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 Although
Judo
is a martial art, its practice and methods are based around
gentleness. Giving way to the strength of the opponent, adapting
to and using it to your advantage, will achieve victory over the
opponent.
 “When
a stronger man pushes me with all his might, I will be beaten if
I simply go against him. If, instead of opposing his pushing I
retreat more then he pushes or turn aside the direction of his
pushing, he naturally leans forward through his own pushing and
loses his balance, and if utilizing his pushing strength I apply
a certain technique on him, it is quite possible to make him
fall, as he is losing his balance. Sometimes he will fall merely
if I turn my body skillfully. This is one simple instance of
how, by giving way, a contestant may defeat his opponent. There
in lies the principle of gentleness”.
Jigoro
Kano, What is Judo, Kodokan, 1947.
Description
 The
two judokas
(athletes) one in a white and one in a blue uniform (judogi) -
compete for five minutes. In Paralympic Judo, the athletes are
blind or vision-impaired. They are guided by their touch,
sensibility, instinct and sense of balance. A main referee and
two more judges arbitrate a Judo contest. All officials are of
equal status and calls are decided by vote. The main referee
calls all points and penalties while performing the designated
hand gestures. The referee gives the signal for the beginning of
the match after the two athletes have come into contact.
To
win the contest a judoka must score an Ippon
(a degree equalling 10 points) by using a successful technique.
If none of the judokas completes an Ippon by the end of the
game, the winner is the one to have scored the greatest value
point.
Judo
at the 2004 Paralympic Games
During
the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, Judo competitions will be
staged in the
Ano
Liossia Olympic Hall, which has a seating capacity of 8,000.
Competition events will take place within the span of three days
(September 18-20). A total of 120 Judo athletes, 84 men and 36
women will compete in the Athens Paralympic Games.
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