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Understanding the Judo Belt System: Progress, Tradition, and Our New Bridge Belt
The belt system in Judo dates back to the late 19th century when the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, introduced it to visibly recognise a student’s progress and rank.
Inspired by traditional martial arts and adapted from the ranking system used in Japanese games like Go, Kano introduced the kyū (student grades) and dan (black belt grades) system as a means to recognise achievement and encourage development. It was a simple, visual way to identify skill levels, and it quickly became a core part of Judo culture worldwide.
At our club, we use a structured belt progression to reflect each judoka’s journey, starting from beginner to advanced levels. This structured grading system is very important; it motivates students, builds their confidence, and provides clear goals for them to work toward. Each belt colour represents not just improved technical ability, but also commitment, respect, and growth in the principles of Judo.
At our club, we use a structured belt progression to reflect each judoka’s journey, starting from beginner to advanced levels. This structured grading system is very important; it motivates students, builds their confidence, and provides clear goals for them to work toward. Each belt colour represents not just improved technical ability, but also commitment, respect, and growth in the principles of Judo.
Our current belt system follows this progression
| Belt Colour | Grade | Japanese Name |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6th Kyu | Rokkyū |
| Yellow | 5th Kyu | Gokyū |
| Orange | 4th Kyu | Yonkyū |
| Green | 3th Kyu | Sankyū |
| Blue | 2nd Kyu | Nikkyū |
| Brown | 1st Kyu | Ikkyū |
| Black | 1st Dan | Shodan |
The Bridge Belt
As of our next grading, we’re excited to introduce a new transitional grading step: the Bridge Belt. This belt acknowledges students who are making solid progress but still need to refine certain areas, such as kata or demonstrating an understanding of Judo principles, before they can advance to the next full kyu (grade).
The Bridge Belt is a new dual-coloured belt designed for students who are between ranks. It’s perfect for those showing great potential but who might need a bit more time to refine their techniques before achieving the next full grade. For example, a student progressing from Orange (Yonkyū) to Green (Sankyū) could earn a Bridge Belt. This helps keep motivation high by celebrating their progress while reducing pressure as they continue to work towards their next rank.
The Bridge Belt is a new dual-coloured belt designed for students who are between ranks. It’s perfect for those showing great potential but who might need a bit more time to refine their techniques before achieving the next full grade. For example, a student progressing from Orange (Yonkyū) to Green (Sankyū) could earn a Bridge Belt. This helps keep motivation high by celebrating their progress while reducing pressure as they continue to work towards their next rank.
We believe this addition will support more inclusive, personalised progress, especially for our younger members, while maintaining the structure and integrity of traditional grading.
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