DATES

15-16^th March 2025 (Weigh-In takes place on Friday 14 March, more information below)

VENUE

University of Wolverhampton (Walsall Campus)

27, The Broadway

Walsall

Competitors must register and weigh-in on Friday 14 March 2025, unless you have requested and been approved to weigh-in on Saturday morning. Registration and weigh-in will be open from 17:00 until 20:00. Registration and weigh-in are in the competition venue, the sports centre at Wolverhampton University, Walsall Campus (WS1 3EZ) Competitors who do not register, and do not weigh-in, will be withdrawn.

Registration is likely to be very busy, so please ensure you arrive in plenty of time.

Please note: Competitors who do not make weight on Friday night will not be allowed to re-weigh on Saturday morning.

The weigh in for the competition will be an Open Weigh In.

ALL Competitors (Women and Men) must weigh in in competition legal Judogi Trousers, and a plain crew neck t shirt. Athletes will therefore be entitled to a 0.1kg weight allowance, on top of the allowance below for trousers/underwear.

For Women’s weight categories of -48kg, -52kg, -57kg and -63kg and Men's weight categories of -60kg, -66kg an allowance of 0.7kg will be given.

For Women's weight categories of -70kg, -78kg and +78kg and Men’s weight categories of -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg and +100kg an allowance of 0.7kg will be given.

Competitors for Dan and Kyu Grade should weigh-in on Friday evening, between 17:00 and 20:00pm. There will be a Novice Grade only weigh-in on Sunday morning, however novice grades are welcome to weigh-in on Friday if they wish.

If Dan and Kyu Grade students are not able to make weigh-in on Friday, there will be extremely limited time/space available to weigh-in on Saturday morning for exceptional circumstances only. If you are unable to make weigh-in on Friday, please email Chris Lamb if you have not yet already, who will be able to authorise a Saturday morning weigh-in.

Competitors must provide their BJA license and student identification at registration and weigh-in. Students without a valid, in-date license cannot compete and their entry will NOT be refunded.

Accepted Licences are as follows:

British Judo Association

Welsh Judo Association

Judo Scotland

Northern Ireland Judo Federation

British Judo Council

Amateur Judo Association

To be insured to compete at BUCS, competitors must have one of the above licenses if they are training at either a university judo club or any other UK judo club. A recreational license does not cover competitions or gradings. International competitors who do not have a BJA license must provide their home national governing body (as sanctioned by the International Judo Federation) license at weigh-in, along with a letter of permission.

Events

The following events will make up the BUCS Judo Championships:

Men's & Women's Dan Grade (Saturday)

Men's & Women's Kyu Grade (Saturday)

Men's & Women's Novice Grade (Sunday)

Men's & Women's Team Events (Sunday)

BUCS Points

Please see Appendix 1 for a breakdown of BUCS points at this event.

Please note: If there is the need to combine two weight categories then medals would only be awarded once for the combined category. BUCS medals will be distributed as detailed in regulation 6: BUCS points, medals, and trophies. BUCS reserves the right to merge weight categories as is necessary for the competition.

A full schedule will be released on the week of the event, although exact timings cannot be confirmed until weigh-in is completed. Competitors should be at the venue and ready for a 9:30am start on both days. We expect that the competition will be finished by approx. 6pm each day.

Please note: A competitor briefing will take place on the competition mats before the first pool stages on Saturday morning. The briefing is not mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged all competitors attend so they are aware of any recent/updated rule adaptions, and is particularly encouraged this year with the new IJF rules coming into force just a few weeks ago.

Coaches should inform the BUCS staff at registration on Friday or before the first pool stages on Saturday, of their intention to coach their competitors. Only one coach will be allowed in the coaching chair for each match. Coaches will be given a wristband to ensure referees are aware of who may coach.

There will be no coaching allowed throughout the contest at Level 3. Level 4 there will be no coaching between Hajimi and Mate.

New Rules Reminder

This is a gentle reminder that the new contest rules will be implemented at this event.

Full details of the 2025 rules and the BJA application of them are available in the updated rulebook, which can be found HERE 

The full IJF seminar explaining the rule update is available to watch HERE, alongside an article explaining the changes, available here.

Example video clips from the seminar are available HERE

The BUCS Judo Championships shall be conducted in accordance with the BUCS Judo regulations, the BUCS general regulations, the British Judo (BJA) Contest Rules (2025) and the BJA Amendments to IJF Contest Rules (2025)

The BUCS Tournament Director, in conjunction with the BUCS Event Lead have the final decision in all sporting competition matters. This includes any rulings or disputes not covered by regulations.

Changes, including withdrawals, after the entry closing date must be made in writing by an athletic union or students’ union and e-mailed to the BUCS Event Lead Chris Lamb.

Withdrawals after the entry closing date (Thursday 20 February) will still be charged the entry fee.

Withdrawals after 5:00pm on Tuesday 11 March 2025 will be classified as a ‘no-show’. They will be charged the entry fee and an additional £20 fine payable by the athletic union or students’ union.

Competitors who do not withdraw, and do not register and weigh-in at the venue, will be also classified as a ‘no-show’ and will be charged the entry fee and an additional £50 fine payable by the competitor’s athletic union or students’ union.

Please see REG 7.9 for our withdrawal policy

Competitors may wear a blue judogi when appropriate; however, they must also have a white judogi to wear when required. Competitors wearing white and blue judogi for their contest must wear their grade belts.

There is free parking available at the venue. Directions will be clearly signposted upon arrival. Please ensure you enter through the Broadway Road entrance.

There will be a male and female changing room at the venue that is free to use for competitors. This will be shared with other indoor users of the venue. Disabled and gender-neutral changing access is also available, which will be available by request at the venue reception.

On Saturday the coffee bar on campus will be open from 9:30am, with a limited food selection.

There will be no café open on Sunday, so athletes and spectators are advised to bring their own food and drink.

There is a Co-Operative convenience store and other takeaway food options available around a 15-minute walk away, on the Broadway.

There are also vending machines available at the venue.

A catering van will also be situated outside of the hall, selling breakfast items, burgers and hotdogs. The van accepts cash or card.

Spectators are permitted and there is no charge for entry; however, space is limited for this provision and priority should be given to coaches and competitors should there be a lack of available seating.

Presentations will take place at the end of each day. On Saturday, individual Dan and Kyu grade presentations will be awarded, and on Sunday individual novice grade and team presentations will be awarded.

Please stay to celebrate your fellow competitors achievements if you are able!

Anyone wishing to take photos or video at this event must complete the BUCS Media Accreditation Form prior to the event.

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.

The sustainability of our event matters to us and these are the positive steps we are taking to manage our environmental impact:

• All staff and volunteers are encouraged to travel to the event via public transport
• We have used local suppliers where possible
• Event programmes are all online, minimising paper use
• We are beginning to track our carbon footprint across BUCS events to identify areas of improvement.

How can you help at this event? Here’s some ideas:

• Be self-sufficient by bringing your own refillable bottles and coffee cups to reduce waste
• Ensure you are disposing of waste correctly – Check around the venue for specific recycling and food waste bins.
• Travel smarter – as a team on a minibus, cycle or use public transport.

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.