What do the referee's words mean in judo?
I · Intermediate · The contest · 2 of 9The referee runs the contest with a handful of Japanese words. "Hajime" means begin and "mate" means wait: the clock stops and the athletes go back to their marks. "Osaekomi" starts the count on a hold-down and "toketa" stops it. "Sore-made" ends the contest.
How it works
| Call | Meaning | Gesture |
|---|---|---|
| Hajime | Begin | |
| Mate | Wait. The contest is paused | One arm out at shoulder height, palm shown to the timekeepers |
| Ippon | Full score | One arm raised high above the head |
| Waza-ari | Near-ippon | One arm out to the side at shoulder height |
| Yuko | Smaller score | One arm out to the side, 45 degrees down from the body |
| Osaekomi | The hold is on | Arm pointed down at the athletes |
| Toketa | The hold is broken | Arm waved from side to side |
| Sono-mama | Freeze. Used only on the ground | The referee touches both athletes |
| Yoshi | Carry on, after sono-mama | The referee presses on both athletes |
| Sore-made | Finished |
The referee calls "mate" when, among other things:
- both athletes go right out of the contest area with no action in progress,
- an athlete commits a prohibited act,
- an athlete is hurt or ill,
- a judogi or hair needs putting right,
- there is no visible progress on the ground, or
- an athlete tries a strangle or armlock from standing.
The referee does not call "mate" to rescue an athlete who has escaped from a hold and looks in need of a rest.
A wrong score is cancelled by the referee repeating the gesture and waving the other hand above the head.
Tricky cases
Does the clock run during "mate"?
No. The time is real contest time, and "mate" stops the contest temporarily.
What is the difference between "mate" and "sono-mama"?
After "mate" the athletes stand and return to their starting positions. "Sono-mama" freezes them where they are on the ground, and they resume in the same position on "yoshi".
Why the rule exists
One language is used on every mat in the world, so athletes and officials from any country understand each other without a word of translation.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IJF rules | As above | J 4; J 11; J 12; J 13 |
From the rule book
International Judo Federation Sport and Organisation Rules, Refereeing Rules, Articles 4, 6, 11, 12 and 13. Version of 24 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (PDF).