Open Kyu

Open Kyu is the competition part of Tournament Judo, the winner of this section being judged the overall winner for Tournament Shield points. Canterbury won, with a team that has been successful in many South Island championships. Two Blue Belts and three Green Belts in the team, combined with good fighting tactics, helped them run up a total of 37 points, five ahead of last year's champion, Otago. Auckland were third with 29 points.

These three teams had an advantage over those of Victoria and Massey in that all their members were graded green belt or above. Victoria and Massey judoka fought better than their points tallies suggest, with lower grade contestants often holding an opposing higher grade to a draw. One Victoria White Belt caused a sensation by throwing a Brown Belt from Otago.

As in the restricted Kyu it was plain to see that the Aucklanders preferred groundwork and once again a Queen City hold was rarely escaped from.

Final Results: CU 37, 1; OU 32, 2; AU 29, 3; VUW 18, 4; MUM 13, 5.