Paralympic Judo

132 Athletes compete for 13 gold medals

In terms of martial arts, Judo is the most popular discipline across the world for both able bodied and disabled participants. In the Paralympics, it is the only martial arts discipline that is part of the programme and is therefore extremely popular with a wide range of abilities and spectators alike. Judo itself dates back over 120 years and has developed into one of the most respected martial arts of the modern world. The main aim of Judo is to use touch and balance to overcome opponents rather than outright aggression.

In terms of the Paralympics, visually impaired competitors compete against each other from thirty different countries maintaining the emphasis on touch and sensitivity.

The rules for Paralympics judo are no different from those for able bodied Judo and involve two competitors each trying to outmanoeuvre the other with different moves and holds. There is one fundamental difference in the rules for visually impaired competitors who are able to take hold of one another before the competition begins whereas sighted competitors must not touch each other before the match begins. Men and women compete separately and are also banded according to weight to ensure equality.

Judo became a sport in the Paralympics in 1988 at the Seoul games, although this was for men only. The women’s competition was introduced in 2004, nearly two decades later.