Judo Bows Out

A federal judge has ruled that two young judo competitors and their team captain do not have to make the traditional bows before approaching the mat.

U.S. District Judge Carolyn R. Dimmick also directed that the issue of whether the bows violated the religious freedom of Leilani Akiyama, 10, and her brother, James Akiyama, 12, both of Bellevue, should be heard by U.S. Judo Inc., the national governing body for the sport.

At issue in the case, filed in May 1996, are the bows that judo competitors often are required to make to the mat and to a picture of Jigoro Kano, the modern founder of the sport in Japan.

The children’s mother, stepfather and team captain say bowing would violate their religious beliefs.

Judo traditionalists defend the bowing as a nonreligious display of respect and gratitude.