Contest Procedure

Contestants weigh in for their appropriate weight category prior to contest. The removal of the jacket only will be permitted for weighing in.

Competitors will present themselves on the mat area for check in and for inspection. On entering the contest area you will be requested to wait in line on the edge of the mat normally outside the contest area which is called the danger zone. There you will be identified and clarified of the contest regulations. All competitors will then be allowed to warm up before competing.

3:1 Licence

A valid and up-to-date licence must be shown prior to competition. If the licence has expired you will not be permitted to compete because your insurance cover will no longer be valid.

3:2 Competitors and Referee Rei

• The referee will stand opposite the competitors who will line up. After the call of Shimpan Ni Rei, all competitors shall perform a standing bow to the referee who at the same time returns the salutation. The competitors will then retire to their allocated position where they will wait to be called for their contests.
• The referee will then position himself in the middle of the contest area facing the time table officials who will then call for the first two competitors to come forward for contest.
• The first name which is called out will be of red corner belt, and the second name being called out will be of white belt corner belt. The red and the white belts signify the scoring board system.

3:3 The commencement of the contest

When the two contestants are called they will both stand at each corner of the contest area on each side of the table officials. The referee will signal them to walk on to the outside perimeter of the safety area stopping opposite each other by their respective starting position. They wait once again until the referee instructs them to meet in the centre contest starting position.

The contestant wearing the red belt will enter the designated red side which will be visibly marked. This procedure shall be reversed when the contest is over.

3:4 Hajime

The referee shall call Rei to both contestants. Both contestants will then take one small step forward, leading with their left foot. The referee will then step forward with his right foot and will call Hajime for the start of the contest.

3:5 Contest finish (Soremade)

At the end of the contest the contestants will retire to their original starting position. The referee will then stand between the competitors by stepping forward with their right foot, and raising either arm upward in the direction of the victor to announce and indicate the result of the contest. The referee will then return to their original position by stepping back on with his left foot and calling Rei to finish. The competitors will be expected to Rei to each other and retreat by walking backwards to the outside perimeter of the contest area. They must then bow to exit the mat and return to the safety area by normal walking.

3:6 Contest time

Contest time allocated for each category will be decided prior to the commencement of competition and all competitors will be notified. The following contest times are recommended but can be subject to change.

The time of each contest does not take into account for any stoppage. When Matte is called, the time will be stopped.

3:7 Matte (Stop)

Matte, can be called at any time during the contest at the discretion of the referee. At that precise time, the Timekeeper will immediately stop the timing clock or similar device. The referee will indicate Matte by raising their right arm to indicate that the timing has been halted.

3:8 Sonomama

The referee will call Sonomama when the contestants are engaged in groundwork where judgment is required to reposition or make an adjustment of a contest Judogi or a relevant situation where safety may be of concern.

3:9 Sore Made (Finish)

Sore Made is called by the referee when the time of the contest has expired. The time will be called and monitored by the time keeper, whereupon the referee will call Sore Made immediately.

3:10 Osaekomi (hold down in progress)

20 second hold down scores Yuko                        5 Points

25 second hold down scores Wazari                      7 points

30 second hold down scores Ippon                       10 points

When the contestants are in a hold down position, the time keeper will call out in sequence the time of the hold down, so that the referee can award and indicate the appropriate score.