If you are present at the IJF Paris Grand Slam, currently held in the AccorHotel Arena at Bercy, or if you are watching any other exciting competition livestream via the computer, tablet of smartphone from your comfy seat at home or even on the bus or metro train, you must have noticed the judokas pre-fight ritual. Nothing wrong with getting yourself super prepped before the fight … and to be honest, it’s a genuine part of every bout and fans are secretly expecting it. It’s the athlete’s way of communicating to his/her fans: ‘I’m ready’ … Let’s bring it on!

Click here to watch the video!

We tried to discern the different categories … We found ten. Here is the result.

1. The Low Jumpers: when entering the tatami, they jump a bit up and down a couple of times;

2. The High Jumpers: when entering the tatami, they jump up and down pulling their knees up really high;

3. The Feet Sweepers: when entering the tatami, they sweep their feet left to right and back, repeatedly;

4. The Twisters: when entering the tatami, they shake their hips, short of ‘twist & shake’;

5. The Face Slappers: when entering the tatami, they slap their face a couple of times;

6. The Thigh Slappers: similar as the Face Slappers, but then the thighs;

7. The Body Slappers: idem ditto as previous two categories, but then the body;

8. The Exhalers: when entering the tatami, they fiercely exhale air through their mouth making a blowing noise;

9. The Yellers: when entering the tatami, they let out a terrifying yell;

10. The Mixers: when entering the tatami, they do a mix of some or all of the above.

What does your favorite judoka do when he/she enters the tatami?

See also
Abu Dhabi GS 2025
Abu Dhabi Prepares for Another World-Class Judo Showcase

20. Nov. 2025 / In just over a week, the World Judo Tour will touch ...

Judo for Peace
Judo for Peace Shines in Maheba

19. Nov. 2025 / On Monday 17th November 2025, the Judo Association ...

Zagreb 2025
Zagreb Gave the Judo Family an Outstanding Three Days

16. Nov. 2025 / These three days have flown by; the 2025 Zagreb Grand ...

Zagreb GP 2025
+100 kg: Nasibov is a Cut Above

16. Nov. 2025 / As the lights came up in the arena for the last category ...

Zagreb GP 2025
+78 kg: Celia Seals the Deal

16. Nov. 2025 / The women’s heavyweight category in Zagreb was full ...

Zagreb GP 2025
-100 kg: Sherazadishvili Shines

16. Nov. 2025 / The -100 kg category of the 2025 Zagreb Grand Prix ...

Zagreb GP 2025
-78 kg: Lyvtvynenko Lights Up the Scoreboard

16. Nov. 2025 / Without a doubt, the first women’s category of the ...

Zagreb GP 2025
-90 kg: Ivanov Takes His 5th Grand Prix Gold

16. Nov. 2025 / The final block of the third and last day of the 2025 ...

Zagreb GP 2025
Preliminaries, Day Three

16. Nov. 2025 / It is to be expected that the third day of the Zagreb ...

Climate Action
Judo for the Planet

16. Nov. 2025 / The Brazilian Judo Confederation (CBJ) launched a powerful ...

Referee Stories
Frank Doetsch: Time For a New Challenge

16. Nov. 2025 / The IJF staff is diverse in heritage, in role and in ...

Zagreb GP 2025
A Warm Welcome to the Zagreb Grand Prix

15. Nov. 2025 / The official opening ceremony for the 2025 Zagreb Grand ...

Zagreb GP 2025
-81 kg: Aregba’s Dynamic Diversity Does the Job

15. Nov. 2025 / The last category of the second day of competition ...

INTERVIEW EXPRESS
Shishime Ai (JPN)

08. Jun. 2018 / The next reigning world champion to be invited to answer ...

News
5 Key Takeaways from judo’s first Tokyo 2020 qualifier

06. Jun. 2018 / Highlights from Hohhot Grand Prix 2018

VIDEO
Judo for the World in Iran

07. Jun. 2018 / In April 2018, the International Judo Federation and ...

Meeting
JUDO: A Beneficial Cause

07. Jun. 2018 / 'Society should believe in sport as a beneficial cause ...