As a modern, motivated and progressive organisation, the Australian Kodokan Judo Association will implement the use of new modified scoring system for inclusion at the 2010 AKJA National Championships.

It was agreed by the National Congress in 2007, to trial a new scoring system for competitors in the Sub Yonen (U10yrs) age groups, not just at the National Championships but for all local tournaments held within affiliated State Associations.

The AIM:

The aim of doing so is to enhance enthusiasm, increase physical activity and encourage the participation of younger players in competition, whilst keeping the activity - fun. The new addition to the modified rules for the Sub Yonen groups is designed to remove the pressure from the young to just win but at the same time reward players for trying better techniques.

The RULES:

Instead of awarding a match when one competitor achieves an Ippon score, the idea is to encourage the young players to do more techniques and get a higher number of scores. Sometimes at the younger ages, it doesn’t take much for an opponent to fall over in such a manner that an Ippon is awarded, thus ending the bout relatively quickly.

Although this is in accordance with the IJF rules and in the spirit of competition, it doesn’t serve to teach the young kids much about the sport; meaning that in some cases, it is over before it has really started. Therefore the new modified scoring system should give players a better chance to score instead of walking away dejected as sometimes happens. There can only ever be one winner and always one looser, but this system is designed to encourage better participation and enjoyment for the kids.

Scoring for players, accumulates until either one of the players achieves 2 Ippons (contest is over) or the siren sounds. The contests are continuous time (2 minutes continuous) and scores are counted in point form as follows:

• Ippon: 10 points
• Waza Ari: 7 points
• Yuko: 5 points
• Yusei-gachi (Decision) 1 point

Working out who the winner is will depend on which player has the higher number of scores.

1st example: Any player scoring 2 Ippons will win the bout before the end of the contest time. 2 Waza Ari’s convert to an Ippon but for point scoring count as 7 points each whereas the Ippon counts for 10 points only.

2nd example: If one player has 1 Ippon and 1 Waza Ari and the other player has 2 Waza Ari’s, the first player wins. Where there is a need to decide a weight division by points, then in this example, the first player has 17 points and the other 14 points. The player with 17 points wins.

3rd example: One player has 1 Ippon, 1 Waza Ari & 3 Yukos and the other player has 1 Ippon & 2 Waza Ari’s, then the player with Ippon & 2 Waza-Aris wins as the 2 Waza Ari points equate to an Ippon, thus giving the player a win by 2 Ippons.

4th example: One player has 1 Ippon & 3 Yuko’s and the other has 2 Waza Ari’s & 3 Yuko’s, then the 2nd player wins. Where there is a need to decide a weight division by points, the first player in this example has 25 points but the 2nd player has 29 points.

In a Round Robin tournament where two players have equal wins, then the player with the most points will win on count back.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE SCORING:

This system encourages the junior player to continue their Te-Waza techniques into Ne-Waza techniques. Where one player has thrown their opponent to the ground and been awarded an Ippon score and they continue into Ne Waza and apply a ground hold, Osaekomi will be called once the gound hold is applied and the time of 25 seconds actioned, thus giving them a second Ippon score. This means that the player wins the match because of the 2 Ippons earned.

Similarliy, If the player is scored a Waza-Ari for the throw and follows it to the ground and applies a ground hold, then allow the Osaekomi time to continue to 25 seconds. This will give the player an Ippon score for the ground hold as well as the Waza-Ari for the initial throw. If you stop the hold at 20 seconds and award ‘Waza-Ari-Awasette-Ippon’, then the score is converted to only 2 Waza-Ari’s instead of the one Ippon & one Waza-Ari.

DELAY DURING CONTEST:

Where there is a delay during a contest -eg; players adjusting their Gi’s or any other reason where a lengthy delay may occur, - signal ‘Matte’ to the time keeper and request that they stop the clock. Once you are ready to continue, re-commence the bout by calling ‘Hajime’.

REMEMBER,

This initiative is about encouraging the younger players to attempt their techniques in an environment which rewards them for doing so but whilst having fun at the same time. It is designed to promote a better application of techniques by relieving the pressure of “the 1 Ippon wins the tournament” stress.

This system has been welcomed in both Victoria and S.A. over the last 2 years where it has been successfully trialled. For the un-initiated, it may seem a bit confusing at first, but once you get a basic understanding of the system, it’s pretty easy to apply.