by Can Tran

Created on: August 29, 2008

The belt and ranking system of Judo is similar to that of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is for very good reason as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had spawned from Judo in the early twentieth century when Judo expert Mitsuyo Maeda moved to Brazil. He would teach the Gracie family Judo, which would turn into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For that reason, the ranking system in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are very similar to each other.

The ranks are as followed: sixth grade or "rokyu", fifth grade or "gokyu", fourth grade or "yonkyu", third grade or "sankyu", second grade "nikyu", first grade "ikkyu", first degree or "shodan", second degree or "nidan", third degree or "sandan", fourth degree or "yodan", fifth degree or "godan", sixth degree or "rokudan", seventh degree or "shichidan", eighth degree or "hachidan", ninth degree or "kudan", and tenth degree or "judan."

The first ranks are known as "kyu." Unless you obtain the rank of black belt, your rank is going to be a kyu. The black belt rank is known as "dan." First degree can mean a first dan and a second degree can mean a second dan.

Like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the highest belt color in Judo is a solid red belt. But the basic belt colors are: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black. White is the beginner's level which would be considered a sixth kyu.

In Brazil, the colors are different. It starts with the following: white, blue, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, and black. That would mean that there is an additional kyu rank added. A belt in Brazil would be between a white and yellow belt.

However, rank does not really mean anything amongst Judokas that participate in tournaments. In regards to sport Judo, it is not the rank that matters. More importance and emphasis is placed on tournament records. Having a high rank in Judo does not necessarily mean you will be scoring a bunch of wins.

A lower belt can defeat a higher belt. Keep in mind that there are reasons that many competitors probably will not try to promote to higher ranks.

Like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo rank is rewarded via skill and knowledge of the style.

Keep in mind that there is no universal ranking system in Judo. Belt colors differ from school, club, and students. The testing requirements are different from one country to another. Testing in Japan would be different than testing in Brazil.

The United States Judo Federation and the United States Judo Association have their own different ranking systems for junior and senior ranks. The USJF junior ranks have striped belts that show a transition between one solid colored belt to another colored belt.

One example would be the white-yellow belt. One part is white and the other part is yellow. This belt shows that the student is making the transition from white belt to yellow belt.

Remember, the ranking, belt systems, and testing requirements are different from one another. Regardless of the differences, rank must be registered with either the Kodokan or the country's national Judo organization.

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