New IJF Rules – Leg Grabs Aren’t Dead (Yet?)
The Return of Yuko: Fine-Tuning the Scoring System
The 2024 IJF rule update brought back something many Judoka didn’t expect to see again—Yuko scoring. Previously phased out in favor of Waza-ari and Ippon, Yuko is now making a comeback as a third tier of scoring, awarded for lower-impact or slightly off-angle throws that fall short of the Waza-ari criteria.
This change seems to address what many have described as a scoring “gap.” Too often, athletes would land effective but not quite textbook throws and walk away with nothing. “There’s a lot of scores that are almost scores,” Shintaro points out. “And I think the Waza-ari just became too watered down.”
Adding Yuko back in allows referees to differentiate between levels of impact and reward smaller but significant exchanges. Importantly, Yuko will not accumulate with other scores—it stands alone as a tiebreaker or supplementary edge in a match. This opens up new strategic considerations for competitors and coaches alike.
For those who want a closer look, Shintaro recommends watching the official IJF technical seminar available on JudoTV. “You could use discount code ‘CoachShintaro’ by the way,” he adds with a smile.Watch the full video here ↓
Reworking Safety Rules and Gripping Tactics
One of the most contentious and impactful rule adjustments revolves around head safety. In recent years, Judo has been hyper-vigilant about protecting athletes from catastrophic head and neck injuries. Rules around head-first landings were strict—any contact with the head could be penalized harshly. Now, the IJF is relaxing some of these restrictions, especially for senior athletes.
Shintaro recalls the confusion: “It was very tricky to see—did he bridge off his head? Did he dive? Did the hair brush the floor? Or did he use his head to actually finish the score?” These gray areas created frequent disputes and uncertain outcomes. “They kind of went with, ‘You know what? It’s fine. You can use your head now.’”
Additionally, gripping rules have been broadened significantly. Pistol grips, pocket grips, and all jacket grips are now allowed, and grabbing the top of the inner thigh—previously considered a violation—has been permitted. This change aims to reduce unnecessary penalties during inside trips and techniques like sasae where the hand may unintentionally drift too low.
While these updates may seem subtle, they reflect a shift in how the IJF wants the sport to be played—more action, fewer penalties, and less ambiguity around infractions.
Leg Grabs: A Slow Return on the Horizon?
The hot topic among Judoka remains leg grabs, which have been banned in most contexts for over a decade. Leading up to the IJF’s technical meeting in Istanbul, rumors were flying that leg grabs would finally be reintroduced. “All the top dogs told me, ‘There’s going to be leg grabs,’” Shintaro says.
Yet when the official rules were released, leg grabs remained banned—at least for now.
But Shintaro has a bold prediction: “They’re going to ease that in there… I think after the Senior World Championships, they’ll introduce more leg grabs.” His theory is based on how the IJF tends to roll out big changes. They test smaller iterations over time—adjusting, analyzing, and iterating—before a major leap.
There is movement in that direction. For example, the rules now permit contact with the top inner thigh, and a clear anatomical line has been drawn to define the start of the “leg.” This reduces confusion when hands slip downward during throws or setups.
“This is their way into it,” Shintaro explains. “Little by little, they’re going to start allowing contact below the waist.”
So while we can’t expect double-leg takedowns just yet, the conversation is evolving—and it’s one Judoka everywhere should be watching closely as the 2024 season unfolds.
New Focus on Groundwork and Cleaner Boundaries
Beyond the standing game, the new rule set also makes significant changes to newaza (groundwork) and mat boundary enforcement—two areas often overlooked but critical for pacing and match fairness.
A welcome update is that active groundwork now shields competitors from passivity penalties. Under the old system, you could dominate on the ground but still be penalized for inactivity on the feet. Now, referees are instructed to consider aggressive newaza attempts when evaluating passivity.
“If you’re not attacking at all on the feet but very aggressively try to turn the person consistently, you’re not going to get passivity anymore,” Shintaro explains. “I think this is a positive change.”
The out-of-bounds rules have also been updated to eliminate the previous gray areas. Previously, if one athlete floated out of bounds, they could be penalized—but only if they weren’t being actively pushed or attacked. The new language intends to make it more objective and easier for referees to call. Think “Sumo-style” clarity: you step out, you’re out.
One of the more nuanced changes involves Kansetsu Waza (joint locks) performed during throws. The IJF now distinguishes between submissions that allow the opponent a chance to escape and those that do not. If a joint lock is applied mid-throw and the opponent has no opportunity to tap, the attacker may now be penalized—especially in dangerous situations like Sode Tsurikomi Goshi into a hyperextended elbow.
Looking Ahead: Budapest and Beyond
The current rule set will remain in place until the 2024 Senior World Championships in Budapest. What comes next is uncertain—but change is almost guaranteed. The IJF’s methodical and iterative rule evolution gives athletes and coaches time to adapt while allowing for refinement.
“It’s hard to predict the output,” Peter notes. “So the only way to really figure it out is to test it. And I applaud the IJF for making changes in a systematic way.”
While some worry these changes may slow down matches or create new conflicts—like the potential overlap between 30-second kumikata rules and Korean seoi-nage safety violations—Shintaro remains cautiously optimistic.
In the meantime, all eyes are on rising stars like Team USA’s Yang, who Shintaro saw in action at the Tokyo Grand Slam: “There’s footage of him training with Olympic champs. He’s not avoiding anyone. That’s a really good sign.”
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