Section 2: Equipment
2.1 Judogi (Competition Uniform)
Athletes must bring both a white judogi and a blue judogi to competition. The color is assigned by draw: the first-called competitor wears white, the second wears blue. The judogi must conform to IJF size and material specifications:
- Jacket (Uwagi): Must be long enough to cover the thighs and reach the wrists when arms are extended downward along the sides of the body. The jacket must overlap the body by at least 20 cm (8 in) at chest level when the belt is tied. The fabric must be of sufficient thickness and rigidity to allow a standard grip.
- Sleeves: Must leave a minimum gap of 5 cm (2 in) between the end of the sleeve and the wrist joint. Sleeves must not be rolled up during competition.
- Trousers (Zubon): Must reach the ankle bone, with a minimum gap of 5 cm (2 in) above the ankle. Trousers must be loose enough to allow free movement of the legs.
- Belt (Obi): Width of 4–5 cm (1.6–2 in), tied with a flat square knot sitting firmly over the jacket. The free ends of the belt must be 20–30 cm (8–12 in) long after the knot is tied. Belt color indicates rank but does not affect competition uniform compliance.
- Material: The judogi must be made of cotton or similar natural fiber material. IJF-approved judogi bear a specific label certifying they meet density, shrinkage, and grip-resistance standards. Only judogi appearing on the IJF-approved manufacturer list may be worn at World Tour events.
2.2 Personal Equipment and Hygiene
- Fingernails and toenails must be cut short to prevent injury.
- Long hair must be tied back so it does not obstruct the opponent's face or interfere with gripping.
- Hard objects (rings, piercings, bracelets, watches) are strictly prohibited during competition.
- Religious or medical headwear may be worn if approved by the IJF and secured so it cannot come loose during combat.
- Female athletes must wear a plain white t-shirt beneath the jacket. Male athletes may not wear anything under the jacket.
2.3 Competition Equipment
- Scoreboard: Electronic scoreboard visible to athletes, coaches, and spectators displaying scores, penalties, osaekomi time, and match clock.
- Video Review System: The IJF CARE (Computer Assisted Referee Evaluation) system provides instant video replay to assist referees on contested calls.
- Timing Devices: Electronic clock for match time (4:00), osaekomi timer (counts to 20 seconds for ippon), and Golden Score timer (counts upward).