Never Chase the Belt - The Belt Will Come to You

Achievement in Judo is recognized by a series of ranks with associated colored belts. A judoka tests his or her progress by demonstrating an ever-increasing knowledge of Judo.

Rank should represent of your competence in the art. Judo rank requirements are different for junior (up to age 17) and senior (17 and older) students. Under special circumstances juniors may be promoted up to the senior Sankyu rank when they have reached age 14.

At Yama Judo, we prefer a conservative approach to promoting our students. We want our students to have a solid fundamental knowledge and ability before moving on to the next rank. It is to the student's best interest to be promoted based on what he is actually capable doing.

Although promotion systems may be different between clubs and even the martial arts, each system shares common, influential factors:

• Knowledge of terminology, history, and philosophy
  • Philosophy of judo
  • Principles of judo
• Skill in applying and receiving technique
  • Coordination
  • Reaction speed
  • Agility
  • Strength required to perform techniques
  • Effectiveness of techniques
  • Control
  • Competition
• Proper attitude
• Time-in-grade

Skills

The student must demonstrate the required techniques for the rank he is achieving and all previous techniques for past ranks he has achieved. The demonstration usually takes place in his dojo or at promotional tournaments. The techniques include ukemi, nage waze, katame waza, shime waza, kansetsu waza (including counters, defenses, escapes, and combinations), and other techniques usually associated with posture, body movement and courtesy.

Knowledge

An oral and/or written test on terminology, history, and philosophy is required. This test may be done at promotional shiai or in the dojo. Also the Judoka demonstrated his general knowledge of judo such as bowing, warm-up exercises, teaching techniques, etc.

Attitude

Attitude is an extremely important part of the promotion system. Good sportsmanship and humility are required. In addition, a desire to learn and practice is a must. A boastful or bullish student will not be promoted. Respect for Judo, its teachers, and its students is a must.

Other Factors

In many dojos and organizations, students must hold their current rank for a period of time before being promoted. These times vary depending on the student's contest record, current rank, and skill.

Another factor is the number and frequency of classes the student attends. It is not possible to be promoted if the student does not attend at least 80% of the scheduled classes since his/her last promotion.

The Examination

Examinations are held periodically throughout the year. Students wishing to be examined should complete the written portion of their rank examination form before their techniques are evaluated. All students should discuss promotion requirements with their instructors prior to the examination.

Be sure you have the required time-in-grade and the written test completed before applying for examination.

The examiner evaluates each applicant on the following criteria:

• Personal
  • attitude - humility, courtesy, respect
  • spirit - aliveness, vitality, willingness to push self to the edge
  • interaction - appropriateness in training with others
• Technical
  • knowledge - knowing how the technique works (form and principle)
  • proficiency - showing how the technique works
  • stamina - endurance, conditioning
  • ukemi - falling skills advancing at the same level as throwing skills.

What You Need To Do

• Select a partner in advance to help you prepare. As a general rule your partner should at least be your own rank.
• Be prepared to demonstrate each required technique without hesitation.
• Do the technique to both the left and right sides as appropriate.
• Expect examiners to change uke's during the examination.
• Be prepared to demonstrate additional techniques or required techniques under various situations.
• Expect to be re-tested within a few days to insure that corrections made by examiners have been understood.
• Approach your examination as if it were a kata.
• Always exhibit correct posture and manners

Depending on the rank, certain criteria will weigh more than others during each phase. Competition is a significant factor as the rank increases, good performance at competitions can accelerate promotion. However, competition alone will not be sufficient without the other factors. Together they show a student's progress.

When do I get my next promotion?

While it is natural to inquire about promotion requirement so one could make progress, do not ask for a promotion. Even if you can perform all the required techniques, that is only the minimum you have to do.

When does one become a black belt?

Most people who begin a martial art aim to become a black belt. It is true that black belt is the highest rank, within which are ten degrees (one to ten), however, having a black belt does not signify that one knows everything, nor it is an end by itself. It is only the beginning.

While for a beginner a black belt can seem to be years away, it should be a long-term goal. Black belt is not the ultimate goal, shodan (初段), first degree black belt means the first rank, the beginning mastery. By the time you are a shodan, you have mastered enough fundamental movement and are now ready to learn judo in depth. This is the point which you begin to develop your own specialized techniques to achieve higher effectiveness and consistency in applying your techniques.

The path toward black belt is a path of mastery of the art and of oneself. The mastery of the art is seen in the fine control over every technique, the better control one has, the higher the mastery. Even to the untrained eyes, mastery of judo is graceful and beautiful.

How do I know if I am making progress?

You can only judge your progress if you have a reference point. You are your own reference point, so you can obviously feel when you are much better than before, but sometimes it’s difficult to see oneself objectively, that’s when you need to rely on external subjective and objective measure to know. There are three ways from an external perspective:

An instructor who has followed you for a while can determine if your movement and technique execution is better.

Randori, especially against the same people you used to fight. If you can consistently beat them in randori, you are getting better.

Competition result. This requires few years of data. If you keep a meticulous record, and keep participating in the same mix level of events, if your win percentage is higher, then you are likely getting much.

The Junior Rank System is for members 16 years of age and younger, provides for twelve junior degrees or ranks. These degrees give a junior player ample opportunity to progress steadily through the system without any excessive waiting between ranks – thus keeping their incentive high. The twelve junior ranks are listed below with their corresponding rank identification and minimum time-in-grade and promotion point requirements. They must also pass a knowledge and practical demonstration exam for their promotion.

Note: These minimum requirements are established as a base for national standards. Most players are promoted with higher time-in-grade and after they have earned more points than are required above. Promotion points can be earned by class attendance, competition, and service to Judo.

Not all juniors will attain their promotion points in the same manner. Some will earn all of their points through class attendance and service to Judo, while others will earn a portion of their points by entering tournaments and winning matches. Judo is a competitive sport and participation in tournaments further develops skill, attitude, and spirit. Therefore, those juniors who attend all their classes and participate in all available tournaments will earn more points and should receive their promotions quicker than juniors who only attend classes.

Once you have accumulated the required number of points, have sufficient time-in-grade, and have met all other requirements established by your coach, you become eligible for your promotion examination. You should not expect to be promoted merely because you have fulfilled the minimum requirements for any rank. These promotion requirements are only a minimum. Individual coaches must determine that students are fully qualified and, only then, approve their promotions. In approving your promotion, your coach will consider your skill and knowledge against that of your peers, demonstration, free practice (randori), and tournaments (shiai). Your coach will also consider your attitude, behavior, cooperation, hygiene, sportsmanship, courtesy, and respect for all others. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal in Judo is the development and perfection of human character. Your coach will consider your development in this respect.

Students are responsible for recording their own promotion points!

All candidates for Dan grade promotion will be assessed by formal examination.

There are no competition point requirements for promotion into and within the Dan grades of . However, all candidates for promotion Dan grade are required to exhibit a high level of technical knowledge in judo. Candidates are also required to demonstrate greater knowledge and higher levels of skill as they progress through the ranks.

Rank promotion is based upon:

• Practical application of judo spirit in everyday life
• Knowledge and understanding of judo
• All-round ability in judo
• Contribution to judo and other distinguished accomplishments
• Dedication and service to judo
• Years of training and time in grade and age

  Note that the candidates’ practical application of judo everyday life is an important factor in consideration for promotion. Those who are mean in character as whose speech and behavior are deviated from the judo spirit will not be promoted irrespective of any other merit.

  Generally, Mudansha ranks are awarded on the basis of knowledge and physical skill.

  It is essential for candidates to understand that fulfilling all the requirements for a particular rank will not guarantee automatic promotion. The candidates must understand that judo is not just about doing, but about being. In other words, moral character is just as important as technical skill and knowledge.

  KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF JUDO Candidates will be examined to assess their knowledge and understanding of judo. This element of the examination usually includes both written and oral tests. Topics that the examiners my ask questions on include judo origins, history, customs, etiquette, terminology, technical evolution, application of judo to everyday life, kata etc. The purpose for this part of the promotion requirements is to establish not only what the candidate knows about judo -but also what the candidate is capable of teaching others. The written material must be the candidate’s own work and not copied from books or other sources

  ALL-ROUND ABILITY IN JUDO Ability in judo will be assessed by practical examination on the tatami. The technical element of the examination usually includes demonstration of waza, demonstration of kata and randori (or shiai). All waza and kata demonstrations should be prepared properly over a period of time and should reflect Kodokan standards as described in "Kodokan Judo" (Kano).

  WAZA Comprehensive demonstration of the waza of judo is fundamental to the Dan rank promotion requirements. Knowledge of individual Nage Waza (Gokyo no Waza and Shinmeisho no Waza), Katame Waza and Atemi Waza is required as well as Renzoku Waza, Renraku Waza and Kaeshi Waza.

  Note also, that the individual Nage Waza, Katame Waza and Atemi Waza will be demonstrated to both the left and right sides.

  Note the following terminology:

  • Renzoku Waza: Combination techniques in which the second technique is a continuation of the first in the same or similar direction.
  • Renraku Waza:Combination techniques in which the second technique uses the reaction of the opponent to throw in a completely different direction.
  • Kaeshi Waza:Counter techniques. The possible waza pairings for continuous attack and counterattack are almost unlimited.

  All waza demonstrations must be performed at an appropriate tempo with the candidate and Uke moving as in light randori or in the appropriate positions for the Katame waza.

  For all demonstrations it is essential that Uke provide the correct opportunity for execution of the waza.Allowances will be made for differences in physique between individuals e.g. a taller person may demonstrate tai-otoshi differently from a shorter person etc. however no allowances will be made for a lack of technical ability of either the candidate or Uke.

  Randori and/or shiai will be used as means of assessing the candidates’ skillful and effective application of judo. Each candidate will receive a maximum of five (5) randori or shiai matches. The higher the Dan aimed for, the higher the level of performance that will be expected.

  Randori Randori (free practice) is a method of studying judo via actual offence and defense applied during free movements with an opponent. Randori is considered an essential part of developing skill in judo.The following elements will be form the basis of randori evaluation:

  • The execution of the various Nage Waza and Katame Waza as individual techniques, in combinations or counters
  • Randori must be performed in an uninhibited and free style -without fear of being countered, since there is no winner or loser
  • The transition from Tachi Waza to Ne Waza must be clear, quick and logical
  • The two judoka must demonstrate a certain ease in their movements, in the application of various techniques
  • All ukemi must be performed with good control
  • The randori cannot be pre-arranged and must be fluid. It must not be mechanical or spectacular, but must reflect sincerity

  Shiai Shiai (contest) is a test of an individual’s skill in judo through contest with an active opponent. Jigoro Kano considered shiai, kata and randori as equally important elements for the practice and study of Kodokan Judo.It is essential for candidates to recognize that there is no minimum number of wins requirements for promotion as it is the demonstration of skill and effective technique against a resisting opponent that is important. Wins obtained through strength alone will not usually support the case for promotion. A defeat, if something notable is found in it, may be considered positively in the overall assessment.

  https://www.usatkj.org/uploads/5/2/4/8/52481119/itkj_-_dan_ranks_promotional_syllabus_-_nov_14.pdf

  Promotion price

  The promotion fee covers our preparation, examination, belt and certificate costs.

  For up to brown belt: $40

  Brown belt (3 classes): $60

  Black belt (Shodan to Nidan): $150

  What are the senior ranks in judo ?

  Ranks for age 14+
  8th Kyu (class)			White
  7th Kyu (Study Guide)			Yellow
  6th Kyu (Study Guide)			Orange
  5th Kyu (Study Guide)			Green
  4th Kyu (Study Guide)			Blue
  3rd Kyu (Study Guide)			Brown (Purple for minor)
  2nd Kyu			Brown
  1st Kyu			Brown
  1st Dan (Shodan)			Black
  2nd Dan (Nidan)			Black
  3rd Dan (Sandan)			Black
  4th to 5th Dan (Yondan, Godan)			Black or black and red
  6th, 7th, 8th Dan (Rokudan, Shichidan, Hachidan)			Black or red and white
  9th and 10th Dan (Kudan and Judan)			Red or black

  Note: Below 3rd Kyu, the colors may vary from club to club.
  9th and 10h dans are reserved for exceptional mastery of judo.

Shiai (contest) is a test of an individual’s skill in judo through contest with an active opponent. Jigoro Kano considered shiai, kata and randori as equally important elements for the practice and study of judo.

It is essential for candidates to recognize that there is no minimum number of wins requirements for promotion as it is the demonstration of skill and effective technique against a resisting opponent that is important. Wins obtained through strength alone will not usually support the case for promotion. A defeat, if something notable is found in it, may be considered positively in the overall assessment.

Kata is a method of studying the techniques and principles of judo via prearranged forms. Dr Jigoro Kano and other high-ranking judoka of past and present generations have developed the Kodokan Judo kata as a result of long and detailed research and practice. Kata requirements for each grade and as such the following kata are

• Nage no Kata
• Katame n oKata
• Kime no Kata
• Goshin Jutsu
• Ju no Kata
• Itsutsu n oKata
• Koshiki no Kata

The standard for all kata demonstrations is Kodokan standard is described in "Kodokan Judo" (Kano).

The following elements will be form the basis of kata evaluation:Understanding of the basics of the kata being demonstrated

• Composure -proper mental concentration, decorum, and character
• Correct Breathing
• Posture
• Movement and transition between techniques
• Power and Strength
• Tempo
• Balance and body control
• Focus of technique
• Fluid body movement and gracefulness