IJF International Federation MODIFED Rules:

Competitors and coaches will need to present a valid USA Judo membership.

This tournament will be conducted in accordance with the Contest Rules, Organization Code, and Sporting Code of the International Judo Federation, as revised for this tournament. 

• Points on the USA Judo National Roster will be awarded in the Senior, Veteran, Visually Impaired, and IJF-Junior categories only as outlined in the respective criteria. Criteria can be found at www.usjudo.org.

• Athletes may only enter one weight per eligible category with the exception of Open weight, if applicable.

• Shime-waza is allowed for all categories except the novice category and veteran category for athletes in the 60 and older age groups.

• Kansetsu-waza is allowed for all categories except the novice category. 

Match Lengths Senior, IJF-Junior, Visually Impaired, Brown Belt, and Novice Categories

• Male: 4 minutes

• Female: 4 minutes

• No Golden Score time limit Veteran Categories

• M1 / F1-M6 / F6: 3 minute time limit, plus 2 minutes Golden Score

• M7/F7-M10/F10: 2 minute time limit, plus 1 minute Golden Score

Competition Method: The standard (“true”) Double Elimination System with winner’s and loser’s brackets will be used. The winner of the loser’s bracket will compete against the winner of the winner’s bracket for 1st and 2nd place. The first one of these two contestants to have two (2) losses will be placed second; the other will be placed first. The loser of the loser’s bracket will be placed 3rd. For categories of two and under contestants, round robin will be the method of competition. 

Round Robin Clarification: 

Seeding: There will be no seeding except for the IJF-Junior and Cadet categories. The top four athletes will be seeded in each division. If a seeded athlete is not present, the other athletes WILL move up in seeding. Players having the same state affiliation will be placed as far apart in the bracket as possible. 

Points: Juniors winning medals in the regular IJF-Junior, Juvenile, Cadet, Intermediate, and all Bantam divisions will be awarded points as outlined in the USA Judo Junior Event Point Matrix found at www.usjudo.org . 

All athletes must compete in their true age/weight category. 

Shime-waza rule: Allowed in regular Juvenile, Cadet, and IJF-Junior categories only. 

Kansetsu-waza rule: Allowed in regular Cadet, and regular IJF-Junior only. 

It is standard procedure in the United States that contestants competing in Junior divisions up to and including 12 years of age are not allowed to use Shime-waza (chokes) or Kansetsu-waza (arm locks). Cadet age categories (15 yrs. to 17 yrs.) contestants competing are allowed to use Kansetsu-waza. If a participant whose true weight and age is in the Intermediate category and decides to move up to the Juvenile category, he/she will need a waiver/authorization from a parent or guardian to acknowledge that chokes are allowed at the Juvenile level. 

Injury Rule: Decisions regarding on mat injuries, are to be resolved in accordance with IJF rules; such decisions occurring off the mat or not covered by the IJF rules, are to be made by the coach, the athlete, and appropriate medical staff. If there is not a unanimous opinion among these three individuals, the athlete may not continue (Board-approved October 22, 1998) 

Match lengths: 

• Bantam (3 minutes / 2-minute golden score) 

• Intermediate and Juvenile (3 minutes / no golden score limit) 

• Cadet and IJF-Junior (4 minutes / no golden score limit)