No Leg Grabs !? Mongolia GS | The Shintaro Higashi Show
Fresh from commentating at the Mongolia Grand Slam, Shintaro Higashi sits down with David Kim to unpack one of the most compelling IJF events in recent memory. Between the electric hometown crowd, standout performances from Mongolian athletes, and sweeping new rule changes, this tournament was a glimpse into judo’s evolving future.
The Trip (and an Unexpected Lounge Upgrade)
Before stepping onto the mat—or in this case the commentary booth—Shintaro’s route took him through Incheon International Airport in Korea. Usually unimpressed by airport lounges, he nearly canceled his premium credit cards earlier this year. But the Incheon lounge experience changed his mind: bibimbap stations, Korean fried chicken, snacks, massage chairs, showers, and multiple meal spreads over a 7-hour layover. “Seven hours flew by,” Shintaro said. “Nothing like this in the U.S.”
Watch the full video here ↓
The Big News: IJF Rule Changes
Mongolia didn’t just bring flair on the tatami, it was the testing ground for major adjustments to the international rulebook. Some of the most notable changes:
All Grips Allowed
For the first time in judo history, all grips are now legal—pistol grips, cat’s paw, cross-collar, four fingers inside the sleeve. In the past, these were often restricted or penalized unless followed by an immediate attack. The immediate effect? More aggressive sleeve fighting and dynamic grip breaks. “It was beautiful,” Shintaro remarked. “Even the Japanese team was using grips we’ve never seen from them before.”
Out-of-Bounds Adjustments
The old “one foot out = penalty” rule is gone. Now, stepping on or near the edge won’t be an automatic shido. The intent is to improve match flow—but it has opened the door to stalling tactics, with athletes “floating” on the edge to kill time. Shintaro isn’t convinced: “I liked the old rule—it created more throw attempts as people fought to stay in.”
Yuko Returns
The yuko score is back. Awarded for small throws or brief pins (5 seconds), it adds another scoring layer between no score and waza-ari. Throwing an opponent partially onto their front now counts—closing a long-standing grey area.
Head Dive Leniency
Previously, any head-first contact was an automatic Hansoku-make for safety. Now, cadets still face penalties, but juniors and seniors can decide for themselves—allowing risky, high-torque throws without instant disqualification. “They realized too many calls were up for debate—was it intentional or a brush? This fixes that,” Shintaro explained.
Bear Hug Simplified
You can now clasp hands around the opponent’s body if one hand is on the judogi. This tweak makes the rule easier to enforce and eliminates some split-second judgement calls.
No Leg Grab Revival
Despite speculation, leg grabs remain illegal in scoring situations, except as part of counters or transitions. IJF data showed leg-based attacks slowed scoring and encouraged stalling. “From a flow perspective, I get it,” Shintaro said. “The game we have now rewards throws—and with all grips allowed, you still have creative entries.”
Highlights from Mongolia
Mongolia’s home team delivered, with several gold medals and upsets—chief among them a Mongolian victory over the reigning All-Japan champion. “This wasn’t one of those unstoppable All-Japan champs; still great, but slower, more methodical—and the Mongolian just went after him.”
Other standouts:
Nutffloyev (UZB) — explosive throws and crowd-pleasing style.
Hiroto Shirakane (JPN) — golden debut in the lightweight division.
Sherazadashvili (ESP) — the Georgian-born world champ fighting for Spain showed his trademark skill.
Shintaro also highlighted how the new grip freedom allowed athletes from traditional wrestling cultures—Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan—to bring more of their national styles into high-level judo.
Nage-Waza Meets New-Waza: Ground Game Evolution
While standing exchanges grabbed headlines, the ground game continues to evolve under IJF’s time-limited rules. With 5–10 seconds to show “forward progression,” athletes are finding creative transitions to pins and submissions:
Belt wraps and tight hooks reminiscent of national wrestling styles.
Quick crucifix turnovers and topside triangle entries.
Butterfly-hook sweeps adapted to the judogi.
“There’s judo newaza now that you don’t see in BJJ or anywhere else,” Shintaro noted. “It’s sport-specific, shaped by the rules, and it’s getting really sophisticated.”
Behind the Scenes: Big Money and Bigger Crowds
Shintaro spoke with IJF executives about the popularity of judo in Central Asia. In countries like Uzbekistan, top judoka are millionaires, national celebrities with houses, cars, and lifetime support. At events like the Tashkent Grand Slam, stadiums are packed—and thousands more watch outside on big screens.
And while online streaming is growing (Georgia and Russia lead IJF.tv subscriptions), the biggest revenue still comes from traditional TV rights in judo-obsessed nations.
Final Thoughts
The Mongolia Grand Slam proved that rule changes can make judo fresher without losing its soul. All grips allowed has already added excitement; the return of yuko clarifies small scores. Out-of-bounds rules remain debatable, and there’s still no place for leg grabs in IJF scoring—but Shintaro came back energized.
“It’s a great time to be a judo fan,” he said. “The sport’s evolving, the athletes are adapting, and culturally, it’s never been more global.”
Special Offer: FUJI GI’s 20% OFF
Upgrade your training with the same high-quality gis trusted by Shintaro Higashi! For a limited time, you can get 20% off all Fuji Sports judo gis when you shop through this exclusive link. Don’t miss your chance to save on top-tier gear—click the link and elevate your judo game today!
Higashi Brand All-in-One Instructional Bundle! This exclusive collection includes all of Shintaro Higashi’s top instructionals in one powerful package, giving you the techniques, concepts, and strategies you need to dominate the mats.
✔ Comprehensive Training – Covering everything from throws, gripping strategies, transitions, and submissions to advanced tactics for Judo and BJJ.
✔ Perfect for All Levels – Whether you're a beginner looking to build fundamentals or an experienced competitor refining your game, this bundle has it all.
✔ High-Level Concepts – Learn the drilling sequences, movement mechanics, and real-world applications that separate hobbyists from elite athletes.
✔ LIMITED-TIME OFFER – Buy the full bundle now and get 40% off!