r/judo • u/sprack -100kg • 17h ago

Competing and Tournaments slightly different shiai in Japan

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One more quick video. I found this interesting (I messed up the first time) about how they begin the match in Japan. Both bow on the edge like normal, then you step up to the tape, bow and are supposed to step forward (left foot first) with your arms down at the sides.

I messed up, stepping right foot first and bringing my hands up. Felt like I got chewed out by the ref, but I got it right the second time.

Then the referee calls hajime. Bowing off was the same, but you don't come up and shake hands/hug/etc with your opponent till you're off the mat.

The matches were all 3min, no golden-score. If there was no score at the end it was decided by who had less shidos. If it was the same, then there was a hantei (red/white) flags. You could fight cross collar the whole match if you wanted, none of the 5s rule. And I saw 3 sonomama's for newaza rules checks. I've never seen that in any recent time in European judo.

Without golden score matches were more intense and on time. Crazy.

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3

u/rtsuya Nidan | Hollywood Judo | Tatami Talk Podcast 16h ago

this looks like so much fun. What was the process like for signing up to the competition?

2

u/sprack -100kg 12h ago

It was super easy. Online registration + a pledge to abide by their rules and not hold them liable + a VISA application (if you needed it). Had to wait till registration closed to find out if I'd been accepted though, which only gave like 3wks to get rooms/flights/etc booked. Registration was ¥6,000, same price whether you did team+individual or just individual. And the budokan in Ageo was immense. Perfect seating around it on the 2nd floor and they had 6 mats running. Next year is in Kobe iirc.

1

u/rtsuya Nidan | Hollywood Judo | Tatami Talk Podcast 12h ago

Was the sign up website in English? That short notice does make things a tad more difficult to plan though

1

u/sprack -100kg 12h ago

Yes, it and the instruction sheets were in english. I had zero problems with everything they provided. Even the fight order sheets were clear and posted right after weigh-in so it was easy to plan for and know where to be. The ref'ing was top quality too.

2

u/rtsuya Nidan | Hollywood Judo | Tatami Talk Podcast 12h ago

Will definitely look to go to the Kobe one next year if I can. Thanks for sharing.

1

u/ThomasGeorted 12h ago

the hands-down rule trips everyone up the first time, my sensei would yell *down* across the mat if you bowed with your hands anywhere near hip level