Upcoming Tournaments
Santa's Shiai 2025
REGISTRATION FEES
ON-LINE REGISTRATIONS ONLY! CUTOFF DATE December 3, 2025
Early Registration: until 11:59 pm CST, November 30, 2025
First shiai division $50 per individual
Additional shiai division entries $20 each per individual
Late Registration: until 11:59 pm CST, December 3, 2025
First shiai division $60 per individual
Additional shiai division entries $20 each per individual
Competitors may register for a maximum of two shiai entries each within Junior, Senior and Masters divisions.
WEIGH-INS
ALL COMPETITORS MUST weigh-in at their dojo on Wednesday, December 3 or Thursday, December 4. Their weights (in pounds) must be reported by their instructors to Nat Ciesla (nat.ciesla@gmail.com) on December 4, by 10:00 p.m. CST
Weights will be verified (weight check with +/- 2 pound allowance) when competitors check-in at the tournament and show their valid judo membership card.
ELIGIBILITY
All participants must have an up-to-date USA Judo membership card (we are no longer able to accept USJF/USJA as of 3/15/2023) to present at tournament weight confirmation and check-in.
Non-USA Judo members will need to purchase an Event-Only membership here: https://usajudo.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/1218/home
WHITE/BLUE
Competitors MUST bring their own blue and white belts. If you bring a blue gi, you must also have a white gi. No blue gis are to be worn on the white side.
SHIAI OFFICIAL RULES, AGE/WEIGHT DIVISIONS
RULES:
All participants will abide by IJF contest rules with the following modifications. All participants will abide by current IJF medical rules, which stipulate if a contestant asks for a doctor, they forfeit that match.
Blue gis are optional. Appropriate undergarments must be worn by all athletes. Female athletes shall wear under the jacket either a plain white or off-white round-necked t-shirt with short sleeves, long enough to be worn inside the trousers, or a plain white or off-white leotard with short sleeves. No markings can be visible when the judo gi is done up. Athletes needing to change clothes/judo gis should do so in a restroom, locker room, or designated changing area. Any athlete has the option to wear a white t-shirt if it is not made mandatory for them.
Contest area will be 8 x 8 meters for players over 12 yr and 7 x 7 for players 12yr and under. Safety area will be 3 meters to adjoining mats and 3 meters everywhere else. The CARE system will be in effect.
JUNIORS
Novice is yellow and under, advanced is orange and up. Two year age categories, and fair weight categories within 10% will be created based on entries. 3 minute match length. Shime waza allowed for all players over 13, regardless of the age range of the division they are in. No Kansetsu waza.
SENIORS
Novice is all ranks under brown, advanced is brown and black. IJF weights will be used when possible. 4 minute match length for advanced, 3 minute for novice. Shime waza allowed in all, Kansetu waza allowed only in advanced divisions when both players are brown or black belt.
VETERANS
Novice is all ranks under brown, advanced is brown and black. Fair weight categories within 10% will be created based on entries. 3 minute match length. Shime waza and Kansetu waza allowed in all. No Shime waza for all players 60+.
2026 Wahadachi Judo Tournament
This is a 2026 USA Judo National Points Tournament!
Further information will be added as it becomes available.
Iowa Games 2026
Registration Deadlines
$35 if registered by May 1
$40 if registered between May 2 – June 2
$50 if registered between June 3 – July 7
$55 if On-Site Entry; pre-registration is preferred
Rules
Modified IJF rules will apply.
No chokes allowed if either competitor is under the age of 13.
No arm bars allowed in Junior competition.
USA Judo sanction application filed.
2025 Paul Owen Memorial Tournament
Fun fact, the medals are shaped like this!
ENTRY FEE
Registration - $30.00
Extra Event - $10.00
Pay using PayPal, Credit, Check or Cash
REGISTRATION
Complete the Entry Form in the Entry Packet below
SCHEDULE
Registration / Weigh-in 8:00 – 10:00 am
Matches start at 10:30 am
BRACKETS
3+ Entrants: Modified double elimination
3 Entrants: Round–Robin
2 Entrants: Best 2 of 3.
Three minute matches.
DIVISIONS
All divisions will be determined after weigh-ins.
JUNIORS*, SENIOR WOMEN, SENIOR WOMEN NOVICE, SENIOR MEN, SENIOR MEN NOVICE, SENIOR MASTERS
* - by new rules: girls 10 yrs. old and younger may be paired with boys if they have no girls of like weight to fight.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT AND RULES
Modified IJF rules
No arm locks, no chokes under age 13 or in adult novice divisions
Iowa State Championship 2025
Registration:
Check in and on site enteries 8:30 to 9:30am Nov.9th. Referees meeting will be held at 10am. Tournament competition will begin at 10:30.
DIVISIONS:
Juniors
Boys: Girls:
5-6 years old-light & heavy 5-6 years old-light & heavy
7-8 years old-light & heavy 7-8 years old-light & heavy
9-10 years old-light & heavy 9-10 years old-light & heavy
11-12 years old-light & heavy 11-12 years old-light & heavy
13-14 years old-light & heavy 13-14 years old-light & heavy
15-16 years old-light & heavy 15-16 years old-light & heavy
Boys and Girls divisions may be combined into a coed division for players aged 8 & under.
MEN
NOVICE (White, Rokkyu, Gokyu, and Yonkyu)
Light, Middle, and Heavy
ALL RANKS
132 lbs & under, 145 lbs & under, 161 lbs & under, 178 lbs & under, 198 lbs & under,
220 lbs & under, over 220
MASTERS (over 30 years of age)
Divisions will be based on age and weight.
WOMEN
ALL RANKS
Light, Medium, and Heavy
AWARDS:
Medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in all divisions.
NOTE:
Tournament Directors reserve the right to adjust divisions.
RULES:
Modified IJF rules will apply. No chokes allowed if either competitor is under age of 13 and masters divisions. No arm bars allowed in Junior competition or Novice competition. If Novice wish to enter all Rank Divisions they will abide by All Rank Rules.
SCORING:
Three-minute matches for all juniors and masters. Four-minute matches for all seniors. Divisions will be modified double elimination or round robin, based on the number of entries. Best 2 out of 3 for divisions with 2 competitors. Juniors entering only one division are guaranteed a three-minute rest between matches. Seniors entering only one division are guaranteed a four-minute rest between matches. Players entering more than one division may not get a full rest period.
5th Annual Four States Invitational
Judo Divisions for this Tournament:
Junior Female Novice - Junior Male Novice - Junior Female Advance - Junior Male Advance - Master Female (30 yo+) Novice - Master Male (30 yo+) Novice - Master Female (30 yo+) Advance - Master Male (30 yo+) Advance - Senior Female Novice (green belt & below) - Senior Female Advanced (brown & black belt divisions) - Senior Male Novice (green belt & below) - Senior Male Advanced (brown & black belt divisions)
Registration:
Regular: 1st Division is $45 with 2nd or more divisions being $20 for normal registration.
**Military/Veterans and First Responders get a 10% discount**
Late Registration: After 16 September: Late 1st division is $55 with 2nd or more divisions being $30.
MO Club Team Competition: $5/competitor. These proceeds will go to MO Judo Inc. Registration for this will be at the venue as we build the teams.
COMPETITOR LISTS: Competitor Lists and brackets will be LIVE throughout the registration process and can be viewed by checking out the registrations tab on the event page.
DIVISION MERGERS: After change deadline, competitors who do not have anyone in their division group may be merged with another division.
Rules and Format
Current IJF rules (modified).
Modified Double for divisions with six players or more.
Round Robin will be used for divisions of five to three players.
Best two out of three will be used for divisions of two players.
Two minute Golden Score for all divisions.
Kansetsu-Waza will only be allowed in IJF Junior, senior advanced and advanced master divisions.
NOVICE Divisions are for NOVICE players who have limited tournament experience.
Awards
4” custom medals and neck ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category will be awarded.
The Men's and Women's Open Division will have a $50 prize to each winner if the division has 5 or more.
The rotating state trophy will be engraved with the newest winner.
2nd Annual Twin Cities Classic
Administrative
ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Thursday, September 18th, 2025 at 11:59PM
Satellite Weigh ins:
All competitors must weigh in ahead of time via satellite weigh ins. Forms will be sent to coaches to fill out their athletes' weights and return to tournament organizer. Individuals with no coaches available to verify their weight will still send their weights to tournament organizer.
All athletes will be weighed to confirm their weight on site as a part of the check in process.
Check ins:
Saturday, September 20th
8:00am-9:00am Junior (16 and under) Check ins
10:30am-11am Senior (17 and over) Check ins
ELIGIBILITY:
Athletes MUST have a current USA Judo membership. USA Judo membership status will be verified online with the membership number provided during registration prior to tournament.
Athletes need to bring a white judogi, white belt, and a blue belt. Blue judogis can only be worn when competing on the blue side.
BJJ gis will not be allowed in competition.
Tournament Director:
Jonathan Douglass - jadouglass97@gmail.com - 763-447-8041
Spectating:
Spectating is free and open to the public
Competition Bracketing and Rules
2 Regulation judo mats.
Best of 3 matches for divisions of 2 people.
Round Robin for divisions of 3 people.
Double Elimination for divisions of 4 or more players.
Match length: 2 minutes for juniors 8 years old and under. 3 minutes for juniors 9 years old and up, 4 minutes for seniors & masters.
No armlocks are allowed in any novice category, regardless of age.
Armlocks allowed in all senior advanced and masters advanced divisions.
No chokes or armlocks are allowed for junior novice divisions.
Tournament Director reserves the right to adjust divisions, and match times to ensure fair and safe competition.
Properly fitting judogis must be worn by all competitors. BJJ gis will not be allowed in competition.
Appropriate undergarments must be worn by all athletes. Female athletes shall wear under the jacket either a plan white or off-white t-shirt, with short sleeves, long enough to be worn inside the trousers, or a plain white or off-white leotard with short sleeves. The white t-shirt should have a round neck. No marking can be visible when the judogi is done up. Rash guards or t-shirts are allowed to be worn under the judogi for all genders, during USA Judo sanctioned domestic events.
Any athlete needing to change clothes/judogi should do so in a restroom which is this event's designated changing area.