Refereeing and decision

Five: the main referee (shushin) and four corner judges (fukushin). An ippon, a waza-ari, a foul, a jogai or a decision is valid only when at least three of the five referees support it; the judgment of two referees or of the main referee alone does not stand. Each referee may object and ask for a discussion. The final decision on the competition rests with the chief referee.

By order of priority. A waza-ari prevails first. Without a waza-ari, the damage suffered counts first. Without damage, the number of hand and foot techniques, including effective strikes. With equal numbers, fighting spirit (kihaku) decides — when one side must be chosen in the final extension. Warnings are then weighed under the decision criteria. The decision is valid with three votes out of five.

New in the WKO 2026 rules. When a competitor goes down from an attack, or suffers comparable damage without falling, and three or more corner judges signal “miezu” (not seen), the main referee requests the video review; with two judges or fewer, the request is left to his judgment, and a judge may prompt him. The five referees may also request it together when it seems necessary. The chief referee and the supervisors examine the footage, shown on the big screen, and decide by majority. The VAR can establish an ippon, a waza-ari, a foul, a “not seen”, a false appeal or an excessive appeal. The main referee then explains the result to the arena, and the judges make the corresponding signal.

At the start: “shomen ni rei” (bow to the front), “shushin ni rei” (bow to the main referee), “otagai ni rei” (bow to each other), then “kamaete” (on guard) and “hajime” (begin). During the bout: “yame” (stop), “zokko” (continue), “time” (temporary stop of the clock). At the end: “hantei o torimasu” then “hantei” (the judges give their decision), “hikiwake” (draw), “ippon”, “shikkaku” (disqualification), “mitomezu” (not recognised).

Ippon: the winner's flag raised diagonally upward, one loud, long whistle. Waza-ari: flag held horizontally, one loud whistle. Foul: the offender's flag waved up and down diagonally downward, short repeated whistles; both flags when both grab each other. Jogai: the flag taps the floor several times. Not seen: both flags crossed, one short whistle. Mitomezu: both flags crossed and waved, one long whistle. Decision: the winner's flag diagonally upward. Draw: both flags crossed in front of the knees. The main referee always counts the flags, including his own.

At the end signal, the judges blow a long whistle; the main referee stops the bout with “yame”, has the competitors face the front and asks “hantei o torimasu”, “hantei”. Each judge raises the flag of the winner he chooses, or crosses the flags for a draw. The main referee announces the colour, counts the flags including his own — draws and flags for the other side are also counted — and declares the winner if there is a majority; otherwise he declares “hikiwake” and the bout goes to an extension or to the decision by weight.