PublishedOctober 14, 2024, 6:05 p.m.
JudoJapan will relaunch a banned rule to beat Teddy Riner
The Japanese Federation wishes to reintroduce leg attacks, banned since 2007, during Zen Nihon. This is to increase the level of its fighters.
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Teddy Riner has won five Olympic gold medals in his career.
AFPNo one has forgotten the outcome of the mixed judo team event at the Paris Olympic Games. As per the rules, a draw was made between all the categories, while the score was 3-3, to determine which one would make the decision fight. Like a sign of destiny, the roulette wheel had stopped on the “+90 kg”, the category of the unbeatable Teddy Riner.
The five-time Olympic champion won against Tatsuru Saito to offer gold to France under the nose of Japan, the nation of judo. The country of the Rising Sun has reason to be a little fed up with the hegemony of the Guadeloupean in its discipline. Is this why the Japanese Federation wants to reintroduce leg attacks?
Tatsuru Saito was devastated after losing to Teddy Riner in the deciding bout of the mixed team competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
AFPFor context, they have been prohibited by the International Federation since 2007 and all seizures of the opponent’s pants are likely to result in disqualification of the judoka. According to information from the Spirit of Judoa leading media outlet for this sport, the Japanese Federation has reportedly decided to authorize leg attacks during the next Zen Nihon, the Japanese championship, in April 2025.
Raising the level of heavy goods vehicles
On the international scene, no changes to the rules are planned for the moment. So, what is Japan’s objective with this change? The country is seeking to raise the level of its heavyweight fighters by expanding their technical palette and helping them develop new skills.
In the hope that one of them will manage to put an end to Teddy Riner’s undivided domination.
