r/judo • u/rtsuya Nidan | Hollywood Judo | Tatami Talk Podcast • Jul 01 '25

Judo News British Judo Association Unveils Modernised Dan Grade Pathway

https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/british-judo-unveils-modernised-dan-grade-pathway/
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u/Legitimate_Bag8259 ikkyu Jul 02 '25

I was going down the technical route. It had been 5 years from 1st kyu to 1st Dan, so I had 3 years left to go. I've heard it has now gone to 8 years from 1st kyu to 1st Dan. So, I have 6 years left to go.

Either I tape myself together, suck it up and compete, or accept I may never actually get there.

2

u/uthoitho gokyu Jul 02 '25

yeah I don't know - this move just feels like they are dangling that carrot for ikkyus even further. yeah yeah it's just a belt, but still infuriating.

not complaining, but also I feel time in grade is not a logical parameter - someone can train twice a week for 5 years and the same person can train four times a week for 5 years - clearly one person has vested much more time than the other.

2

u/Legitimate_Bag8259 ikkyu Jul 02 '25

I'm mid-40s now, 7 years doing Judo, 9.5 years doing Bjj, body is in bits. I have a job to go to and a mortgage to pay, so I don't compete these days. The potential for missing time off work or training due to a silly injury just isn't worth it for a £5 medal.

6 more years is a long wait. I have a big decision to make.

1

u/Live_Chef868 Jul 04 '25

I'm like you. 10 years BJJ and 18 years Judo. Qualified as a coach in 2016. I was a brown belt for 7 years in my late 40s - Had 60 points and went for a comp. Got another 20 but decisions went against me on the day (counter uchi mata and not even a waza-ari lol. So I did my kata weekend over in York. Met some great people too. Well worth it.
It's great to have the Black Belt and I feel competent to teach and be matside helping others because I took both routes.
Might be worth a go

1

u/d_rome Jul 02 '25

I agree that time-in-grade is not a very good requirement for rank. It's fine if an instructor needs a guideline, but that's it. Some people peak in their respective rank much earlier than their minimum time in grade requirement.

2

u/tedingtanto sandan Jul 02 '25

As a 1st kyu, if you complete the technical exam before the end of this year you still only have to wait 5 years. If you don't complete it by then, you'd need to do the new exam and wait the relevant time period(5-8 years depending on category).

1

u/euanmorse sandan Jul 02 '25

You’ll get there.