Balance, mental focus and tactics meet technique, agility and leverage in this frenetic display of explosive throws. The objective — take your opponent down using control, not brute force.

With its origins in Japan, the word ‘Judo’ translates as ‘gentle way’. While punching, kicking or striking is strictly prohibited, don’t be fooled — there’s no shortage of high-octane action.

There are three ways to score in Judo — an ‘Ippon’ (a full point), which ends the bout instantly,  a ‘waza-ari’ (a half point) and a 'Yuko' (quarter point). A person can win by scoring either an 'Ippon', two 'waza-ari' (within the 4-minute contest time), or accumulating the greatest number of 'Yuko' across the contest. At the end of the 4-minute contest, if there is no score or a draw in scores, the contest will continue into Golden Score (sudden death), where the first score wins.

An Ippon can be awarded by:

• Throwing an opponent onto their back with control and power

• Pinning an opponent for 20 seconds

• Forcing a submission through a chokehold or arm lock

A waza-ari is given for:

• A throw that lacks full control or power

• A pin lasting under 20 seconds

A Yuko is given for:

• A minor throw that lacks control or power, with the landing position on the side towards the front

• A pin lasting 5 - 9 seconds

Judo also builds strength, flexibility, agility, speed, balance, explosive power and endurance — making it a full-body test as well as a tactical one.

Previous Commonwealth Games Appearances

Glasgow 2026 marks the fifth time Judo has featured at the Games, following appearances at Auckland 1990, Manchester 2002, Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022.

Learn the Lingo

All terminology used in Judo is in Japanese, in line with the sport’s heritage.
To begin the match, the referee calls ‘Hajime!’
To pause the contest, they shout ‘Matte!’