How the judo world ranking works
How many points does a judoka get for winning a Grand Slam?
A thousand. The IJF gives points by event and finishing place: 2,200 for an Olympic title, 2,000 for a world title, 1,800 for winning the Masters, 1,000 for a Grand Slam, 700 for a Grand Prix and 800 for a continental title such as the Asian Championships. Bronze medallists (two per weight in judo) get half the winner's points.
A result counts in full for 12 months, then at half value for another 12, then it is gone. Only the six best results in each of those two years count.
Except for small participation points, a judoka must win at least one contest to score. Points stay in the weight where they were won.
The ranking decides seeding at major events and, for LA28, who qualifies.
The one thing to remember: a judo ranking is your six best results this year plus half of your six best from last year.
Points (seniors)
| Place | Continental Open | Continental Championships | Junior World Championships | Grand Prix | Grand Slam | Masters | World Championships | Olympic Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 100 | 800 | 700 | 700 | 1,000 | 1,800 | 2,000 | 2,200 |
| 2nd | 70 | 560 | 490 | 490 | 700 | 1,260 | 1,400 | 1,540 |
| 3rd | 50 | 400 | 350 | 350 | 500 | 900 | 1,000 | 1,100 |
| 5th | 36 | 288 | 252 | 252 | 360 | 648 | 720 | 792 |
| 7th | 26 | 208 | 182 | 182 | 260 | 468 | 520 | 572 |
| 9th (last 16) | 16 | 128 | 112 | 112 | 160 | 288 | 320 | 352 |
| 17th (last 32) | 12 | 96 | 84 | 84 | 120 | 216 | 240 | 264 |
| 1 contest won | 10 | 80 | 70 | 70 | 100 | 0 | 200 | |
| Participation | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 100 | 20 |
An oddity in the table: for the Masters it gives 0 for one contest won and 100 for taking part, the reverse of every other column. The text says participation points are given at the Masters. Check with the IJF before Gate 1.
Participation points go to everyone who passes the official weigh-in. Every other point needs at least one contest won.
Juniors at the Junior World Championships also go onto the senior list, with Grand Prix points.
At Grand Prix and Grand Slam events, only the two best home-country judoka per weight can earn points.
Time
| Period | Results | Value |
|---|---|---|
| The last 12 months | Six best | 100% |
| 13 to 24 months ago | Six best | 50% |
| After 24 months | 0 |
The change happens by week number. A tournament in week 10 of one year is halved at the start of week 11 the next year and expires at the start of week 11 the year after. Continental championships are all treated as if held in the same week, so no continent gains: seniors' points are halved and expire on the Monday of week 18.
The six-best system started in 2025, with no extra result for continental events or the Masters.
Ties
The highest current points from World Championships; then from Grand Prix, Grand Slams and Masters together; then the best single result, the second best and so on. For Olympic qualification, if still level, the IJF Executive Committee decides.
A worked example
Made up to show the arithmetic. In the last 12 months: a Grand Slam bronze (500), Asian Championships silver (560), two Grand Prix fifths (252 each), a World Championships seventh (520) and a Grand Slam last 16 (160): 2,244. In the 12 months before: a Grand Prix gold (700), and five other results worth 900 in all, halved: (700 + 900) ÷ 2 = 800. Total: 3,044.
Where to see it
ijf.org, world ranking list, updated after each ranking event.
Variations
| Ranking | Covered here |
|---|---|
| Seniors individual | Yes |
| Juniors and cadets | No: three best Grand Prix and Continental Cup results plus the last continental and world championships |
| Mixed teams | No |
| The ranking "of the Olympic qualification period" used for LA28 | Not defined in the SOR; see the LA28 judo page |