Status Updates From Once You Break a Knuckle

First story done and I am so confused. Is this how judo tournaments work in North America? Because a lot of things made no sense. You cannot just walk up to a random person in the organisation and make them referee? And you cannot wear whatever gi you want, there are rules and stipulations to the type and weight that is allowed and what isn't (like a flowy one?? that is karate not judo). Very weird.