Istanbul hosted the IJF technical seminar in which 326 people from 79 nations took part. The new refereeing rules were officially announced on Friday, while the seminar took place on Saturday and Sunday and was attended by, among others, Alessandro Comi e Robert Chyurlia.
“We just have to try” was the initial comment of Alessandro Comi “the conclusion is simple, but to understand how we got to today it is necessary to take a few steps back”.
“Paris highlighted enormous critical issues – continued Comi – Paris, for those who experienced it from the inside, was much more than some controversy in the newspapers. It is impossible for anyone to return and remain indifferent. In truth, even before the Olympics the International Federation had moved in the awareness of having to change: a month before the Games each nation had been asked to contribute with its own proposals for the 2025-2028 Olympic cycle”.
“About fifteen nations have taken up the challenge, highlighting the need to enhance positive judo and to shift attention from the penalties that have unworthily occupied the scene in the four-year period that is coming to a close. In truth it was something obvious to everyone, insiders and non-experts, experts and less experienced.”
“With some surprise, the review work of the IJF leaders and experts took the proposals received into serious consideration and what we saw in Istanbul is the product of this path, a product which, however, cannot yet be said to be “final”. It has in fact been underlined on several occasions that between now and the World Championships in Budapest 2025, things will have to be evaluated and adjusted, with the aim of having a homogeneous and definitive regulation with the start of Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028″.
“The most substantial innovations concern the return of the yuko to further enhance throwing actions that cannot be classified as waza-ari, the elimination of some sanctions including the infamous hansoku-make for head-first (impact of bulls with their heads on the tatami ) or head-defense with an interesting differentiation for the youth categories, finally a partial opening towards holds below the waist. In recent months a lot has been said about this point: I don’t deny that the return of some techniques with direct grip on the trousers had intrigued me, but I believe that the solution adopted, based on current events, is the best”.
“In this process, Italy has been anything but a spectator: with analytical work we had begun to highlight the most evident critical issues already at the beginning of the year on the occasion of the Continental Seminar, to arrive in recent months at developing a concrete proposal that was also realistic. Unfortunately, the seminar was not intended to open a discussion but we cannot fail to say we are satisfied with what we have seen and heard in recent days. There remain some “grey areas” that deserve attention and further progress, but it seems that progress has been made… now we just need to gain experience on the tatami, quickly and at all levels.”
“A seminar that everyone was waiting for – he explained Robert Chyurlia– obviously changes are always a little scary, but judo is adaptation. For referees it will be even more important to study, update and practice our sport assiduously. The new rules tend to facilitate dynamism and provide athletes with more opportunities to project. What caught my attention the most is the part relating to unconventional holds and the provision not to sanction athletes for exits or pushes.
I am pleasantly surprised at the possibility of being able to hold holds within judogi even in newaza. I am sure that the introduction of yuko will be a great possibility to reduce the cases of golden score. The much discussed return of the leg hold was a topic clarified and debunked.
Finally, the innovation of continuing the actions from ne waza to tachiwaza regardless of the position of the athletes when they regain the tachiwaza position is appreciable. It will be challenging to reset our way of refereeing but it is also a strong stimulus. Continuing with training and updating will be the right key.”