Background Inter-limb asymmetry is commonly regarded as a potential limitation for athletic performance and a contributor to injury risk. However, the influence of training status and sex on asymmetry in judokas remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to: (1) quantify inter-limb asymmetry in lean mass, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and fat mass, and (2) examine how inter-limb morphological asymmetry varies across competitive levels (national vs. European) and sexes among young competitive judokas. Methods Lean mass, bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and fat mass were assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry in 27 male and 21 female competitive judokas aged 13-17 years. Comparisons between limbs were performed using paired-samples t-tests. Differences in asymmetry across competitive levels (national vs. European) and sexes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. Results Inter-limb asymmetry magnitudes ranged from 1.47% to 8.24% across groups. Overall, judokas showed greater values in the dominant limb compared to the non-dominant limb for most measures (p = 0. 010). Mann-Whitney U tests identified significant differences in asymmetry between competitive levels only in lower-limb fat mass for both males (p = 0.015) and females (p = 0.033), and in lower-limb bone mineral content for females (p = 0.039). No significant differences in asymmetry were observed between sexes. Conclusion While inter-limb differences were present, the magnitude of asymmetry was generally small (= 8%) and did not differ significantly between competitive levels or sexes. These findings suggest that reducing morphological asymmetry in judokas may not be a priority, regardless of competition level or sex.
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