Grading System

The grading system is split into three sections, the juvenile for 5-9 years, the junior for 10-15 years and seniors 16 years and over.

juvenile
This system was designed for very young children, as for these children judo is largely a game in which play discipline is employed to set the foundation of what will become a serious study at a later date. The idea of gaining tabs to allow the child to be encouraged to take tests. The grades are...

White belt 7th Kyu with up to 3 red tabs.
Yellow belt with up to 3 tabs of each of the following colours red, green, blue, brown and black, all kept on the belt together.

When awarded three black tabs the grade of juvenile black has been attained.

junior
The junior system starts with

6th kyu white belt

5th Kyu yellow belt

4th Kyu orange belt

3rd Kyu green belt

On each belt up to 3 tabs of next colour belt can be awarded. When a junior reaches 3rd Kyu green they keep the green belt and then receive three each of blue, brown and black tabs. When three black tabs are awarded the child is then a junior black belt.

senior
The senior system uses the same colours but there are no tabs between so adults go straight from one colour to the next when successful.

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

There are a further 9 grades of black belt up to 10th Dan