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In order to create more action and reduce stalling in judo competition, a non-combativity rule has been approved by the International Judo Federation and will become effective January 1, 1973. I believe that we should start now, as the International Judo Federation has done, to explain and demonstrate this rule to all contestants and referees before every tournament.

Application

Non-combativity exists when in the opinion of the referee there has been no action on the part of one or both competitors for an unreasonable period of time. This call requires the use of good judgment on the part of the referee because it is impractical to establish a firm time limit. As a general guide-line, a period of approximately 20 or 30 seconds would constitute non-combativity but the period of time could conceivably be either longer or shorter.

Referee Action

• Call matte or sonomama
• Give the hand signal: slowly rotate both arms in front of the chest three or four times
• Indicate clearly the offending competitor or competitors, making sure that both competitors and judges have observed the signals
• Announce the appropriate penalty as specified in Article 29
• Call hajime or yoshi to resume the bout.

(Handwritten: "1st one is always free regardless what kind of penalty he has")

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