In judo, improvement and understanding of the art is denoted by a system of rankings split into kyū and dan grades. These are indicated with various systems of coloured belts, with the black belt indicating a practitioner who has attained a certain level of competence.
| Rank | Senior | Junior | Japanese name | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sixth kyū (beginner) | Light Blue | Light Blue | |||
| Fifth kyū Fourth kyū | White | White | |||
| Third kyū Second kyū First kyū | Brown | Purple | |||
| First dan Second dan Third dan Fourth dan Fifth dan | Black | ||||
| Sixth dan Seventh dan Eighth dan Ninth dan | Red and White or Black | ||||
| Tenth dan | Red or Black | ||||
| Eleventh dan Twelfth dan and higher* | White or Red or Black |
This ranking system was introduced by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo, in 1883. However, the current system is not the original one, but based on Kanō's last system introduced between 1926 and 1931, with some modification shortly after Kanō's death in 1938. The first dan grades were awarded to his students Saigō Shirō and Tomita Tsunejirō. Since then it has been widely adopted by other modern martial arts.[1]
In the current system as in use in Japan, there are six student grades ranked in descending numerical order. Beginners were given the rank of and wore a light blue belt. Once they had passed an elementary level of instruction, they were promoted to, when they would adopt the white belt. This they wore through . The remaining three grades (and were all indicated with brown belts (for seniors) or with purple belts (for juniors).
1st kyū is the last kyū rank before promotion to first degree black belt (shodan). There are (in practice) 10 dan ranks, which are ranked in ascending numerical order.[2]
See main article: List of judoka.
The ninth (kudan) and tenth degree black belt (jūdan) and, theoretically, those higher, have no formal requirements. Only 15 individuals have been promoted to the rank of Kōdōkan 10th dan. On January 6, 2006, three individuals were promoted to this rank simultaneously: Daigo Toshirō, Ichirō Abe, and Ōsawa Yoshimi. This is the most ever at the same time, and the first in 22 years. No one has ever been promoted to a rank higher than 10th dan, but in theory the judo rank system is not limited to 10 degrees of black belt. As an educator by profession, Kanō believed that there should be no end to an individual's learning, and therefore no limit to the number of dan ranks. The English language edition (1955) of Illustrated Kodokan Judo, edited by the Kōdōkan, says:
This statement was later clarified, however. Essentially, the dan-rank system was capped at 10 after the death of Kanō. In that respect, in the November 1963 issue of Jūdō, the Kōdōkan's official magazine, the Kōdōkan responding to the question "Do the 11th and 12th Dan really exist?" *clarifies that the hierarchy now stops at 10 and that the Kōdōkan does not envisage any nominations to these grades.[2]
There have only been fifteen 10th dan promotions awarded by the Kōdōkan itself in the history of Judo.[1]
| Name | Lived | Date of promotion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1865–1935 | 1935 posth., antedated | ||
| 1871–1947 | 1937 | ||
| 1876–1952 | 1937 | ||
| 1883–1965 | 1945 | ||
| 1875–1958 | 1946 | ||
| 1880–1964 | 1948 | ||
| Tabata Shotarō | 1884–1950 | 1948 | |
| Okano Yoshitarō | 1885–1967 | 1967 posth. | |
| 1885–1969 | 1969 posth., antedated | ||
| Nakano Shōzō | 1888–1977 | 1977 posth., antedated | |
| Kurihara Tamio | 1896–1979 | 1979 posth., antedated | |
| 1903–1991 | 1984 | ||
| 1922–2022 | 2006 | ||
| 1926–2021 | 2006 | ||
| 1927–2022 | 2006 |
Although dan ranks tend to be consistent between national organizations there is more variation in the kyū grades, with some countries having more kyū grades. Although initially kyū grade belt colours were uniformly white, today a variety of colours are used. The first black belts to denote a dan rank in the 1880s. Initially the wide obi was used; as practitioners trained in kimono, only white and black obi were used. It was not until the early 1900s, after the introduction of the judogi, that an expanded colored belt system of awarding rank was created.[1]
Examination requirements vary depending on country, age group and of course the grade being attempted. The examination itself may include competition and kata. The kyū ranks are normally awarded by local instructors (sensei), but dan ranks are usually awarded only after an exam supervised by independent judges from a national judo association. For a rank to be recognized, it must be registered with the national judo organization or the Kōdōkan.
The appearance of the belts makes the judoka's level visible. Upon successful graduation, you are entitled to a new degree. The kyu degrees are counted down from 6 to 1. The dan degrees are counted up from 1.
For dan ranks, the first five are colored black, 6th, 7th, and 8th dan have alternating red and white panels (段だら,dandara), and for 9th, 10th dan and above, the belts are solid red.[3] In judo's promotion system as originally finalized by Kanō around 1926 there was no maximal dan rank, and judoka holding 10th dan (and above) would normally wear a red belt, but also could wear a white belt (the same color as the lowest kyū rank), or a black belt. However, since the highest dan rank reached in judo for a living person or conferred posthumously remains 10th dan, any judo dan rank higher than 10th dan is now considered as a merely historical theoretical option. Some time after the death of Kanō the promotion system essentially became capped at 10th dan.[4] Furthermore, holders of a dan rank above godan (5th dan) will often wear a plain black belt during regular training practice and outside any ceremonial duties.
| 1st–5th dan | Black | |||
| 6th–8th dan | Black or Red-White | |||
| 9th and above dan | Black or Red |
The Kyu belt system can contain the colors white, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and brown for both senior and junior practitioners. In some countries junior practitioners have an extra system in place to show the progress in between two kyū grades. The sub rank can be symbolized by a small piece of fabric on the end of the belt. The piece added to the belt can never be of a lower or the same color as the belt worn by the judoka, so an orange belt cannot have a yellow piece, but it can have green, blue or brown.
In Australia belt rankings for Seniors are, in ascending order: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and finally black. Belt rankings for Juniors follow the same ranks and colours (up to and including brown), but have either 1, 2 or 3 white bars (depending upon age) at each end of the belt, as follows:
Judoka older than 15 can take the test for the even and odd Kyu degrees (two-color and one-color) as one test.
In Austria the following belt colors exist:[6]
| Color | White | White-Yellow | Yellow | Yellow-Orange | Orange | Orange-Green | Green | Green-Blue | Blue | Blue-Brown | Brown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | ||||||||||||
| Minimum age | - | 7 years | 7 years | 8 years | 9 years | 10 years | 11 years | 12 years | 13 years | 14 years | 15 years |
Rank in judo should not be confused with Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system.
Brazilian belt rankings are normally white, grey, blue, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown.[7] As in some European countries, young judoka in Brazil have an extra system in place to show the progress in between two kyū grades. The sub rank exists between white and orange belts and is symbolized by the ends of the current belt being the color of the next rank.
Adult judoka usually progress directly from white (12th kyu) to blue belt (8th kyu), not ever taking the grey belt. Also, seniors always skip the sub ranks, meaning that they will progress from blue to yellow belt (6th kyu) and then to orange belt (4th kyu).
In Canada belt rankings for Seniors are, in ascending order: white, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. Belt rankings for Juniors use, white, white-yellow, yellow, yellow-orange, orange, orange-green, green, green-blue, blue, blue-brown, and brown.[8]
There are 6 kyu degrees. Seniors wear full-colored belts while children and youth (ages 6–14) also wear half-colored belts.
In Finland, junior sub ranks below a certain age are denoted by one to three red stripes on both ends of the belt. They are also used to signify that joint locks, chokes or strangles may not be performed upon the wearer as those are not taught nor applied to juniors below the age of 15 due to safety reasons.
| Color | White | White-Yellow | Yellow | Yellow-Orange | Orange | Orange-Green | Green | Blue | Brown | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | ||||||||||||
| Minimum age | 3 years | 4 years | 5 years | 6 years | 7 years | 8 years | 9 years | 10 years | 11 years | 12 years | 14 years |
Minimum age requirement for first Dan ist 16 years (exception 15 years with special preconditions).
In Germany the following belt colors exist:
| Color | White | White-Yellow | Yellow | Yellow-Orange | Orange | Orange-Green | Green | Blue | Brown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | ||||||||||
| Minimum age | - | 8 years | 8 years | 11 years | 13 years / 14 years | |||||
In Ireland the senior belt system is white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black. A practitioner must be at least sixteen before being eligible to grade for blackbelt. For white, yellow, orange and green belt gradings are held in the practitioners club and are based on demonstration of a syllabus and kata. For promotion to blue and brown the judoka must compete at a national grading against players of their own rank and win at least two fights by ippon or wazari. To achieve black belt a judoka must earn 100 points i.e. 10 points for every ippon or waza-ari victory against a brown belt.[10]
| Kyu 5 | Kyu 4 | Kyu 3 | Kyu 2 | Kyu 1 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color | White | Yellow | Orange | Green | Blue | Brown | |||||||||
| Belt | |||||||||||||||
| Minimum age | 14 years | ||||||||||||||
| Minor (U14) Shamrock (U8) | Degree | 1st Shamrock | 2nd Shamrock | Mon 2 | Mon 3 | Mon 4 | Mon 5 | Mon 6 | Mon 7 | Mon 8 | Mon 9 | Mon 10 | Mon 11 | Mon 12 | |
| Color | Red | Red | Red | White-Yellow | Yellow | Yellow-Orange | Orange | Orange-Green | Green | Green-Blue | Blue | Blue-Brown | Brown | ||
| Belt | |||||||||||||||
| Minimum age | 4 years | 5 years | 6 years | 7 years | 8 years | 9 years | 10 years | 11 years | 12 years | ||||||
In Israel the following belt colors exist:
In Japan, the use of belt colors is related to the age of the student. Some clubs will only have black and white, others will include a brown belt for advanced kyū grades and at the elementary school level it is common to see a green belt for intermediate levels.
| Color | White | White-Yellow | Yellow | Yellow-Orange | Orange | Orange-Green | Green | Green-Blue | Blue | Blue-Brown | Brown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt | ||||||||||||
| Minimum age | 7 years | 8 years | 9 years | 10 years | 11 years | 12 years | 13 years | 15 years | ||||
In the United Kingdom a red belt is used between the white and yellow belts to signify full membership of the home Country's national Judo governing body i.e. JudoScotland, Welsh Judo, Northern Ireland Judo and in England, British Judo (BJA). A practitioner must be at least fifteen before being eligible to grade for Shodan black belt 1st dan. The British Judo Association Kyu Grade system is as follows:
In the United States only senior players (usually those age 16 and over) are allowed to earn dan levels, signified by wearing a black belt. The United States Judo Federation (USJF) and United States Judo Association (USJA) recognize dan grades awarded by the other organization. Advanced kyū levels can be earned by both seniors and juniors (children under the age of about 16) and are signified by wearing belts of various colours other than black. The order of belt colours can vary from dōjō to dōjō, depending on the dōjō's organizational affiliation.
For senior players, both the USJF[14] and the USJA specify six kyū, as listed in the table. The USJA requires "Beginners" (not a kyū) to wear a white belt until they test for yellow belt. The USJA also recommends wearing a patch specifying the practitioner's level. This is true for both kyū and dan levels.
The USJF Juniors ranking system specifies ranks to 11th kyū (jūichikyū). The USJA Juniors ranking system specifies twelve levels of kyū rank, beginning with "Junior 1st Degree" (equivalent to jūnikyū, or 12th kyū) and ending with "Junior 12th Degree" (equivalent to ikkyū). As with the senior practitioners, the USJA recommends that juniors wear a patch specifying their rank. When a USJA Junior reaches the age of 17, their conversion to Senior rank is:[15]