Feb 05, 2014 10:17 AM

Judo national squad will compete in Grand Slam under new rules

Decisions by the International Judo Federation (IJF) go from weighing of competitors to scoring at Olympic qualifying events

Brazilian judo athletes will compete at the Grand Slam in Paris next weekend putting into practice the new rules established for the sport for the 2014-2016 cycle. In a Pan American seminar sponsored by the International Judo Federation (IJF) on 17 and 18 January at Fort Lauderdale, Florida (United States), important criteria and standards for championships were changed, such as the weighing of athletes, fight duration and even the scoring for Olympic qualifying events.

The changes have two main objectives: make the sport more popular and dynamic. “The aim is to make judo easier to understand by the general public, who watches it on television, but also more dynamic, as we want it to be more popular", explains the national technical and events manager of the Brazilian Judo Confederation (CBJ) Robnelson Ferreira. Therefore, criteria for the three scores awarded by the referee (ippon, waza-ari or yuko) are made clearer for instance, as well as penalties (shido) for certain moves and blows, in addition to when fighters leave the combat area.

CBJ

CBJ#A world champion in 2013, Rafaela Silva (in blue) is one of the athletes who will compete in the Grand Slam in Paris, trying out the new rules: four minute bouts

A world champion in 2013, Rafaela Silva (in blue) is one of the athletes who will compete in the Grand Slam in Paris, trying out the new rules: four minute bouts

However, the changes will also benefit athletes during the bouts. The size of kimonos (judogui) have been changed with the aim of facilitating a firm grip, using a longer sleeve and a tighter collar. Manufactures will have until May – when the new Olympic cycle comes into force – to adapt. In addition, the most important competitions in the global calendar, such as the World Championship and the World Masters, will be worth more in regards to Olympic qualifying scores.

The duration of the fight has been changed specifically for women. Now, female bouts will last four minutes, while they will be kept at five for male competitors.

CBJ

Bruno Mendonça (in white) is among the Brazilian athletes who will compete at the Grand Slam in Paris

Weighing was also adapted based on studies. The new rules establish that athletes in the junior and senior categories be weighed on the eve of the competition. The other athletes will be weighed on the day of the actual fight, in the morning.

In the case of doping, the athlete involved will lose not only his/her medal, as well as his/her finishing position. “Before, if a winning judo athlete was caught by the anti-doping test, he/she'd lose the medal, but no-one was moved up into their position. The first place was left empty. They have come to the conclusion that this was unfair”, points out Robnelson Ferreira. Therefore, if this happens, each athlete will go up a position in the final rankings.

Ana Cláudia Felizola – Brazil 2016 Portal

See the Brazilian athletes who will compete in the Grand Slam in Paris, which is already following the new rules:

Women

48kg: Sarah Menezes (AJ Expedito Falcão/PI)
52kg: Jéssica Pereira (Instituto Reação/RJ)
57kg: Flávia Gomes (EC Pinheiros/SP)
57kg: Rafaela Silva (Instituto Reação/RJ)
63kg: Katherine Campos (CR Flamengo/RJ)
63kg: Mariana Silva (Minas TC/MG)
70kg: Maria Portela (SOGIPA/RS)
70kg: Nádia Merli (EC Pinheiros/SP)
+78kg: Maria Suelen Altheman (AJ Rogério Sampaio/SP)

Men

60kg: Felipe Kitadai (SOGIPA/RS)
73kg: Marcelo Contini (EC Pinheiros/SP)
73kg: Bruno Mendonça (AJ Rogério Sampaio/SP)
90kg: Eduardo Santos (SOGIPA/RS)
100kg: Renan Nunes (SOGIPA/RS)
100kg: Hugo Pessanha (Minas TC/MG)
+100kg: David Moura (Kodokan de Cuiabá/MT)