Qualifying for 2026 British Championships

With the 2026 British Championships now announced for 12–13 December 2026 at the David Ross Sport Village in Nottingham, it’s important that athletes, coaches and parents understand the qualification requirements for each age group.

Whether you’re aiming to compete as a Pre Cadet, Cadet, Junior or Senior, the criteria below outline what you’ll need to do to secure your place. From competition experience to ranking positions, make sure you check the requirements for your category and plan your season accordingly.

Please note that as of the 28th July, several updates have been made to the qualification guidance in this article.

Pre Cadets:

To be eligible for entry to the 2026 Pre Cadet British Championships, athletes should have competed in at least two BJA Level 3 or Level 4 competitions during the 12 months preceding the event, including at least one Home Nation Open.

These competitions should have been contested in the age group in which the athlete was eligible at the time. For example, an athlete moving into the Pre Cadet age band would be expected to have achieved these competition requirements while competing as a Minor or Pre Cadet.

Cadets:

• Entry to the 2026 British Cadet Championships requires athletes to have competed in at least four BJA Level 3 or Level 4 competitions, including one Home Nation Open, during the qualification period from January to December 2026.
• Athletes moving into the Cadet age group as first-year Cadets must have competed in at least four BJA Level 3 or Level 4 competitions, including one Home Nation Open, during the previous 12 months while eligible to compete as either a Pre Cadet or Cadet. Examples of eligible competitions include recognised Level 3 open events, such as area or regional open tournaments, and Level 4 events, including Home Nation Opens and national ranking competitions.
• The Top 4 Cadets from the 2025/26 ranking season ending 31 August 2026 will be used to determine the four Cadets eligible to compete at the 2026 British Junior Championships. These invitations are in addition to the Top 20 Junior athletes who qualify through the Junior Ranking List following the 2026 Welsh Open. This ensures that the highest-ranked Cadets transitioning into the Junior age group have the opportunity to compete at the British Junior Championships.
• Wildcard entries will be limited and identified by the BJA Home Nation Coaches. Applications for wildcards must be sent through by email (events@britishjudo.org.uk) by the 16^th October 2026, with responses to applications to be provided by the 23^rdOctober 2026.

Juniors:

Qualification for the British Junior Championships will be based on the following criteria:

• The Top 20 Junior Rankings following the 2026 Welsh Open (24–25 October) will determine the Junior athletes eligible to compete at the 2026 British Junior Championships.
• In addition, the Top 4 Cadets from the 2025/26 ranking season ending 31 August 2026 will also receive invitations to compete, creating a field that includes both the Top 20 Junior qualifiers and four invited Cadets.
• Athletes must compete in the weight category in which they have qualified. Where an athlete qualifies in two weight categories, they must compete in the category in which they wish to be considered for international selection. Junior athletes who move up a weight category during the qualification period and narrowly miss qualification as a result may apply for a wildcard.
• Wildcard entries will be limited and identified by the BJA Performance Director in consultation with the GB Performance Coaches, where it is considered to be in the best interests of the BJA Performance Programme objectives. Applications for wildcards must be submitted via email to events@britishjudo.org.uk by 16 October 2026, with decisions communicated by 23 October 2026.

Seniors:

Qualification for the British Senior Championships will be based on the following criteria:

• The Top 16 Senior Rankings following the 2026 Welsh Open (24–25 October) will determine the Senior athletes eligible to compete at the 2026 British Senior Championships.
• The Top 4 Juniors from the 2025/26 ranking season ending 31 August 2026 will determine the four Junior athletes eligible to compete at the 2026 British Senior Championships.
  This ensures that athletes transitioning from the Junior age group into Seniors remain eligible for selection, recognising the top-performing Juniors from the completed two-year ranking cycle before they transition from the Junior rankings. These invitations are in addition to the Top 16 Senior qualifiers and ensure that athletes transitioning from the Junior age group into Seniors remain eligible to compete, using the completed two-year Junior ranking cycle before they age out of the Junior rankings.
• The British Junior Championships gold medallist will also be offered the opportunity to compete at the 2026 British Senior Championships. Athletes accepting this invitation must register at the Senior weigh-in and make weight with the permitted 5% allowance.
• Athletes must compete in the weight category in which they have qualified. Where an athlete qualifies in two weight categories, they must compete in the category in which they wish to be considered for international selection.
• Wildcard entries will be limited and identified by the BJA Performance Director in consultation with the GB Performance Coaches, where it is in the best interests of the BJA Performance Programme objectives. Applications for wildcards must be sent through by email (events@britishjudo.org.uk) by the 16^th October 2026, with responses to applications to be provided by the 23^rd October 2026.

Information on qualification can be found in the BJA Ranking Policies: https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/compete/rankings/

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