Quick answer: the standard judo belt order runs white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, then black, moving through the kyu (student) grades to the dan (black-belt) grades. The colored belts count down — 6th kyu is a beginner, 1st kyu is the grade just below black. Above black belt, judo keeps going: 1st to 5th dan wear a black belt, 6th to 8th dan wear the red-and-white “coral” belt (kōhaku-obi), and 9th and 10th dan wear a solid red belt. Tenth dan (jūdan) is the highest grade ever awarded — only about 15 people in judo’s history have received it from the Kodokan. Belt colors below black are not standardized worldwide, so the kyu order varies by country.
Last updated: July 25, 2026. This guide gives the standard judo belt order, the full kyu and dan system, the belt colors above black belt, and how the colored-belt grades differ between Japan, the UK, the USA and Europe. Judo grading is set by each national federation under the Kodokan and International Judo Federation framework, so always confirm the exact requirements with your own governing body.
Judo belt order (full list)
The table below shows the most common adult progression used across International Judo Federation-affiliated countries. The colored belts are kyu grades; the black belt and above are dan grades.
| Order | Belt | Grade | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | 6th kyu | Beginner |
| 2 | Yellow | 5th kyu | Novice |
| 3 | Orange | 4th kyu | Intermediate |
| 4 | Green | 3rd kyu | Intermediate |
| 5 | Blue | 2nd kyu | Advanced |
| 6 | Brown | 1st kyu | Advanced (pre-black) |
| 7 | Black | 1st–5th dan | Expert (shodan to godan) |
| 8 | Red and white | 6th–8th dan | Master (kōhaku-obi) |
| 9 | Red | 9th–10th dan | Grand master |
One point that confuses newcomers: the kyu numbers run backwards. A 6th kyu is a white-belt beginner, and the number falls as you improve until you reach 1st kyu (brown), the last grade before black belt. Once you reach black belt the count flips and rises: 1st dan, 2nd dan, and upward.
The kyu grades: judo’s colored belts
Kyu grades are the student ranks below black belt. Jigoro Kano, who founded the Kodokan in 1882 and created judo’s ranking system, originally used only white and black belts. The colored-belt system was invented in England in the mid-1920s and expanded in France by Mikinosuke Kawaishi, which is why colored belts are a Western addition rather than a Kodokan original.
Because those colors grew up outside Japan, they were never fully standardized. The International Judo Federation does not fix kyu belt colors across its member countries, so the exact sequence depends on where you train. The common Western order — white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown — is the one most people mean by “the judo belt order,” but it is not universal.
The dan grades: black belt and beyond
The dan grades are where judo’s ranking is most consistent worldwide. There are ten dan grades, and the belt color changes as you climb.
| Dan grade | Japanese name | Belt color |
|---|---|---|
| 1st dan | Shodan | Black |
| 2nd dan | Nidan | Black |
| 3rd dan | Sandan | Black |
| 4th dan | Yondan | Black |
| 5th dan | Godan | Black |
| 6th dan | Rokudan | Red and white (kōhaku-obi) |
| 7th dan | Shichidan | Red and white (kōhaku-obi) |
| 8th dan | Hachidan | Red and white (kōhaku-obi) |
| 9th dan | Kudan | Solid red |
| 10th dan | Jūdan | Solid red |
The red-and-white belt, worn at 6th through 8th dan, is often called the “coral belt” — the same nickname used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which borrowed the idea from judo. It first appeared in 1931. The solid red belt for 9th and 10th dan was authorized in 1943. Holders of the red-and-white or red belt may also wear an ordinary black belt for everyday training; the higher belts are formal.
Tenth dan is the highest grade ever awarded in judo. Only around fifteen people have received it from the Kodokan since the sport began, all of them men who spent lifetimes in the art. Jigoro Kano himself never held a dan grade — as the founder, he sat outside the system he created.
Why judo belt colors differ by country
If you compare a judoka in Tokyo, London and New York, their colored belts may not match — and all three can be correct. The dan grades are consistent, but the kyu colors below black belt are set nationally. Here are the main systems.
| System | Kyu belt order (beginner to pre-black) |
|---|---|
| Common Western / IJF-affiliated | White, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown |
| Kodokan (Japan), adults | White (6th–4th kyu), brown (3rd–1st kyu) |
| United Kingdom (British Judo) | White, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown |
| Europe (France, Germany, etc.) | Often adds two-tone belts (e.g. white-yellow, yellow-orange) between the main colors |
The traditional Kodokan system in Japan uses fewer colors than the West — mainly white for lower grades and brown for the grades just below black. Many countries also give juniors their own belts, often the main colors split with a horizontal stripe or bar, so children can progress in smaller steps before they qualify for adult grades.
Judo belts for kids and juniors
Most national federations run a separate junior belt system so that younger students have more frequent milestones. These usually follow the same color order as adults but add intermediate “half” belts — a color with a white or contrasting stripe — between the full grades. Age minimums also apply at the top: a junior cannot be promoted straight to a full adult black belt. The Kodokan and the USJF, for example, set a minimum age of 14 for 1st dan, and most federations require 15 or 16.
How long does each judo belt take?
There is no single timeline, because each national federation sets its own minimum training times, grading exams and competition requirements. As a realistic guide, a dedicated adult training a few times a week reaches black belt in roughly three to six years, though many take longer. National bodies commonly estimate 1,500 to 2,500 hours of mat time before a student is eligible for 1st dan, and each kyu grade typically requires a set number of months plus a grading.
Progress beyond black belt slows dramatically. Higher dan grades depend on years of service, contribution to the sport and, at the top, a body of lifetime work — which is why the red belt is so rare.
Judo belts vs BJJ belts
Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu share a common ancestor, so their belt systems rhyme but are not the same. BJJ uses white, blue, purple, brown and black for adults, then degrees on the black belt leading to the coral and red belts — a structure it consciously adapted from judo. Judo reaches black belt through more colored grades and then has ten dan degrees rather than BJJ’s numbered stripes.
The clearest shared feature is the top of the ladder: both arts use a red-and-white coral belt and a solid red belt for their most senior grades. For the jiu-jitsu side, see our guides to the BJJ belt order and the BJJ coral belt, and our comparison of judo vs jiu-jitsu. For the competition side, see the judo weight classes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct judo belt order?
The standard adult order is white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, then black belt. After black, judo continues through ten dan grades: black for 1st–5th dan, red-and-white for 6th–8th dan, and solid red for 9th–10th dan. The colored (kyu) belts vary by country; the dan grades do not.
What is the highest belt in judo?
The solid red belt of 10th dan (jūdan) is the highest grade ever awarded. Only about fifteen people have received 10th dan from the Kodokan in the sport’s history.
What is the red and white belt in judo?
The red-and-white belt (kōhaku-obi), often called the coral belt, is worn by 6th, 7th and 8th dan judoka. It first appeared in 1931 and marks a master-level grade. These judoka may also wear a normal black belt during regular training.
Why do judo kyu numbers count down?
Kyu grades count toward black belt, so the number falls as you improve: a beginner is 6th kyu (white) and the grade just below black belt is 1st kyu (brown). At black belt the system switches to dan grades, which count upward from 1st dan.
How long does it take to get a black belt in judo?
Typically three to six years of consistent training for a dedicated adult, though it varies widely by federation and often takes longer. National bodies commonly expect 1,500 to 2,500 hours of practice, minimum times at each kyu grade, and a grading exam, with a minimum age of 14 to 16 for 1st dan.
Are judo belt colors the same everywhere?
No. The dan (black-belt) grades are consistent worldwide, but the kyu (colored) belts are set by each national federation. Japan’s Kodokan uses mainly white and brown for students, the UK adds a red belt for early grades, and much of Europe inserts two-tone belts between the main colors.
