RANKING SYSTEM

About the Ranking System

Professor Kano was an educator and used a hierarchy in setting learning objectives for Judo students, just as students typically pass from one grade to another in the public school system.

The Judo rank system represents a progression of learning with a syllabus and a corresponding grade indicating an individual's level of proficiency. Earning a black belt is like graduating from high school or college. It indicates you have achieved a basic level of proficiency, learned the fundamental skills, you can perform them in a functional manner, and you are now ready to pursue Judo on a more serious and advanced level as a professional or a person seeking an advanced degree would.

Of course, the rankings also represent progress towards the ultimate objective of judo which is to improve the self not just physically, but morally as well.

Junior Judo Rank System

The Junior Rank System, for members 16 years of age and younger, provides for incremental 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.

Junior students earn their promotion points through class attendance, competition experience and assistance to their club.

Senior Judo Rank System

The senior ranks is for players 17 and older, with their proper identification, minimum and normal time -in -grade, and promotion point requirements. Senior promotion points may be earned through competition, service to judo, or a combination of both.

Promotion requirements for each rank vary according to the sensei and the national organization that you are affiliated with. There is no worldwide standard for each rank, although it is generally accepted that a blackbelt has had many years of practice and can perform at least the nage-no-kata, the gokyo-no-waza and the newaza techniques.

For further information about promotion requirements see your sensei.