2026 Great Lakes Open Judo Championships
Organized by USJA
The 2026 Great Lakes Open Judo Championships bring regional judoka to Brighton, Michigan on October 24. Sanctioned by the USJA, the tournament runs divisions for all ages and ranks in one of the Midwest's established judo championships.
Event Description
The Great Lakes Open is a USJA-sanctioned judo tournament, run under the United States Judo Association's mutual-welfare "jita-kyoei" philosophy that underpins judo instruction and competition nationally. As a USJA event it cross-recognizes USJF and USA Judo membership, so competitors from any of the three major U.S. judo bodies can enter without switching affiliations. The tournament is held October 24, 2026, in Brighton, MI, with divisions for all ages and ranks from youth players up through adult and masters competitors. Registration details and the current division breakdown are available at usja.net, linked on Let's Roll.
About USJA
USJA (the United States Judo Association) grew out of the Armed Forces Judo Association and was formally renamed USJA in 1969. Now a cloud-based organization with 20,000+ life members, it runs its own tournament and promotion system, concentrated in California, Florida, the Midwest, and Southeast.
Rules
Judo matches are decided by ippon — a full-point score that ends the match instantly. Ippon is awarded for a throw that lands the opponent largely on their back with speed and control, for a 20-second pin (osaekomi), or for a submission by strangle or armlock in the senior divisions. Lesser throws and shorter pins score waza-ari, and two waza-ari combine to make ippon.
Modern judo rules (based on the International Judo Federation rulebook) prohibit grabbing the legs in standing exchanges, and passivity or rule infractions draw shido penalties — accumulate three and the match is lost by hansoku-make. Armlocks and chokes are age-restricted, so junior divisions are typically throws-and-pins only.
Judo tournaments in the United States are generally sanctioned by USA Judo, USJA, or USJF, all of which follow IJF-based competition rules with local modifications for youth and novice divisions. Check the event's sanctioning body and division rules before registering.
Always confirm the official rulebook before you compete — organizations update rules between seasons. See the official event page for current rules.
Community results
No results logged yet. Results show up here once competitors log them after the event.
Frequently asked questions
- When and where is the Great Lakes Open Judo Championships?
- October 24, 2026, in Brighton, MI.
- Who sanctions this event?
- USJA -- the United States Judo Association.
- Do I need USJA membership to compete?
- USJA events generally require current membership in USJA, USJF, or USA Judo, since the organizations cross-recognize each other's membership.
- What divisions are offered?
- Age and rank divisions for youth through adult and masters competitors.
- How do I register?
- Through the event's usja.net registration page.
BJJ gyms near Brighton, MI
Looking for a place to train before or after the tournament?
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