Contest Rules Update Seminar

Referees of all levels are invited to attend a virtual rule update seminar at 7:00pm on Tuesday 11th February led by British Judo’s Refereeing Commission.

Coaches with other BJA members also welcome to attend.

It comes following the announcement that following approval by the BJA, the International Judo Federation’s 2025 contest rules will be adopted, with limited adaptations for younger judoka, at all British events effective from 22nd February 2025, beginning with the English Open.

The new rules have been introduced following a review of the 2022-24 Olympic cycle to increase the opportunities to score and win, to provide greater technical freedom to judoka and to reduce the number of technical penalties and disqualifications awarded.

We are adopting the new ruleset at pace in the expectation that this will maximise the opportunity for judoka and officials to learn and benefit from the new rules. However, this will be a learning experience for everyone – coaches, athletes and referees – and we would ask that everyone acknowledge and show understanding that some mistakes will be a natural part of adapting to the new ruleset. We would like to remind the judo community of our morale code whilst all parties adapt to the new rules.

Full details of the 2025 rules and the BJA application of them are available in our updated rulebooks on our Contest Rules section, with all existing BJA amendments (eg. technical restrictions) will continue to apply alongside these changes.