Quick answer: you win a judo match in one of four ways — score ippon (an instant win), build a lead on the clock, force the opponent into three penalties, or win in overtime. There are only two scores in modern judo: ippon and waza-ari. Ippon is awarded for a throw landing the opponent largely on their back with control and force, a pin (osaekomi) held for 20 seconds, or a submission by armlock or strangle. A waza-ari is a lesser score — a throw missing one ippon element, or a pin held 10 to 19 seconds — and two waza-ari equal a win. Senior matches last 4 minutes; a tie goes to sudden-death “golden score” overtime.
Last updated: July 25, 2026. This guide explains how judo is scored and how to win, the penalty (shido) system, match length and golden score, and the main prohibited actions, all under the current International Judo Federation rules. It is a plain-English overview for competitors and spectators, not a substitute for the official IJF Sport and Organisation Rules.
How do you win a judo match?
There are four ways a judo contest ends with a winner.
- Ippon — a single ippon ends the match immediately, whatever the clock says.
- Two waza-ari — two waza-ari scores combine into a win (waza-ari-awasete-ippon).
- Score lead at time — if neither fighter scores ippon, whoever holds a waza-ari when the four minutes expire wins.
- Opponent disqualified — a third penalty (shido), or a single serious foul (hansoku-make), hands the win to the other athlete.
Judo scoring: ippon and waza-ari
Modern judo has only two scores. The old “yuko” was removed in 2017, so the scoreboard is simpler than it used to be: ippon wins outright, and two waza-ari also win.
| Score | Awarded for | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ippon | A throw landing the opponent largely on their back with control, speed and force; OR a pin (osaekomi) held 20 seconds; OR a submission by armlock or strangle (tap or “maitta”) | Instant win — match over |
| Waza-ari | A throw with control but missing one element of ippon; OR a pin held 10 to 19 seconds | Two waza-ari = win; otherwise the tiebreaker at time |
For a pin to count, the opponent must be controlled largely on their back while the athlete applying it stays off the ground and free of the opponent’s legs. The referee calls “osaekomi” to start the count and “toketa” if the hold breaks.
Judo penalties: the shido system
Minor rule-breaking is punished with a shido. The first two shido are warnings and do not add to the opponent’s score. A third shido becomes hansoku-make — the offending athlete loses the match. If the contest is otherwise tied at the end of regulation, the athlete with fewer shido does not automatically win; the match instead goes to golden score, where shido still count.
Common reasons for a shido include:
- Passivity — not attacking for a sustained period
- An excessively defensive, bent-over posture to avoid being thrown
- Stepping outside the contest area, or pushing the opponent out
- A false attack — faking a throw with no intent to complete it
- Illegal or overly defensive gripping, or breaking a grip without attacking
- Inserting fingers inside the opponent’s sleeve or trouser opening
A hansoku-make can also be given directly, without prior shido, for a serious infraction: attacking a joint other than the elbow, any deliberate leg grab (banned since 2010), diving headfirst, lifting and slamming a grounded opponent, or dangerous techniques such as kawazu-gake. A direct hansoku-make can carry expulsion from the event as well as loss of the match.
Match length and golden score
Senior contests last four minutes of actual time for both men and women — the clock stops whenever the referee calls “matte” (wait). If the scores are level at the end of regulation, the match goes to golden score: a sudden-death overtime with no time limit, where the first score or the opponent’s third shido decides it. Any scores and shido from regulation carry over into golden score.
A judo match starts standing (tachi-waza) and can move to the ground (ne-waza) when a throw or attack takes it there. The referee controls the flow with three main calls: “hajime” to start, “matte” to pause, and “sore-made” to end the contest.
Judo rules vs BJJ rules
Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu share techniques but score them very differently. Judo rewards the throw above all — a clean throw ends the match instantly, and groundwork is time-limited, so a judoka must make something happen quickly on the mat. BJJ, by contrast, is built around the ground game: throws score a few points but the match is won on positional points and submissions over a longer time, with no rush to leave the floor.
Judo also bans leg grabs and most locks outside the elbow, where BJJ allows a much wider range of leg locks and takedowns. For the jiu-jitsu scoring system, see our guide to BJJ points and scoring, our judo vs jiu-jitsu comparison, and the judo throws, belt order and weight classes guides.
Frequently asked questions
How is judo scored?
With two scores: ippon and waza-ari. Ippon (a clean throw on the back, a 20-second pin, or a submission) wins instantly. Waza-ari is a lesser score for a near-ippon throw or a 10-to-19-second pin, and two waza-ari also win. Yuko, the old third score, was abolished in 2017.
What is an ippon in judo?
Ippon is the maximum score and an instant win. It is awarded for throwing the opponent largely on their back with control, speed and force; for pinning them for 20 seconds; or for a submission by armlock or strangle that makes them tap or say “maitta.”
How many shido can you get in judo?
Two. The first two shido are warnings that do not score for your opponent, but the third shido becomes hansoku-make and you lose the match. Serious fouls can bring a direct hansoku-make with no prior warning.
How long is a judo match?
Four minutes of actual time for senior men and women, with the clock stopped during “matte.” If it is tied at the end, the match continues into golden score — sudden-death overtime with no time limit, decided by the next score or penalty.
Are leg grabs allowed in judo?
No. Deliberately grabbing the legs to throw or defend has been banned since 2010 and draws a penalty. It is one of the biggest rule differences between judo and wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which both permit leg attacks.
What is golden score in judo?
Judo’s sudden-death overtime. If the score is level after regulation, the match continues with no time limit and the first score or the opponent’s third shido wins. Scores and penalties from regulation carry over.
