What is passivity in judo?
I · Intermediate · Penalties and injuries · 5 of 9Judo penalises not fighting. Once the athletes have taken hold, each has about 45 seconds to make an attack, provided the fight is progressing. Standing too defensively, refusing to take a grip and making a false attack, one with no real intent to throw, are all shido for lack of combativity.
How it works
Shido for a lack of combativity is given for:
- A negative posture: an excessively defensive stance after taking hold, not looking for an attack.
- No attack: making no attacking move after the grips are set. The rules give 45 seconds between taking a normal grip and attacking, "if there is a positive progression".
- Avoiding the grip: not taking a normal hold, or trying not to be gripped. The rules tell referees to penalise this strictly.
- A false attack. The rules define it by five signs: no intention of throwing; attacking without a grip or letting go at once; one or several fake attacks that do not disturb the opponent's balance; putting a leg between the opponent's legs to block an attack; no realistic possibility of throwing.
- Dragging down: pulling the opponent to the ground without a technique.
- Stepping out: going outside the contest area on purpose with no attack in progress.
The referee's signal for passivity is to rotate the forearms in front of the chest and then point at the athlete. For a false attack, both fists are pushed forward and down.
Tricky cases
Is the 45 seconds a strict clock?
No. It is the time the rules allow between gripping and attacking when the fight is progressing. An athlete who will not grip at all can be penalised sooner.
An athlete drops to the knees again and again without unbalancing the opponent. Is that an attack?
No. Repeated attacks "with no breaking of uke's balance" are false attacks, and each can be a shido.
Can an athlete who is ahead be penalised for passivity?
Yes. The rule makes no exception for the athlete in the lead.
Why the rule exists
A contest in which neither athlete risks an attack produces no throw. The 45 seconds, and the false-attack rule that stops it being dodged, keep both of them trying to score.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IJF rules | As above | J 18.1.1; J 4 |
From the rule book
International Judo Federation Sport and Organisation Rules, Refereeing Rules, Articles 4, 10 and 18.1.1. Version of 24 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (PDF).