JUNIOR AND SENIOR TOURNAMENT
Sunday October 4, 2026
NO WALK-UPS, MANDATORY PRE-REGISTRATION BY 8:00 PM October 2
SITE: TOHOKU JUDO CLUB at 2322 Massachusetts Ave., 2nd Floor, Cambridge, MA 02140
FEE: $20.00 per competitor ($10 for Tohoku members)
AWARDS: Medals for 1st, 2nd, 3rd
SCHEDULE: Coaches may Submit Team Weigh-in List by 10/02/26 at 8:00pm; weights will be confirmed at check-in and divisions will be adjusted if needed.
Seniors: Check-in 9:00am-9:30am - Competition begins at 9:45 AM
Order of Senior Competition: Novice (white-green belts); Elite (brown & black belts) Masters (30+ yrs. old)
Juniors: Check-in 12:00pm-12:30pm; Competition begins approx. 12:45PM
FORMAT: Competitors are grouped into pools by weight for a series of round-robin matches for pools of 4 or less; modified double elimination for pools may be used for divisions of 4 or more (subject to change based on number of competitors).
RULES:
Current IJF Contest Rules will be in effect with the following modifications:
- No one 60 years old or older can do Shime waza or have Shime Waza done to them;
- No double drop knee Seoinage for ages 12 and under;
- Reverse Seoinage: In all (A) age group categories BELOW CADETS and (B) ALL NOVICE categories, Tori is NOT ALLOWED, and will be penalized with SHIDO.
- Head Diving, Head, & Neck Usage: These actions are STRICTLY PROHIBITED while in TACHIWAZA (standing position) and is APPLICABLE TO ALL CATEGORIES.
- The TORI (attacker) may NOT “dive”, onto the tatami by bending forward and downward while performing or attempting to perform techniques such as Uchimata, Haraigoshi, Seoinage, Taiotoshi, Kataguruma, Tsurigoshi, and etc. Additionally, it is forbidden to somersault forward when the UKE (receiver/defender) is on the shoulders or the back of the TORI. In these situations, the TORI will be penalized with a DIRECT HANSOKUMAKE. The DIRECT HANSOKUMAKE will DISQUALIFY the TORI from further competition for the rest of the tournament.
- The UKE is STRICTLY PROHIBITED from using their head on the tatami/mat to defend against the TORI’s attack/technique. Should the UKE, in this situation, use their head on the tatami/mat, the UKE will be penalized with a DIRECT HANSOKUMAKE. The DIRECT HANSOKUMAKE will DISQUALIFY the UKE from further competition for the rest of the tournament.
- No shime waza for anyone under age 13 and Novice
- No kansetsu waza for anyone under age 17 nor for anyone under the rank of sankyu
- There may or will be Co-Ed divisions for ages 10 and under
- CARE System will not be used
- Competition area will be 8m x 8m with 5m safety
ELIGIBILITY: Competitors with USJF or USJA current affiliation are eligible to compete. Current membership card MUST be presented at check in.
DIVISIONS: Tournament Director reserves the right to add, combine and/or cancel divisions based on the number of competitors; Coaches, Instructors, and/or Parents will have an opportunity to review the divisions and confirm their child's/athlete's suitability for participation.
WOMEN’S DIVISION Novice (Rokyu – Yonkyu) Light / Medium / Heavy
Elite (Sankyu and above) Light / Medium / Heavy
MEN’S DIVISIONS Novice (Rokyu – Yonkyu) Light / Medium / Heavy
Elite (Sankyu and above) Light / Medium / Heavy
MASTERS’ DIVISIONS Ages 30+ Novice (Rokyu – Yonkyu) Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 30+ Elite(Sankyu and above) Light / Medium / Heavy
JUNIORS’ DIVISIONS Ages 5 – 6 Co-Ed Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 7 – 8 Males Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 9 – 10 Males Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 11 – 12 Males Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 13 – 16 Males Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 7 – 8 Females Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 9 – 10 Females Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 11 – 12 Females Light / Medium / Heavy
Ages 13 – 16 Females Light / Medium / Heavy
