--- title: "Judo Belt Order and Colors: White to Black | MatGoat" description: "Adult judo belt order from white to black. Explore kyu and dan ranks, time requirements between belts, and federation standards." image: "https://matgoat.com/_astro/judo-belts.g_sFVuQ9.jpg" url: "https://matgoat.com/en/blog/judo-belt-order-colors/" --- # Judo Belt Order and Colors: White to Black Adult judo belt order from white to black. Explore kyu and dan ranks, time requirements between belts, and federation standards. [by José M. Gilgado](https://matgoat.com/en/blog/judo-belt-order-colors/#author "written by José M. Gilgado") Updated on October 21, 2026 6 min read ![Martial arts belts in color order](https://matgoat.com/_astro/judo-belts.g_sFVuQ9_Z21gSyg.jpg) The common adult judo belt order is **white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, then black**. White through brown are **kyu** grades. Black marks the beginning of the **dan** grades. National federations set their own promotion systems, so treat this sequence as a practical reference rather than a universal rule. Youth colors, split grades, and examination requirements can differ by country and organization. Brazilian jiu-jitsu uses a different progression. Our [BJJ belt order guide](https://matgoat.com/en/blog/bjj-belt-order-colors/) shows its adult and children’s ranks, stripes, and IBJJF age requirements. ## Judo Belts in Order The chart follows the adult progression used by many judo clubs, from a beginner’s white belt to the first black-belt rank. 1. ![White judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/white_0.svg)**White**6th kyu 2. ![Yellow judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/yellow_0.svg)**Yellow**5th kyu 3. ![Orange judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/orange_0.svg)**Orange**4th kyu 4. ![Green judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/green_0.svg)**Green**3rd kyu 5. ![Blue judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/blue_0.svg)**Blue**2nd kyu 6. ![Brown judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/brown_0.svg)**Brown**1st kyu 7. ![Black judo belt](https://matgoat.com/images/belts/judo/black_0.svg)**Black**1st dan Common adult sequence. Your federation’s syllabus determines the grades and promotion rules used at your club. ## Common Adult Kyu Order The six colored belts before black form the common adult kyu sequence. Kyu numbers count down as the judoka advances: 1. **White (6th kyu).** Entry grade. 2. **Yellow (5th kyu).** 3. **Orange (4th kyu).** 4. **Green (3rd kyu).** 5. **Blue (2nd kyu).** 6. **Brown (1st kyu).** Final kyu before first dan. Some federations use additional panels, stripes, or intermediate grades, particularly for children. The color order shown above is common, but the rank attached to each belt can vary. ## Dan Grades After 1st kyu, promotion to **1st dan**, or **shodan**, begins the black-belt ranks. The chart stops at black because dan is a new grade sequence rather than another set of adult kyu colors. - **Black** is used for the lower dan grades. - **Red and white** is associated with senior dan grades. - **Red** is reserved for the highest dan grades. The exact right to wear each belt and the route to each grade come from the governing federation, not from a generic online chart. ## Official 2026 Reference The International Judo Federation publishes a colour-belts programme, dan regulations, a belt-grades guide, and official dan-award resources on its [IJF grading documents page](https://www.ijf.org/ijf/documents/16). The IJF describes the colour-belt programme as a pedagogical framework while national systems handle implementation. If your club belongs to a national federation, use that federation’s current syllabus for: - Minimum age. - Technical requirements. - Competition or technical pathways. - Kata. - Time in grade. - Registration and examination rules. ## How Long Between Belts? There is no authoritative global timetable. A fixed table of months between colors would mix different federations, ages, attendance patterns, and assessment systems. Ask your coach which syllabus applies and measure progress against its competencies rather than an unsupported calendar. ## Youth Belts Youth systems often contain more steps so children can receive age-appropriate feedback without being moved into the adult dan pathway too early. Colors and transition ages vary by federation; parents should consult the club’s published grading scheme. ## Tracking Grades in a Judo Club Club records should follow the grading system used by the relevant federation. MatGoat’s [judo software](https://matgoat.com/en/judo-software/) lets instructors configure kyu and dan grades, record promotion dates, review attendance, and keep each judoka’s history in one profile. ### Grading record for your club Copy the template into your own records or print a blank copy. The example is illustrative; use your federation’s syllabus and your instructor’s assessment, not a universal promotion threshold. | Field | Example | Your record | | --- | --- | --- | | Student | Example: Alex | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | Current grade | 5th kyu | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | Promotion date | 2026-09-01 | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | Attendance period / sessions | October / 8 | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | Criteria assessed | Club syllabus: ukemi | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | Instructor notes | Review control during partner practice | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | | Next review | 2026-11-15 | \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ | [See how MatGoat supports your judo club](https://matgoat.com/en/get-started/?sport=judo) ## Check Your Club’s Syllabus Use the chart to learn the common order, then check your club’s current federation syllabus before preparing for a grading. That document defines the colors, techniques, time requirements, and examination route that apply to you. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the correct order of judo belts for adults? The standard adult progression is white (6th kyu), yellow (5th kyu), orange (4th kyu), green (3rd kyu), blue (2nd kyu), brown (1st kyu), and black (1st dan). ### What is the difference between kyu and dan ranks in judo? Kyu grades represent beginner and intermediate ranks prior to the black belt, counting downward from sixth to first kyu. Dan ranks represent advanced degrees, counting upward starting with the first-degree black belt (shodan). ### How long does it take to get a black belt in judo? Most dedicated practitioners require four to six years of consistent practice, training three to four times per week, to satisfy technical and competition requirements. ### Are there belts higher than the black belt in judo? Yes. Sixth through eighth dan judokas wear the alternating red-and-white panel belt (kohaku obi), while ninth and tenth dan practitioners wear a solid red belt. Referral program ### Introduce MatGoat to your coach and earn $150 Just share the link with your coach or ask them to tell us you sent them. We take care of everything. If the academy stays with MatGoat, we pay you the reward and the academy gets 1 month free. - All it takes is one message to your coach. - We handle the demo and the onboarding. - You get paid once the academy pays its first month. [Get my link](https://matgoat.com/en/refer/?cta_id=referral-banner) $150 for you 1 month free for your academy ![José M. Gilgado](https://matgoat.com/images/avatar_jose.png) José M. Gilgado Founder of MatGoat Founder of MatGoat and a software engineer with more than 20 years of experience. He has practiced BJJ since 2021 and develops MatGoat using feedback from martial arts academies. [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilgado/ "LinkedIn")[](https://x.com/gilgado_ "X") [View full profile](https://matgoat.com/en/about/jose/) ## Related articles [![Illustrated BJJ belts in order: white, blue, purple, brown and black](https://matgoat.com/_astro/bjj-belt-order.BHAxAoFA_ZJxy3l.png)Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Belts: Order and Requirements See BJJ belts in order with adult and kids’ charts, stripe meanings, IBJJF ages and minimum times, including the June 2026 black belt update.](https://matgoat.com/en/blog/bjj-belt-order-colors/) [![Judoka wearing a black belt during training](https://matgoat.com/_astro/judo-black-belt.CnkMVCl6_113eXV.jpg)How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt in Judo? There is no universal average for earning a judo black belt. Learn how federation rules, competition, kata, and consistent practice affect the timeline.](https://matgoat.com/en/blog/how-long-to-get-black-belt-judo/) [![BJJ practitioner training on the mats](https://matgoat.com/_astro/blue_belt.DSOvhR1q_176ERY.png)How Long Does It Take to Get a Blue Belt in BJJ? Earning a BJJ blue belt takes 2.1 years or ~350 mat hours on average. See verified BeltChecker data, training frequency benchmarks, and IBJJF age rules.](https://matgoat.com/en/blog/how-long-to-get-blue-belt-bjj/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://matgoat.com/#organization", "name": "MatGoat", "url": "https://matgoat.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://matgoat.com/images/matgoat_logo.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 }, "description": "Management software for BJJ, martial arts, and combat sports academies.", "email": "hola@matgoat.com", "sameAs": [ "https://instagram.com/mat.goat/", "https://linkedin.com/company/matgoat", "https://x.com/matgoat_app", "https://www.producthunt.com/products/matgoat", "https://www.sideprojectors.com/project/70944/matgoat" ], "founder": { "@id": "https://matgoat.com/sobre-nosotros/jose/#person" }, "foundingDate": "2024", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "email": "hola@matgoat.com", "availableLanguage": [ "Spanish", "English", "Portuguese", "Italian" ] } } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://matgoat.com/#website", "url": "https://matgoat.com", "name": "MatGoat", "publisher": { "@id": "https://matgoat.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Judo Belt Order and Colors: White to Black", "description": "Adult judo belt order from white to black. 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