Rules and Regulations: Judo (Open)

Last updated: April 22, 2024

Download a PDF here – LYG24_Judo_ Info_Rules_v3.

JUD 1 The London Youth Games Judo competition will run in accordance with British Judo Association rules.

JUD 1.1 The London Youth Games Judo competition will follow the Transgender guidance outlined by British Judo Transgender Inclusion Policy – British Judo

JUD 1.2 Should any rules listed below contradict those outlined by the British Judo Association, these rules will supersede those.

JUD 1.3 It will be at the sole discretion of the Competition Director as to the application of these rules, and any subsequent decision made as a result will be final.

JUD 2 Age Category

JUD 2.1 The following age groups and respective maximum date of births will apply to the London Youth Games Judo Competition:

Event Graded Groups Age Category Oldest DOB Youngest DOB
Section A Group 1: 4th Mon (yellow) and above 9 – 11 years old on day of competition 01/06/2012 31/05/2014
Section B Group 2: 4th Mon (yellow) – 9th Mon (Orange) ONLY

Group 3: 10th Mon (green) and above

12 – 15 years old on day of competition 01/06/2008 31/05/2012
Section C Group 4: 4th Mon (yellow) – 9th Mon (orange) ONLY

Group 5: 10th Mon (green) and above

16 – 18 years old on day of competition 01/06/2005 31/05/2008

JUD 2.2 Competitors must be members of the British Judo Association, British Judo Council or Amateur Judo Association. To obtain a BJA license please visit www.britishjudo.org.uk. Recreational licenses will not be accepted.

 JUD 2.3 Competitors are not permitted to enter this competition if they are ineligible. No exceptions will be made.

JUD 2.4 It is the responsibility of competitors/parents/team managers/local authority staff to ensure all competitors details are entered correctly at the time of submission, and that they are eligible to compete for their borough under the London Youth Games Games Rules, and in accordance with the age groups outlined for the competition.

JUD 2.4.1 In the instance a competitor is found to be ineligible, they will be disqualified from the competition entirely, and the borough will receive a points penalty as per the Games Rules.

JUD 3 Squad Size and Team Managers Boroughs are permitted to enter a minimum of 1 competitor and a maximum of 60 competitors per gender.

JUD 3.1 Boroughs can enter a maximum of 20 competitors per section per gender.

JUD 3.2 Boroughs can enter a maximum of 5 competitors per weight category per section per gender.

JUD 3.3 Boroughs are required to nominate a maximum of TWO team managers. These two nominated team managers are required to sign the borough team into the event at team registration.

JUD 3.4 Boroughs are permitted to nominate a maximum of 4 coaches on the day of the event. Coaches must hold a L1 coaching qualification and be able to supply evidence of this to officials on the day of the event. Once qualifications have been validated, coaches will be issued a wristband that allows them to go mat side.

JUD 4 Kit & Equipment

JUD 4.1 All competitors must provide a clean white judogi.

JUD 4.2 Female competitors must wear a plain white t-shirt or borough team t-shirt under their judogi. Male competitors can have the option to wear a plain white t-shirt or borough team t-shirt under their judogi.

 JUD 4.3 All competitors must wear judogi trousers and a t-shirt when weighing in and for medal presentations.

JUD 5 Competition Format

JUD 5.1 Each competitor will compete as an individual in their respective weight category and age group and will gain points for the borough.

JUD 5.2 Contest duration will be three minutes for sections A & B. Section C contests will be four minutes. Golden score will follow the BJA format.

JUD 5.3 There will be no seeding from previous results. Seeding will be carried out using the BJA competition manual rules and we will try and separate players from the same borough.

JUD 5.4 The Tournament Director will decide the competition system on the day. The competition system will be compound knockout for categories with more than 8 athletes. For categories with less than 8 athletes, a pool system will be used.

JUD 6 Competition Rules

JUD 6.1 Armlocks and strangles are only permitted in section C.

JUD 6.2 Each player will have a minimum of two contests where possible.

JUD 6.3 Weight categories may be merged due to low numbers. When a competitor is merged with another category, they will receive points for their original category only e.g., if a competitor is the only person in the under 52kg weight and are merged with the under 57kg category then they will receive the gold medal and points regardless of contest result.

JUD 6.4 Only one coach to be mat side with a Judoka at one time. Please refer to rule JUD 3.4.

JUD 6.5 Borough judoka’s must all weigh in at the same time for each section. Individuals must not weigh-in without the rest of their team or team manager being present. The British Judo Association weigh-in policy will be operated.

JUDO 6.5.1 Tolerance of 0.8kg (800g) i.e., 52.8 or 63.8 etc.

JUD 6.6 Section A

JUD 6.6.1 9, 10, 11 years old on the day of the competition.

 JUD 6.6.2 Group 1 (4th Mon to 18th Mon).

JUD 6.6.3 Grade requirements: participants must be a minimum of a British Judo Association 4th Mon (yellow belt) and a maximum of 18th Mon (brown belt) or equivalent within their Judo organisation.

JUD 6.6.4 Weight categories for Section A are listed below (NB: the weights stated are inclusive of the 0.8kg tolerance for competitors).

  • Boys: – 30kg, -34kg, -38kg, -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, +55kg
  • Girls: – 32kg, – 36kg, – 40kg, – 44kg, -48kg, – 52kg, – 57kg, + 57kg

 JUD 6.7 Section B

 JUD 6.7.1 12, 13, 14, 15 years old on the day of competition.

 JUD 6.7.2 Group 2 (4th to 9th Mon)

 JUD 6.7.3 Group 3 (10th to 18th Mon)

JUD 6.7.4 Grade requirements: participants must be a minimum of a British Judo Association 4th Mon (yellow belt) and over or equivalent within their Judo organisation.

JUD 6.7.5 Weight categories for Section B are listed below (NB: the weights stated are inclusive of the 0.8kg tolerance for competitors).

  • Boys: -38kg, -42kg, -46kg, -50kg, -55kg, -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, +81kg
  • Girls: -36kg, -40kg, – 44kg, -48kg, – 52kg, – 57kg, 63kg, -70kg, +70kg

 JUD 6.8 Section C

 JUD 6.8.1 16, 17, 18 years old on the day of competition.

 JUD 6.8.2 Group 4 (4th to 9th Mon)

 JUD 6.8.3 Group 5 (10th to 18th Mon)

JUD 6.8.4 Grade requirements: participants must be a minimum of a British Judo Association 4th Mon (yellow belt) and over or equivalent (e.g., Kyu Grade) within their Judo organisation.

JUD 6.8.5 Weight categories for Section C are listed below (NB: the weights stated are inclusive of the 0.8kg tolerance for competitors)

  • Boys: -50kg, -55kg, -60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg, +100kg
  • Girls: -44kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, -78kg, +78kg

JUD 7 Scoring Points awarded according to player position;

JUD 7.1 Gold – 10 points, Silver – 7 points, both Bronze – 4 points, 5th – 1 point.

JUD 7.2 All results 5th place and above will be counted.

JUD 8 Medals & Trophies Medals and trophies will be awarded as follows:

JUD 8.1 Medals awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed competitors in each category and trophy awarded to the winning team per gender.