Judo's Grading/Ranking Belt System

Judo players as part of their uniform, wear a coloured belt. The belt colour is a clear indication of the grade (standard) of the wearer and is an indication of the player's involvement in the sport. All novices wear a white belt before progressing through the different colours to reach black belt.

Within the grading system there are different schemes for different age groups. For children aged 5,6 or 7 years of age there are the Kai grades (Kai is pronounced like buy), and for the children aged 8 to under 16 years there are the Mon grades (Mon pronounced like con). For players who are over 16 years that are the Kyu and Dan grades (Kyu is pronounced like queue and Dan is pronounced like man).

If you are aged 8 to 15 you can try for the Mon grades. There are eighteen of these, three for each colour as shown in the picture above. 1st to 9th Mon are awarded by your coach when you can demonstrate some judo throws and holds and know some Japanese words used in Judo. To be awarded the higher Mon grades, you must participate in contests against other players who are the same grade as yourself.

When you have completed a new grade you will receive a certificate and badge for your new grade.

1st Mon - Red Belt + One Red Tab

2nd Mon - Red Belt + Two Red Tabs

3rd Mon - Red Belt + Three Red Tabs

4th Mon - Yellow Belt + One Red Tab

5th Mon - Yellow Belt + Two Red Tabs

6th Mon - Yellow Belt + Three Red Tabs

7th Mon - Orange Belt + One Red Tab

8th Mon - Orange Belt + Two Red Tabs

9th Mon - Orange Belt + Three Red Tabs

10th Mon - Green Belt + One Red Tab

11th Mon - Green Belt + Two Red Tabs

12th Mon - Green Belt + Three Red Tabs

13th Mon - Blue Belt + One Red Tab

14th Mon - Blue Belt + Two Red Tabs

15th Mon - Blue Belt + Three Red Tabs

16th Mon - Brown Belt + One Red Tabs

17th Mon - Brown Belt + Two Red Tabs

18th Mon - Brown Belt + Three Red Tabs

There are 6 Kyu grades.

Novice - White

6th Kyu - Red Belt

5th Kyu - Yellow Belt

4th Kyu - Orange Belt

3rd Kyu - Green Belt

2nd Kyu - Blue Belt

1st Kyu - Brown Belt

Progression to the next involves the demonstration of throws, holds, strangles and arm locks and knowledge of some Japanese terminology. The player receives a certificate for each grade completed.

After 1st Kyu there are the Dan grades. The first five of these are shown by wearing a black belt, which can be gained through competition and demonstration of judo techniques. These are followed by the 6th to 10th Dan, which are only awarded to long standing judo players for services to judo, for example as a successful competitor, coach or referee.