r/judo • u/douglasbarbin shodan • Jul 23 '25

Other Got my Shodan last weekend

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I hope this post helps inspire some people who are considering Judo but are doubting themselves. Whenever some of the younger people at the dojo say, "I can't do this", I tell them that if I can do it, they probably also can. For context, I started my Judo journey in 2019, almost exactly 6 years ago, at age 37 (almost 38 at the time). I am currently 43 years old and will be 44 in about a month.

After white belt, the next few belts (yellow, orange, and green) came pretty easily to me. However, brown belt (Sankyu, Nikyu, and Ikkyu) was more of a grind for me. I had an old shoulder injury flare up during the end of Ikkyu, and I was doing physical therapy for a while until my shoulder pain improved. I believe some dojos (especially outside of the United States) have blue and/or purple belts before brown belt in the kyu ranks, but I am aligned with USJA and their ranking system has Sankyu, Nikyu, and Ikkyu all as a solid brown belt, so my belt color didn't change for a few years until last Saturday.

Shodan is the first Dan grade in Judo. While it does not signify mastery (like a black belt "automatically" does for some martial arts), it does signify a high level of competence in Judo. All of that to say, if I can do it, you can at least get to that next kyu rank! Keep getting on the tatami and practicing until the belt changes color.

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u/KataGuruma- Sandan Jul 23 '25

I enjoyed reading your entry. Congratulations, OP!👏

6

u/douglasbarbin shodan Jul 23 '25

Thank you, Sensei "Shoulder Wheel"! Great username (and technique). I appreciate your support and perspective.

Speaking of Kata Guruma, if you notice in the background of one of the pictures, you will see the Kodokan version of Kata Guruma in the logo on the dojo wall. I did a different, IJF-legal version of Kata Guruma for my Shodan demonstration. It's the one where you have to drop and wheel Uke across your shoulder(s) without grabbing the pants or legs. I find it works best with a grip on the same side sleeve and lapel, then dive/duck under Uke's arms and wheel them over your shoulder(s). Regardless, that is one of my favorite techniques.

2

u/Nakajima-boy Jul 23 '25

Also known as Yoko otoshi. ( variant ). Apprenticeship over, now to start learning your trade. Is the red and black belt an American judo thing?

2

u/douglasbarbin shodan Jul 23 '25 edited Jul 23 '25

Yeah, I think it's a USJA thing. It's for 4th and 5th dan.

Yoko Otoshi is a different throw than I meant. I guess I didn't do a good job of describing it. It's like this video except I do it to the right side instead of left.

2

u/Nakajima-boy Jul 24 '25

Ok, got it - I do something similar but on the other side, depending on who wants to argue over names, it gets called a drop Kata Guruma, Yoko Otoshi or Kata Otoshi, there's a valid argument for each name. But then I still argue the point over Te Guruma and Sukui nage not being the same despite modern reclassification.

Anyhoo - good job getting there, keep at it.

2

u/KataGuruma- Sandan Jul 24 '25

Yes, this is how I imagined your kata guruma based on how you described it! Kata guruma and yoko otoshi has been interchanged esp in this sub lol I mean, even my old kata guruma post had a debate haha anyway, congratulations, again, OP!