WORLD JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS: Walk like an Egyptian, bow like a Japanese
IHT/Asahi: September 17, 2003
... there was the case of the Egyptian competitor who was kept on the mat after his defeat in 11 seconds because his bow was not from the waist. The referee made him repeat it three times before he was allowed to leave in a scene reminiscent of a schoolboy being punished by his teacher.
It might be all right to walk like an Egyptian, but in judo you have to bow like a Japanese....
The biggest controversy, though, surrounded Japan's Yoshihiro Akiyama in the -81 kilogram division. Three countries-France, Mongolia and Turkey-protested that his [Akiyama's] jacket was too slippery to grip....
According to a Japanese source, judoka have been known to cover the sleeves of their jacket with detergent. When dry, the judogi looks normal, but when the wearer starts to perspire and the opponent's hands begin sweating, the sleeves become slippery