TOURNAMENT/CLINIC PACKET

SANTA SHIAI 2026• SATURDAY, December 5, 2025

USA Judo Sanction # Applied for 

Tournament Director and Pooling Coordinator: Nat Ciesla, +1(920)539-9708

Co-director: Kim Nguyen, +1(920)509-2222

Referee Coordinator: Katie Sell, +1(920)279-2980

NO DAY-OF WALK-UP REGISTRATIONS FOR THE TOURNAMENT ALLOWED.  PLEASE NOTE REGISTRATION DEADLINES.

LOCATION

Riverside Gym - 382 Linden Street, Fond du Lac, WI 54935  

Parking is FREE and located adjacent to the school. Enter from 9th Street.  No spectator admission fee. Concessions will be available at the venue.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Lodging and Restaurant information available at https://www.fdl.com or +1(800)937-9123. 

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Sunday, November 29 - Early registration ends at 11:59 pm CST

Thursday, December 3 Registration ends at 11:59 pm CST

Thursday, December 3 - Submit weight through coach to Nat Ciesla (nat.ciesla@gmail.com) by 11:59 pm

Saturday, December 5 - Tournament Day

8:15 am - 9:30 am - All junior competitors must check-in

9:00 am - 10:00 am - Referee and Technical Officials Meeting

10:00 am - Opening Ceremony.  Welcome, announcements, and Judo Santa

10:30 am - Tournament begins

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Adult late check-in

WEIGH-INS

ALL COMPETITORS MUST CHECK IN

Remote weigh-ins will be allowed from USA Judo clubs in good standing at their dojo on Wednesday, December 2 or Thursday, December 3. Weights (in pounds) must be reported by instructors or coaches to Nat Ciesla (nat.ciesla@gmail.com) by December 3 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

All weights will be verified (weight check with +/- 2.2 pound allowance) when competitors check-in at the tournament.

ELIGIBILITY

All participants must have an up-to-date USA Judo membership card (we are no longer able to accept USJF/USJA as of 3/15/2023) to present at tournament weight confirmation and check-in.

Non-USA Judo members will need to purchase an Event-Only membership here: https://usajudo.sport80.com/public/wizard/a/1218/home

WHITE/BLUE

Competitors MUST bring their own blue and white belts. If you bring a blue gi, you must also have a white gi. No blue gis are to be worn on the white side. 

REGISTRATION FEES

ON-LINE REGISTRATIONS ONLY!  CUTOFF DATE December 3, 2025

Early Registration: until 11:59 pm CST, November 29, 2025

First shiai division $60 per individual

Additional shiai division entries $30 each per individual

Competitors may register for a maximum of two shiai entries each within Junior, Senior and Veterans divisions.  

Late Registration: until 11:59 pm CST, December 3, 2025

First shiai division $60 per individual

Additional shiai division entries $30 each per individual

Competitors may register for a maximum of two shiai entries each within Junior, Senior and Masters divisions.

REFEREES

Referee dress code will be the standard white shirt, grey slacks, and black, Santa, or Christmas theme tie. For information or to register contact Travis Yamanaka at travis.yamanaka@gmail.com.

SHIAI OFFICIAL RULES, AGE/WEIGHT DIVISIONS

RULES: All participants will abide by IJF contest rules with the following modifications.  All participants will abide by current IJF medical rules, which stipulate if a contestant asks for a doctor, they forfeit that match.

Blue gis are optional. Appropriate undergarments must be worn by all athletes. Female athletes shall wear under the jacket either a plain white or off-white round-necked t-shirt with short sleeves, long enough to be worn inside the trousers, or a plain white or off-white leotard with short sleeves. No markings can be visible when the judo gi is done up. Athletes needing to change clothes/judo gis should do so in a restroom, locker room, or designated changing area. Any athlete has the option to wear a white t-shirt if it is not made mandatory for them.

Contest area will be 8 x 8 meters. Safety area will be 3 meters to adjoining mats and 3 meters everywhere else. The CARE system will be in effect.

JUNIORS

Novice is yellow and under, advanced is orange and up.  Two year age categories, and fair weight categories within 10% will be created based on entries. 3 minute match length.  Shime waza allowed for all players over 13, regardless of the age range of the division they are in.  No Kansetsu waza.

SENIORS 

Novice is all ranks under brown, advanced is brown and black.  IJF weights will be used when possible. 4 minute match length for advanced, 3 minute for novice.  Shime waza allowed in all, Kansetu waza allowed only in advanced divisions when both players are brown or black belt.

VETERANS 

Novice is all ranks under brown, advanced is brown and black.  Fair weight categories within 10% will be created based on entries.  3 minute match length.  Shime waza and Kansetu waza allowed in all. No Shime waza for all players 60+.