Australia is sending three athletes to compete in Judo at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Overview
Rio Olympians Katharina Haecker and Nathan Katz will make their second Olympic appearances, while Aoife Coughlan will make her Olympic debut.
With Judo founded in Japan, the three fighters will return to the spiritual birthplace of the sport, and will compete in Nippon Budokan – the same venue Judo made its Olympic debut in 1964. The Judo competition in Tokyo will run from 24-31 July.
Judo Team
Ones to Watch
Tune in to watch Katharina Haecker compete at her second Olympic Games. The 28-year-old recently became Australia’s first ever medallist on the International Judo Federation Grand Slam Series in 2018 and the first Australian to win a Judo Grand Prix gold medal in 2020 in Tel Aviv.
In the lead up to Tokyo, she also claimed silver at the 2021 Asia-Oceania Senior Championships.
25-year-old Aoife Coughlan will be making her Olympic debut in Tokyo after a string of impressive results, including a top-eight at the World Championships and finishing fifth at the prestigious Doha Masters - the toughest event on the international judo calendar behind the Olympic Games and World Championships.
The Format
Originating in Japan, Judo is a combat sport where athletes aim to throw or takedown their opponent with a pinning hold or forcing them to submit with a joint lock or choke. Athletes wear blue or white uniforms, known as judogi, and face each other on a 10m x 10m mat deploying any of the 100 grappling or throwing techniques available.
At the Olympics, Judo is divided into classes by weight and matches for both men’s and women’s competition are four minutes long.
The highest score a judoka can earn is called “Ippon” and it is the ultimate way to claim victory in a match. A judgement of Ippon for a throwing technique puts the opponent on their back with strength, speed and control. After Ippon is scored, the match is over. If no Ippon is scored, the competitor with the most scores through other throws and techniques wins.
What’s The Story?
Rio Olympian Nathan Katz comes from a family that lives and breathes Judo. In Rio, Nathan lined up alongside his younger brother Josh and the duo became the first Australian brothers in Olympic history to compete in judo at the same Games. Their mother Kerrye competed at the Seoul 1988 Olympics, when judo was a demonstration sport for women, while their father Robert was a coach on that Team as well as the Rio 2016 Team.
The Facts
Competition Dates
- The Judo competition in Tokyo will run from 24-31 July at the Nippon Budokan.
Did You Know
- The mixed team event will make its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where teams of three male judoka (under 73kg, under 90kg and over 90kg) and three female judoka (under 57kg, under 70kg and over 70kg) will join forces to become the inaugural Olympic Judo team champions.
#HaveAGo at Judo
Judo
WHAT IS
JUDO
JUDO
Judo involves two individuals who, by gripping the judo uniform or judogi, use the forces of balance, power, and movement to attempt to subdue each other. In its simplicity, however, lies its complexity, and mastery of even the most basic of judo techniques that often take considerable time, effort, and energy, involving rigorous physical and mental training
- Judo does not involve kicking, punching, or striking techniques of any kind
- Judo does not involve the application of pressure against the joints to throw an opponent
- Judo involves no equipment or weapons of any sort
WHAT
YOU’LL NEED
YOU’LL NEED
Judogis (jacket and pants) are the traditional uniform of judo and are worn with belt, which can be different colours, signifying your judo grade. Some clubs will lend you a Judogi during your trial membership and beginners can wear clothing with no zips to their first sessions. Beginner Gi’s are not expensive and your local club will assist in finding the right one for you.
HOW MUCH?
Try Judo for free at your closest club with a 4-week trial membership!
Judo Snapshot
