Joining the International Jousting Association

We welcome membership inquiries from other groups and individuals who aspire to the same standards of horsemanship, authenticity, sportsmanship, public presentation and jousting skills that we do. 

The IJA provides its members with a book that includes the rules of the IJA , the IJA  grading requirements and suggested guidelines for running jousting tournaments.

Membership of the IJA currently costs $50 US per year for a member club (5 or more members) or $10 US a year for individual members or with 4 or less members.

Membership inquiries should be referred to the nearest IJA representative group or contact in the country that you are a resident of.

If there is no IJA representation in your country then please contact the IJA World Secretary for application details.   

IJA Events

Only an IJA member may organise an event sanctioned by the IJA or use the IJA name in way or form.

Participating in an IJA event

The IJA has a formal grading system for riders, foot crew and foot combatants. This grading system helps to ensure that its members have the necessary skills required to take part safely in the IJA's activities.

However participants do not necessarily have to be either IJA members or be formally IJA graded in order to take part in an IJA event. The event organisers have the discretion to invite any non-IJA member to participate in an IJA event in any capacity if they deem that the person concerned has the skills and equipment required to participate safely and competently in that capacity.

Anybody who is not a member of the IJA but who is interested in taking part in an IJA event may contact the event organisers to see if he or she could be involved in some capacity. However, first priority is always given to IJA members and to invited quests before any external applications are considered.

Regardless if a participant has a formal IJA grade or not, entry or participation into any event is always at the discretion of the event organisers. The event organisers can also stipulate that any participant whether he or she holds an IJA grade or not, attend a minimum number of training sessions held prior to the event and/or take a qualification test. The qualification test reflects the minimum IJA grade standard that the event organisers deem necessary to take part both safely and competently to take part in a specific event and allows a non-graded participant to receive a temporary IJA grade for that particular event only.