Ostrava Judo Cup | Ostrava International Judo Tournament

Ostrava Judo Cup – A Traditional International Youth Judo Tournament

The Ostrava Judo Cup is a traditional judo tournament organized by the TJ Ostrava Judo Club. With a history spanning over twenty years, the tournament brings hundreds of young judokas to Ostrava every year from across the Czech Republic and abroad. The Ostrava Judo Cup is not just a sporting competition – it is an opportunity for clubs to share experiences, for coaches and athletes to build relationships, and to promote judo as an educational and value-based sport. The event is open to the general public and to parents who wish to support their children or get to know this beautiful sport more closely.

Qualification Tournament for the Czech National Championship (U14) In recent years, the Ostrava Judo Cup has been officially recognized as a qualification tournament for the Czech National Championship in the U14 category within the Moravian-Silesian Region. This enhances the prestige and sporting significance of the event and attracts the best young judokas from the region to compete in Ostrava.

International Participation The tournament welcomes clubs not only from all over the Czech Republic but also from abroad, particularly from Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, Romania and Germany. This international presence makes the Ostrava Judo Cup a valuable experience for young athletes, giving them the chance to test their skills against foreign competitors.

Focus on Youth The tournament is primarily focused on youth categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, and U18

The Ostrava Judo Cup is proof that long-term work with youth and consistent organization brings lasting results. Looking ahead, we aim to preserve this tournament as an open, friendly, and professionally organized competition for young judokas from all corners of the Czech Republic and Europe.

Tournament history

The Ostrava Judo Cup is among the most significant and longest-running youth judo tournaments in the Moravian-Silesian Region. The first edition took place in 2007, and since then the tournament has been held regularly every year—most often in spring or autumn—at the facilities of TJ Ostrava.

A tradition of more than 15 years Over more than 15 editions, several generations of judokas have passed through the tournament. Originally a regional competition, it has gradually developed into an event with international reach. Young athletes participate not only from across the Czech Republic, but also from abroad—particularly from Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Germany. Each year, the tournament hosts an average of 150 to 400 young competitors. In particularly strong years, the number of participants has approached nearly 500. It is estimated that since 2007, more than 6,000 to 7,000 judokas of all age categories—from beginners to cadets—have taken part in the Ostrava Grand Prix.

Major milestones 2007 – First edition of the tournament 2010–2015 – Expansion to include international participation (clubs from Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary) Since 2018 – Introduction of the U14 category as a qualification event for the Czech National Championships within the Moravian-Silesian Region 2021–present – Revival of the tradition and growth in the number of competitors and participating clubs 2025 – A total of 1,100 competitors across two tournaments! (May: 500; September: 600) – new participating countries: Austria, Greece, Romania, Ukraine, Scotland (in addition to regular participation from Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary)

Educating Generations Many judokas who began their journey at this very tournament now compete at national-level events, study at sports schools, or have become youth coaches themselves. The tournament is therefore not just a competition, but an important part of young people’s sporting journey—one that often begins in the gym on Varenská Street.