Judo belts: the road from white to black
In judo your belt shows your grade. In Israel grades follow the Israel Judo Association's grading regulations: six student kyu grades from white to brown, then the dan grades of the black belt. This page sets out the order, the conditions and what is tested at each step, with a source for every detail.
The belt ladder
The association has six belts: white, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. Between them many clubs award two-colour in-between belts so that children earn a new belt more often. The association does not define them: to it, someone wearing an in-between belt still holds the kyu of the last full belt. The chain below is the common one, with purple steps for young children; some clubs skip purple and use white-yellow instead. Your coach will tell you which step you are on.
- official association grade
- in-between club belt
- White kyu 6 where everyone starts
- White-purple kyu 6 · in-between club belt
- Purple kyu 6 · in-between club belt
- Purple-yellow kyu 6 · in-between club belt
- Yellow kyu 5
- Yellow-orange kyu 5 · in-between club belt
- Orange kyu 4
- Orange-green kyu 4 · in-between club belt
- Green kyu 3
- Green-blue kyu 3 · in-between club belt
- Blue kyu 2 from age 13
- Brown kyu 1 from age 15, filmed exam
- Black 1st dan from age 17, at least a year at brown
The drawings split an in-between belt lengthwise into its two colours. The real pattern depends on the maker.
The road to 1st dan
- Start
White belt, kyu 6
The first grade. From here to blue, the club sets the pace and the requirements.
- At the club
Yellow, orange, green and the in-between belts
The coach tests and awards. Along the way come randori and first competitions.
- 13+
Blue belt, kyu 2
Not before 13. At this belt you collect the 6 merit points needed for brown.
- 15+
Brown belt, kyu 1
A filmed exam before a certified examiner; the grade now comes from the association, not the club.
- 1+ year
Time and points
At least a year at brown and 10 points, or fewer points with more time: competitions, wins and seminars.
- 17+
1st dan exam
Technique, three sets of Nage-no-kata and a terms test. 75 in each part, and the black belt is yours.
What each exam covers
White to blue (kyu 6 to 2)
- These grades are awarded by a "regular examiner": an association dan holder who has completed a recognised instructor or coach course. In practice, the club coach.
- The association sets no compulsory syllabus for these grades and no minimum age or time, with one exception: blue (kyu 2) is never awarded before age 13.
- The regulations recommend a technique list up to blue, including o-soto-gari (major outer reap), o-goshi (hip throw), seoi-nage (shoulder throw), kesa-gatame (side hold-down) and juji-gatame (cross armlock).
- A yellow belt is expected to join randori (practice sparring) without hesitation, and by green at the latest to have some shiai (competition) experience.
- One Jerusalem club's example: for white-yellow they test breakfalls (ukemi), hold-downs, escapes and terms such as rei (bow) and matte (stop). For yellow: leg, hip and hand throws, one counter and two combinations.
Brown belt (kyu 1)
- Conditions: at least 15 years old, and 6 merit points earned while at blue. Points come from competing (one per event, up to four), from a win against a blue belt or higher (one), and from association seminars (one per day).
- A certified or senior examiner (not a regular one) runs it at the club or a club grouping. The whole exam is filmed and the film goes to the grading committee; a form without the film is not reviewed.
- Standing: 5 throws, one combination in the same direction, one in the opposite direction, and 2 counters.
- On the ground: 5 techniques, one attack against an opponent in the turtle, and one with either of you on your back.
- Kata: the first two sets of Nage-no-kata (forms of throwing), as both tori (thrower) and uke (receiver).
- Techniques come from a list of 16 throws and 12 ground techniques. Clean white judogi only. Pass mark 75%. The grade is awarded by the association's board.
Black belt, 1st dan
- Conditions: brown belt, at least 17, and merit points by time at brown: 10 after one year, 9 after two, 8 after three, 7 after four or more. At least 2 of them from grading-committee seminars in the exam year.
- Age exception: a medallist at a cadet competition abroad can be cleared to test before 17.
- Three parts. Technique: 6 throws, 3 combinations, 3 counters, and on the ground 6 techniques and 3 attacks. Kata: the first three sets of Nage-no-kata. Theory: 10 terms from Hebrew to Japanese and 10 from Japanese to Hebrew.
- One examiner, at a central exam day or a club grouping. 75 needed in each part. The board of the association confirms the dan.
- Competing does not replace the exam, but it earns points. Only a major result, such as Grand Slam gold, brings an honorary dan without an exam.
2nd to 5th dan
- Only at the association's central exam days: 2 examiners for 2nd–3rd dan and 3 for 4th–5th, none from the candidate's own club.
- Each grade adds throws, combinations and counters. From 3rd dan the technique list stays the same; only the expected level rises.
| Grade | Min. age | Years in previous grade | Kata | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd dan | 19 | 1 | Complete Nage-no-kata | 75 |
| 3rd dan | 24 | 2 | Nage-no-kata and Katame-no-kata | 75 |
| 4th dan | 27 | 3 | 2 kata, neither already examined twice | 80 |
| 5th dan | 31 | 4 | 2 kata, same rule | 85 |
6th to 10th dan: red-white and red
- Holders of 6th–8th dan may wear the red-white kohaku belt; 9th–10th dan may wear a red belt.
- 6th dan follows a separate association regulation; it is the highest grade the International Judo Federation lets national federations award on their own criteria. From 7th dan the International Judo Federation's rules apply.
Grade or age category?
Grade (kyu, dan)
What you can do in judo. It shows in your belt colour and you earn it in an exam.
Age category
Who you compete against. It depends only on your year of birth and changes by itself, whatever your belt. "Moving up to cadets" means reaching the cadet birth years.
International Judo Federation categories (age in the calendar year)
- Cadets, U18
- 15–17
- Juniors, U21
- 15–20
- Seniors
- 15+
Israel also has children's categories by birth year. At an association cup in March 2024, for example: children pre-A (2014), A (2012–2013), B (2010–2011), cadets (2007–2009) and adults (2006 and earlier).
Example: a 16-year-old blue belt competes as a cadet. From 15 they can also test for brown.
We found no minimum belt for competing in the association's documents. Entry rules ask for association registration and a valid medical check.
What changed in 2026
Since January 2026 the International Judo Federation validates every dan a national federation awards. Its own minimum ages are lower (15 for 1st dan) and its 1st dan asks for the complete Nage-no-kata. The Israel Judo Association still publishes its 2022 regulations, which this page follows. If anything changes, the grading committee and the coaches will say so.
Sources
- איגוד הג׳ודו בישראל — תקנון דרגות · 2022-05
- איגוד הג׳ודו בישראל — דרגות · 2026-10
- איגוד הג׳ודו בישראל — נהלי האיגוד, פרק 6 · 2019-07
- איגוד הג׳ודו בישראל — הזמנה לגביע איגוד ירושלים · 2024-02-28
- מרכז הג׳ודו יואל ליבסטר — תרגילים לחגורות · 2021-09
- ויקיפדיה — ג׳ודו, שיטת הדרגות · 2026-05-29
- ויקיפדיה — ג׳ודוקא · 2026-10
- IJF — Towards a universal reference for judo grades · 2026-01-23
- IJF — Grades and Dan Regulations · 2026-01
- IJF — Rules for the awarding of IJF official judo dan grades · 2026-01
- IJF — Sport and Organisation Rules · 2026-08-14
Every grading decision follows the Israel Judo Association's current regulations and the club's coaches.