LATEST NEWS

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#0099FF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" SHIMPANDO "><U><B>HOMEPAGE</B></U></A><B>   </B></FONT><B> | </B><B> </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> SHIMPANDO   </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>LATEST NEWS</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SCHEDULE"><U><B>SCHEDULE</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RULES"><U><B>RULES</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HANDOUTS"><U><B>HANDOUTS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GENERAL HANDOUTS"><U><B>GENERAL HANDOUTS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ARTICLES"><U><B>ARTICLES</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEWSLETTERS"><U><B>NEWSLETTERS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EDUCATION"><U><B>EDUCATION</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EXAMINATIONS"><U><B>EXAMINATIONS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="QUESTIONS"><U><B>QUESTIONS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EXPECTED BEHAVIORS"><U><B>EXPECTED BEHAVIORS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PICTURES"><U><B>PICTURES</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VIDEOTAPE"><U><B>VIDEOTAPE</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LINKS"><U><B>LINKS</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   |   </B></FONT><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EMAIL"><U><B>E-MAIL</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="046f0f03.jpg"> <div> LATEST NEWS</div> <div> <B>All news will be dated.  The latest information will be found at the top of the page.</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04594943.jpg"> <div> <B>SEPTEMBER 2003</B></div> <div> <B>U.S. using Pre-2003 Medical Rules (1998-2002) with the 2003 IJF rules about two visits per bleeding wound.  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Golden Score and Two Tier penalty System are being used throughout.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MARCH 2003</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>2003 IJF CONTEST RULE  CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS</B></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Rules in effect January 1, 2003                      Provided by Richard Celotto</B></div> <bR> <div> 1. <B>Golden Score....</B>This procedure is firmly established and should be used effective January 2003.<I> </I>National events will be using it.  However, Local and Regional events have a choice. Notice the word  "should", it gives organizers a choice. Most are using it.</div> <bR> <div> 2. <B>Kawazu Gake</B>.... Kawazu Gake is Hansoku make. Even if the thrower during the throwing action twists/turns, this is forbidden and the penalty will be Hansoku Make. Techniques such as O-soto-Gari, O-uchi-gari, and Uchi-mata where the foot/leg is entwined with Uke's leg will be permitted and should be scored.</div> <bR> <div> 3. <B>Bow</B>....The only bow that is required by the competitors is in the center (on the marks) of the mat. This bow must be strictly enforced. All other bows are at the discretion of the athletes. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Baskerville Old Face" ><I>(As mentioned, Judo clubs should continue to teach the etiquette of bowing at the outside edge of the mat, if they chose to.  As mentioned the referee is to only enforce the bow at the marks (blue and white tape.))</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> 4. <B>Judges</B>...Remain seated during medical situation. There is no requirement for the judges to participate in a medical situation unless the situation requires it. </div> <bR> <div> 5. <B>Light Penalties/Grave Penalties</B>....There now are only two types of penalties. All Light penalties are awarded SHIDO. All Grave Penalties are awarded HANSOKU MAKE. All previous CHUI prohibited acts are now SHIDO.  All KEIKOKU prohibited acts are now HANSOKU MAKE.  </div> <bR> <div> The scoring by the referee for the Light penalty will be always SHIDO unless it is the 4th SHIDO then it will be HANSOKU MAKE. The procedure for awarding HANSOKU MAKE remains unchanged. The referee will call SHIDO  for the old CHUI. SHIDO for the old KEIKOKU.  The procedure remains unchanged for converting SHIDO 2 to YUKO etc. This system is now being used all over the country.</div> <bR> <div> 6. <B>Medical Exams</B>        Procedure will remain unchanged until the IJF Referee Meeting in April, 2003.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>MAY 2002</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sorry to have been away so long.  Alot of irons in the fire.  Ihave added the January through May 2002 Newsletters to the Newsletter Section.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As you may remember I didn't publish a December 2001 issue.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The June Issue will contain a Synopsis of the changes and clarification which have taken place from 1997-2002.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Please look at the Handout and General Handout Sections.  They contain some very informative information.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>The new Referee Commission Secretary is Dr. William Graves</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>NOVEMBER 2001    </B></div> <bR> <div> The USJI Referee Certification Subcommittee has changed its name to U.S. Referee Commission (USRC).  It will remain a subcommittee under the Standards and Certification Committee</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Elections held within the U.S. Referee Commission</div> <div> Term  Fall 2001 - Fall 2003</div> <div> Chairman-          Dr. Mel Appelbaum     unopposed</div> <div> Vice Chairman-        Dr. Martin Bregman     unopposed</div> <div> Secretary-           Dr. Kei Narimatsu     unopposed</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2001 Rule Changes</B></div> <div> There was some clarification to the back gripping situation.  If a contestant grasps with his right hand the "upper" left side of the back of his opponent's jacket over the shoulder this is considered normal kumi kata.  This is what we have been doing this past year.  If during action the grippers arm slides from over the shoulder to around the side of the arm this grip will be considered normal.  The grip must be on the upper 1/3 of the back.  This is similar to a player ducking his head causing the other player to have two hands on the same side.</div> <div> In those cases where a player grasped the back of the jacket on the "not normal" side and the jacket is loose enough that the player moves the jacket and grip to the "normal" side, the referee should consider this as not normal kumi kata as the grip was on the "not normal side of the back of the jacket.  </div> <bR> <div> If a player grasps the "normal" side of the back of the jacket behind or near the collar and if the jacket is loose enough so that the player moves the grip and jacket over to the "not normal side", the referee shall consider this to be "normal" kumi kata, because the grip was on the "normal" side of the back of the jacket.  This was reaffirmed by the USRC.</div> <bR> <div> Any part of a gripping players hand touching the center back line or the side demarcation lines makes this grip "normal" kumi kata.  This was reaffirmed by the USRC.</div> <bR> <div> There is still a great deal of controversy on the Cross back gripping and whether gripping under or over the arm from the side is normal or abnormal kumi kata.  It was reaffirmed by the majority of the USRC that gripping under and over the arm from the side will be considered abnormal kumi kata (3-5 seconds without attacking).</div> <div> It was reaffirmed by the USRC that the Pistol grip and Cat's Paw grip should be penalized immediately if they are utilized.  It was reaffirmed by the USRC that the one handed gripping would be considered abnormal kumi kata.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2002 Rules Changes and Clarifications</B></div> <bR> <div> The U.S. Referee Commission met prior to the U. S. Open held in Las Vegas, Nevada at their semiannual meeting.  During this meeting held October 11, 2001 discussion took place on how the "new" 2002 rule changes would be implemented.  The following was agreed upon by the members of the U.S. Referee Commission.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Judogi Control Rule</B></div> <div> At the IJF level the Competitor and Coach will be responsible for their own Judogi.  If a competitor comes onto the mat with an illegal Judogi they will receive direct hansoku make.  </div> <div> In the United States, the USRC will NOT enforce this rule.  Referees at the Local, Regional and National level will continue to use the current rules with regard to Judogi control. </div> <div> If extra referees are available they will conduct a Judogi control prior to the competitors going onto the mat.  The referee and judges on the mat may have any competitor change his/her judogi if they feel it is not in accordance with the parameters outlined in Article 3.  Players and Coaches who travel Internationally, was be aware of the grave consequences of  not having a proper Judogi.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Kawazu gake</B></div> <div> At the IJF level this prohibited act will move from a Keikoku violation to a Hansoku make.  As this is very clearly stated the USRC agrees that this change will be adopted as of January 1, 2002 in the United States.</div> <div> There was however, statements made in IJF documents which were not clearly defined as to the nature of Kawazu gake and the use of the entwining leg in other throwing techniques.  The USRC has agreed that in the United States we will continue to use the standard definition of Kawazu gake.  Therefore, any entwining that occurs in any other throws would be considered valid.</div> <div> Until the IJF provides a clear definition of any significant changes in our understanding of Kawazu gake, we will continue to apply this violation as we have in the past.  As this illegal technique is quite rare, most referees will not have the occasion to deal with this situation.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Limitation of Hand Gestures.</B></div> <div> At the IJF level they will be combining all invalid gripping prohibited acts into one hand gesture.  All negative judo prohibited acts will be indicated by one gesture.  The Non-combativity, False Attack, Stepping Outside gestures will remain.  The reason for this action was that there were too many hand gestures and it was not spectator friendly.</div> <div> The USRC voted NOT to adopt these limited hand gestures.  In the United States we will continue to use the standard gestures we have used in the past.</div> <div> Most coaches, competitors and referees at all levels after hearing about this "change" could only see chaos for those that do the Judo.  The major majority (90% present) of the U.S. Referee Commission agreed that limiting the gestures would cause a great many confusing situations.  Therefore, we in the United States will continue to use the gestures as we have in the past.</div> <bR> <div> <B>International Referees</B></div> <div> For those referees who are selected to officiate at International events outside the United States you will have to apply the "IJF Rules".  You will have to adapt and therefore should become familiar with the "new" gestures and which prohibited acts belong to what gestures.  You will have to apply the rules as the local international "authority" deems appropriate.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Referee Word of the Month</div> <div> EQUANIMITY</div> <div> The referee's abilibity to remain calm and with composure under tension.  If there is one single word to describe an excellent referee this is the word.</div> <bR> <div> <B>September 1, 2001 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> The August and "Special Issue" (August-September) Issues are now published on the Newsletter page.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> July, 2001 </div> <bR> <div> The May, June and July Issues of the Newsletter have been posted to the Newsletter page.</div> <bR> <div> There is talk about Sudden Death Overtime.  It is just in the talking phase.  The Chinese are using it.  Some European Countries are using it in their Junior Championships.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Referee Word for the Month</div> <div> APPRECIATION</div> <div> The referee's judgment of scores on throws, the calling of Osaekomi and toketa, the recognition and application of penalties and the appropriate utilization of Matte.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> April 10, 2001</div> <bR> <div> The latest issue (April) of Shimpando-The Referee Newsletter has been sent out.   National Referees and above only.</div> <bR> <div> Everyone should be applying the new changes at the local and regional level.  This is important to prepare your regions competitors to play judo using the new 2001 changes and new 2001 clarifications at the National Championships.</div> <bR> <div> The two major changes are the one-handed gripping and gripping the back past the half way point becoming invalid kumi kata.  Competitors must attack within 3-5 seconds after taking the one-handed grip (either side) and gripping the back of the judogi.</div> <bR> <div> The Cross back gripping has gone through some interpretive adjustments over the last few months.  The half way line has been interpreted to be horizontal (across the back).  This is incorrect.  Though I have been told that there was a valid reason for some to believe this to be the case.  I cannot present an explanation here in print.</div> <bR> <div> The half way line is now confirmed to be vertical.  The spine should be used as the demarcation line between the right back and left back.</div> <bR> <div> The following statement is from the IJF Referee Commission Minutes:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Normal Kumi-Kata</B></div> <div> "Normal Kumi-kata is taking hold with the left hand the opponents right side of the opponent' sleeve, collar, breast area, right top of the shoulder OR BACK and with the right hand the left side of the opponent's sleeve, collar, breast area, left top of the shoulder OR BACK ABOVE THE BELT". </div> <bR> <div> The capitalized words clearly spell out the gripping the back down to the belt should be considered normal.</div> <bR> <div> Interestingly, gripping under the arm (O goshi) or over the arm (O tsuri goshi) from the side will be considered not normal. The contestant will have 3-5 seconds to attack or receive a shido.</div> <bR> <div> Check the Newsletters for the details on the other changes, clarification and reiterations.</div> <bR> <div> "Head Diving" will also be discussed at the Senior National Championships for clarification and consolidation of interpretation.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>