IJF Announces Rule Changes for 2026 Competition Season

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has announced a series of rule modifications that will take effect during the 2026 competition season. These changes aim to promote more dynamic judo and reduce passive play.

Key Changes

1. Golden Score Modifications

The golden score period will now have a maximum duration of five minutes, after which referees must decide the winner based on overall performance. This change addresses concerns about excessively long matches.

2. Grip Penalty Adjustments

The time allowed for unconventional grips before attack has been slightly extended:

• Previous rule: 5 seconds
• New rule: 7 seconds

This modification recognizes that some techniques require additional setup time while still preventing purely defensive gripping.

3. Matte Protocol

Referees have been instructed to allow more action before calling matte, particularly during groundwork transitions. The goal is to encourage continuous judo and reduce unnecessary stoppages.

Rationale Behind Changes

IJF President Marius Vizer explained the reasoning:

"These modifications reflect our commitment to making judo both exciting for spectators and fair for athletes. We've listened to feedback from coaches, athletes, and fans."

Coach Reactions

Reactions from the coaching community have been mixed:

• Supporters praise the extended grip time for allowing more technique variety
• Critics worry the golden score limit could lead to controversial decisions

Implementation Timeline

The new rules will be introduced as follows:

1. February 2026: Grand Slam events
2. March 2026: Grand Prix events
3. April 2026: Continental Championships

Impact on Athletes

Athletes and coaches are advised to review the detailed rule documentation on the IJF website and adjust their competition strategies accordingly.

Training Considerations

Coaches should consider:

• Adjusting grip fighting drills
• Preparing for potential referee decisions
• Developing strategies for the five-minute golden score limit

The full documentation is available on the official IJF website.