This is a guide to Referee’s and Judge’s signals.
The illustrations below are the most common signals used by the Referee and Judges. The rules are complex and there are many more less common signals which have not been included but which you may see during the course of the competition.
Referee’s Signals
1 – Referee’s preference (right arm red (AKA), left arm blue (AO))
2 – Ippon (1 point) score (right arm red (AKA), left arm blue (AO))
3 – Nihon (2 points) score (right arm red (AKA), left arm blue (AO))
4 – Sanbon (3 points) score (right arm red (AKA), left arm blue (AO))
Note: At the end of the bout this signal is also used to award victory (Kachi), (right arm red (AKA), left arm blue (AO))
5 – Draw(Hikiwake ) – this must be followed in individual bouts by a new 1 minute bout (Sai-Shiai) where all previous points and penalties are removed. The contestant with the most points after 1 minute wins and if there is still no score the Referee panel will decide (Hantei).
6 – Category 1 warning (Chukoku) for a contact violation
7 – Category 2 warning (Chukoku) for a non-contact violation
6+8 or 7+8 – Category 1 or Category 2 penalty (Keikoku) respectively with Ippon (1 point) award to opponent
6+9 or 7+9 – Category 1 or Category 2 penalty (Hansoku-Chui) respectively with Nihon (2 points) award to opponent
6+10 or 7+10 – Category 1 or Category 2 penalty (Hansoku) respectively with disqualification of offender and victory to opponent
11 – THIS SIGNAL IS NO LONGER USED – Referee asks for Judges to reconsider their opinion
Judges Signals
12 – THIS SIGNAL IS NO LONGER USED – Judge unsighted and did not see anything (Mienai)
13 – Ippon (1 point) score red flag (AKA), blue flag (AO)
14 – Nihon (2 points) score red flag (AKA), blue flag AO)
15 – Sanbon (3 points) score red flag (AKA), blue flag (AO)
16+17 – Category 1 penalty red flag (AKA) or blue flag (AO)
16+18 – Category 2 penalty red flag (AKA) or blue flag (AO)