Judo rank is divided into kyu and dan ranks – kyu is everything under black belt, and dan ranks are all black belts. Children and adults have different kyu ranks.

Junior Ranks (Age 16 and below)

In between each kyu rank (new belt) kids get four stripes, one at a time, based on attendance, behavior, and technical progress. After the fourth stripe, they are eligible to test for the new belt.

For our younger members we have a specific curriculum – starting from being able to tie your own belt (tricky for some!) all the way up through throws, holds, and judo history and principles.

Senior Ranks (Age 17 and up)

For adults, there is no specific set of techniques that you must learn for each belt rank below black – in other words you don’t have to learn the techniques in any particular order. In general we try to start beginners with koshi-waza (the hip throw family) because these throws give a good general understanding of the principles of leverage, timing, kuzushi, and are relatively easy to practice with an experienced partner.

There is a list of throws known as the Gokyo-No-Waza, and by the time you are ready to test for shodan (first degree black belt), you should be able to correctly perform them all. Click here to learn more about the Gokyo.

Besides technical skill, other factors considered for promotion include attendance, competition record, general attitude, understanding of basic judo principles such as kuzushi, eight directions,  judo’s two mottoes (seiryoku zenyo and jita kyoei), and more.

In addition, to be promoted to the next rank, all adults must participate in at least one judo event outside the dojo. Entering a tournament is the easiest way to complete this requirement. But as competition is not for everyone, you can also complete this requirement by participating in an official clinic, seminar, or volunteering as a table worker at a local tournament.