Rules explained
How Judo Scoring Actually Works
Judo scoring looks confusing from the sidelines because the rules have changed more than once in the last decade — including one score that was removed, then brought back. Here's how it works under the current IJF rules for the 2026–2028 competition cycle.
Ippon — the full point
Ippon ends the match immediately, whoever is ahead. It's awarded for:
- A decisive throw that lands the opponent largely on their back, with control, speed, and force
- Pinning an opponent on their back for 20 seconds
- A submission from a choke or an armlock
Waza-ari — the half point
Waza-ari is awarded for a throw that's missing just one of the ippon criteria (say, enough control but not quite enough force), or for a hold lasting 10–19 seconds. Two waza-ari in the same match combine into an ippon and end the contest — this is the one combination rule everyone remembers, and it hasn't changed.
Yuko — back for the 2026–2028 cycle
Yuko was removed from the rules in 2017, which is why a lot of older explanations online (and honestly, some out-of-date apps and articles) will tell you it no longer exists. The IJF reinstated it for the current 2026–2028 Olympic cycle. It's awarded for:
- A throw that lands the opponent on their side, angled 90° or more toward the front
- A throw landing the opponent on their buttocks or upper back
- A hold lasting 5–9 seconds
Shido — penalties, not points for the opponent
A shido is a warning for a rule infringement — passivity, an illegal grip, stepping out of bounds repeatedly, and similar. Unlike some other combat sports, a shido does not add a score to the opponent's side. What it does instead: a third shido results in hansoku-make — automatic disqualification.
All of this — including the Yuko comeback — is covered in Judo Academy's rules quiz, kept up to date with the current IJF rule set instead of whatever was true a few years ago.
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