Judo

Each competition is categorised based on weight and severity of visual impairment. Judoka are categorised as J1 (blind) or J2 (visually impaired) and compete in the following weight categories:

• Men’s events: -60kg, -73kg, -90kg, +90kg.
• Women’s events: -48kg, -57kg, -70kg, +70kg.

Contests take place over four minutes with scores of varying degrees awarded for throws, holding techniques or submissions with judoka scoring the coveted ippon to end the contest.

However, if neither achieves an ippon during the contest, the player who has registered a waza-ari at the end of the contest is declared the winner. Two waza-ari also make an ippon.

Shidos (penalties) are also given to the athletes for reasons such as being passive, negative judo or stepping out of the area and can ultimately lead to victory and/or disqualification. Collecting three penalties can award victory to their opponent.

If both judoka are tied on scores at the end of their contest, it goes to a ‘golden score’, where the first person to score wins with no time limit during this period.

Ippon is the highest score in judo and scoring ippon ends the contest. It is shown on the scoreboard as 10.

Ippon can be scored in one of four ways:

1. Throwing your opponent largely on their back with considerable force and speed.
2. Holding down your opponent with Osaekomi waza (holding techniques), who is unable to escape for 20 seconds.
3. When your opponent submits tapping twice or more with their hand or foot or say maitti (I give up) as a result of osaekomi waza (holding techniques), shime waza (choking or strangling techniques) or kansetsu waza (arm locks).
4. Scoring two waza-ari against your opponent.

Waza-ari is shown on the scoreboard as a score of 1 and can be scored in two ways:

1. Throwing your opponent but lacking one of the three elements for ippon – largely on their back or with force and speed.
2. Holding down your opponent for 10 seconds or more, but less than 20 seconds.