In judo, the strongest belt is not black | Judo Belt Ranks

Judo belt ranks

In judo, the strongest belt is not black

In order, we find the white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown belts, the famous black belt as well as two higher belts: a red and white from 6th to 8th dan, a red for 9th and 10th dan). It is said that the maximum rank is the 12th dan black belt but this is false. Indeed, there still exists above the white-red belt and the red belt. There still remains above a particular belt, the wide white one which means that one has never learned everything. Only one person in the world has had the red: Jigoro Kano, inventor of judo in 1882.

Also called Kyu, the color belts in judo represent the progression of a judoka. Originally, there were only 2 colors of belts, the white belt and the black belt.

Judo Belt Ranks

In judo, there is a belt system that indicates a practitioner’s level of skill. The belts are listed in order of progression, going from white to black. Here is the order of the belts, from lowest to highest:

  • white belt: 6th kyu;
  • yellow belt: 5th kyu;
  • orange belt: 4th kyu;
  • green belt: 3rd kyu;
  • blue belt: 2nd kyu;
  • brown belt: 1st kyu;
  • black belt: 1st to 5th dan;
  • red belt: from 9th to 10th dan;
    wide white belt: chosen by some masters after their 10th dan, a way of marking the completion of the cycle. The white color of the belt symbolizes the fact that whoever holds it is in perpetual learning.

In some judo and karate clubs, intermediate kyu belts are instituted, for educational purposes:

  • white and yellow
  • yellow and orange
  • orange and green
  • green and blue
  • blue and brown
  • black and white (in preparation for black belt)
  • white and red belt: from 6th to 8th dan

Some sensei add to this barrettes (up to 3) for children; They are sewn on the belt.

It is important to note that black belts can be divided into different levels, each representing a higher skill level. For example, a judo practitioner may be a 1st dan, 2nd dan, 3rd dan black belt, etc.

Kanō’s original kyū-dan grading system

Kanō’s original kyū-dan grading system
RankSeniorJuniorJapanese name
Sixth kyū
(beginner)
Judo light blue belt.svg
Light
Blue
Judo light blue belt.svg
Light
Blue
rokkyū (六級)
Fifth kyū
Fourth kyū
Judo white belt.svg
White
Judo white belt.svg
White
gokyū (五級)
yonkyū (四級)
Third kyū
Second kyū
First kyū
Judo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo purple belt.svg
Purple
sankyū (三級)
nikyū (二級)
ikkyū (一級)
First dan
Second dan
Third dan
Fourth dan
Fifth dan
Judo black belt.svg
Judo black belt.svg
Judo black belt.svg
Judo black belt.svg
Judo black belt.svg
Black
shodan (初段)
nidan (二段)
sandan (三段)
yondan (四段)
godan (五段)
Sixth dan
Seventh dan
Eighth dan
Ninth dan
Judo red white belt.svg
Red and White
or
Judo black belt.svg
Black
rokudan (六段)
nanadan (七段)
hachidan (八段)
kudan (九段)
Tenth danJudo red belt.svg
Red
or
Judo black belt.svg
Black
jūdan (十段)
Eleventh dan
Twelfth dan
and higher*
Judo white belt.svg
White
or
Judo red belt.svg
Red
or
Judo black belt.svg
Black
juichidan (十一段)
junidan (十二段

Judo belt colors in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

WhiteJudo white belt.svg
YellowJudo yellow belt.svg
OrangeJudo orange belt.svg
GreenJudo green belt.svg
BlueJudo blue belt.svg
BrownJudo brown belt.svg
BlackJudo black belt.svg
PaneledJudo red white belt.svg
RedJudo red belt.svg

Judo kyū belt colors in the United States

Judo kyū belt colors in the United States
Japanese
kyū names
USJF
Senior
USJF
Junior
USJA
Senior
USJA
Junior
USJA Junior
level names
JūnikyūJudo white belt.svg
White
Junior 12th Class
JūichikyūJudo white belt.svg
White
Judo yellow belt.svg
Yellow
Junior 11th Class
JūkyūJudo white-yellow belt.svg
White-
yellow
Judo orange belt.svg
Orange
Junior 10th Class
KukyūJudo yellow belt.svg
Yellow
Judo orange belt.svg
Orange
Junior 9th Class
HachikyūJudo yellow-orange belt.svg
Yellow-
orange
Judo green belt.svg
Green
Junior 8th Class
Nanakyū
or USJA Senior
“Beginner”
Judo orange belt.svg
Orange
Judo white belt.svg
White
Judo green belt.svg
Green
Junior 7th Class
RokkyūJudo white belt.svg
White
Judo orange-green belt.svg
Orange-
green
Judo yellow belt.svg
Yellow
Judo blue belt.svg
Blue
Junior 6th Class
GokyūJudo green belt.svg
Green
Judo green belt.svg
Green
Judo orange belt.svg
Orange
Judo blue belt.svg
Blue
Junior 5th Class
YonkyūJudo blue belt.svg
Blue
Judo green-blue belt.svg
Green-
blue
Judo green belt.svg
Green
Judo purple belt.svg
Purple
Junior 4th Class
SankyūJudo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo blue belt.svg
Blue
Judo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo purple belt.svg
Purple
Junior 3rd Class
NikyūJudo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo blue-purple belt.svg
Blue-
purple
Judo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo brown belt.svg
Brown
Junior 2nd Class
IkkyūJudo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo purple belt.svg
Purple
Judo brown belt.svg
Brown
Judo brown belt.svg
Brown
Junior 1st Class

Sources: PinterPandai, YouGoJapan, ActiveSG

Photo credit: Sandro Halank (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Photo description: Judo Mixed International Team, Semifinal, Team Rio de Janeiro vs. Team Athens: Abrek Naguchev ( Russia, Team Rio de Janeiro) vs. Javier Peña Insausti (Spain, Team Athens)

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