ENTRY OPENING DATE

Tuesday 6 January 2026

ENTRY CLOSING DATE

Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 23:59 – Student / Competitor Deadline

(Students / Competitors must apply by this deadline)

Thursday 26 February 2026 at 23:59 – Team Entry & Institution Administrator Deadline

(Institutional Administrators must have entered a team by this point. For individual entries, Institution Administrators are given 48 hours after the student / competitor deadline to approve individual entries)

ENTRY COSTS

Individual (Dan, Kyu and Novice) - £37.25

Men's Team - £93.25

Women's Team - £69.50

STAGED ENTRY

Should the competition allow more entries a Stage 2 Entry window will open. Priority will remain with the entries received before the Stage 1 entry closing date. Entries received in the Stage 2 window and accepted into the competition, will be charged an additional 20% fee. Should a Stage 2 Entry window be utilised, new entry closing dates will be published by BUCS.

This event contains the following four categories, across both male and female genders:

Individual Dan Grade

Individual Kyu Grade

Individual Novice Grade

Team Competition

For the BUCS Points available across this event, please see Appendix 1. Please note that in the individual categories, only Dan Grade competitors are eligible to win BUCS Points

Individual Competition

Both the men’s and women’s Kyu grade competitions will include the requirement of 2nd Kyu (blue belt) and below, to the minimum grade of 4th Kyu (orange belt). The men’s and women’s Dan grade competitions will include 1st Kyu (brown belt) and above.

The novice category will include the requirement of 5^th Kyu and below, but a competitor must have graded within the 4 months preceding the event (Gradings must occur after 1^st November 2025). If you have graded this academic year (2025/26) please email Chris Lamb, and special dispensation may be granted (Although this is not guaranteed). BUCS reserves the right to disqualify anybody who is suspected of purposely withholding from grading to compete in the novice level.

Categories will be fought off using the elimination method of compound knockout which will be used for all categories with 8 or more competitors.

Where there are 5 or less competitors in a category this will be fought as one pool. 6 or 7 players in a category will be fought as two pools with a crossover knockout semi-final to final. Eight players or more in a category will be fought as a compound knockout, this may subject to change depending on the number of entries.

Team Competition

Teams are to be made up of existing competitors from the individual Kyu grade and Dan grade competitions only (Novice competitors cannot enter). Men’s teams consist of 5 competitors. Women’s teams consist of 3 competitors. Institutions can enter a maximum of two teams (Per gender) into the team events. Students do not need to join their team on BUCS Play, as teams are declared at the event, but teams must be entered by the institution prior to the deadlines above.

An injured competitor may be replaced by an existing competitor from the individual competition, providing they are in the same weight category, or one category lighter. Injured competitors may not return to the competition in subsequent matches.

Men’s teams must consist of the following 5 individuals:

•            1 x -60kg / -66kg

•            3 x -73kg / -81kg / -90kg

•            1 x -100kg / +100kg

It is permitted to enter a mens team with only 4 individuals - If an institution chooses to do so; they must not enter more than the permitted allowance per category as detailed above.

The minimum grade accepted into the individual competition is 1^st Kyu (brown belt) for Dan grade, 4th Kyu (orange belt) for Kyu grade, and 6^th Kyu for the novice competition. Any competitor with a grade below the minimum for the relevant competition on arrival at registration will not be allowed to compete and will still be charged their entry fee.

The following International Judo Federation weight categories are available to enter for both the Novice, Kyu and Dan grade competitions:

MEN'S

•            Over 100 kg

•            Under 100kg

•            Under 90kg

•            Under 81kg

•            Under 73kg

•            Under 66kg

•            Under 60kg

WOMEN'S

•            Over 78kg

•            Under 78kg

•            Under 70kg

•            Under 63kg

•            Under 57kg

•            Under 52kg

•            Under 48kg

The categories listed are subject to change. Categories are only available according to the number of entries received and / or the number of competitors who attend the event, and as a result some may be cancelled or merged either pre-event or at the event.

Institutions must rank their competitors on BUCS Play in order of preference before the closing date. Should BUCS need to restrict entries, this will be done equally across institutions.

No entries will be accepted on the day, and any entries not approved by the competitors institution within the deadlines advised above will not be allowed to compete.

To apply for any of the individual competitions all eligible competitors must follow these steps:

1. Competitor to apply to the event on BUCS Play (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
2. Institution administrator approves entry (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
3. BUCS approves/denies entry into competition and publishes confirmed entry list

For the team competition, the following process should be followed:

1. Entries will need to be submitted via the team entries section of our online entry system, BUCS Play (Instructions on how to do this can be found here)
2. Please speak to your Institution Administrator as they will need to enter the correct number of teams for you.
3. Students do not need to enter their teams – Teams are declared during Day 1 of the event at the control desk.

Any data will be handled in accordance with BUCS Privacy Policy

By participating in this event you agree to adhere to BUCS General Event Disclaimer

Weigh-In opportunities will be as follows for the event: 

Friday: Weigh-In will be open from 17:00 - 20:00 for Dan and Kyu Grades ONLY. Novices may not weigh-in at this session.

Saturday: A weigh-in will be available for those who could not make Friday weigh-in. Please note that competitors are expected to weigh-in on Friday, and will only be allowed to weigh-in on Saturday if you have an exceptional circumstance. You MUST email BUCS Events prior to the event to request a slot, as these are limited and on a first come first serve basis.

Sunday: Weigh-In for Novices only, time TBC.

Competitors are reminded that they have the ability to make changes to their application, including weight category, prior to the entry deadline (24 February 2026 at 23:59) by following the guide here.

Following the entry deadline, no changes will be accepted via email. At the weigh-in, you will be permitted to change your weight category if necessary. Please note: Test scales will be available at registration (where the organisers must be notified of any weight category changes). Entrants must change their weight category before weighing in on the official scales. 

The BUCS Judo Championships shall be conducted in accordance with the following BUCS Judo regulations, the BUCS general regulations, and the British Judo (BJA) Contest Rules (2025) and Contest Rule Amendments (2025). Further event specific requirements, rules, and regulations will be contained within the entry and pre-event information for each Championship.

The British Judo (BJA) Policy on Trans Competitors shall be followed.

You must contact BUCS Events and [email protected] if you require any support at the event or have any questions regarding the above points.

Please note that failure to comply with these policies may result in not being able to compete/attend this event, or removal from the event, and notification to the British Judo Association.

All competitors need to provide a valid British Judo Association (BJA) licence and student identification at registration and weigh-in. Students without a licence cannot compete.

Welsh Judo Association (WJA) Judo Scotland and Northern Ireland Judo Federation (NIJF) British Judo Council (BJC) Amateur Judo Association (AJA) Licences are also acceptable.

International competitors who do not have a BJA licence must provide their home national governing body (as sanctioned by the International Judo Federation) licence at registration and weigh-in, along with a letter of permission.

Competitors may withdraw from the event prior to the entry deadline (23:59pm on Thursday 26 February 2026) and will not be charged the entry fee.

Competitors who withdraw after the entry deadline (23:59pm on Thursday 26 February 2026) will still be charged the entry fee.

Competitors who do not withdraw, and do not register at the venue, will be classified as a ‘no-show’ and charged the entry fee and an additional £20 fine payable by the competitor’s athletic union or students’ union.

Please see REG 7.9 for our withdrawal policy

This event will be used as qualification for the European Universities Championships Combat Sports 2026, in Tirana, Albania. The Gold & Silver medallist in each weight category (1st Kyu and above) will automatically qualify with further qualification subject to National Governing Body approval.

Qualifiers must speak to Kat McDonald (International Rep, Judo SAG) on the day of competition for further information regarding selection. If you are interested in competing, should you qualify/be selected, please ensure you fill in the section of the entry form on BUCS Play when prompted to do so.

Post event, qualifiers will receive communications from BUCS with further information regarding the administrative next steps.

Anyone wishing to take photos or video at this event must complete the BUCS Media Accreditation Form prior to the event. Please go to the BUCS desk at the event to receive your media accreditation.

BUCS reserves the right to prohibit photography equipment being used at a BUCS event. BUCS reserves the right to request that the individual ceases to take photographs, deletes any images and, if considered necessary, leaves the venue.

BUCS’ mission is to provide exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.

Critical to our success is our commitment to always providing safe, friendly and enjoyable environments for all participants. Whether competing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, working or spectating at these events, the welfare of all is critical to our mission.

To find out more or report a concern, please click here.