Judo Olympic sports London 2012

Judo contests are a five-minute whirlwind of combat, with athletes attempting a combination of throws and holds in a bid to defeat their opponents.A total of 386 competitors will battle across 14 weight categories, seven for men and seven for women.All entries for Judo will be confirmed following the sport entries deadline on 9 July 2012View the full competition scheduleThe sport sees two athletes gain points for throws and holds in a bid to beat their opponent. A contest lasts a maximum of five minutes, and the athlete with the highest score is the winner. The best score is ippon, which can be achieved for a throw, a hold, a strangle or an armlock, and results in immediate victory. Judo made its first appearance as a medal sport at the Tokyo 1964 Games. The women’s competition was added to the programme at the Barcelona 1992 Games.

Developed from jujitsu, the hand-to-hand combat technique of ancient samurai warriors, judo basically involves throwing opponents to the floor and holding them in submission.

Fights take place on a mat 8sq metres in size, known as a ‘tatami’. Contests last five minutes and, if a competitor- judoka - manages to throw their opponent to the ground on their shoulder, to pin them to the ground on their back, or force them to submit to a choke, strangle or an arm-lock, they immediately score ‘ippon’- maximum score- and win the bout. Smaller scores are awarded for other kinds of throws and holds.

If the scores are tied after five minutes, the contest enters a golden score period, when the first score of any sort wins.

Fighters compete in events determined by their weight, and at London 2012 there will be seven weight classes for men and seven for women.

The tournament will follow a knock-out format. The winners of each contest will qualify for the next round, with the two finalists going head to head in the gold medal contest.

The defeated quarter-finalists will compete in two 'repechage' contests, the winners of which will then go up against the two defeated semi-finalists to determine the winners of the two bronze medals in each event.

Events / disciplines

Men’s 60kg, women’s 48kg

Men’s 66kg, women’s 52kg

Men’s 73 kg, women’s 57kg

Men’s 81kg, women’s 63kg

Men’s 90kg, women’s 70kg

Men’s 100kg, women’s 78kg

Men’s +100kg, women’s +78kg

Gold medals available

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