Name: Judo Kata Tournament Manager
Author: Lance Wicks

Why it helps

For organisers

Add competitors and judges by hand or import them from CSV
Form pairs across categories, run a random performance draw, and track progress as scoresheets are completed
Keep the event on a local machine with LAN access for tables — no internet required during the competition
Store each event in its own SQLite database for simple backup and reporting

For judges

Enter scoresheets per pair and judge through a clear web interface
Record small, medium, and big mistakes, correction values, and forgotten techniques
See leaderboards update from calculated totals with EJU-style tie-breaks
Work alongside organisers on the same system at the same time

How an event runs

One central server, many browsers. Organisers, judges, and other helpers can work in parallel from the web interface.

Competitors

Register competitors through the web UI or CSV import. Each person can enter multiple categories. Create pairs after individuals are in the system.

Pairs

Form tori and uke pairs for each kata category. An athlete can appear in more than one pair across categories.

Judges

Add judges per kata, or import them from CSV. Judges score pairs in the categories they are assigned to.

Draw and scoresheets

Run an automated random draw for performance order, then enter scoresheets per pair and judge. With three or more judges, the highest and lowest judge totals are dropped when calculating the pair score.

Scoresheet page for a pair and judge with technique scores and mistake controls — Scoresheet page

Leaderboards and progress

Leaderboards rank pairs by calculated score. A summary view shows how far the category has progressed — useful for medals, announcements, and keeping the mat schedule moving.

Leaderboard page ranking pairs by total score for a kata — Leaderboard page

Kata category summary showing completion progress — Category progress summary

Scoring you can trust

Scoring follows EJU/IJF kata competition practice implemented in the application calculator — not a spreadsheet rewrite at the venue.

Technique evaluation with small, medium, and big mistakes, plus optional +0.5 / −0.5 correction values
Forgotten technique scores zero for that technique and halves the judge’s kata total once (rounded up)
With three or more judges, drop the highest and lowest judge totals
Tie-breaks: fewer big mistakes, then medium, then small, then average score
Competition formula by entry size: up to 6 pairs go straight to a final; 7–11 use one preliminary (top 4 advance); 12+ use two preliminaries (top 3 per group advance)

Supported kata

Nage-no-Kata (including 1G, 2G, and 3G variants)
Katame-no-Kata (including 1G)
Ju-no-Kata
Kime-no-Kata
Kodokan Goshin Jutsu

Container diagram of the Judo Kata Tournament Manager system components — System overview (click for full size)

Runs where you need it

Access everything through a web browser — no special client install for tableside users
Run on a primary machine at the venue; use a local network when multiple devices need access
Each event uses its own SQLite database file
Optional Docker packaging for consistent deployment
Built with Perl, Mojolicious, SQLite, and AlmondCSS; licensed under the AGPL

Audience-facing ideas such as TV graphic overlays and pushing live results to external websites are on the roadmap — they are not part of the current release.

Interested in trying it?

The software is under active volunteer development and is available for demos and supervised test use. Online walkthroughs, sandbox access, and parallel runs beside an existing scoring process are all welcome.

Contact Lance Wicks (lw@judocoach.com) to arrange a demo or discuss a test event.

In memory of Michel Kozlowski

Michel Kozlowski passed away in 2023. This site and software would not exist without his many years of dedication to kata and kata scoring software.

This website and the software developed here are dedicated to his memory.

Judo Kata Tournament Manager