical possibilities and promises to create more dynamic matches. The Ashitori rule will also apply to the Women’s Championship, marking an important step toward gender equality in judo.
