The rule changes, which made their debut at the Grand Prix in Paris this February, have been introduced to encourage attacking play and make play quicker.

The changes include ending the time limit on the golden score, meaning matches do not conclude until one of the contestants scores or gets a penalty, and issuing guidance that the ippon score - the most famous throw in the spor t- should only be given to throws that result in "real impact".

The number of referees on the mat has also been reduced from three to one, with one referee sitting at the table with the video, in an effort to help make the sport more attractive to televison.

"Having watched the competitions since the rule changes have been applied, I think it's definitely had a positive effect on judo." Donohue told insidethegames.

"There are a couple of grey areas, which always occurs when you make such a vast change in such a short space of time, but the British players have adapted very well, so that's really pleasing, and that's not just at senior level; at cadet and junior level we've seen some good results over the last few weeks at the World Cups and likewise with the senior programme."

Great Britain's Gemma Gibbons won the country's first judo medal in 12 years, taking silver at London 2012

"It's definitely had a good effect on how judo looks and similarly the British players have been brilliant with adapting to the changes."

Great Britain is yet to win an Olympic gold medal in Judo, despite reaching eight Olympic finals since 1972; the latest of which came at London 2012 when Gemma Gibbons was defeated in the women's -78kg final by American Kayla Harrison, winning Britain's first judo medal since Sydney 2000.

But Donohue insists that it will come eventually; but the planning and programming must be correct in order for the hoodoo to come to an end.

"We've been pretty good at getting players to the Olympic final and not quite achieving a gold medal," he said.

"We do want to win that Olympic gold and we feel like we've got players that can achieve that, it's now just a matter of putting the plans in place and whether that will happen in 2016 or 2020, it's difficult to say, but there's no doubt that that's the target that we're looking to achieve.

"We know strategically what we need to achieve"

"By the time we start the Olympic qualification period next year, we want eight players ranked in the world top 35 and as we close the Olympic qualification programme in 2016 after the European Championships we want six players ranked in the world top eight.

"We know that if we hit those targets, we go into Rio in really good shape to get some potential medals."

Neil Adams (blue belt) took silver for Britain at both 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games

Donohue has been joined at British Judo by another man who boasts a distinguished career in the sport, Neil Adams, who reached two of the eight Olympic finals reached by British judokas in 1980 and 1984, and won a World Championship gold medal in 1981.

"Well you don't perform at that level and not have the necessary experience and expertise to be able to draw upon" Donohue said of Adams.

"His track record is second to none and he's got great links with the IJF (International Judo Federation) so it means we can be on the cutting edge of world judo, and that is something that will be invaluable for British Judo."

As Britain's judokas prepare for the European Championships in Budapest, which is due to take place from April 25 to 27, hopes of success will be pinned on the likes of Sally Conway, who took gold at the -70kg Samsun Grand Prix last month, and Natalie Powell and Chris Sherrington, who both won bronze at the event. 

The future for British Judo is certainly looking bright, and with two vastly experienced heads now on board and a series of talented up-and-comers making their way through the ranks, British judo fans will have high hopes that 2016 can be the year that Britain finally wins a gold in the sport.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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March 2013: "New rules make for better judo" claims top official after Samsun success
February 2013: Adapted rules under spotlight again at Düsseldorf Grand Prix