Visually Impaired athletes are athletes born in the year 2004 and earlier.
These athletes must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a United States citizen
• Must have been classified as visually impaired at an IBSA or IPC event in the past 10 years or provide a letter from an optiometrist or ophthalmologist verifying visual acuity. Go to classifications
• No minimum rank required

Classifications of visual impairment:

• Class B1
  No light perception in either eye up to light perception, but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction
• Class B2
  From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 20/600 and/or a visual field of less than 5 degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction
• Class B3
  From visual acuity above 20/600 and up to visual acuity of 20/200 and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees and more than 5 degrees in the best eye with the best practical eye correction

Visual groups B1, B2 and B3 will compete together

Veteran athletes are athletes born in the year 1989 and earlier.
Age is determined by year of birth. Minimum year of birth is 1989.

Athletes who are not citizens of the United States may participate by meeting one of the following conditions:

1. If a non-U.S. citizen is a permanent, legal resident of the United States (green card, etc.), then that person may compete either: For the country of which he/she is a citizen with proof of membership in that country's Judo Federation and with the Country's permission to compete

OR

2. As a member of USA Judo, affiliated with a State Governing Body. If a person is not a permanent resident of the United States, that person can only compete under criteria 1, above.

Miniumum rank of senior sankyu-verified/proof of rank through USA Judo, USJF or USJA

Brown Belt athletes are athletes that do not currently hold a dan rank
These athletes must meet the following criteria:

• A United States citizen, permanent resident of the USA (green card, white card, etc.), full-time student residing in the USA or person holding a long-term work visa in the USA
• No dan ranks allowed (all other belts allowed). Waiver must be signed by shodan rank or higher for any non-brown belts to compete in the brown belt category
• Must have been verified/proof of rank through USA Judo, USJF or USJA

Novice athletes are athletes that are just starting out in judo or that would like to develop their skills at the national level.
These athletes must meet the following criteria:

• A United States citizen, permanent resident of the USA (green card, white card, etc.), full-time student residing in the USA or person holding a long-term work visa in the USA
• Only White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue and Purple belts
• Must have verified/proof of rank through USA Judo, USJF or USJA

Open category athletes are athletes born December 31, 2005 or earlier.
These athletes must meet the following criteria:

• Competition is open to any United States citizen, permanent resident of the USA (green card, white card, etc.), full-time student residing in the USA or person holding a long-term work visa in the USA
• Minimum rank of senior sankyu-verified/proof of rank through the USA Judo, USJF or USJA

These athletes must meet the following criteria:

• Competition is open to any United States citizen, permanent resident of the USA (green card, white card, etc.), full-time student residing in the USA or person holding a long-term work visa in the USA
• Foreign athletes who are not United States citizens, not residing in the U.S., must compete for the country of which they are a citizen, and must present a letter from their country's federation stating that they are a member in good standing and have the Federation's permission to compete. This letter must be included with your application or presented at Registration/Check-In.
• For foreign, non-resident teams composed of non-U.S. citizens, both Uke and Tori must be citizens of the same country. Foreign athletes residing in the U.S. do not need to be from the same country.
• Proof of citizenship/permanent residency must be presented by all competitors at tournament check-in.
• Passports are mandatory for all citizens of countries other than the United States.