Judo’s competition landscape divides cleanly into two arenas: the standing game and the ground game. A judoka who excels at throwing opponents through the air but loses every time the contest reaches the mat is only half a competitor at the elite level — and vice versa. Understanding what separates tachi-waza (standing techniques) from ne-waza (ground techniques), how each area is structured, and how the transition between them works is fundamental to following competitive judo with any depth of comprehension.
- Tachi-waza covers all techniques performed from a standing position — throws that aim to land the opponent on their back for ippon or waza-ari.
- Ne-waza covers all techniques applied on the ground — pins, chokes, and armlocks — after a throw or a transition from standing.
- The referee calls “Matte!” (stop) to end a ne-waza sequence when no progress is evident; the match resumes from standing.
- Only elbow joint locks are permitted in ne-waza at senior competition level — wrist, shoulder, and knee locks are prohibited.
- Leg grabs have been banned from tachi-waza since 2010, changing the competitive landscape of standing judo significantly.
Tachi-Waza: The Standing Game
Tachi-waza encompasses every throwing technique executed from an upright or semi-upright position. Under the IJF’s technique classification, tachi-waza divides into three families: te-waza (hand techniques, including seoi-nage and tai-otoshi), koshi-waza (hip techniques, including o-goshi and harai-goshi), and ashi-waza (foot and leg techniques, including o-uchi-gari, ko-uchi-gari, and de-ashi-barai). A successful tachi-waza technique lands the opponent predominantly on their back — ideally meeting all four criteria for ippon: speed, force, back landing, and controlled execution. Partial completeness earns waza-ari.
The 2010 leg grab ban and its effects
Until 2010, tachi-waza included a range of techniques that involved directly grasping the opponent’s legs — including kata-guruma (fireman’s carry), kuchiki-taoshi, and morote-gari (double-leg takedown). The IJF banned all direct leg grabs from a standing position in 2010, phased in over 2010–2013. The prohibition changed competitive judo substantially: many wrestlers who had transitioned to judo by exploiting leg-grab techniques lost their primary weapon, and technical emphasis shifted back toward classical kumi-kata (collar-and-sleeve gripping) and hip and foot techniques. Athletes like Teddy Riner (France) and Shohei Ono (Japan), whose games rely on classical throwing mechanics rather than leg-grab variation, thrived in the post-ban era.
Grip fighting as the foundation of tachi-waza
Before any throw can be attempted, both athletes must establish a workable grip — kumi-kata. The standard grip involves one hand on the opponent’s lapel and one hand on the sleeve, but countless variations exist, each creating different throwing opportunities and vulnerabilities. Grip fighting in tachi-waza is itself a technical discipline: athletes spend significant portions of high-level matches fighting for superior grips without either committing to a throw. The shido system limits how long an athlete can maintain a non-standard grip without attacking, which pushes the pace — grip fighting must lead to throw attempts, not stagnate indefinitely.
Ne-Waza: The Ground Game
Ne-waza begins when both competitors reach the mat — either following a throw that did not score ippon, or through a transition from a standing grapple that one athlete takes to the ground. The ground game encompasses three categories: osaekomi-waza (pin/hold-down techniques, where 20 seconds earns ippon and 10-19 seconds earns waza-ari), shime-waza (choke techniques applied to the neck and throat), and kansetsu-waza (joint locks, restricted at senior level to the elbow joint only). A match can end by ippon in ne-waza through a pin, a submission choke, or an armlock that causes the opponent to tap out or be rendered unable to continue.
When the referee stops ne-waza
Ne-waza continues as long as the referee judges genuine progress is being made. The key call is “Matte!” (stop), which the referee makes when the ground fight stagnates — typically when both athletes are locked in a neutral position with neither advancing toward a pin, choke, or submission. The decision is contextual: a judoka slowly working to pass the opponent’s guard, improve a pin position, or turn an opponent from their front shows progress and the referee allows continuation. An athlete who stands up from ne-waza without attempting a ground technique immediately receives a shido for leaving the ground fighting context without justification.
Prohibited techniques in ne-waza
Several techniques that might be common in Brazilian jiu-jitsu or wrestling are prohibited in judo ne-waza at the senior competition level:
- Joint locks on any joint except the elbow: Shoulder locks (kimura, americana), wrist locks, knee locks, heel hooks, and spine cranks are all prohibited and earn immediate hansoku-make.
- Neck cranks: Any technique applying pressure to the cervical spine is prohibited.
- Heel hook variations: Any rotational pressure on knee or ankle joints is prohibited.
- Slamming: Picking up a grounded opponent and slamming them is prohibited from both standing and ground positions.
These restrictions maintain judo’s distinctive identity and reduce catastrophic injury risk in competition. Athletes who cross-train in judo from wrestling or BJJ backgrounds must adapt their ground game substantially to comply.
How Tachi-Waza and Ne-Waza Connect in Competition
The two domains connect through the transition moment: when a throw does not score ippon but both athletes reach the mat, the referee allows ne-waza to continue immediately without calling “Matte.” This transition rule is one of the most tactically important in judo — a judoka who excels at groundwork wants to transition from every waza-ari throw into ne-waza, where they may score an additional waza-ari (combining for ippon) or catch the opponent with a choke or pin. Athletes who are weaker in ne-waza will immediately try to stand up after any throw that doesn’t score ippon, forcing the referee to restart standing.
Ne-waza in modern elite judo
For much of the 20th century, competitive judo at the international level was heavily tachi-waza dominated, with ne-waza playing a secondary role. The 2010 leg grab ban shifted some emphasis toward groundwork because athletes who previously won quickly from standing now needed additional scoring pathways. The IJF has also explicitly stated that positive, dynamic ne-waza is rewarded — referees are directed to allow productive ground fighting to continue rather than immediately standing athletes up. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, several memorable matches were decided by osaekomi pins and submissions, including a number of choke submissions in the women’s categories. Elite athletes now train ground-game specialists as part of national programs in a way that was rarer a generation ago.
The tactical interplay between tachi-waza and ne-waza is what makes judo a complete combat sport rather than a throwing competition. Watch the moment immediately after any throw that doesn’t score ippon: which athlete moves to establish ne-waza, and which tries to stand up? That choice, made in less than a second, often determines whether a match is decided on the feet or the mat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What techniques are in tachi-waza?
Tachi-waza includes three families: te-waza (hand throws such as seoi-nage and tai-otoshi), koshi-waza (hip throws such as o-goshi and harai-goshi), and ashi-waza (foot and leg sweeps such as o-uchi-gari and de-ashi-barai). Direct leg grabs have been banned since 2010.
What is ne-waza in judo and what does it include?
Ne-waza is ground fighting, covering osaekomi-waza (pins, 20 seconds = ippon), shime-waza (chokes), and kansetsu-waza (joint locks). Only elbow joint locks are permitted in senior competition. Ne-waza begins when both athletes reach the mat after a throw or a standing transition.
Why were leg grabs banned in judo?
The IJF banned direct leg grabs from standing position in 2010 to distinguish judo from wrestling, encourage classical throwing technique, and address competitive exploitation by athletes using wrestling-style takedowns rather than judo throws. The ban was phased in fully by 2013.
How long can ne-waza continue before the referee stops it?
Ne-waza continues as long as the referee judges genuine progress toward a scoring technique. When both athletes are stationary with neither advancing toward a pin, choke, or submission, the referee calls “Matte!” and restarts the match from standing. There is no fixed time limit for ne-waza sequences.