The IJF needs to stop trying to prevent athletes from celebrating when winning, it’s ruining the sport.

[u/_santi20]

If you watch judo at highest level (IJF tour), you’ll notice that the refs immediately intervene after a big win to try and prevent the athlete from celebrating. This is beyond cringe and serves no purpose. Let the athletes take in the moment and celebrate a big win. I can’t think of any other sport that actively tries to prevent athletes from celebrating a win. If you disagree with my take, please let me know why.
EDIT* Seems like the majority of disagreements are from people who have never actually competed at a high level and their entire argument boils to the “cultural/traditional”aspects of judo which are different from competitive sport judo.

[u/Enough-Disk-2279]

Look man, this is long but I’m being genuine here. I was scrolling and I kept seeing this question of “Do you compete at a higher level?” over and over if someone disagreed. Didn’t see you ask that to the guy who agreed with you. Why? No I have not competed at a high level before you ask me, I’ll save you the time…..I do competitive things physically and mentally, but no I don’t compete in judo at a high level.

To me, this applies for pretty much anything competitive though, not just Judo, not just at the highest level—ALL LEVELS. Yes, SMALL RESPECTFUL gestures make sense, smile, maybe a tiny fist pump, yes yes yes. You achieved a dream as someone else said, right? But someone else didn’t. Sulking after a loss is also disrespectful to the work and effort your opponent put in. Im not saying to not be sad, not be happy, but dude, I just have to ask: WHY is it hard to just keep a stone face?? Your “win” isn’t going anywhere is it? Why do you need to jump and click your heels after a win, or start breakdancing? It’s belittling, it goes against the foundation of the sport itself, it goes against humility, it sours the competitive environment.

Again, dude, be happy you won, but OTHER PEOPLE take things too far. Not you specifically, I don’t know how tf you plan to celebrate, but yes man, bad apples ruin the bunch. Yes. Of course. If everyone just smiled and did a fist pump I’m sure there wouldn’t even be a rule against it, but some will jump up and down or beat their chest, piss on the floor, whatever—it’s just disrespectful as hell to your opponent to showboat like that, so to me instead of feeling the need to micromanage every victory, just have a standard.

[u/_santi20 → u/Enough-Disk-2279]

The reason I’m asking is because I do not think the hobbyists in this thread have any idea how hard competitive world judo is and how hard it is to get onto a podium at the world championships. We don’t need the ref immediately running up to the athlete to tell them to calm down and stop celebrating, it serves no purpose.

[u/SucksAtJudo → u/_santi20]

Jumping up and down on the mat, running in circles waving your obi above your head like it's a rally towel, and running back and forth in front of the spectators trying to start the wave serves no purpose either.

[u/Forevershiroobi → u/SucksAtJudo]

I disagree, it is quite entertaining so much so that it amuses and arouses OP

[u/SucksAtJudo → u/Forevershiroobi]

Instructions Unclear... I got arrested in Japan and charged with indecent exposure and publicly lewd acts after winning a match in the Tokyo Grand Slam

[u/Forevershiroobi → u/SucksAtJudo]

❌️ 1st & One of many Tokyo Grand Slam event

✅️ Last Tokyo Grand Slam event

To each their own

[u/Enough-Disk-2279 → u/_santi20]

100% I totally fathom how hard it is, I obviously am not one of those people, I know ANY professional level athlete is putting in absolutely crazy work, suffers like crazy, all the time. And they deserve to be recognized for that. But your recognition?? Is in what you display in the competition, your game, the medal you earn, no?

Again, I think it goes for anything competitive, not just Judo. Whether Judo, basketball, tennis, TKD, a video game—it’s just disrespectful to showboat and that is the core of the whoooooole thing and why everyone is saying they disagree I imagine. I’m not saying everyone who disagrees is correct but I want to ask you why everyone would mostly be on the same page if it had no credence, you know?

Also I want to be honest buddy, I touched on a lot there and I feel like you only responded to one small piece, sorta disregarding the rest. I can tell you don’t think it’s disrespectful but I want to know why else it isn’t, other than working hard. Is that the main point is that you worked hard thus should celebrate? In that case it may just be difference in people, I don’t know. I personally never really celebrate because I find it to be rude. But I don’t know, I’m not in the Olympics or what have you so I don’t know, maybe people at that level would agree. Won’t know until you ask them or they comment here.