2026 USA Judo President's Cup
Organized by USA Judo
USA Judo brings its President's Cup to Irving, Texas on November 22, 2026, one week after the Dallas Open on the same North Texas judo weekend. The tournament runs divisions for all ages and ranks, drawing judoka from across the country.
Event Description
The USA Judo President's Cup is one of the federation's marquee national-level events, drawing judoka from across the country to compete under USA Judo's age and rank divisions, from the youngest Mini-Yonen competitors (ages 5-7) up through adult Seinen ranks, all subdivided by belt. Safety rules keep chokes off the table for competitors 12 and under and arm locks off-limits for those 17 and under or still ranked as novices. The event runs Sunday, November 22, 2026 in Irving, TX, one day after the 60th Annual Dallas Open at the same general Texas judo hub. Competitors must show proof of USA Judo membership to register (annual membership runs around $125, or about $15 for first-timers using the Event-Only option), with entry fees per division typically between $30 and $90. Register through the USA Judo website linked from this listing.
About USA Judo
USA Judo is the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic national governing body for judo, headquartered at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. It runs national point tournaments, national championships, and international team selection events — distinct from the grassroots-focused USJA and USJF.
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 this event?
- Sunday, November 22, 2026 in Irving, TX.
- Do I need a membership?
- Yes, proof of USA Judo membership (annual around $125, or roughly $15 Event-Only for first-timers).
- What are the safety rules?
- No chokes for competitors 12 and under, no arm locks for competitors 17 and under or novices.
- What divisions are offered?
- Age/rank divisions from Mini-Yonen (5-7) through adult Seinen ranks.
- How much does it cost?
- Typically $30-$90 per division.
- How do I register?
- Through the USA Judo website linked from this listing.
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