Judo: Japan to switch to international judo standards+

TOKYO, March 18 Kyodo -
Japan has decided to fall in line with international standards in its country's
traditional sport of judo.
The All Japan Judo Federation said after meetings on Thursday it will adopt
standards used by the International Judo Federation at domestic tournaments
starting in May rather than apply Japanese traditional ''Kodokan'' rules, which
had been used at meets such as the national championships.
Kodokan rules will be in effect at the national championships that get under
way at Nippon Budokan on April 29, but IJF rules will be used at the tournament
next year.
In January, the IJF adopted a disqualification rule for judoka who directly
grips an opponent's legs with one or two hands, the idea being a return to
authentic techniques -- something Japan had been lobbying for.
Accordingly, the Japan judo federation had also considered changing Kodokan
rules but decided to switch to international standards to avoid any confusion.
''We deemed that there is no problem to come under the international standards.
Having two sets of standards only causes confusion,'' said Takao Kawaguchi, who
oversees the committee in charge of Japan federation rules.
==Kyodo