Waza-ari

is the second highest score a fighter can achieve in a Japanese martial arts ''ippon'' or ''waza-ari'' contest, usually judo, karate or jujutsu.

''Waza-ari'' in judo

A ''waza-ari'' is the second highest score a fighter can achieve in judo, the others being a '' yuko'' (advantage) or, formerly, a ''koka''. An ''ippon'' would be the highest score, that once awarded, ends the match in favor of the athlete who scored it.
The referee raises his arm laterally parallel to the ground to award ''waza-ari''. Its value is higher than any other sum or combination of lower scores. No matter how many ''yuko'' or ''koka'', when time runs out, a ''waza-ari'' still counts more.

In judo, a ''waza-ari'' is awarded after an action in which the opponent is thrown with control and accuracy, but not to the extent of an ''ippon'', or held on the back for between 15 and 20 seconds on the mat. To achieve an ''ippon'', four elements are required: landing the opponent with a judo technique on the mat flat on the back, with force, speed, and control. If one out of the four elements is not expressed or is expressed poorly, the referee can still award the ''waza-ari''.

With the old rules (until 2013) it could also be awarded as a penalty, formerly named '' keikoku''. A penalty can be given for infractions such as non-combativity, improper hold, false attacks, etc.. In judo, penalties are always awarded in a progressive way, e.g. first infraction – first penalty (''shido''), second infraction - second penalty ('' chiui''), third infraction – third penalty (''keikoku''), fourth infraction - disqualification (''hansoku make''; see ''ippon'').

Except for 2017, ''waza-ari'' is the only cumulative score in judo, so that if an athlete scored two ''waza-ari'' during a bout, they each count for half an ''ippon'', thus giving victory to the athlete. To signal this, the referee raises his arm laterally parallel to the ground to award the second ''waza-ari'' and then continues rising the arm vertically as if to mark an ''ippon'', saying "''Waza-ari, awasete ippon''", before ending the match ("''Sore made''"). For about one year, with some new rules introduced in 2017, ''waza-ari'' no longer accumulated towards ''ippon'', however, if no ''ippon'' was scored, ''waza-ari'' determined the winner. Then, in 2018, the rule that two waza-ari combine to make ippon was reinstated. Scores lower than ''waza-ari'' are no longer awarded.

''Waza-ari'' in karate

In many styles of karate competition or '' shiai'', a score of ''waza-ari'' is awarded to a competitor that successfully strikes an opponent within the rules of the competition, but in a way that is not considered to overpower the opponent sufficiently to end the match.

In the '' shobu ippon kumite'' practiced by the Japan Karate Association and its offshoots, ''waza-ari'' is awarded when a strike makes contact with the opponent but without fulfilling all of the criteria for a decisive strike, either due to the target area, distance, focus or other judging criteria.

In knockdown kumite as practiced by offshoots of the ''kyokushinkaikan'' organizations, ''waza-ari'' is awarded for a blow that temporarily stuns the opponent but does not render them unable to continue for longer than three seconds.

Reference

External links

{{Wiktionary

Scoring ''waza-ari'', ''yuko'' and ''koka''
on International Judo Federation website

Guide to judo
on BBC
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