Judo
DATE
February 21, 2026
LOCATION
Kroc Center
2500 S. Division
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 (directions)
CHECK IN, WEIGH IN, & COMPETITION TIMES
ENTRY FEES
Shiai:
Same person entering more than one division:
First Division = $60.00
Additional Divisions = $40.00 each
Kata:
Same team entering more than one division:
First Division = $60.00 per team
Additional Divisions = $40.00 each
DIVISIONS
Girls - All divisions have light, middle and heavy
6 & 7 year olds
8 year olds
9 and 10 year olds
11 and 12 year olds
13 and 14 year olds
15 and 16 year olds
Boys - All divisions have light, middle and heavy
6 & 7 year olds
8 year olds
9 and 10 year olds
11 and 12 year olds
13 and 14 year olds
15 and 16 year olds
Senior Men - All divisions have light, middle, and heavy
white/green/blue belts
Brown belts
Black belts
*(Brown belts may enter black belt divisions)
Senior Women - All divisions have light, middle, and heavy
white/green/blue belts
Brown and black belts
Masters
Yudansha (black belt) Division and Mudansha (non black belt) Division
30 - 39 year olds - light, middle and heavy
40-year-olds and older - light, middle and heavy
Kata
Nage no Kata
Katame no Kata
Ju no Kata
Kime no Kata
Goshinjutsu Itsutsu no Kata
Koshiki no Kata
ELIGIBILITY
All contestants must provide a valid USJF, USJA, or USA Judo card. Foreign contestants must have the proper ID from their home country.
You must present the primary membership card that shows the insurance coverage is current. If you do not present the membership card, you must purchase a membership card on site.
Each athlete is required to sign a waiver either online.
MATCH INFORMATION
True Double Elimination (6 or more in a division) and Round Robin (5 or less in a division)
Juniors - 2 minutes (for 6 & 7 year olds), 3 minutes (for 8 & older)
Seniors Men & Women - White, Green - 3 minutes
Senior Men & Women – Brown & Black belt - 4 minutes
Masters - 3 Minutes
RULES
The current contest rules of the International Judo Federation (I J F) as modified.
GOLDEN SCORE will apply to ALL DIVISIONS.- A score of Yuko ends the match. For 6 & 7 year olds and Masters the Golden Score Match time is one minute. Should no difference of positive score exist at the end of this extra time, as determined by the referee the winner of the match will be decided by the following criteria: the player with the 1) fewest number of penalties, 2) action closest to a positive score, 3) highest number of valid attacks. For all other divisions, Golden Score duration is unlimited.
NO kansetsu waza (Arm Locks) allowed in Junior or Novice Divisions.
NO Shime waza (Chokes) allowed in Novice Divisions
i. Shime waza allowed for 13 years of age and older Advanced DivisionsKansetsu waza allowed in all senior divisions for those Sankyu and above only. (Minimum age to enter senior division is 16 years.)
Anyone 60 or over cannot do Shime waza, and cannot have Shime waza done on them.
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.
Double Knee Drop Seoinage: No Double Knee Drop Seoinage for 12 yrs and under.
All competitors must bring a white and blue belt to wear for competition. If you only have one gi, it must be white to compete and when you are on the blue side you must have a blue belt!
There may be co-ed competition for competitors 8 years and under.
Mat Size – Two 8 meter x 8 meter competition areas with 3 meter safety area on perimeter and 4 meters between competition areas.
Head Diving, Head, & Neck Usage: These actions are STRICTLY PROHIBITED while in TACHIWAZA (standing position) and is APPLICABLE TO ALL CATEGORIES.
A. 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.
B. 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
EVENT PACKET
REGISTRATION
There will be no onsite registration.
Registration closes February 18, 2026 at 11:00 PM. Entry fees are NOT REFUNDABLE. All pooling will be done the evening before the tournament. Athletes will still be required to check in on Saturday morning; however, there will be no late entries.
AWARDS
Meijer State Games of Michigan Winter Games medals will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each division.
SPECTATOR FEE
$5 per person
Free ages 7 and under
MERCHANDISE
The 2026 Meijer State Games of Michigan Winter Games merch is coming soon! Check back for more details.
QUESTIONS
For Judo questions contact Sport Director Neil Redding at Neilredding555@hotmail.com or Assistant Director, Jim Murray at murrayjim@charter.net.
For registration questions or help contact registration@stategamesofmichigan.com
STATE GAMES OF AMERICA
This event is a qualifying event for the 2026 State Games of America. Any athletes who place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd has the opportunity to compete in the 2026 State Games of America hosted in Happy Valley, PA.
Visit the State Games of America website for more information and to get registered for #SGA2026.