German Olympic judoka Eduard Trippel has shared an analysis of how judo is evolving — and why mastering newaza (ground work) has become essential for success at the highest level.

Trippel attributes this transformation to three key factors: recent rule changes by the International Judo Federation (IJF), the global rise of mixed martial arts (MMA), and the growing influence of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) on judokas’ training.

According to Trippel, the IJF’s new rules have fundamentally changed match dynamics.
Ground exchanges can now last up to a full minute if referees see progress, compared to earlier years when stoppages were frequent:

Five seconds is really not much. That’s really a gift.

This evolution rewards judokas who can transition quickly between standing and ground phases:

If you have very heavy opponents or opponents that you think you might not be able to beat standing up, you can defeat them on the ground.

Because of BJJ’s prominence, many judokas are now integrating its methods into their training.
Trippel has noticed techniques like sankaku triangles and bending levers appearing more frequently in tournaments — moves he acknowledges are “more BJJ techniques” than traditional judo.

He also noted that referees are beginning to adjust to this evolution.
Competitors with recognized ground expertise often get more time on the mat, as officials can distinguish between real progress and stalling.

For Trippel, the message is clear – the age of one-dimensional judo specialists is over:

Ground combat is slowly becoming more and more of a non-negotiable issue.

If you can stand your ground, that is the key to success.

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