Hajime and matte are the two judo commands everyone learns first: hajime starts the match, matte stops it. Around them, the referee uses about ten Japanese words, each tied to a set hand signal. They control hold-downs, freezes and the end of the match. Once you know them, you can follow a match without looking at the scoreboard.
Below you will find each command with its meaning, a rough English pronunciation and the official signal. The rest of the rulebook is in our guide to judo rules.
Hajime, matte, sore-made: the rhythm of the match
Hajime: begin
Say "ha-jee-meh". The referee stands between the two players, facing the table, and calls hajime. There is no special gesture. The clock starts at that moment. You hear it at the start of the match and after every stoppage.
Matte: wait
Say "mat-teh". The referee raises one hand to shoulder height, arm parallel to the mat, palm facing the timekeeper. The clock stops. Matte is called when players leave the area, when groundwork stalls, to fix a judogi, or before giving a penalty.
A common beginner mistake is letting go the moment they think they heard matte. Until the referee has clearly said it, the action continues. Hold-downs get lost this way on an imagined "matte".
Sore-made: that is all
Say "so-reh ma-deh". The referee calls it when regular time ends, then brings the players back to their marks and points to the winner with an extended arm. The players then bow. How the bow works is described in our article on rei.
Groundwork commands
Osaekomi: hold-down
Say "oh-sa-eh-ko-mee". The referee leans towards the players with an arm stretched out over them, palm down. The hold-down clock starts. At 5 seconds it is yuko, at 10 waza-ari, at 20 ippon. The recognized hold-downs are covered in our page on katame-waza.
Toketa: hold broken
Say "toh-keh-ta". Uke has escaped. The referee holds an arm out towards the players and waves it quickly left and right, two or three times. The hold-down clock stops and the score matches the time elapsed.
Sono-mama: freeze
Say "so-no ma-ma". The referee leans in and touches both players. They must stay frozen in their exact position. It is used mostly on the ground, for a medical reason or to check equipment without losing the position.
Yoshi: continue
Say "yo-shee". The referee touches both players again and the frozen action restarts. Plenty of judoka mix up yoshi and hajime. Yoshi resumes a frozen action. Hajime restarts after the players have separated.
Score and penalty signals
| Call | Signal |
|---|---|
| Ippon | Arm raised straight above the head, palm forward |
| Waza-ari | Arm stretched out to the side at shoulder height, palm down |
| Yuko | Arm stretched diagonally down, about 45 degrees |
| Shido | Index finger pointed at the offender, fist closed |
| Hansoku-make | Index finger raised above the head, then pointed at the offender |
| Cancel | Hand waved above the head, left to right |
For what each score requires, see our page on ippon. For the fouls, see the one on shido penalties.
Referees sometimes signal a score by mistake and correct it after talking with the judges. The cancel signal comes first, then the right one. Nothing unusual.
Stoppages for medical care
An injury or bleeding stops the match with matte, then the referee calls the doctor. Since the January 2026 adjustment to IJF rules, a judoka can receive treatment twice in a match. On the third time, the referee declares the opponent the winner by kiken-gachi, unless a special commission decides otherwise. Bleeding must be stopped before the match resumes. Nobody fights while bleeding.
These stoppages look long from the stands. They are part of the job, and the referee also has to make sure treatment is not used to buy recovery time.
Before giving a penalty, the referee calls matte, brings the players back, and then signals the shido.
Hantei and other words you no longer hear
Hantei (decision) belongs to the old rules. When a match ended level, the referee and judges each raised a colored flag to choose the winner. Unlimited golden score removed it from IJF rules. Some children's events may still use it, depending on local rules.
Kiken-gachi (win by withdrawal) and fusen-gachi (win by default, when the opponent does not show up) are still in use.
How to learn these commands
The best way is to referee in your own dojo. Have students take turns refereeing randori, using the real words and signals. Within three sessions, children remember them better than from any handout. Adults gain too: a decision makes far more sense once you have had to make it yourself. For more dojo vocabulary, check our judo terminology guide. If refereeing appeals to you, our page on becoming a judo referee explains the role and the pathway.