British Judo Association: Kata-San-Gaku Safe Usage

The Judo Commission, after considering the safety implications of Kata-San-Gaku, have decided to prohibit the use of this technique in the following situations:

• All competitions for pre-Cadet and younger children.
• All competitions where there is the possibility of Judoka older than pre-Cadet being entered in the same category as pre-Cadet and under younger children (e.g. Under 16 events).
• All competitors graded lower than green belt (Junior and Senior).
• Event Levels 1-3 inclusive, exemption for “Cadet ranking events with categories containing all entrants of at least green belt.
• Practice sessions in clubs until at the earliest point in time the Judoka involved are within a predicted 6 months of the required age and grade stated above. Coaches are asked to control this by separating practicing groups from others.

The British Judo rule change is for matte / shido (as applicable) to be applied immediately the second hand moves into the pre application position, e.g., if one hand of Tori is over back of uke arm and under uke arm pit first, when the second-hand passes over opposite shoulder this will be the point of matte / Shido. In cases where it is too fast for the referee to interrupt and the technique is applied with either actual movement of uke or just significant pressure, this will be Hansokumake against the spirit of judo.