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Belts Explained
5 year(s) ago • 738 views • 30 replies
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
As of my understanding this is the new system valid after the splitt coloured belts where added.
There are 2 organisations each splitt in to Senior and Junior.
I posted a picture in comment lower down in this forum post of all the coloures in the different systems.
USJA*S = USJA Senior
USJA*J = USJA Junior
USJF*S = USJF Senior
USJF*J = USJF Junior
12kyu = "USJA*J White Belt" = 12kyu
11kyu = "USJF*J White Belt" & "USJA*J Yellow Belt" = 11kyu
10kyo = "USJF*J White-Yellow Belt" & "USJA*J Orange Belt" = 10kyu
09kyo = "USJF* J Yellow Belt" & "USJA*J Orange Belt" = 09kyu
08kyu = "USJF*J Yellow-Orange belt" & "USJA*J Green Belt" = 08kyu
07kyu = "USJF*J Orange Belt" & "USJA*S White Belt" & "USJA*J Green Belt" = 07kyu
06kyo = "USJF*S White Belt" & "USJF*J Orange-Green" & "USJA*S Yellow Belt" & "USJA*J Blue Belt" = 06kyu
05kyo = "USJF*S Green Belt" & "USJF*J Green Belt" & "USJA*S Orange Belt" & "USJA*J Blue Belt" = 05kyu
04kyo = "USJF*S Blue Belt" & "USJF*J Green-Blue Belt" & "USJA*S Green Belt" & "USJA*J Purple Belt" = 04kyu
03kyo = "USJF*S Brown Belt & "USJF*J Blue Belt" & "USJA*S Brown Belt" & "USJA*J Purple Belt" = 03kyu
02kyo = "USJF*S Brown Belt & "USJF*J Blue-Brown Belt" & "USJA*S Brown Belt" & "USJA*J Brown Belt" = 02kyu
01kyo = "USJF*S Brown Belt & "USJF*J Purple Belt" & "USJA*S Brown Belt" & "USJA*J Brown Belt" = 01kyu
1-5dan = Black
6-8dan = Red/White
9-10dan = Red
There are 2 organisations each splitt in to Senior and Junior.
I posted a picture in comment lower down in this forum post of all the coloures in the different systems.
USJA*S = USJA Senior
USJA*J = USJA Junior
USJF*S = USJF Senior
USJF*J = USJF Junior
12kyu = "USJA*J White Belt" = 12kyu
11kyu = "USJF*J White Belt" & "USJA*J Yellow Belt" = 11kyu
10kyo = "USJF*J White-Yellow Belt" & "USJA*J Orange Belt" = 10kyu
09kyo = "USJF* J Yellow Belt" & "USJA*J Orange Belt" = 09kyu
08kyu = "USJF*J Yellow-Orange belt" & "USJA*J Green Belt" = 08kyu
07kyu = "USJF*J Orange Belt" & "USJA*S White Belt" & "USJA*J Green Belt" = 07kyu
06kyo = "USJF*S White Belt" & "USJF*J Orange-Green" & "USJA*S Yellow Belt" & "USJA*J Blue Belt" = 06kyu
05kyo = "USJF*S Green Belt" & "USJF*J Green Belt" & "USJA*S Orange Belt" & "USJA*J Blue Belt" = 05kyu
04kyo = "USJF*S Blue Belt" & "USJF*J Green-Blue Belt" & "USJA*S Green Belt" & "USJA*J Purple Belt" = 04kyu
03kyo = "USJF*S Brown Belt & "USJF*J Blue Belt" & "USJA*S Brown Belt" & "USJA*J Purple Belt" = 03kyu
02kyo = "USJF*S Brown Belt & "USJF*J Blue-Brown Belt" & "USJA*S Brown Belt" & "USJA*J Brown Belt" = 02kyu
01kyo = "USJF*S Brown Belt & "USJF*J Purple Belt" & "USJA*S Brown Belt" & "USJA*J Brown Belt" = 01kyu
1-5dan = Black
6-8dan = Red/White
9-10dan = Red
Edited 5 year(s) ago
RM1st DanPending
5 year(s) ago
While the kyu ranks are standard across all judo, colors will vary from program to program. For example, we're loosely affiliated with USA Judo, so our kyu belt colors are:
6: yellow
5: orange
4: green
3-1: brown
6: yellow
5: orange
4: green
3-1: brown
JD2nd DanPending
5 year(s) ago
6kyu (or beginner): white
5kyu: yellow
4kyu: orange
3kyu: green
2kyu: blue
1kyu: brown
1dan and over: black
from 6th dan: still black, but can wear kohaku obi (red and white)
from 9th dan:still black, but can wear kohaku obi (red)
It goes that way pretty much everywhere in the world :)
known exception:
-USA for adult: use brown for 3 to 1st kyu
-Japan, : use only white belt for adult kyu rank but color for kids
-UK (I think) use...red belt for beginners! you have to "earn" your white belt,IIRC
5kyu: yellow
4kyu: orange
3kyu: green
2kyu: blue
1kyu: brown
1dan and over: black
from 6th dan: still black, but can wear kohaku obi (red and white)
from 9th dan:still black, but can wear kohaku obi (red)
It goes that way pretty much everywhere in the world :)
known exception:
-USA for adult: use brown for 3 to 1st kyu
-Japan, : use only white belt for adult kyu rank but color for kids
-UK (I think) use...red belt for beginners! you have to "earn" your white belt,IIRC
Edited 5 year(s) ago
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
But then what's up with this page having 12 different Kyu's?
I put some coloures in to the list at top. Still missing to fill in 12-7
I put some coloures in to the list at top. Still missing to fill in 12-7
Edited 5 year(s) ago
RM1st DanPending
5 year(s) ago
But then what's up with this page having 12 different Kyu's?
I'm thinking those are kids' belts? You have to keep in mind that this site was created by a bjj guy, so he's not super knowledgeable about the judo ranking system. I think (and this is from a non-black belt) that it's fairly common to"skip" ranks in judo, in comparison to bjj.
I skipped some ranks as well, since I am a former college wrestler and bjj brown belt: I was promoted straight to 4th kyu, skipping 6th and 5th.
Best thing to do is just fill in what is accurate for you, and let the voting begin.
I skipped some ranks as well, since I am a former college wrestler and bjj brown belt: I was promoted straight to 4th kyu, skipping 6th and 5th.
Best thing to do is just fill in what is accurate for you, and let the voting begin.
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
I'm thinking those are kids' belts? You have to keep in mind that this site was created by a bjj guy, so he's not super knowledgeable about the judo ranking system. I think (and this is from a non-black belt) that it's fairly common to'skip' ranks in judo, in comparison to bjj. I skipped some ranks as well, since I am a former college wrestler and bjj brown belt: I was promoted straight to 4th kyu, skipping 6th and 5th. Best thing to do is just fill in what is accurate for you, and let the voting begin.
I know there is like yellow/orange then orange then orange green then green and so on. But I tought that those belts where for kids and they should have same kyu right. Like the 3 green ones all are 3kyu?
So i do BJJ, but I been doing Judo a tiny bit on the side and use to go visit the Judo club that are constantly inviting me over to train. I not been ranked at all inn Judo and no one has given me a belt in that art. So I am a whitebelt I expect.
Does that mean I'm at 6kyo and can just ignore the 12-7kyo when setting up my profile.
So i do BJJ, but I been doing Judo a tiny bit on the side and use to go visit the Judo club that are constantly inviting me over to train. I not been ranked at all inn Judo and no one has given me a belt in that art. So I am a whitebelt I expect.
Does that mean I'm at 6kyo and can just ignore the 12-7kyo when setting up my profile.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
JB2nd KyuPending
5 year(s) ago
While the kyu ranks are standard across all judo, colors will vary from program to program. For example, we're loosely affiliated with USA Judo, so our kyu belt colors are: 6: yellow 5: orange 4: green 3-1: brown
This is the belt system we follow as well. I'd assume most US Judo clubs probably follow this in the adult ranks.
RM1st DanPending
5 year(s) ago
Does that mean I'm at 6kyo and can just ignore the 12-7kyo when setting up my profile.
Really good question, man. What i would do is find a good judo program somewhere and ask the instructor.
Maybe it's just me and my opinion, but I feel like judo is way more developed in Europe than it is here in the States, so based on that logic you should be able to find a decent program (most likely non-profit) that can help steer you in the right direction?
Maybe it's just me and my opinion, but I feel like judo is way more developed in Europe than it is here in the States, so based on that logic you should be able to find a decent program (most likely non-profit) that can help steer you in the right direction?
JB2nd KyuPending
5 year(s) ago
I not been ranked at all inn Judo and no one has given me a belt in that art. So I am a whitebelt I expect. Does that mean I'm at 6kyo and can just ignore the 12-7kyo when setting up my profile.
There is a novice / beginner rank and that would be the one I suspect you could use. But 6th would be fine as well, depending on the association your club uses.
JB2nd KyuPending
5 year(s) ago
Really good question, man. What i would do is find a good judo program somewhere and ask the instructor. Maybe it's just me and my opinion, but I feel like judo is way more developed in Europe than it is here in the States, so based on that logic you should be able to find a decent program (most likely non-profit) that can help steer you in the right direction?
For sure. I find it amazing that it's the second most popular sport in the world in almost EVERY country except America.
And for those who are wondering, it's behind football / (soccer for us heathens lol)
And for those who are wondering, it's behind football / (soccer for us heathens lol)
RM1st DanPending
5 year(s) ago
(soccer for us heathens lol)
The Brits invented the term "soccer", btw... While I'm not some sort of nationalist or something, it's really all their fault...
SC2nd DanPending
5 year(s) ago
I'm thinking those are kids' belts?
Yeah, I believe that's the case. I was able to leave a lot of the lower ones blank
JB2nd KyuPending
5 year(s) ago
The Brits invented the term 'soccer', btw... While I'm not some sort of nationalist or something, it's really all their fault...
Figures.
Those limey bastards! (kidding ;) )
Those limey bastards! (kidding ;) )
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
We did a lot of research and talked with a bunch of the beta testers about how to set this up. Ultimately, there are so many belt color systems in Judo that we all decided on using kyu ranks instead of colors. Example, purple belt can be both 6th, 2nd, 3rd and 1st kyu, depending on your country and organization. So it would be impossible for us to use the colors as rank on this site. In some organizations, such as USJA, they start at 12 kyu for kids' ranks, that's why we included them.
You can skip any belts in your promotion history, that were not relevant to you :)
And now, like I did, go read this wikipedia page and cry over the lack of consistency in Judo ranking :D https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]nk_in_Judo
You can skip any belts in your promotion history, that were not relevant to you :)
And now, like I did, go read this wikipedia page and cry over the lack of consistency in Judo ranking :D https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]nk_in_Judo
Edited 5 year(s) ago
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
I'm thinking those are kids' belts? You have to keep in mind that this site was created by a bjj guy, so he's not super knowledgeable about the judo ranking system.
Oh I did the research but it didn't make it any less complicated haha :D
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
Oh I did the research but it didn't make it any less complicated haha :D
Maybe you should put the coloures in the list to. Like on beltchecker it says blue, purple, brown. You can see the coloures.
Just write either.
White
Yellow
Orange
Or use
6th Kyu White
5th Kyu Yellow
4th Kyu Orange
So you can see the belts colour on the menu in the promotion history instead of only the Kyu witch makes it hard.
Kyu numbers just overcomplicayes it I think. Just write the coloures.
Then you could even add the splitt coloured belts quite easy.
White
White/Yellow
Yellow
Yellow/Orange
Orange
....
Makes it allot easyer to understand the menu I think.
Just write either.
White
Yellow
Orange
Or use
6th Kyu White
5th Kyu Yellow
4th Kyu Orange
So you can see the belts colour on the menu in the promotion history instead of only the Kyu witch makes it hard.
Kyu numbers just overcomplicayes it I think. Just write the coloures.
Then you could even add the splitt coloured belts quite easy.
White
White/Yellow
Yellow
Yellow/Orange
Orange
....
Makes it allot easyer to understand the menu I think.
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
I found this online where the splitt coloured belts been added.
Her it says that White used to be 6kyu, but is now changed to 11kyu.
That means the belts go 11kyo to 1kuy before black. So the 12kuy does not exist and can be removed from the options.
I belive this is the correct system and what should be used.
Her it says that White used to be 6kyu, but is now changed to 11kyu.
That means the belts go 11kyo to 1kuy before black. So the 12kuy does not exist and can be removed from the options.
I belive this is the correct system and what should be used.
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
6kyu (or beginner): white 5kyu: yellow 4kyu: orange 3kyu: green 2kyu: blue 1kyu: brown 1dan and over: black from 6th dan: still black, but can wear kohaku obi (red and white) from 9th dan:still black, but can wear kohaku obi (red)
This is correct for the old system before the splitt coloured belts where in there I belive.
White used to be 6kyu,but is now 11kyu.
White used to be 6kyu,but is now 11kyu.
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
Oh I did the research but it didn't make it any less complicated haha :D
Don't worry I am a BJJ guy to so we are in the same boat, but I wanted to figure this out so I done reaserch my self.
I love the concept of beltchecker and is super happy to see it come out for other sports. I mention it and show it to everyone that tell me they train martial arts.
I love the concept of beltchecker and is super happy to see it come out for other sports. I mention it and show it to everyone that tell me they train martial arts.
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
I'm not sure if maybe you missed this reply where I explained why we don't use the colors? :)
JP2nd DanPending
5 year(s) ago
I went through the color belts / kyu ranks over 25 years ago, but I recall them all being solid with no split colors. I have no recollection of the Twin City YMCA or the Jefferson College Judo Club being USJF or USJA, so it may have been an old system. We will be using the USJA belt system once we are able to reopen the school.
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
The main problem is if the same belt color does not correspond to the same rank level across all belt systems. For instance, if we have a purple belt in the system, we need to know if that is a high or a low rank, so we can assign the correct points needed for voting to verify it. And purple can be anything from a beginner to an advanced belt, depending on your country and organization. So that's why we go with the kyu and dan system, which is the same across all organizations :)
Anyway, already well discussed back when we just launched the system :) Would be nice to have some color on the Judo profiles, but it's complicated apparently! :D
Anyway, already well discussed back when we just launched the system :) Would be nice to have some color on the Judo profiles, but it's complicated apparently! :D
JP2nd DanPending
5 year(s) ago
The BJJ belt system has spoiled us. BJJ has probably the simplest and least deviated from belt system across all practitioners, but even BJJ has a whole can of worm regarding stripes, green belts, promotion guidelines, and a lack of a governing body. The only thing I can think of is keeping a database and drop down menu of the various IJF and more well known organization's corresponding belt colors. That may also be more work and trouble than it's worth.
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
The BJJ belt system has spoiled us. BJJ has probably the simplest and least deviated from belt system across all practitioners, but even BJJ has a whole can of worm regarding stripes, green belts, promotion guidelines, and a lack of a governing body. The only thing I can think of is keeping a database and drop down menu of the various IJF and more well known organization's corresponding belt colors. That may also be more work and trouble than it's worth.
Definitely more trouble than it's worth. From a technical point of view and how this site fundamental works, it would be a mess of dimensions :D Especially when every single Judo belt system agree on Kyu->Dan ranks, then we just use that instead and we have some sort of consistency, regardless of what belt colors each org. use :)
JD2nd DanPending
5 year(s) ago
I found this online where the splitt coloured belts been added. Her it says that White used to be 6kyu, but is now changed to 11kyu. That means the belts go 11kyo to 1kuy before black. So the 12kuy does not exist and can be removed from the options. I belive this is the correct system and what should be used.
Not always correct, the "former kyu rank" is actually the one most used in some federation half belf are considered a kyu (though it normally should not, since judo is supposed to have 6 kyu regardless of the color applied, but I won't argue on this here) while in a lot of other half belt are still in the kyu of the lower belt (example: white/yellow is still 6 kyu).
The system got more complicated when those half belt were introduced for kids, and some federation have their own scheme, but adding kyu on those didn't actually make sense since they're more "motivational belt" (a bit like stripe in BJJ? not really sure, sorry if I'm wrong on this point)
To be fair, usa's federations complicated it a LOT by doing pretty much their own system and not even agreing with each other.
The system got more complicated when those half belt were introduced for kids, and some federation have their own scheme, but adding kyu on those didn't actually make sense since they're more "motivational belt" (a bit like stripe in BJJ? not really sure, sorry if I'm wrong on this point)
To be fair, usa's federations complicated it a LOT by doing pretty much their own system and not even agreing with each other.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
Yeah, USJA junior belts start at 12 kyu :)
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
Yeah, USJA junior belts start at 12 kyu :)
So if there is 12kyu I miss one belt on the list at the top. So is there
a 1kyu brown-black belt to? And brown will then be 2kyu?
Bjj belts are som much easier.
a 1kyu brown-black belt to? And brown will then be 2kyu?
Bjj belts are som much easier.
WNovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
So if there is 12kyu I miss one belt on the list at the top. So is there a 1kyu brown-black belt to? And brown will then be 2kyu? Bjj belts are som much easier.
Take a look here: https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]nk_in_Judo
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
Take a look here: https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]nk_in_Judo
Omg that is soooo confusing.
I will try edit the top post again and see if I can get it to work.
I read over all posts now and I see what you say about using the kuy and not a colour. Still I really like the colour around the profile pictures that we have on beltchecker. To bad that won't work here.
I will try edit the top post again and see if I can get it to work.
I read over all posts now and I see what you say about using the kuy and not a colour. Still I really like the colour around the profile pictures that we have on beltchecker. To bad that won't work here.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
SENovice/First trainingVerified
5 year(s) ago
So this is the systems that are used I guess. So we have 2 different ones each splitt in to senior and junior:
USJF Senior: 6kyu-1kyu
USJF Junior: 11kyu-1kyu
USJA Senior: 7kyu-1kyu
USJA Junior: 12kyu-1kyu
See picture for coloures.
USJF Senior: 6kyu-1kyu
USJF Junior: 11kyu-1kyu
USJA Senior: 7kyu-1kyu
USJA Junior: 12kyu-1kyu
See picture for coloures.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
