Introduction
Many people see the grading system as one of the major appeals of judo, a series of steps for the judoka to climb and an incentive for those who may have no ambitions towards Olympic competition but who want a measure of their own improvement.
All judokas are recognizable by the colours of their belts. When you have a grade, you can walk into any club and your ability will be acknowledged immediately. Once you have earned a grading you can continue to wear it until you feel ready to take the next on the scale.
When you start for the first time, you will wear a white belt. You will not have to take a test for it, and you will wear it throughout your beginners' period and until your first grading. Every four to six months a beginner can take an examination for a judo grade. The grades are:
Over 16 years, Kyu Grade:
6th Kyu (white belt), 5th Kyu (yellow), 4yh Kyu (orange), 3rd Kyu (green), 2nd Kyu (blue), 1st Kyu (brown), and now he/she takes a severe examination for his/her 1st Dan (black belt). A 1st Dan is shown certain things (for instance: resuscitation) not taught to lower grades. A 1st Dan is normally regarded as qualified to teach, to referee contests and extra skill and knowledges. The may all wear the black belt.
Explanation of the Grading System
JUNIOR (MON) GRADES, UNDER 15 YEARS OLD
| 1st Mon | white belt + one |
| 2nd Mon | white belt + two |
| 3rd Mon | white belt + three |
| 4th Mon | yellow belt + one |
| 5th Mon | yellow belt + two |
| 6th Mon | yellow belt + three |
| 7th Mon | orange belt + one |
| 8th Mon | orange belt + two |
| 9th Mon | orange belt + three |
| 10th Mon | green belt + one |
| 11th Mon | green belt + two |
| 12th Mon | green belt + three |
| 13th Mon | blue belt + one |
| 14th Mon | blue belt + two |
| 15th Mon | blue belt + three |
| 16th Mon | brown belt + one |
| 17th Mon | brown belt + two |
| 18th Mon | brown belt + three |
* red 1/2 inch wide bar sewn onto to one belt end
SENIOR (KYU) GRADES, OVER 16 YEARS OLD
| 6th Kyu | white belt |
| 5th Kyu | yellow belt |
| 4th Kyu | orange belt |
| 3rd Kyu | green belt |
| 2nd Kyu | blue belt |
| 1st Kyu | brown belt |
| 1st Dan | black belt |
| 2nd Dan | black belt |
| 3rd Dan | black belt |
| 4th Dan | black belt |
| 5th Dan | black belt |
| 6th Dan | red and white section (blocked) belt |
| 7th Dan | red and white section (blocked) belt |
| 8th Dan | red and white section (blocked) belt |
| 9th Dan | red (blocked) belt |
| 10th Dan | red (blocked) belt |
| 11th Dan | red (blocked) belt |
| 12th Dan | white (blocked0 belt |
