SportsMaze

What changes the result

The rules behind the moments commentators get excited about. They build on the beginner rules.

I · Intermediate · 4 rules · Step 2 of 3

Before the fight

  1. How do blind judoka find their starting position?The coach escorts the athlete to the referee at the edge, both athletes hold the referee's arm and bow together, and the referee walks J1 athletes straight to the starting position.

During the fight

  1. What happens if a blind judoka lets go of the grip?Visually impaired athletes must fight with both hands at all times.
  2. Are leg grabs allowed in para judo?Leg grabbing follows the IJF system, but the referee takes the visual impairment into account: contact to protect the body, or from losing balance, is not penalised.
  3. How do blind judoka know where the mat edge is?Near the safety area the referee moves towards the centre and calls jogai loudly and repeatedly, so athletes turn to the voice.
A · Advanced · 2 rulesNext: advanced rules