Quick Definition
The judo belt system is the set of colored belts judo uses to mark a practitioner’s level, split into kyu grades for students and dan grades for black belts. Judo’s founder, Jigoro Kano, created it, and it became the model that most other martial arts belt systems copied.
What is the judo belt system?
Judo ranks a practitioner by the color of the belt worn over the judogi, the judo uniform. The system has two tiers. Kyu grades cover students working up from beginner to the level just below black belt, each marked by a different colored belt. Dan grades cover black belts and above, numbered by degree.
Jigoro Kano, who founded judo and the Kodokan school in Tokyo, introduced this ranking method in 1883. Before Kano, most Japanese martial arts had no visible rank; a student trained under a teacher until judged ready. His belts gave that progress a shape anyone could see, and nearly every belt system in modern martial arts, from karate to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, traces back to the idea.
For MMA fans, the system is worth knowing. Judo is one of the grappling bases fighters carry into the cage, and Ronda Rousey competed as an Olympic judoka, taking bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, before she became the first UFC women’s champion. A fighter’s judo rank hints at how many years of throwing and grappling sit behind their game.
Kyu grades: the student belts
Kyu grades are the student ranks, and they count downward. A beginner starts at sixth kyu and works toward first kyu, the last stop before black belt. Higher numbers mean lower rank, which tends to confuse newcomers used to counting up.
The most common adult color order in the West runs white, yellow, orange, green, blue, then brown. Each promotion reflects more control, a wider range of throws and groundwork, and a better feel for kuzushi, the act of breaking an opponent’s balance before a throw.
| Kyu grade | Japanese name | Belt color |
|---|---|---|
| 6th kyu | Rokkyu | White |
| 5th kyu | Gokyu | Yellow |
| 4th kyu | Yonkyu | Orange |
| 3rd kyu | Sankyu | Green |
| 2nd kyu | Nikyu | Blue |
| 1st kyu | Ikkyu | Brown |
This order is a convention, not a rule. Japan’s Kodokan traditionally kept things simpler for adults, sometimes using only white and brown belts below black belt, and many countries slot extra half-colors or stripes into the sequence for children.
Dan grades: the black belt ranks
Reaching black belt, or shodan (first dan), does not end the climb. It marks where the real study begins. The dan grades count upward from first to tenth, the reverse of the kyu system.
The belt changes color near the top of the ladder. First through fifth dan wear black. Sixth through eighth dan may wear a red-and-white paneled belt, called the kohaku obi and nicknamed the coral belt after the coral snake. Ninth and tenth dan may wear a solid red belt.
| Dan grade | Japanese name | Belt |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–5th dan | Shodan–Godan | Black |
| 6th–8th dan | Rokudan–Hachidan | Red and white (coral) |
| 9th–10th dan | Kudan–Judan | Solid red |
Tenth dan is the summit, and it is exceptionally rare. According to the Kodokan, only 15 people in judo’s history have ever been promoted to tenth dan. Higher grades are possible in theory, since Kano believed learning had no ceiling, but no one has ever been promoted beyond tenth, and the system settled at that cap after his death.
Why judo belt colors vary between countries
There is no single global chart of kyu belt colors. The dan grades stay consistent almost everywhere, black through red, but the student colors depend on the country and the governing body.
Japan’s Kodokan, the sport’s headquarters, historically used the fewest colors. The International Judo Federation, which runs Olympic competition, does not impose one kyu color scheme on its member nations. So a green belt in one country can sit at a different rung than a green belt in another.
| Organization | How its kyu belts work |
|---|---|
| Kodokan (Japan) | Traditionally few colors for adults, often white then brown; more colors for children |
| IJF / most of Europe | White, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown |
| USA (USJF, USJA, USA Judo) | White up through brown; exact colors vary by dojo and affiliation |
| Great Britain (BJA) | Adds a red belt low in the order, plus a novice white |
| Canada, Australia, France | White to brown, often with half-color belts for juniors |
For a fan watching international judo, the takeaway is simple: a colored belt tells you someone is a student and roughly how far along, but the exact shade travels less well across borders than the black belt does.
How judoka are promoted
Belt promotion in judo is a formal test rather than a reward for winning matches. A grading usually checks several things at once: a demonstration of throwing and grappling technique; kata, the pre-arranged forms that hold judo’s core principles, with the Nage-no-Kata (forms of throwing) a common requirement for first dan; randori, or live sparring against a resisting partner; and knowledge of the Japanese terminology.
Who signs off depends on the rank. Local instructors, or sensei, usually award the kyu grades. Dan grades typically require an exam judged by a national judo body, and the rank has to be registered with that body or the Kodokan to count.
Timing varies. A dedicated adult often reaches shodan in around three to six years, quicker than a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, though the exact timeline depends on the club and how often someone trains.
Judo belts vs BJJ belts
Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu share a root, which is why their belt systems rhyme. Kano’s student Mitsuyo Maeda carried judo to Brazil in the early 1900s, where it grew into BJJ, and the new art kept the idea of colored belts climbing toward black.
The two systems drifted apart in the details.
| Feature | Judo | Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
|---|---|---|
| Adult belts to black | White, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown | White, blue, purple, brown |
| Stripes on belts | Not standard | Common (up to four per belt) |
| Typical time to black belt | About 3–6 years | About 8–12 years |
| Main focus | Throws and takedowns | Ground fighting and submissions |
For someone following MMA, the practical difference is time and emphasis. A judo black belt usually points to a stand-up, throwing-heavy grappler, while a BJJ black belt points to years spent on the ground. Few fighters hold real rank in both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a black belt in judo?
For a committed adult training regularly, first-degree black belt (shodan) commonly takes about three to six years, though it depends on where and how often you train.
What is the highest belt in judo?
The solid red belt, worn by ninth and tenth dan. Tenth dan is the top rank, and the Kodokan has awarded it to only 15 people in judo’s history.
What is the difference between kyu and dan grades?
Kyu grades are the student ranks below black belt, counting down from sixth to first. Dan grades are the black-belt ranks, counting up from first dan.
What is a coral belt?
It is the nickname for the red-and-white paneled belt (kohaku obi) worn by sixth through eighth dan. The name comes from the coral snake’s coloring.
Do judo belt colors mean the same thing everywhere?
The dan colors are standard worldwide, but kyu student colors differ by country and federation, so a colored belt’s exact meaning shifts across borders.
Sources
- Kodokan Judo Institute. “The Judo Rank System.” Accessed July 2026.
https://kodokanjudoinstitute.org - International Judo Federation (IJF). Accessed July 2026.
https://www.ijf.org - British Judo Association. “Kyu Grade Promotion Syllabus.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.britishjudo.org.uk - United States Judo Federation. Rank requirements. Accessed July 2026.
https://www.usjf.com - Ohlenkamp, Neil. “The Judo Rank System,” Accessed July 2026.
https://judoinfo.com/obi.htm
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