The main objective of this study was structuring and comparison of different models of hierarchical classification of motor functional abilities in judoka of the cadet age group. Two models of research were applied. In the first model of research (surveying judo coaches), for the purpose of achieving the objective, instrumentquestionnaire was designed the for evaluating the impact of motor functional abilities for achieving succsses in judo in the cadet age group according to gender and weight class. The sample was comprised of 40 top judo coaches who filled out the questionnaire expressing their opinion by entering a number from 1 to 100, which defined the importance and impact of individual abilities on success in judo depending on gender and weight categories. The questionnaire consisted of two sets of variables. The first set of variables represented the variables for identification of judo coaches pertaining to coaching experience, judo rank, level of education and coaching position result. The second set of variables represented the motor functional abilities responsible for success in judo: flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, specific judo endurance, explosive strength, muscular endurance, maximal strength and speed. By analyzing the distribution of indicators, acceptable metric characteristics of the questionnaire variables were found for determining the order and importance of certain motor functional abilities on the success in judo per the opinion of judo coaches. Based on the graphic display, the order and importance of motor-functional abilities were determined depending on gender and categories so that in; - Male Judoka of lower categories the most important are speed, explosive power and specific judo endurance, while the maximum strength and flexibility are the least important for success. - Male Judoka of higher categories the most important are maximum strength, specific judo endurance and specific muscular endurance while the agility and flexibility are the less essential for success in judo. - Female Judoka of lower categories the most important skills are speed, specific judo endurance and agility while the flexibility and maximum strength are among the least important skills for success in judo. Doktorska disertacija - Female Judoka of higher categories more valuable are maximum strength, specific judo endurance and specific muscular endurance while agility and flexibility are the least valuable for success in judo. The t-test was applied to determine whether there are statistically significant differences in the importance of the offered motor functional abilities between the analyzed subsamples. Results of the t-test suggest that coaches consider agility, speed and coordination significantly more important for success in judo for male judoka in the lower weight categories in relation to the higher categories, while the maximum strength significantly contributes to the success of male judoka in higher compared to the lower categories. Also, agility, speed and flexibility have greater significance in female judoka in lower category to a higher category, while the maximum strength has a greater significance in female judoka when higher compared to the lower weight classes. By analyzing the differences between the genders (especially for lower and higher weight classes) minimal differences were found. Coaches surveyed believe that there is no significant difference in the order and importance of certain motor functional abilities between female judoka and male judoka of the same weight categories. In the second model of research, the sample of judoka represented four subsamples of judoka of cadet age group betweem 15 and 17 years, which, among others, are holders of state medals and European cup medals and contestants who performed at the European championships. The first subsample was constituted of 22 male judokas in cadet age group of lower weight categories and of average body weight of 62.35 ± 6.51 kg and average body mass index, which is 20.94 ± 1.69 kg/m2. The second subsample is constituted of 20 male judokas in cadet age group of higher weight categories, and of average body weight of 83.78 ± 13.33 kg and average body mass index, which is 25.20 ± 4.43 kg/m2. The third subsample was constituted by 15 female judoka in cadet age group of lower weight categories, the average body weight of 52.13 ± 3.46 kg and average body mass index, which is 19.50 ± 1.04 kg/m2. The fourth subsample included 14 female judoka in cadet age group of higher weight categories, with the average body weight of 67.72 ± 7.80 kg and average body mass index, which is 23.07 ± 2.88 kg/m2. The predictor set of variables was comprised of nine tests which assess motorfunctional abillities: flexibility - sit and reach test, agility - T-test, coordination - agility on the ground, balance - the stork test, specific judo endurance - specific judo fitness test, explosive strength - countermovement jump, muscular endurance - sit ups, Doktorska disertacija maximum strength - lat machine 1 RM and speed - running 30 m from a flying start. Criterion variable of competition efficacy is defined on the basis of the scores that the judoka achieved in competitions for the current year, which were published in the register of the Croatian Judo Federation. In order to identify factors important for success in judo for all subsamples, multiple regression analysis and forward stepwise regression analysis were applied. By using forward stepwise regression analysis results obtained showed that; - On the sample of male judoka in lower categories the strongest partial influence on the criterion variable have variables that assess agility and speed. - On the sample of male judoka from higher categories the greatest impact on the criterion variable have variables that estimate maximum strength and coordination. - In female judoka in lower categories the greatest impact on the criterion variable have variables that assess muscular endurance and specific judo endurance. - In female judoka in higher categories the greatest impact on the criterion variable has a variable for estimating maximum strength. The resulting beta coefficients are ranked separately for all subsamples, on basis of which a new matrix was formed to compare the order of abillities essential for success in judo. Applied statistical methods determined that there was no statistically significant correlation between individual subsamples. Correlation analysis between beta coefficients ranks obtained by testing and results obtained by the opinions of top coaches was applied. Although correlation coefficients indicate a certain degree of correlation between the results obtained by interviewing coaches and those by testing judokas there were no significant correlations between these parameters.