Bow Remains In Judo

The national governing body for judo has ruled that two competitors must bow before approaching the mat, increasing the chance of a federal court trial on the issue.

Lawyers for both sides said last week that a five-member U.S. Judo Inc. panel rejected claims by Leilani Akiyama, 10, her brother, James Akiyama, 12, and their team captain, Jay Drangeid, 36, that being required to bow to the mat, to a picture of the founder of the sport, Jigoro Kano, and to opponents violated their religious beliefs.