London, England.- It’s interesting to see the return of traditional judo rules, like leg-grabbing and a balanced approach between standing techniques and groundwork, in some Japanese tournaments and organizations like the World Judo Federation (WJF).
This contrasts with the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) more restrictive rules, which in recent years have prohibited leg grabs and altered the dynamics of the sport to focus more on upright judo.
The WJF’s focus on maintaining traditional judo techniques, including sacrifice throws and allowing a 50-50 balance between standing and groundwork (ne-waza), offers a different interpretation of the martial art, emphasizing the original principles of skill and versatility. It’s refreshing for judo practitioners who prefer more freedom in applying a wider range of techniques, including classic leg grabs and dynamic sacrifices that were once central to judo but have been restricted in the IJF to promote more «spectator-friendly» matches.
This more traditional rule set encourages a style that aligns with judo’s roots in jujutsu and can appeal to practitioners who value a broader technical repertoire. The focus on skill rather than technicalities could provide a more diverse and competitive atmosphere for athletes looking to challenge themselves without the limitations imposed by more modern competition rules.
Sampson Sampson is the current Technical Director of the World Judo Federation (WJF), 9th Dan and President of Judo for All United Kingdom (JFAUK)
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London, England.- It is interesting to see the return of traditional judo rules, such as leg grappling and a balanced approach between standing techniques and ground work, in some Japanese tournaments and organizations such as the World Judo Federation (WJF). This contrasts with the more restrictive rules of the International Judo Federation (IJF), which in recent years has banned leg holds and altered the dynamics of the sport to focus more on upright judo.
This more traditional set of rules encourages a style that aligns with judo’s roots in jujutsu and may appeal to practitioners who value a broader technical repertoire. The focus on skill rather than technicalities could provide a more diverse and competitive atmosphere for athletes looking to challenge themselves without the limitations imposed by more modern competition rules.
