Sunday, March 2, 2014

Video Explaining New IJF Rules for Competition

Interesting comment on this video:

[The following is based on a source which I cannot reveal, so please take this with a grain of salt. Consider it opinion.] 
These rules are not great, but there is a reason: the Olympics. As many of you know, wrestling was almost removed from the Olympics. The Olympic Committee threatened to do the same to judo, because it looked so similar to wrestling -- just with jackets. These changes were the response. They were designed to create more throwing, less grip fighting, and fewer leg-grabbing techniques, and to distinguish judo from wrestling (freestyle and Greco-Roman). 
I don't like how this restricts judoka, but I understand why they did it. The good news is that if you are an aggressive player, with a good ability to create kuzushi, you can still be highly successful. 
In addition, the new rules make it easier to win via partial score on throw when combined with osaekomi as osaekomi times have been shortened.