Decisive Techniques for Ippon in Elite Women’s Judo: A Tactical Analysis from the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Olympic women’s judo has increased in complexity and competitiveness, demanding detailed tactical analysis. This observational study aimed to examine the relationship between the results of combats (<i>Wazari</i> [half point] vs. <i>Ippon</i> [full point]) and the techniques...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7455 |
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| Summary: | Olympic women’s judo has increased in complexity and competitiveness, demanding detailed tactical analysis. This observational study aimed to examine the relationship between the results of combats (<i>Wazari</i> [half point] vs. <i>Ippon</i> [full point]) and the techniques used in women’s judo combats in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. A significant association was found between technique type and contest outcome (χ<sup>2</sup> = 40.004, df = 6, <i>p</i> < 0.001): <i>Nage Waza</i> (throwing techniques) produced 92.3% of <i>Wazari</i>, whereas <i>Katame Waza</i> (groundwork techniques) accounted for 61.1% of Ippon. Subgroup analysis confirmed these relationships (χ<sup>2</sup> = 17.217, df = 6, <i>p</i> = 0.009; Cramer’s V = 0.745), with Ashiwaza (foot/leg techniques) dominating <i>Wazari</i>. <i>Uchimata</i> was the most frequently used technique in the repechage (20%), bronze medal (22.6%), and final (23.1%) matches. In lightweights, <i>Katame Waza</i> dominated Ippon in finals (53.8%, χ<sup>2</sup> = 4.000, <i>p</i> = 0.046), while <i>Nage Waza</i> secured all <i>Wazari</i>. Middleweights also showed strong associations (χ<sup>2</sup> = 14.745, df = 1, <i>p</i> < 0.001; 93.9% of <i>Wazari</i> by <i>Nage Waza</i>). Although no significant association was found for heavyweights (χ<sup>2</sup> = 7.535, df = 1, <i>p</i> = 0.095), <i>Katame Waza</i> prevailed in Ippon (69.2%). These findings provide a tactical framework for tailoring technique-specific training by weight category and tournament phase to optimize outcomes in elite female judo. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3417 |