USJA's National Promotion System is designed to ensure that ranks awarded reflect the technical expertise, character development, and overall contribution of the individual. This process requires the direct evaluation of all candidates.
Junior Ranks
Senior Ranks
The chart below denotes belt color, minimum TIG, minimum classes and minimum points required for each Senior Kyu rank (6th to 1st Kyu).
RANK | BELT COLOR | MONTHS/CLASSES | POINTS |
---|---|---|---|
Novice | White | - | - |
6th Kyu | Yellow | 2 months / 15 classes | 4 |
5th Kyu | Orange | 3 months / 22 classes | 6 |
4th Kyu | Green | 4 months / 32 classes | 12 |
3rd Kyu | Brown | 5 months / 40 classes | 14 |
2nd Kyu | Brown | 7 months / 56 classes | 16 |
1st Kyu | Brown | 8 months / 64 classes | 20 |
The chart below denotes belt color, minimum Time-In-Grade (TIG), points, and the number of sign-offs required for each Senior Dan rank (1st to 10th Dan).
Dan Rank/Belt | A@60 pts/yr / TIG/points | B@50 pts/yr / TIG/points | C@40 pts/yr / TIG/points | D@0 pts/yr / TIG/points | Sign-off: Required Rank or above |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Dan Black | 1/60 | 2/50 | 3/40 | 5/0 | (1) 2D |
2 Dan Black | 2/120 | 3/100 | 4/80 | 7/0 | (1) CRE |
3 Dan Black | 4/200 | 5/180 | 6/150 | 9/0 | (1) RCRE |
4 Dan Black/Red | 5/300 | 6/280 | 7/250 | 10/200 | (1) NCRE |
5 Dan Black/Red | 6/360 | 7/350 | 8/320 | 11/220 | (1) MCRE |
6 Dan Red/White | 7/630 | 8/560 | 9/450 | 12/360 | (1) 6D MCRE & (1) 7D MCRE |
7 Dan Red/White | 8/720 | 9/630 | 10/500 | 13/390 | (1) 7D MCRE & (1) 8D MCRE |
8 Dan Red/White | 9/810 | 10/700 | 11/550 | 14/420 | (3) 8D MCRE |
9 and 10 Dan Red | Promotion to these ranks is rare. The USJA Promotion Board and Board of Directors bestows these ranks based on a comprehensive review of the individual’s legacy of achievements as well as service to the USJA in terms of their effect nationally and internationally on the world judo community. | - |
High Dan Ranks applicant should be active at these levels:
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only those with documented activities at the highest levels are considered for high dan promotions. Sixty percent (60%) or more of the activities must be at the levels shown as follows or higher. Activities that include those for visually impaired (VI), such as Parapan Games, Para World, and Paralympics, also meet this requirement equally.
Links to USJA Promotion Forms and to Purchase Manual: