Waza-ari is a term used in judo to describe a scoring technique that is just below a full point, known as ippon. It is awarded for a throw that is executed with control and results in the opponent landing on their back, but not with enough force to earn an ippon. A waza-ari can also be given for a successful hold-down or submission that meets specific criteria. When a competitor accumulates two waza-ari scores in a match, it is equivalent to one ippon, leading to an immediate victory. This scoring system encourages judokas to demonstrate skill and technique while providing opportunities for strategic play throughout the match.