History of the

Grading system

Dr Mike Callan
President, International Association of Judo Researchers
Overview
Early dan systems & Menkyo kaiden
Kodokan Shitenno
Totsuka Yoshin ryu match
Kodokan standards
Womens grades
Budokwai promotions & Yudanshakai
British Judo Association
Obligations
Grades today
Go
 Go
Ancient Chinese board game
4th century BC
Had a 9 stage ranking system
Spread to Japan by 1600
Use of a dan system first appeared in the
early Tokugawa period.
30 kyu grades
1 7 amateur dan grades
1 9 professional dan grades
Other Bugei
Most martial arts use a Menkyo system
Often split into separate schools (ry)
Inka permission
Menkyo licence
Menkyo kaiden license of total transmission
They have learnt everything
Successor to the school leader
Received the scrolls of the school secrets (densho)
 Densho of the Kito-ryu ju-jitsu
Tsukuba University
December 2013
Jigoro Kano
 Judo dan system
Dan system introduced from 1883
Tomita & Saigo were graded to 1st dan
Two of the Kdkan Shiten'n" () (Kdkan Four Emperors)
Kano had chosen to use the term judo rather tha Kano-ryu ju-jitsu
He chose to base his ranking system on the Go system rather than the
menkyo system used in other ju-jitsu ryu.
Tsunejiro Tomita - First Shdan
Kanos first student. His name appears in the first
line of the enrolment book of the Kdkan.
Started judo as the first live-in student of the
Kodokan in 1882 (aged 17)
Awarded 1st dan in 1883
5 years younger than Kano, and his main training
partner
His son wrote the novel Sanshiro Sugata based on
Saig Shir
Saig Shir
Joined Kodokan in 1882, the 2nd student
With Tsunejiro Tomita became first judoka to
be awarded Shdan
Harai-goshi developed because Saigo could
slip around the uki-goshi of Kano.
Left Kodokan in 1890. Book of Sanshiro
Sugata is based on him. First movie by
Kurosawa
 Saig Shir

In the years 1885 and 1886, the first foreigners joined the Kami Niban-cho dojo to learn
judo. Among them were two American brothers named Eastlake. The elder, weighing
some 100 kilograms, was an English language teacher, and the younger, of much slighter
build, was a trading house employee.
Though Shiro Saigo was far shorter and lighter than the elder Eastlake, Saigo was able to
throw the hefty American with considerable ease. Because word quickly spread of his
mastery over the big foreigners, Saigo became something of a celebrity.
Non-judo people in particular were most impressed at the spectacle of such a small man
so easily throwing a much bigger opponent, so much so that Saigo's exploits induced
many others to take up training in judo. Thus, thanks to the prowess of our superstar,
the number of applicants for Kodokan membership suddenly surged.
Black Belts

Black belts worn with white judogi from 1886.

Most famously at the Keishicho match in 1886.
The Kodokan was challenged by the Totsuya Yoshin ryu.
Match took place at the Keishicho, Tokyo Police dojo.
Challenge by the Totsuka Yoshin ryu

The final match, Saigo and a much larger and more experienced jujutsu master
who later became head of Yoshin-ryu jujutsu.
2 different styles.
Saigo lagged the overpowered and thrown up in the air, but he always came
down on his feet in a controlled manner.
Saigo's movements to that of an agile cat.
At 10 minutes Saigo counterattacked, but couldn't end the match.
At 15 minutes Saigo perfectly executed his trademark Yama Arashi, which ended
the match with such force that his opponent retired with a concussion.
This match firmly established Judo as superior to jujutsu, and Judo was
subsequently adopted as the official training style for the Tokyo police academy.
Challenge by the Totsuka Yoshin ryu

During the early founding period the Kodokan was challenged by many jujitsu
school and individual jujitsu masters, these challenges would have demanded
rules of some sort.
Kano said that the rules were decided by the circumstances at the time. If it was
a real fight (shinken shobu) the outcome might be death.
Obviously one cannot go into a challenge without knowing whether rules apply or
not.
No doubt Kano imposed his randori rules on any jujitsu challengers, by force of
his character and personal prestige.
Possibly as the outsiders were challenging the Kodokan, the Kodokan had the
right to decide the rules in much the same way that someone challenged to a
duel in medieval Europe had the right to chose his weapons.
First High grades
Yamashita Yoshiaki
19th member of Kodokan
Achieved shodan in 3 months.
First person to achieve 10th Dan.
Yokoyama Sakujiro
Aged 22 when joined Kodokan
Awarded 7th Dan aged 40, highest grade at that time.
Considered the most formidable of all judo experts of his time
Nickname of Demon Yokoyama
Current Kodokan Judan
Ichiro Abe
Yoshimi Ozawa
Toshiro Daigo
Kyu & Dan
Kyu grades known as mudansha
Dan grades known as yudansha

System largely developed between 1883 - 1931

Kyu grades
Hosshin-sha: New students, wore a light blue belt
Mu-dansha: 5th Kyu & 4th Kyu wore a white belt
Mu-dansha: 3rd, 2nd & 1st Kyu. Adults wore a brown belt, youths wore
a purple belt.
Dan grades
Yudansha: 1st dan and above
Prior to 1932 all wore black belt.
After 1932:
1st 5th dan wore black
6th 9th dan wore red & white
10th dan wore red

Women my wear a red belt at 8th dan. (Matsumoto.1996)

Promotion possibilities in Kodokan
Tsukinami shiai
A monthly contest at the Kodokan, used as a promotion event.

Kouhaku shiai
Red & white contest held in June and October
Students split into two groups (red & white), winner stays out
Kodokan standards
Basic points of promotion standards
1. Technical Level of Judo
2. Character as a Person
3. Understanding of Judo
4. Application to your Life
5. Achievements in Judo
6. rank advancement should signify not only technical proficiency, but
your level of advancement in issues of morality and character
development, and contributions to society, community and the greater
world around you.
 Kodokan Womens section (Joshibu)

1926 womens division was established in Kaiun-zaka dojo.

1932 Katsuko Kosaki was promoted to 1st dan in Osaka BTK.
Jan 1933 Katsuko Kosaki became the first woman dan-holder
in KDK.
Jan 1934 Ayako Akutagawa and Yasuko Morioka were
promoted to 1st dan, Masako Noritomi promoted to 2nd dan
with first dan skipped.
The dan-kyu system for the women was introduced.
Sarah Mayer

21 May 1935
The Daily News, Perth, WA
First British woman to
achieve black belt in Japan
Grading from 3 6 March
Kime-no-kata
Nage-no-kata
Katame-no-kata
Gunji Koizumi
Judoka arriving in the UK since 1890s
Some ju-jitsu schools such as Golden Square in Piccadilly
Koizumi arrived in Prestatyn, May 1906
Taught Ju-Jitsu briefly in Liverpool before moving to London in August
1906.
Taught Ju-Jitsu in London to save for final leg of trip to America.
This was the last time he taught professionally, after this he was strictly an
amateur
Returned to London 1910
Late 1917 he took a lease on 15 Lower Grovesnor Place, behind
Buckingham Palace
The Budokwai opened on 26 January 1918.
Budokwai

1st dan grade G. Tanabe in 1920

H. Shepherd in 1926
Jigoro Kano visit 1920

In 1920 Jigoro Kano visited the

Budokwai, on his way to the
1920 Olympic Games as Head
of the Japanese Delegation
Budokwai committed to judo
Aida stayed as a teacher
9th Annual Budokwai Display
7 January 1926
Attended by His Imperial Highness, Prince Chichibu
Held at the Stadium Club, Holborn
H.E. Baron Hayashi , Chairman of Budokwai pesented kyu grades of
various colours to club members.
First mention of coloured belts in the Budokwai archives.
Budokwai Committee Minutes June 1927

5th kyu white belt

4th kyu yellow belt
3rd kyu green belt
2nd kyu blue belt
1st kyu brown belt
1st dan black belt

Certificates
Kyu grade 5 shillings
Dan grade 7 shillings
Budokwai Promotion list 4 January 1930

3rd dans E.J. Harrison, G. Koizumi

1st dans 7 people including M. Kaye
1st kyus 12 people including M. Otani
2nd kyus 16 people
3rd kyus 17 people
4th kyus 12 people
5th kyus 6 people
6th kyus 7 people
Kano in London

Saturday, July 21st 1934, Kano convened a meeting to form a Kodokan

Yudanshakai (a black belt association) of Great Britain.
Present were: Kano Jigoro, Nagaoka Shuichi, Koizumi Gunji, Tani Yukio,
Otani Masutaro, Marcus Kaye, Harold and Norman Hyde, Harold
Tricker, and Miss Woolhouse.
BDK to dan grade
1920 1954
Marcus Kaye 1930
Matsutaro Otani 1931
Miss Eva Anderson 1932
Trevor Leggett 1935
Budokwai were still awarding dan grades to
1954.
British Judo Association was founded 1948.
BDK membership cards
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi

Scottish judoka
Budokwai member
Sculptor
Newton, after William Blake
Outside British Library
First Grading Syllabus
Budokwai Grading cards made in 1948
Koizumi insisted that all dan grades do Nage-no-kata
Grading panel established, 6 persons incl. Koizumi & Leggett
Budokwai Committee Feb 1945

Mr Koizumi suggested that in order to organise and regularise judo

movements in this country, a national body should be formed, such as
an association or federation of judo clubs.
After some discussion the meeting nominated Messrs. Duff and
Koizumi to serve as a sub-committee to study means and ways of
forming such an organisation.
Committee Room A, Imperial College
Saturday 24 July 1948
9 people present, 7 clubs represented
A constitution was agreed, one vote per club
An amateur body with an elected committee
British Judo Association was created
John Barnes, Chairman, Hylton Green, Secretary, Stanley Bissell,
Treasurer
Finances started with a loan of 5 from Koizumi
Obligations
As you advance in judo and increase in rank
Signifies a higher level of attainment of the overall goals of judo
Signifies that your obligations to judo and to the community, have
increased
Judo instruction is only one way to repay obligations. Those with high
judo rank should always find appropriate ways of contributing back to
their communities and to society as a whole.
Shin-Gi-Tai (mind, skill, body)
The three components of the grade are:
1. "Tai" (the body) that one could materialize in the assessment of the individual by the
results in competition.
2. "Gi" (the survey, work) that is valued by the student's technical knowledge.
3. "Shin" (the mind), the most difficult to value, that materializes by the engagement
towards the others and the judo, the radiance, the example.
In the beginning of a judoka's life, until 3rd dan the "Ta" aspect is very important, then the
"Gi" aspect until 5th dan and finally the "Shin".
The three components must always be present, but it is their value that varies according to
the progress in the grade. It is to note that the "Tai" value is compulsory to progress in the
grades.
Indeed one cannot have an education system based on the practice without making
compulsory the result in the practice.
(IJF Dan ranks and grades)
Today

British Judo Association

Promotion within the Mon and Kyu grades is based on technical
ability, knowledge and understanding, together with Japanese
terminology and supplementary knowledge.
There is no contest requirement but it is expected that the judoka
follows a recommended randori and contest program
Today
International Judo Federation
The student awarded the black belt has developed some degree of
proficiency in the various techniques of judo. In particular, he or she
will have developed one or several tokui waza, and will have
demonstrated its effectiveness in competition against same rank
opponents.
More importantly, this student will have shown enough maturity,
commitment, and fortitude to be a serious student of judo, having
internalized some of the values and ethics of the educational system
of judo.
Ready to begin Hajime!

While the general public often believes that wearing a black belt
means that one is an expert, in reality the awarding of the 1st degree
black belt in judo signifies instead that the student is now truly ready to
begin learning judo. (IJF 2015)
References
Hoare, S. (2009). A history of judo. Yamagi Books, London.
Bowen, R. (2011). 100 years of judo in Great Britain, reclaiming of its true spirit. IndePenPress,
Brighton.
Bennett, A. (2009). Jigoro Kano and the Kodokan, An Innovative Response to Modernization,
Kodokan Institute.
Matsumoto, D. (1996). An Introduction to Kodokan-Judo History and Philosophy. Hon-No-
Tomosha, Tokyo.
Mizoguchi, N. (2011). The history of Dan system for female Judo. International Judo Research
Symposium, Paris.
Kano, J. (2005). Mind over muscle: Writings from the founder of judo. Kodansha International.
Stevens, J. (2013). The way of judo, a portrait of Jigoro Kano and his students. Shambhala,
London.
Draeger, D. (1976). Ranking Systems in Modern Japanese Martial Arts: Modern vs. Classical.
http://judoinfo.com/ranks.htm Accessed 27 May 2015.
Contact

Dr Mike Callan
mikecallan@judospace.com
www.judospace.com
www.facebook.com/Judospace
@Judospace
Thank you

Questions?