Unfortunately many Judo black belts don't have good enough newaza for that. It should be a default that they're required to compete at blue belt, but that isnt the same as automatically granting someone the rank
It'd be like granting BJJ black belts a Judo blue or green automatically when they cross over. Many don't even spend much time in the gi, and some of those who do simply dont spend enough time using judo style throws to have good enough ukemi. So there's big gaps in their Judo game that most Judo greens/blues won't have
Same goes for black belt Judoka transitioning to BJJ. Some have well and truly blue or purple belt level newaza, but many don't. And many have gaps in their game that most BJJ blue belts don't have
In the uk judo blacks have to compete at blue or risk disqualification.
I’d automatically give a BJJ black belt a green and see where their stand up is at. In a year they could go to brown or even black depending on their level
Oh interesting. I was probably performing in randori at a green or blue level when I first started Judo, but I didn't have the technical knowledge of a green or blue. I hadn't done much gi compared to most BJJ black belts but on the other hand I'd done a fair bit more wrestling than most. So I guess that checks out as an equivalent to Judoka coming to BJJ
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u/Judoka-Jack shodan Jun 07 '25
Judo black belts should automatically be BJJ blue belts when they cross over