Judo Belt Order and Colors: White to Black

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.

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.

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. 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 lets instructors configure kyu and dan grades, record promotion dates, review attendance, and keep each judoka’s history in one profile.

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.