How to get your Black Belt in JUDO 

Just starting! I like that Judo has a curriculum, unlike other arts I’ve considered.

I started doing judo before the first lockdowns kicked in. I never really bothered to have a proper look at the belt system but OMG it is hard work. My goal is not to obtain a black belt but to obtain the skill.

I never had a belt test actually. I live in California, which has a different way of doing things than Canada. That may have a part to do with it. I got my yellow belt a day after a competition I had in Orange County. I got my green belt, and I guess I skipped the orange belt entirely after a different competition in Sacramento I believe, but my knee was injured, so I had to take 3 weeks off from class. I received my green belt on the day I felt good enough to continue Judo class as usual. I was surprised, because I was just a yellow belt, and I hadn't anticipated getting an orange belt let alone a green belt at all. I felt so happy, and I thanked my sensei so much that day. I'm currently working hard to go further beyond, but I don't really pay attention to belts, and I just rather become the best Judoka that I can. I might become a black belt someday, but that's not necessarily my goal.

The Kodokan revised the list of Nage-Waza a year or two ago but the Judo Canada curriculum does yet reflect this change. There are now 68 throws in Judo. Ko-uchi makikomi is now recognized as distinct from ko-uchi gari and obi-tori-gaeshi (Khaberelli) has been added. It was previously classified as a variation of hikikomi-gaeshi. Daki age has been removed from the list and is no longer recognized.

Thanks Kathy! 30 year old Judo white belt 😂 wish me luck

To be honest, though, the BASIC JUDO BLACK BELT in Western countries is more serious than in Asia. While elite Judo training in Japan, for instance, is top of the world, the REGULAR dojos hand out black belts like cookies at a toddler party. In general, because they don't have a system for grading, Far-East judo goes from white to black, and black only means "a certain proficiency in the eyes of my teacher". As someone who only ever attained a Judo blue belt in South America, I have beaten several Asian black belts who seemed really unimpressive in their skill to me. I remember Judo black belts in South America to be scary, fast, powerful and incredibly in control -- and I think it's part of the fact that the skill introduction and the grading is strictly systematized.

always a pleasure to hear you when you talk about judo , you are a true master . your tutorial for keza gatame with Stefan kesting was enlightning , so simple yet so perfect . judo for ever .

This videos has a lot of info I’ve been searching for thank you

Very interesting "decor" in your dojo! Keepin it Country! Love your content!

Thank you so much, i have being waiting this one since your last video about brown belt. Thanks

Hi Kathy at last a video that explains the black belt journey, 👍very cool very useful it is similar in the uk belts are slightly different novice obviously white belt but 6th Kyu red belt for seniors 15 and older then yellow, Orange, green, blue and brown love the ‘go Kill’ term you use😂 . As a senior I’m a 4th Kyu Orange Belt the first Dan in the uk you have to take on 3 other black belts win all your fights in a row.plus the Naga no kata. I believe that’s right happy to be corrected by someone who’s done the Dan grade in the uk....watching and writing makes me miss it hope we can get back to it soon it would be amazing for mental health recovery.👍

Great video! I’m from the Netherlands and thinking about joining again. I competed in Judo from age 9 til 14 but duo to being a very hyperactive kid in the mits of puberty i was never able to fully understand Judo or get good at it. I’m 24 now and much more capable of understanding complex things thankfully. When i stopped doing Judo i left with a green belt belt but i will start over at white for sure its been 10 years since i did it😂 My favorite Judo champ is Dennis van der geest. Have you heard about him?

Hi Kathy, would you recommend learning judo and bjj at the same time or would it decrease the speed of progress on each ? I’m 36 and fortunate enough to be retired from the work force and have a lot of free time. I’ve kept myself in shape for the past 3 years working out. Just wondering if I can avoid serious injuries training these sports, I know the importance of rest, stretching and conditioning. Thank you for your videos, I just subscribed !

I did my NAGE NO KATA & KATAME NO KATA awards as a BROWN BELT, then accumulate points thru fighting a line up of three judoka. The maximium points needed to obtain is 100, you also need to pass the theory (BJA - United Kingdon).

Hello, great video. I just registered to begin my Judo journey and I am excited. I am a 4th degree black belt in TKD, 1st in Hapkido, and 3rd in Kempo Jujitsu and I'm 34 years old. I'm hoping my experience with Hapkido will give me an edge in Judo. We do at least 20 of the Judo throws. What do you think? Do you think I would take a shorter time to reach Shodan than others or longer due to having "bad habits"? I am really curious to hear your opinion.

Id like to get into the contact arts as I call them. Practiced some traditional ju-jitsu years ago but would like to practice judo but there are no dojo's near me.

You are so lucky to have these types of exams, I mean you need to accumulate points from competition. In Spain we don't have that. Once you get your brown belt, you wait for one year, you don't have to compete, and you go and do your exam. The first dan black belt is the same however. I have a question. I'm 23 yo. Currently I have a green belt but it's mainly because I missed some exams and then COVID came along and I didn't train from March till October. I had some martial arts experience when I started judo, I've also just started BJJ as well, just one month in, one stripe white belt and one day got armbarred by a 14 yo orange belt kid haha. Anyway do you think it's possible to compete and to get to high level like international competitions? I train every day even now, not just bjj and judo but extra work like jogging, calisthenics, stretching, etc.

Surely there is no more Canadian dojo than that with deer heads on the wall!

Thanks for the information

Thanks for the video!. Could you tell me where I could get that belt progression/throws chart? Its hard to find clear answers online

I’m 53, male, and want to begin training in judo. I am healthy but not in as good of shape as I once was. Am I too old to learn judo? My goals are fitness, self defense and comradery. Thanks.

Does volunteering give points?

For someone who’s hasn’t been involved with judo and is a senior citizen, how would one get involved and because judo is a lot of throwing techniques is it advisable to even start out?

Is all that done for each color belt?

Does Kata also apply to men as well, when moving from one dan to another?

Nice one

Great video Kathy! I’m 34 and I just started judo. How long do you think it will take to get to black belt training 2x a week? I’m think maybe 10 years? How long have you been doing Judo?

Did they change the system I thought it was 3 brown belts before the black belt

You should do a kata demo video

Hi! Where can one get that nice poster with all names for judo throws,pls.

With all due respect I am taking up Judo for self-defense only and I will be reframing from competition. Is one allowed to participate this way or is competition a necessity to a degree? I would appreciate your thoughts.

Your dojo is scary with those animal heads lol

Too much work.......

You are so beautiful 😍