Technical Details
The mat
A Judo contest is conducted on a square 8m x 8m mat (Tatami). There is a 1m x 1m danger area and a 3 m outer safety area. The colour of the mat varies. Green is usually preferred for the competition and safety zone areas and red for the danger area.
The contest
To win the contest a judoka must score an Ippon (a degree equalling 10 points) by using a successful technique. Lesser scores such as waza-ari (7 points), yuko (5 points) and koka (3 points), can be awarded when a technique does not warrant an Ippon. Athletes may also receive penalties of corresponding points: hansoku make (Ippon), keikoku (waza-ari), chui (yuko) and shido (koka).
Two waza-ari add up to an Ippon. This also applies if one competitor has already scored waza-ari and the opponent is subsequently given a penalty of keikoku. Yuko and koka do not add up. Winner is the athlete who has scored the greatest value point at the completion of the five minutes.
An Ippon is given to the athlete who manages to throw his opponent on his back with a technique combining speed, force and control.
A waza-ari is awarded to an athlete when the referee and judges consider an element of the Ippon to be missing. This may be the case if the opponent does not fall on his/her back or that the athlete has not demonstrated enough force.
A yuko is awarded when two of the required elements are missing. This may be the case when the opponent falls on his/her side.
A kοka awarded when three of the required elements are missing. This may be the case when the opponent falls on his/her shoulder or leg.
An Ippon is also awarded, when an athlete applies an osaekomi technique and manages to hold his/her opponent to the ground for 25 sec. The referee calls the beginning and the end of the osaekomi countdown.
Waza-ari is awarded when the opponent is unable to escape for more than 20, but less than 25 seconds.
Yuko is awarded when the opponent is unable to escape for more than 15, but less than 20 seconds.
Koka is awarded when the opponent is unable to escape for more than 10, but less than 15 seconds.
An Ippon is finally awarded to an athlete who applies a strangling or joint technique and thereby forces his/her opponent to give up by tapping twice or more with his/her hand, or says “maitta” (I give up).
Current Olympic Programme
There are seven categories for men and seven for women, all based on weight:
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Men
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Women
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-60 Kg
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-48 Kg
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-66 Kg
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-52 Kg
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-73 Kg
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-57 Kg
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-81 Kg
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-63 Kg
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-90 Kg
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-70 Kg
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-100 Kg
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-78 Kg
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+100 Kg
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+78 Kg
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