Gippsland Judo Championships & Kata Workshop 2026

ONLY ONE FEE per competitor! * The Judo Victoria Gippsland Championships welcomes all players registered with Judo Australia to join us for an awesome weekend! This Judo Victoria regional event will be hosted by the Gippsland Judoka, from Traralgon, Yinnar, Drouin and Wonthaggi. Entries close - 11.00pm Wednesday, 21 October. FOR ALL TOURNAMENT ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR BY EMAIL AT GIPPSLANDJUDOKA@GMAIL.COM

SATURDAY - Kata Workshop.

• Entry and registration from 9.30am
• Kata Workshop: 10.00am-1.00pm
• Lunch provided and socialising: 1.00pm-1.30pm
• Kata Workshop: 1.30-4.00pm
• Close

SATURDAY - Judo in Schools Workshop

• Entry and registration from 9.30am
• Kata Workshop: 10.00am-1.00pm
• Lunch provided and socialising: 1.00pm-1.30pm
• Kata Workshop: 1.30-4.00pm
• Close

SUNDAY - Competition - Shiai & Kata

• Referee meeting 9.00am
• Weigh-in: Junior divisions 9.00am, Senior divisions 12 noon
• YOU MUST WEIGH IN AT LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE COMPETING
• Competitions commence at 10.00am
• TEAMS will run after the Junior divisions and again after the Senior divisions, if there are suitable match-ups and interest.

JUDO IN SCHOOLS WORKSHOP (Saturday)

Venue: Ju You Kai Judo Club, 45 Main South Road Drouin

Tim Waterman is an experienced Judo Australia accredited coach, Shodan and long-standing coach and administrator with Ju You Kai Judo Club, Drouin. His coaching experience spans junior and senior judoka, people with additional needs, and competitive players. Over approximately six years, Tim and Hunter Richardson have delivered Judo in Schools programs across a number of Victorian schools, including programs adapted for students with intellectual, developmental and sensory needs. Drawing on that practical experience, Tim has taken a leading role in documenting and formalising the Judo in Schools program into a structured, repeatable model covering both administration and progressive session delivery. The program emphasises safe and age-appropriate participation, inclusion, respect and dignity, games and fundamental movement, progressive introduction of judo skills, and an accessible pathway from a student's first school experience of judo into their local club and the wider judo community.

KATA WORKSHOP (Saturday)

Venue: Bellbird Park Indoor Centre

Kata workshop participants are expected to wear a WHITE JUDOGI.

KATA COMPETITION (Sunday)

You and your partner must enter the same kata, as Uke or Tori. Both should also nominate their partner in the Notes section.

You may only enter the same kata twice if in a different role and with a different partner.

Cadets may enter Senior or Junior categories, but not both.

Kata competitors must wear a WHITE JUDOGI.

Kata will be run in parallel with Shiai, and competitors who enter both events may be required to adapt quickly from one to the other.

The competition will run under the Judo Victoria Kata Sporting Code (2024) and based on the IJF Kata Competition, Criteria for the Evaluation (Jan 2024).

In addition to the five standard competition katas, junior and senior boys and girls may compete in Junior Nage no Kata (first three sets), and Junior Katame no Kata (first five techniques).

SHIAI COMPETITION (Sunday)

Brackets and schedule will be posted by the friday night.

Kata competition will be run after the juniors, in parallel with shiai on the adjoining mat.

Kata competitors must wear a white judogi.

For competitors who enter both shiai and kata, kata will be scheduled before your shiai. Match times are subject to the number of entries. Approximate times will be updated prior to the event date based on entries.

Brackets will be made available prior to the competition day, once registrations are closed. Brackets will be round robin for up to 5 competitors or double elimination for 6 or more in a division.

We will publish indicative draws and a scheduling once entries are closed, and we know numbers. Please note these draws may still be altered slightly on the Sunday

It's important to note that we will still conduct official weigh-ins on Sunday. If weight is not met, we understand but note the draws will have to be redone causing delays for affected divisions, so please ensure you enter the correct weight division.

Divisions

• U9 boys and girls (born in 2017 and later)
• U11 boys and girls (born in 2015 and 2016)
• U13 boys and girls (born in 2013 and 2014)
• U15 boys and girls (born in 2011 and 2012)
• Adaptive/Para-Judo boys and girls (suitable matches will be scheduled)
• TEAMS - If there are suitable match-ups and interest, there will be a mixed-age event
• Cadets Male and Female (over 15 years and under 18 years)
• Junior men and Junior women (over 15 years and under 21 years)
• Senior men and Senior women (15 years and over)
• Veteran Men and Veteran Women (30 years and over)
• Kyu grade: Senior white, yellow, and orange belts only
• Adaptive/Para-Judo men and women (suitable matches will be scheduled)
• TEAMS - a mixed-age event
• All divisions may be adjusted by the Tournament Committee with agreement from competitors and coaches.

Tournament Policies

• All entrants must be financially affiliated with Judo Victoria, Judo Australia, or the relevant International Judo Federation body. https://judovictoria.com.au/
• All participants must have a White judogi and Participants aged 15 and over wearing a green belt or higher must also have a Blue judogi.
• The minimum tournament age is 6 years.
• Ages are defined as the age on December 31 of the calendar year of the tournament
• Draws will be conducted once entry are closed to assist in planning your day, but may be subject to change based on weigh-in results.
• Refunds will be given as per the competition fee refund policy on Judo Victoria website.