Refereeing Ne-Waza: Osaekomi, Toketa and the Clock
Students learn the basic decisions of a judo referee on the ground and use them in real kneeling bouts. It builds observation, fairness and communication through signals.
How to play
- Key signals: the teacher shows hajime (begin), matte (stop), osaekomi (hold on) and toketa (hold broken), and the group copies them (4 min).
- Live replay: two students act out borderline situations in slow motion and the rest signal whether it's osaekomi or not (5 min).
- Groups of four: two fight on their knees for 1 min, one referees, one keeps time and logs each osaekomi and its length on the sheet; rotate (10 min).
- Sheet check: each group compares the referee's calls with what the timekeeper saw and discusses disagreements (4 min).
- Wrap-up: the group writes one golden rule for a good school referee (2 min).
Rules
- The referee is in charge: matte is obeyed instantly.
- Kneeling bouts, no neck, head or joint locks.
- Disagreements are discussed at the end, never during the bout.
- Double tap = stop, even if the referee missed it.
Variations
Easier
Referee only hajime, matte and osaekomi, no timing.
Standard
Four signals and timing of every hold.
Harder
The referee must also call waza-ari at 10 s and ippon at 20 s and explain decisions afterwards.
Adaptations
- Hearing impairment: the referee combines signals with eye contact; the group agrees that matte comes with a tap on the shoulder.
- Limited mobility: the student referees or keeps time from the edge of the mat with a clear view.
- Shyness: start as timekeeper and move to referee with a partner confirming the signals.
Learning goals
- Know the basic referee signals for ground judo.
- Make officiating decisions fairly.
- Communicate with clear signals and accept calls.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 16
- stopwatch: 6
- refereeing sheets: 30
Teacher tip
With a large class, set up three small mat areas of four mats each. The rookie referee's usual mistake is calling osaekomi when the attacker doesn't have the opponent's back pinned to the mat.
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