How is a ju-jitsu duo performance marked?
B · Beginner · Judging · 3 of 3Three jury referees each give 0 to 3 points for every part of every defence: the attack, the first defence, the throw or takedown and the closing. Series C adds a fifth part for control of the weapon. The video referee adds a score for variety at the end. The marks are added up for the total.
How it works
- Three jury referees: seated at the edge of the mat. Each scores every part of every defence, in about ten seconds.
- Each part: 0 to 3 points.
- Part 1, attack: a firm, correctly placed grip or a powerful attack that would land.
- Part 2, first defence: a strike and balance-breaking that leads to the throw.
- Part 3, throw, takedown or submission: a clean, one-stage throw, or a well-controlled lock or strangle.
- Part 4, closing: a powerful, balanced strike at the right distance with the hand or foot pulled back, or a well-controlled lock or choke.
- Part 5, series C only: the defender has full control of the weapon or stands between the attacker and it.
- The principles: power, biomechanical logic, control, effectiveness and speed that is realistic, not too fast and not too slow.
- Variety: added by the video referee at the end.
- The same jury: a referee cannot be replaced during a round, so every pair in it is marked by the same panel.
The glossary has the duo scoring, the hantei and jury, the variety, the tori and uke, the series A, B and C and the performance (duo).
Tricky cases
The attacker jumps into the throw to help it along. How is that marked?
Down. A throw in which the attacker jumps scores 1, and one where the attacker jumps without any effort from the defender scores 0.
The defender is cut by the rubber knife during a series C defence. What happens?
The throw part, the closing part and the weapon-control part can each score 0 if the defender is hit or cut by the weapon.
Is a faster defence a better one?
No. The rules ask for speed that is technical and realistic, not too fast and not too slow.
Are the three judges always the same for every pair?
Within a round, yes. Across the qualification phase the panels should differ as much as possible, to average out the judging.
Why the rule exists
Marking each part on a short scale keeps three judges close together and shows exactly where a pair lost marks. Scoring the attack as well as the defence matters: a defence against a weak or badly aimed attack proves little.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Series A and B | Four parts, 0 to 3 each | JJIF Duo 5.2.1; 5.2.4 |
| Series C | A fifth part for weapon control | JJIF Duo 5.2.3 |
| Variety | Scored once, by the video referee | JJIF Duo 4.7; 5.7 |
| Kata in karate | One overall mark from each judge | WKF Kata 5.4 |
From the rule book
Ju-Jitsu International Federation, Ju-Jitsu Duo Rulebook (version 4.1, approved March 2024), Section 5 and the scoring tables 5.4 to 5.6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Ju-Jitsu Duo Rulebook.