How long does it take to get a Judo Black Belt

Takin taking a closer look at the path to black belt

[hazbaska]

Damn, that’s wild. I had to learn Japanese and know all the throws and their names for each belt ranking. Took me three years just to get to Orange (and we used stripes too).

And it’s not like I didn’t try. I came to every practice and I competed. Every dojo is different, I guess.

[mikejun]

I got my Shodan in Japan (1st dan) and it took me 10 months. I'm in a University's Judo club. There are promotional tournaments almost every month here called Tsukinami.

We train 5 times a week, 4 hour practice session each time.

[munkhtulgabattogtokh]

I got mine in about 3-4 years relying mostly on my teenage athleticism and genetics. I realize now that I knew so little. Maybe time to get promoted again soon

[Krooks]

I have been doing judo for 5 years and just got my brown belt Oct 28th. I am 42 and have no interest in competing. I am in no rush to get my black belt as judo is a huge part of my life and I don’t see myself stopping. It happens when it happens.

[AllAhabNoMoby]

In Holland, judo black belts are awarded by the national judo federation, which is a member of the IOC. Individual instructors and clubs have no say whatsoever over who gets a black belt. I think this is a much better system than to leave it to an instructor, who has to take into account some factors which have nothing to do with the art itself.

[RatingsFor]

It took me 12 years to get my black belt... but I started at 5 and got my black belt at 17. Belts don't matter that much, I watched people go from white to black while I was a purple belt. Just focus on what you can do to make yourself better.

[adamcz]

It's all about time, effort and natural skill.

[therealfatherpucci]

That’s wild… I’ve been training judo since I was 3 years old, I’m currently 16 and getting ready for the Kata exam for the 1st dan. I’ve went through all the belts up until my own (brown). I’ve been to all the tournaments available here consistently and I think I only missed one or two. I guess effort comes in lots of different ways. Congrats on anyone who breezes through the belts though, you guys must be good 💪💪

[ardentabacistx]

I earned shodan in close to four years but I was a teenager and went to the dojo ALMOST every day and went to the competitions every weekend. I lived the life.

[williamm]

3 years no matter how you look at it is way too short to become a master at anything.

[SherwinChow-cgnw]

We’ve seen you at Professor Dunn’s seminars. Awesome of your articulated judo skills & instructions. OSS!

[mouthguardcomic]

When I took Judo in the late 90s, I made it to green belt in about 6 months. However, I grew up wrestling guys all time doing horseplay and I had a guy show me Osoto-gari in the 9th grade and another guy show me a bear hug trip in the 10th. I used the Osoto-gari on a green belt on my first day to class. I threw him down four times in a row and he never came back after that day. He should have asked me how I was able to take him down so easily. I regret that he quit if it was due to me.

[ptplife]

I started Judo at seven yrs old. I earned my black belt (shodan) when I was eighteen yrs old.
Ogden’s Dojo, Long Beach, Ca.

[pedromulu]

It took me 4 years to get to blue belt in judo and I train 3 times a week and I'm practicing kata for brown belt test.

[KikoSanchez-hejp]

Just got my yellow belt a week ago. Had to learn Japanese, do a few throws and newaza techniques.

[behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou]

In the DC area there was a Judo Player named Charles Cherry. Huge ex marine wrestler.’6’ 340. I was 6’3”’235-250 and I lost to him 3 times. He went undefeated and got his black in a year or so. Really nice guy but damn he was hard to beat.

[Mark]

Just great. If it took you 3 years, it's going to take me 30 years.

[michealgarcia]

It took me 8 years to get my black belt in judo but I didn't worry about the belt I liked wearing a white belt.

[DILLIGAFFB]

Yeah, I reached shodan because I would win tournaments at multiple levels and weight classes

[joningels-zntv]

I practiced Dakota con Judo. My 8th degree Judo instructors required that you be able to execute all throws for a specific rank from both sides of the body effectively above green belt in order to be promoted. Ne wiza or ground fighting had to be proficient too. Promotion intervals were different on an individual basis. Many of us never got past brown belt.