“It is undoubtedly that when you see the big names – the ippon throwers – on the list of participants that you expect a top performance from them. From the very beginning you want to see fireworks on the tatami. But there are sometimes reasons why it is just not possible from the early stages in the tournament. Jetlag, a prior training camp, some new tactical experiments, low weight or just awkward opponents … There could be various reasons.
Japanese Olympic Champion Ono Shohei (-73kg) began that day against the Georgian Phridon Gigani. Both collected shidos and just in the last 30 seconds of the match Ono threw him for waza ari. His next fight against Tohar Butbul (ISR) was decided in the Golden Score and it took the Japanese judoka more than nine minutes to make a score. Also champions occasionally need some time to get into a competition.
Rustam Orujov (AZE) won his opening contest against Algerian Fethi Nourine because the latter picked up three shidos. He scored with waza ari as he also did in his second fight against Esposito but couldn’t end it with ippon.
Another example is Musa Mogushov (RUS). The World bronze medalist from 2011 and 2014 took his time in the first fight against the Austrian Christopher Wagner and just scored with waza ari after two and a half minutes. No chance for him to finish that contest earlier by ippon.
Last example: Fujiwara Sotaro (JPN), the World silver medalist from Baku 2018. His opening contest against Shamil Borchashvili (AUT) he didn’t win with a score. He won because of the 3 shidos given to the Austrian.
The above is not a critic against these elite athletes, just an observation and the fact that sometimes also top players need to get some time to adjust into the competition. Undoubtedly, they still look very confident in the way they fight but they do not necessarily always pursue ippon.
Indeed, you don’t need to win every fight by ippon. I think that the tactical aspect is becoming more important than ever … to claim a third shido, to defend the waza ari and take no risks.”