7th Dan

Red belt with a white stripe · 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

  • Shichidan: Min. Age 42; Grade Time: Non-Competitor 15 yrs.

Yodan and above: time in grade by category

  • Shichidan: Category A+ 8 Years; Category A 9 Years; Category B 10 Years; Category C 12 Years b; Category D 15 Years b
  • b The minimum time from Shodan to Shichidan is 25 years for Category C candidates, and 30 years for Category D candidates.

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.
  • Consideration for rokudan and above will only be reviewed during the in-person meetings that take place in conjunction with the USA Judo Senior National Championships and the USA Judo National President’s Cup Championships.

Current fees

  • Shichidan $450.00
  • Applications for yodan and above will incur a $50 non-refundable fee. This fee will be included in the total application fee.

Flashcards

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