USA JUDO

Referee Articles

Negative Judo

J. Kim

The Contestant's:
ATTITUDE: state or behavior of body and mind (aggresive/defensive);
INTENT: purpose, aim or goal (to attack/to defend);
POSTURE: body stance (stands upright ready/bent over defensive);
must be taken into consideration. Is the contestant aggressive, initating attacks? The referee can be more tolerant with time. Is the contestant back pedalling, taking a defensive/passive posture? If so, be less tolerant, penalize early. Is the contestant content to wait for the opponent to make a mistake so he can take advantage of the opening to counter? If so, be less tolerant, penalize early.

ARTICLE 28 - PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES
A) SHIDO: is given to any contestant who has committed a slight infringement:

Intentionally AVOID TAKING GRIP
Excessively DEFENSIVE POSTURE
After kumi-kata, not to make any attacking actions, NON-COMBATIVITY
Impression of attack, FALSE ATTACK
5 seconds in DANGER ZONE
HOLDING WITHOUT ATTACKING: belt or jacket bottom, same side
Holding sleeve ends, DEFENSIVELY
Interlocking fingers
Leg grabbing

1. TO INTENTIONALLY AVOID TAKING HOLD IN ORDER TO PREVENT ACTION IN THE CONTEST

"Intentionally" is the critical word here. Keep in mind ATTITUDE / INTENT / POSTURE of the contestant(s). If both contestants make no effort to take grip, penalize both early (5 seconds maximum). If one wants to take grip and is prevented to do so by the defensive/evasive action of the opponent, the later only should be penalized. If one breaks grip of opponent but fails to aggressively fight to get own kumi-kata, should penalize. If contestant(s) is/are aggressively fighting to get grip in order to attack, you can be more tolerant with time. On the other hand, if one is aggressive but the opponent's ATTITUDE / INTENT / POSTURE is not to allow the grip, then the later should be penalized.

2. TO ADOPT IN A STANDING POSITION AN EXCESSIVELY DEFENSIVE POSTURE (GENERALLY MORE THAN 5 SECONDS). Keep in mind ATTITUDE / INTENT / POSTURE of the contestant(s). this defensive posture by uke may be allowed for about 5 seconds. When tori initiates an attacking action, first time uke:

bends over
back side sticking way out
arm(s) straight out
head generally down
with no intent of attacking

if uke maintains this defensive position more near 5 seconds, penalize. If uke is not penalized after tori's first attacking action, but uke has made no attacking action, and tori initiates another attacking action and uke takes similiar defensive posture, PENALIZE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. The time of uke's defensive posture in the first and the second instances TO BE CUMULATIVE to about 5 seconds.

When tori initiates an attack and uke drops to knee(s) or breaks grip and takes defensive manoeuvre, penalize.

During an attacking action by tori, uke places body, hand/arm in such a position/manner so as to act as a block to tori's attacking action:

bent over
hand/arm positioned as a block, not necesarily touching tori
does not immediately remove this blocking hand/arm
does not immediately follow up with own attacking action
with no intent of attacking

should penalize.
With one hand grip, if contestant turns body in such a manner and/or holds own gi so as opponent cannot take kumi-kata, the offending contestant shaould be penalized. This is on the assumption the contestant does not initiate an attacking action.

DUCKING UNDER; Refer to #6 below for further comments.

3. IN A STANDING POSITION, AFTER KUMI-KATA (GRIPS) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, NOT TO MAKE ANY ATTACKING MOVES.

Article 28 - states:
"Non-combativity May be taken to exist when in general, approximately 25 seconds, there have been no attacking actions on the part of either or both contestants. Non-combativity should not be awarded when there are no attacking actions, if the referee considers that the contestant is genuinely looking for the opportunity to attack."

The Attitute/Intent/Posture of the contestant(s) should guide the officials as to whether one or the both contestant(s) is/are committing the infraction.
If both contestants is genuinely looking for the opportunity to attack, maximum time may be allowed. However, if one is looking for the opportunity to attack while the other does nothing but defend, tolerance should decrease to, 10-15 seconds, and the defending contestant should be penalized.
If one repeatedly breaks the grip of opponent and gets own kumi-kata but does not follow up with an attack, in 10-15 seconds, should be penalized.
If one contestant attacks aggressively and uke does not/is unable to initiate attack; the time uke does not initiate attack should be CUMULATIVE, CUMULATIVE TIME against uke IS NOT BROKEN as a result of tori's tachi waza attacks, tori's newaza attacks, Matte, other non-attacking actions by both contestants.
Counter fighters should be made to initiate attacks and not allowed to wait for the opponent to attack.
Note that kumi-kata may be a one hand grip.

4. TO MAKE AN ACTION DESIGNED TO GIVE THE IMPRESION OF AN ATTACK BUT WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO THROW THE OPPONENT (FALSE ATTACK)

Keep in mind ATTITUDE / INTENT / POSTURE of the contestant(s).
Penalize first false attack, early in the contest; do not allow a freebie; do not wait for the next one. When a throwing action warrants a score, you do not wait for the next one. As a penalty to one contestant results in a point for the other one, be consistent, call penalties as you would scores. Watch out as many contestants are very good at hiding false attacks.
Some of the actions which make a false attack;

no kuzushi
no turn/partial turn
loses grip easily when attempting a throw
falling to knee(s) or onto face/front
Uke hardly moves, maintains balance, does not bend or barely bends at waist

When tori commits a false attack, allow uke to take advantage of opening (counter/newaza) before calling penalty. Be aware that FEINT ATTACKS are allowed, to gauge opponent's reaction or to set opponent up for combination attack. Be aware of a strong opponent with good/strong blocking abilities. A poorly executed judo attacking technique is not necessarily a false attack.

5. TO STAND, BOTH FEET COMPLETELY WITHIN THE DANGER ZONE UNLESS BEGINNING AN ATTACK, EXECUTING AN ATTACK, COUNTERING YOUR OPPONENT'S ATTACK OR DEFENDING AGAINST YOUR OPPONENT'S ATTACK.

These are generally little problems. "Both feet completely within the danger zone" is the phrase to keep in mind. When any portion of either foot of the contestant is touching the inside green area of the contest area, the contestant is deemed not to be in the danger zone and therefore should not be penalized.

6. IN A STANDING POSITION TO CONTINUALLY HOLD WITHOUT ATTACKING (GENERALLY MORE THAN 5 SECONDS)

WITH ONE OR BOTH HANDS THE BELT OR BOTTOM OF THE OPPONENT'S JACKET
THE OPPONENT'S COLLAR LAPEL, SLEEVE OR JACKET ON THE SAME SIDE WITH BOTH HANDS
ONE SLEEVE OF THE OPPONENT'S JACKET WITH BOTH HANDS

Keep in mind ATTITUDE / INTENT / POSTURE of the contestant(s).
This hold should be allowed for about 5 seconds. Same side grip, ATTACK or RELEASE. If the intent is defensive, do not be tolerant, penalize early. Little more tolerant if contestant is attempting to attack aggressively. Contestant can maintain same side grip so long as subsequent attack(s) is/are made under 5 seconds. Also neither hand must change its grip/position.

Article 28 - states:
"A contestant should not be penalized for holding with both hands on one side of the jacket if the situation has been brought about by his opponent ducking his head beneath the holder's arm. However, if the contestant is continually ducking this way, the referee should give consideration as to whether he is adopting an 'excessively defensive posture'".

Shido is given to the contestant who holds for approximately 3-5 seconds with both hands on the same side of the opponent's lapel, sleeve or jacket, or with one or both hands onthe belt of jacket bottom. If however, a technique is attempted by the holder within 3-5 seconds time period, no penalty is given. After each attack the holder has another 3-5 seconds to attempt another throw or release the infringing grip.

When the opponent ducks his head under the holder's arm, the holder may maintain both hands on one side of the jacket as long as he does not change or move his grip on either hand. If he should change or move either hand grip, the situation reverts back to the 3-5 second time limit.