Guides

Everything around the techniques: the essentials nobody thinks to write down, and what the referee is saying. The rules of competition have their own section.

Essentials

Bowing, the judogi and dojo etiquetteHow to bow standing and kneeling, how the judogi is worn correctly, and the courtesies of coming onto and leaving the mat. Every grading in this reference examines them from the first grade onwards.
Tying your beltThe standard way to tie a judo belt so it stays flat, stays tied, and shows the two ends even: entirely learnable by touch.

Refereeing

Referee commands and signalsWhat the referee says, what it means, and what happens next. The commands are spoken aloud in Japanese in every country, which makes them the most accessible part of competition: you hear everything that matters.