Competitive Dan Grade Skills Examination. Set by British Judo Association. The BJA's technical examination for promotion to 1st to 5th Dan: single techniques from the British Judo Gokyo, continuation and combination techniques, counters, groundwork chains and escapes, and kata, marked out of ten per technique with pass marks rising by grade. This examination is no longer sat --------------------------------- The examination of the scheme the BJA introduced in 1982, built on 67 techniques, and replaced for promotions from 1 January 2026 by the Competitive Dan Grade Scheme, which examines one set of twenty Kodokan techniques per grade and is transcribed here as a separate examination for each of 1st to 5th Dan. A candidate who had completed this examination by 31 December 2025 keeps it. This page is the record of what was sat until then, and of the syllabus older certificates were awarded against; it is not the form to prepare against for a current grading. The forms in force now are at https://wazabook.com/exams/ Pass marks and requirements --------------------------- Marking ranges from 0 to 10 points for each technique. In the kata sections each technique is demonstrated both right- and left-handed with the combined score recorded, plus a mark out of ten for presentation; a candidate holding a BJA Kata certificate may claim exemption at 65% of the marks. Section requirements are the examiner's choice of one technique from each set in Section 1, and the candidate's choice of sets elsewhere until all sets are required. Promotion to 1st Dan: pass mark 190 of 270. gokyo: Examiner's choice: one from each set (100 marks) renzoku-waza: One set, candidate's choice (30 marks) renraku-waza: One set, candidate's choice (30 marks) kaeshi-waza: One set, candidate's choice (30 marks) ne-waza-chains: One set, candidate's choice (20 marks) kata: One set of Nage-no-kata, candidate's choice (60 marks) Promotion to 2nd Dan: pass mark 320 of 440. gokyo: Examiner's choice: one from each set (100 marks) renzoku-waza: Two sets, candidate's choice (60 marks) renraku-waza: Two sets, candidate's choice (60 marks) kaeshi-waza: Two sets, candidate's choice (60 marks) ne-waza-chains: Two sets, candidate's choice (40 marks) kata: Two sets of Nage-no-kata, candidate's choice (120 marks) Promotion to 3rd Dan: pass mark 520 of 670. gokyo: Examiner's choice: one from each set (100 marks) renzoku-waza: Three sets, candidate's choice (90 marks) renraku-waza: Three sets, candidate's choice (90 marks) kaeshi-waza: Three sets, candidate's choice (90 marks) ne-waza-chains: Three sets, candidate's choice (60 marks) kata: Three sets of Nage-no-kata and one set of Katame-no-kata (240 marks) Promotion to 4th Dan: pass mark 700 of 900. gokyo: Examiner's choice: one from each set (100 marks) renzoku-waza: All four sets (120 marks) renraku-waza: All four sets (120 marks) kaeshi-waza: All four sets (120 marks) ne-waza-chains: All four sets (80 marks) kata: Four sets of Nage-no-kata and two sets of Katame-no-kata (360 marks) Promotion to 5th Dan: pass mark 800 of 1020. gokyo: Examiner's choice: one from each set (100 marks) renzoku-waza: All four sets (120 marks) renraku-waza: All four sets (120 marks) kaeshi-waza: All four sets (120 marks) ne-waza-chains: All four sets (80 marks) kata: Complete Nage-no-kata and complete Katame-no-kata (480 marks) Section 1: Gokyo (single techniques) ------------------------------------ The British Judo Gokyo: throws in five sets, groundwork in five sets. The examiner chooses one technique from each set. Nage-waza, 1st set ------------------ 1. O-goshi 2. Uki-goshi 3. Tsuri-goshi 4. Tsuri-komi-goshi in this reference: Tsurikomi-goshi 5. Tai-otoshi 6. Ippon-seoi-nage 7. Morote-seoi-nage in this reference: Seoi-nage 8. Seoi-otoshi Nage-waza, 2nd set ------------------ 1. Ashi-guruma 2. O-guruma 3. Harai-goshi 4. Hane-goshi 5. Uchi-mata 6. Harai-maki-komi in this reference: Harai-makikomi 7. Hane-maki-komi in this reference: Hane-makikomi 8. Soto-maki-komi in this reference: Soto-makikomi Nage-waza, 3rd set ------------------ 1. O-soto-gari 2. Ko-soto-gari 3. O-uchi-gari 4. Ko-uchi-gari 5. O-uchi-gake 6. Ko-soto-gake 7. O-soto-guruma 8. Sode-tsuri-komi-goshi in this reference: Sode-tsurikomi-goshi Nage-waza, 4th set ------------------ 1. De-ashi-barai in this reference: De-ashi-harai 2. Okuri-ashi-barai in this reference: Okuri-ashi-harai 3. Sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi in this reference: Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi 4. Harai-tsuri-komi-ashi in this reference: Harai-tsurikomi-ashi 5. Hiza-guruma 6. Uki-otoshi 7. Tomoe-nage 8. Sumi-gaeshi Nage-waza, 5th set ------------------ 1. Kata-guruma 2. Koshi-guruma 3. Yama-arashi 4. Tani-otoshi 5. Yoko-otoshi 6. Yoko-wakare 7. Yoko-gake 8. Uki-waza Ne-waza, 1st set ---------------- 1. Hon-kesa-gatame in this reference: Kesa-gatame 2. Kuzure-kesa-gatame 3. Ushiro-kesa-gatame 4. Makura-kesa-gatame 5. Mune-gatame 6. Kata-gatame Ne-waza, 2nd set ---------------- 1. Hon-kami-shiho-gatame in this reference: Kami-shiho-gatame 2. Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame 3. Hon-yoko-shiho-gatame in this reference: Yoko-shiho-gatame 4. Kuzure-yoko-shiho-gatame 5. Hon-tate-shiho-gatame in this reference: Tate-shiho-gatame 6. Kuzure-tate-shiho-gatame Ne-waza, 3rd set ---------------- 1. Nami-juji-jime 2. Gyaku-juji-jime 3. Kata-juji-jime 4. Tsuki-komi-jime in this reference: Tsukkomi-jime 5. Ryote-jime Ne-waza, 4th set ---------------- 1. Hadaka-jime 2. Okuri-eri-jime 3. Kata-ha-jime 4. Sode-guruma-jime 5. Koshi-jime Ne-waza, 5th set ---------------- 1. Ude-garami 2. Juji-gatame 3. Ude-gatame 4. Hiza-gatame 5. Waki-gatame Section 2: Renzoku-waza (continuation techniques) ------------------------------------------------- Two attacks in the same direction, the second continuing the first. 1st set ------- 1. Seoi-nage to Seoi-otoshi in this reference: Seoi-nage, Seoi-otoshi, Seoi-nage into Seoi-otoshi (full sequence) 2. O-uchi-gari to Ko-uchi-gari in this reference: O-uchi-gari, Ko-uchi-gari, O-uchi-gari into Ko-uchi-gari (full sequence) 3. Hiza-guruma to Ashi-guruma in this reference: Hiza-guruma, Ashi-guruma, Hiza-guruma into Ashi-guruma (full sequence) 2nd set ------- 1. O-goshi to Uki-goshi in this reference: O-goshi, Uki-goshi, O-goshi into Uki-goshi (full sequence) 2. O-uchi-gari to Ko-soto-gake in this reference: O-uchi-gari, Ko-soto-gake, O-uchi-gari into Ko-soto-gake (full sequence) 3. O-soto-gake to O-soto-gari in this reference: O-soto-gake, O-soto-gari, O-soto-gake into O-soto-gari (full sequence) 3rd set ------- 1. Tai-otoshi to Uchi-mata in this reference: Tai-otoshi, Uchi-mata, Tai-otoshi into Uchi-mata (full sequence) 2. Tai-otoshi to Seoi-nage in this reference: Tai-otoshi, Seoi-nage, Tai-otoshi into Seoi-nage (full sequence) 3. Ko-soto-gari to Tani-otoshi in this reference: Ko-soto-gari, Tani-otoshi, Ko-soto-gari into Tani-otoshi (full sequence) 4th set ------- 1. O-soto-gari to Nidan-ko-soto-gari in this reference: O-soto-gari, Nidan-ko-soto-gari, O-soto-gari into Nidan-ko-soto-gari (full sequence) 2. Ippon-seoi-nage to Uchi-maki-komi in this reference: Ippon-seoi-nage, Uchi-makikomi, Ippon-seoi-nage into Uchi-makikomi (full sequence) 3. Harai-goshi to Soto-maki-komi in this reference: Harai-goshi, Soto-makikomi, Harai-goshi into Soto-makikomi (full sequence) Section 3: Renraku-waza (combination techniques) ------------------------------------------------ Combinations where the second attack exploits the defence to the first, usually changing direction. 1st set ------- 1. Ko-uchi-gari to Tai-otoshi in this reference: Ko-uchi-gari, Tai-otoshi, Ko-uchi-gari into Tai-otoshi (full sequence) 2. Hiza-guruma to O-soto-gari in this reference: Hiza-guruma, O-soto-gari, Hiza-guruma into O-soto-gari (full sequence) 3. Ko-uchi-gari to Ippon-seoi-nage in this reference: Ko-uchi-gari, Ippon-seoi-nage, Ko-uchi-gari into Ippon-seoi-nage (full sequence) 2nd set ------- 1. Uchi-mata to Ko-uchi-gari in this reference: Uchi-mata, Ko-uchi-gari, Uchi-mata into Ko-uchi-gari (full sequence) 2. O-uchi-gari to Tsuri-komi-ashi in this reference: O-uchi-gari 3. Sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi to De-ashi-barai in this reference: Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi, De-ashi-harai, Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi into De-ashi-harai (full sequence) 3rd set ------- 1. Ashi-guruma to Tani-otoshi in this reference: Ashi-guruma, Tani-otoshi, Ashi-guruma into Tani-otoshi (full sequence) 2. Harai-goshi to O-soto-gake in this reference: Harai-goshi, O-soto-gake, Harai-goshi into O-soto-gake (full sequence) 3. O-soto-gake to Seoi-otoshi in this reference: O-soto-gake, Seoi-otoshi, O-soto-gake into Seoi-otoshi (full sequence) 4th set ------- 1. Ko-uchi-gari to Yoko-tomoe-nage in this reference: Ko-uchi-gari, Yoko-tomoe-nage, Ko-uchi-gari into Yoko-tomoe-nage (full sequence) 2. Ippon-seoi-nage to Ko-uchi-gake in this reference: Ippon-seoi-nage, Ko-uchi-gake, Ippon-seoi-nage into Ko-uchi-gake (full sequence) 3. O-soto-gari to Yoko-wakare in this reference: O-soto-gari, Yoko-wakare, O-soto-gari into Yoko-wakare (full sequence) Section 4: Kaeshi-waza (counter techniques) ------------------------------------------- 1st set ------- 1. Harai-goshi countered by Ushiro-goshi in this reference: Harai-goshi, Ushiro-goshi, Harai-goshi countered by Ushiro-goshi (full sequence) 2. Uchi-mata countered by Tai-otoshi in this reference: Uchi-mata, Tai-otoshi, Uchi-mata countered by Tai-otoshi (full sequence) 3. Ko-uchi-gari countered by Harai-tsuri-komi-ashi in this reference: Ko-uchi-gari, Harai-tsurikomi-ashi, Ko-uchi-gari countered by Harai-tsurikomi-ashi (full sequence) 2nd set ------- 1. O-uchi-gari countered by Ko-soto-gari in this reference: O-uchi-gari, Ko-soto-gari, O-uchi-gari countered by Ko-soto-gari (full sequence) 2. Ko-soto-gari countered by Uchi-mata in this reference: Ko-soto-gari, Uchi-mata, Ko-soto-gari countered by Uchi-mata (full sequence) 3. O-soto-gari countered by O-soto-gaeshi in this reference: O-soto-gari, O-soto-gaeshi, O-soto-gari countered by O-soto-gaeshi (full sequence) 3rd set ------- 1. Hiza-guruma countered by O-uchi-gari in this reference: Hiza-guruma, O-uchi-gari, Hiza-guruma countered by O-uchi-gari (full sequence) 2. De-ashi-barai countered by Tsubame-gaeshi in this reference: De-ashi-harai, Tsubame-gaeshi, De-ashi-harai countered by Tsubame-gaeshi (full sequence) 3. De-ashi-barai countered by Ko-uchi-gari in this reference: De-ashi-harai, Ko-uchi-gari, De-ashi-harai countered by Ko-uchi-gari (full sequence) 4th set ------- 1. Harai-goshi countered by Utsuri-goshi in this reference: Harai-goshi, Utsuri-goshi, Harai-goshi countered by Utsuri-goshi (full sequence) 2. Koshi-guruma countered by Ura-nage in this reference: Koshi-guruma, Ura-nage, Koshi-guruma countered by Ura-nage (full sequence) 3. Uchi-mata countered by Uchi-mata-sukashi in this reference: Uchi-mata, Uchi-mata-sukashi, Uchi-mata countered by Uchi-mata-sukashi (full sequence) Section 5: Renraku, Kaeshi, Nogarekata (groundwork chains, counters and escapes) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st set ------- 1. Kuzure-kesa-gatame to Ude-garami in this reference: Kuzure-kesa-gatame, Ude-garami, Kuzure-kesa-gatame to Ude-garami (full sequence) 2. Escape Kesa-gatame to any Osaekomi-waza in this reference: Kesa-gatame, Kesa-gatame bridge-and-roll escape, Kesa-gatame escape by trapping the leg 2nd set ------- 1. Kesa-gatame to Hiza-gatame in this reference: Kesa-gatame, Hiza-gatame, Kesa-gatame to Hiza-gatame (full sequence) 2. Escape Yoko-shiho-gatame to Sangaku-jime in this reference: Yoko-shiho-gatame, Sankaku-jime 3rd set ------- 1. Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame to Ushiro-kesa-gatame in this reference: Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame, Ushiro-kesa-gatame, Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame to Ushiro-kesa-gatame (full sequence) 2. Kata-juji-jime countered by Hiza-gatame in this reference: Kata-juji-jime, Hiza-gatame, Kata-juji-jime countered by Hiza-gatame (full sequence) 4th set ------- 1. Tate-shiho-gatame to Juji-gatame in this reference: Tate-shiho-gatame, Juji-gatame, Tate-shiho-gatame to Juji-gatame (full sequence) 2. Escape Yoko-shiho-gatame to Kata-te-kata-ashi-jime in this reference: Yoko-shiho-gatame Section 6: Kata --------------- Each technique demonstrated both right- and left-handed, combined score recorded, plus a presentation mark out of ten. A BJA Kata certificate claims exemption at 65% of the marks. Nage-no-kata, 1st set (te-waza) ------------------------------- 1. Uki-otoshi 2. Ippon-seoi-nage 3. Kata-guruma Nage-no-kata, 2nd set (koshi-waza) ---------------------------------- 1. Uki-goshi 2. Harai-goshi 3. Tsuri-komi-goshi in this reference: Tsurikomi-goshi Nage-no-kata, 3rd set (ashi-waza) --------------------------------- 1. Okuri-ashi-barai in this reference: Okuri-ashi-harai 2. Sasae-tsuri-komi-ashi in this reference: Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi 3. Uchi-mata Nage-no-kata, 4th set (ma-sutemi-waza) -------------------------------------- 1. Tomoe-nage 2. Ura-nage 3. Sumi-gaeshi Nage-no-kata, 5th set (yoko-sutemi-waza) ---------------------------------------- 1. Yoko-gake 2. Yoko-guruma 3. Uki-waza Katame-no-kata, 1st set (osaekomi-waza) --------------------------------------- 1. Kuzure-kesa-gatame 2. Kata-gatame 3. Kami-shiho-gatame 4. Yoko-shiho-gatame 5. Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame Katame-no-kata, 2nd set (shime-waza) ------------------------------------ 1. Kata-juji-jime 2. Hadaka-jime 3. Okuri-eri-jime 4. Kata-ha-jime 5. Gyaku-juji-jime Katame-no-kata, 3rd set (kansetsu-waza) --------------------------------------- 1. Ude-garami 2. Juji-gatame 3. Ude-gatame 4. Hiza-gatame 5. Ashi-garami The syllabus behind this form ----------------------------- This page is what is asked on the day. The techniques set for the grade, with somewhere to tick off what you have learned, are here. 1st Dan, Dan grades: https://wazabook.com/grades/bja-competitive-dan/1st-dan/ 2nd Dan, Dan grades: https://wazabook.com/grades/bja-competitive-dan/2nd-dan/ 3rd Dan, Dan grades: https://wazabook.com/grades/bja-competitive-dan/3rd-dan/ 4th Dan, Dan grades: https://wazabook.com/grades/bja-competitive-dan/4th-dan/ 5th Dan, Dan grades: https://wazabook.com/grades/bja-competitive-dan/5th-dan/ Transcribed from: Competitive Dan Grade Skills Examination Form (fillable), read January 2020. From Waza Book: https://wazabook.com/exams/bja-competitive-dan-grade-skills/