Getting a Judo BB in 1 year at the Kodokan

[judogido]

I thought you all might find this interesting. From a thread at JudoForum...

I started training at the Kodokan in July with my eyes toward improving my judo technically and possibly attaining shodan. Prior to this, I trained in the States for about 1.5 years at Cranford JKC. A few observations at the Kodokan school...

Kodokan does advertise that someone can go from beginner to shodan in one year (there is a large banner on the side of the building that advertises this!) It is possible but its not a cakewalk.

Even if you have 3 kyu you must start from the absolute beginning. Your first day is tying your obi and maybe a little ukemi. You do nothing but ukemi and uchikomi for three months. (No randori for three months!)

At the end of the first three months (you must attend at least 40 training sessions which usually translates to three months), you are tested on the first fifteen throws of the Go Kyo no Waza (mostly from the first two groups), some newaza, and ukemi in front of a panel of three judges for 5 kyu. You must know the names of the throws and execute then as the sensei calls them out.

If you pass this test, then you can do randori. After another month (with good attendence), you can test for 4 kyu, the same fifteen throws are judged more strictly along with ukemi and you must demonstrate some randori.

After you pass 4 kyu, you can participate in the monthly batsugun shia. You need to come to practice at least ten times that month in order to participate in the batsugun shiai. For the shiai, first you must do ukemi in front of a panel of judges, then you have two matches.

If you get two ippon you are promoted, but if your ukemi is judged poorly you do not advance (the ukemi judging is very strict). With this ukemi restriction, they can hold back.

From 1 kyu to shodan you need six ippon. This translates to attending at least three batsugun shiai (with a perfect record). Next, you need to do the nage no kata in front of a Kodokan panel.

Therefore you need to allot time to practice the kata. The sensei will help you but you must first get your six ippon.

So, with strong technical judo the first three months, good results for the two tests for 5 kyu and 4 kyu, a perfect batsugun shiai record, strong technical ukemi demonstrated throughout (with some good will from the judging panel), and great kata you should be able to manage shodan in a year.

Good Luck!!!

FYI:
Ukemi = breakfalls
6kyu to 1kyu = white-belt to brown-belt (kyu = any rank under black)
Randori = sparring
Go Kyo No Waza = Syllabus of standard judo throws
Uchikomi = Drilling - entering a throw without throwing or "repeated practice"
Shiai = competition
Batsugan = Promotion by combat
Nage no Kata = Judo's throwing kata - a formal "dance" of throws executed in a strict pattern

[judogido]

This whole "Get a judo BB in a year in Japan" assumption isn't as easy as it sounds - although it is worthy to note it still doesnt mean the Japanese place the same "value" on a black belt as western society.

And LMFAO at

Kodokan does advertise that someone can go from beginner to shodan in one year (there is a large banner on the side of the building that advertises this!)

... anyone wanna accuse the Kodokan of being a McDojo....??

[Frodo]

Is that ippon by throw or ippon by any means (2 waza-ari, 1 waza-ari + 20 second pin, submission, etc...)?

[ItsArun]

[Soulfly]

To get your blackbelt at the kodokan dojo, you have to learn all the throws.

After you get your black belt, the real training begins. That's when you refine your techniques and polish your skills.

It's a cultural difference to the US, where the black belt signifies superuberknowledge of the martial art.

[John O'Brien]

Black belt's symbolic value in Japan is much less than Europe. A black symbolises that you've got a grasp of the basics, while here it's usually regarded much higher.

I think getting a BB in a year in Japan would be extremely hard and require some dedication.. Still, it would be probably equal to 3 years of trainining here.

[Judoka101]

No randori for 3 months? that would be to hard for me.

No ne waza randori would be even worse.

[Calibur]

It is not so hard to get a Judo black belt in Japan generally speaking.

If you are a high school girl, you can get it in two years of attending gym class.

It usually takes no longer than 3 years over here.

The Kodokan is a different beast all together

[IChinaManI]

^^Agreed 100 Percent haha

[Yozigi]

Originally Posted by John O'Brien

Black belt's symbolic value in Japan is much less than Europe. A black symbolises that you've got a grasp of the basics, while here it's usually regarded much higher.

I think getting a BB in a year in Japan would be extremely hard and require some dedication.. Still, it would be probably equal to 3 years of trainining here.

I've been training judo for more than 10 years, and if I wouldn't be injured right now I'd be taking the bb-test in December. And I have the nerve to call myself a competitor. The cultural differences are huge when it comes to handing out belts in judo so the belt ranks aren't comparable by any means with bjj's belts. Competition results matter in judo not the belts, people need to understand that.