I think that Yuko is actually good because, in tournaments of this level, it's difficult to even throw someone onto their stomach, so every small score is valuable.

Yuko is a lesser evil than losing by shido in golden score, so Ill take it

Loved tha wrestling cradle technique.

No matter how many yukos you get they will not beat a waza-ari. The need to push for big throws will always be there. The yuko does not change that.

I practiced judo in 1970 and I still love it

Thank you for the upload ❤

For me, they prevent wild celebrations quite simply because it's part of the moral code of judo and Japanese culture.
First you have to bow to your opponent and then leave the tatami, after which you can celebrate as much as you like in front of the cameras.
The tatami is a sacred space, so let's try to respect Jigoro Kano's principles first.  :)

I liked the newaza during the GS. Also not as much Tomoe Nage spam which in my eyes is a good thing

All in all, good judo!!! Thanks for covering this.

Agree - let them have their moment so long as it’s not blatantly disrespectful.

Koga - Boukli was a good example of how matches shouldn't be decided. But it's probably better than endless fights. And the referee judgment will probably adjust a bit more over time for better. And as an example from the other side Ahadov - Agaian was a pretty good judgment/result in terms of it being non-spectatular but solid leg reap where the opponent was forced to lean on the hand or be turned on their back.

The point about "would something more exciting happen if yuko wasn't a point" I seem to remember matches where the opponent got shido or two and nothing happened. Or where someone got waza ari and nothing interesting happened.

I approve the comment about celebration but I'd really love to see the formalities be stoic until the referee announces the winner and then the players exploding and allowed to celebrate freely (as long as it doesn't take excess time from the match schedule). It would be a fun thing to witness the self-control of the players for a brief moment but also the explosion of emotion right after. But that also requires the opponent getting up from the ground in reasonable time as well and not taking their time lying down and rolling and walking around. So perhaps it's a good compromise to freely celebrate as the opponent is taking their time.

I also approve seeing so much solid judo from France here, haven't seen this fresh judo from France in a while despite them being quite visible in the past couple of years. Fresh faces, interesting judo, no questionable antics. Sekimoto is a solid player and gets things done, but so many of his clips were just pummeling through resistance, quite raw and unrefined looking. From the aesthetics perspective purely.

What are the exact rules on newaza breaking? I thought for sure Liparteliani was out of the pin quite a bit before they were on their knees, but clearly the score was awarded for the pin not breaking before.

As far as I understand UAE, it's a small state with all the wealth focused in the region and they work hard to polish their public image by hiring every and any athlete all over the sports field. For example look at some great soccer players making their retirement fund there. Or even esports players invited to play in local tournaments for quite a nice pay. I personally know a couple of players who in their times of seeking to become a full time pro were regularly collecting a bit of funds doing tournaments in the middle east to be able to aspire for esports career in the western world.

If I am not mistaken, Kvantidze got a Waza-ari and not a Yuko, because his opponent rolled over his lower back. The elbows do not matter for the score in this case.

Yuko will prevent long dragged out golden scores ending on shidos

Great video as always. Just a tip on the audio side, your comentary is a bit low compared to the live audio volume (the audience cheering drowns out your voice a bit, at least when I'm watching on my tv)

1. Bringing back the Yuko score is a positive.  There has been far too much gap between no score and a wazaari.
2. Celebration after winning should be discouraged, particularly the over zealous French team. You say, "the crowd loved it", but that was because it was a French judoka in front of a French audience in Paris.  Some of the celebrations rival soccer players after kicking a goal. Anything more than a discreet "fist pump" after winning should be discouraged. I think that the referee was absolutely correct in trying to "tone done" one of the celebrations.  You would never see a Japanese judoka do this. It is simply un-Japanese in a Japanese sport!  I had many victories in my (long ago) Judo career, and I never celebrated in such a manner after a win..my sensei would have disciplined me if I did.

(9:11) ... what a beauty ! Yes ... there are others great ippons .. but this kouchi-makikomi is something ... I watched many times the white Japanese judoka's hand work ... and then the explosion of the technique!!
And one hand ura-nage slam (9:32)  WOW !
The newaza from (11:53) it is outstanding ... masterclass! Yes ... Kondo's style and the rotation of Vellozzi followed by newaza too !
Great video as always come from you .... t'il next time I would say ... cheers !

If you can find the 2 first matchs of Romain Valadier Picard, you would see what they mean by "Positive activity in ne-waza will be taken in consideration." The Ne waza lasted for like 1 minute

2:23 absolutely no way that was a score

I would much rather a match end on a yuko score than on 3 shidos. I mean even throwing someone on their stomach in a real life scenario would basically be game over

Babulfath didn’t win bronze in -48 on shidos. She won on two Yuko at end of time. She also used the same turnover with gripping around the leg and rolling opponent over backwards as the japanese. Looks like an uncomfortable way to be held 😅.