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    5th Dan

    Black belt · 0 techniques required at grading · Dan grades (USA Judo), USA Judo

    The procedures do not name belt colours. The colours shown are the international convention.

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    The official syllabus

    As printed in USA Judo Promotion Recommendation Procedures. Skills that are not a single technique (breakfalls, escapes, turnovers, grips, randori) are listed in the document's own words.

    Recommended minimum requirements

    Guideline for promotion requirements: minimum age and grade time

    • Godan: Min. Age 26; Grade Time: Non-Competitor 10 yrs; Competitor 5 points 6 yrs; 10 points 4 yrs.; 15 points 2 yrs.; 20 points 1.5 yrs.

    Contest winning points: Randori-Contest

    • 2.0 points Win against opponent more than two ranks higher
    • 1.5 points Win against opponent more than one rank higher
    • 1.0 points Win against opponent of same rank
    • 0.5 points Win against opponent one rank lower
    • 0.1 points Win against opponent two ranks lower
    • 0.0 points Win against opponent three or more ranks lower

    Contest winning points: Kata-Contest

    • First Place 2.0 points National 1.0 points Regional/Local
    • Second Place 1.5 points National 0.75 point Regional/Local
    • Third Place 1.0 point Natonal 0.5 point Regional/Local
    • A maximum of 2.0 points may be counted per Kata tournament, regardless of the number of divisions.
    • No promotion points are earned for “walk-overs”, (e.g. 3rd place out of 3 teams).

    Yodan and above: time in grade by category

    • Godan: Category A+ 5 Years; Category A 6 Years; Category B 7 Years; Category C 8.5 Years; Category D 10 Years

    Category definitions

    • The following exceptions to baseline time-in-grade requirements for promotion will be made for certain candidates based upon their accomplishments in judo:
    • CATEGORY A+: An approximate reduction of 50% of the time-in-grade requirement is authorized for the following individuals:
    • Competitors who placed in the top three in the Olympic Games or Senior World Championship
    • Appointed Head Coach of an Olympic Games or Senior World Team which produced an Olympic or Senior World Championships medalist.
    • IJF-A Referees who worked the Olympic Games or the Final Block of the Senior World Championships
    • CATEGORY A: An approximate reduction of 40% of the time-in-grade requirement is authorized for the following Individuals:
    • Competitors who were members of an Olympic or Senior World Team, or who placed in the top three of the Paralympic Games or Disabled Sports World Championships
    • Referees who achieved IJF-A status and worked extensively in international competition (outside the USA)
    • Appointed Head Coach of the Olympic Games or Senior World Championships Team
    • Officials who served on the board or working committee of the IJF or PJC
    • CATEGORY B: An approximate reduction of 30% of the time-in-grade requirement is authorized for the following Individuals:
    • Competitors who represented their country as members of the Paralympic Games or Disabled Sports World Championships Team
    • Referees who achieved IJF-B status and worked internationally with that license level
    • Competitors who placed in the top three of the Kata World Championships
    • Competitors who placed in the top three of the Veterans World Championships
    • Appointed national coaches who oversaw a competitor who placed in the top three of the Paralympic Games or Disabled Sports World Championship
    • Club coaches who produced competitors who were members of a selected USA National Team
    • Officials who served on the board of directors, or chaired a committee, of USA Judo
    • CATEGORY C: An approximate reduction of 15% of the time-in-grade requirement is authorized for the following Individuals:
    • Competitors who placed in the top three of the U.S. Senior National Championship
    • Kata competitors who placed in the top three of the Pan American Championships
    • Referees and Kata Judges who achieved national level status and worked nationally at that license level
    • Appointed national coaches who oversaw competitors who placed in the top three of the Kata World Championships
    • Appointed national coaches, and managers, of US National Teams
    • Coaches who produced a competitor who placed in the top three of the U.S. Senior National Championship
    • Officials who were officers of their USA Judo State Organization
    • Officials who served actively and consistently as appointed members of USA Judo Committees (generally for a minimum of 2 years)
    • CATEGORY D: All other candidates will be considered upon review of their individual judo accomplishments, service, and merits.

    Promotion recommendation

    • All promotion recommendations and applications for USA Judo Dan rank certificates should be processed through the applicant’s State member organization’s (Group B in good standing) Promotion Committee.
    • Recommendation for USA Judo Dan Promotion form with appropriate signatures
    • Complete history/judo resume (can submit supplements)/full competition record (with opponent ranks) if applying as active athlete “on points”.
    • Evidence of kata and technical demonstrations (documentation may include promotion exam, kata competition, kata and/or gokyo certification, and/or appropriate clinic/course certificates)Gokyo no waza (glossary)
    • Copies of previous rank certificates from USA Judo, USJA or USJF
    • Copies of special awards, recognition, etc.
    • Passport size photo with name on back (yodan and above)
    • Appropriate fees should be remitted payable to USA Judo.
    • Current USA Judo membership (note: for rokudan and above, applicant must have consistent membership for at least the previous four years)
    • Current SafeSport certification, clean background screen and concussion certification.
    • For ranks yodan and higher, all fully completed application packets will be submitted to the USA Judo Promotion Committee for review and approval.

    Current fees

    • Godan $350.00
    • Applications for yodan and above will incur a $50 non-refundable fee. This fee will be included in the total application fee.

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