It is common for non-martial artists to ask how good a black belt is. The truth is that the question is meaningless. Different organisations set different levels for gradings. None of these organisations makes the slightest attempt to keep their standards consistant with anybody elses.
This aticle only describes the grading structure for The Jitsu Foundation, Britains largest governing body for Ju-jitsu.
Jitsu has seven kyu (student) grades and four dan (master) grades and (just to be confusing) a whole bunch of titles.
| White | hachikyu 8thKyu | |
| You have a gi and it needs to be tied up. Congratulations, you are now a white belt. | ||
| Yellow | shichikkyu 7thKyu | |
| You have been training for a few months and can demonstrate some breakfalling, some throwing, some locking and some striking. | ||
| Orange | rokkyu 6th Kyu | |
| More of the same. | ||
| Green | gokyu 5th Kyu | |
| Green belts have been training for about a year. They have a broad knowledge of unarmed techniques and can train with blunt weapons. | ||
| Purple | yonkyu 4th Kyu | |
| Now self defence skills are of a good standard and breakfalling good enough to study powerful throws. Weapon training becomes much more intense. This takes between two and three years. | ||
| Light Blue | sankyu 3rd Kyu | |
| Now the gradings are much less predictable. Blue belts must train to make everything they do instinctive and polished. | ||
| Dark Blue | nikyu 2nd Kyu | |
| Rubber weapons are but fond memories. | ||
| Brown | ikkyu1st Kyu | |
| Be afraid. Be very afraid. |
These are what are commonly known as black belts. They are purely measures of ability and never awarded as rewards of honours. The Jitsu Foundation currently awards three dan grades.
| First Dan | Shodan |
| Second Dan | Nidan |
| Third Dan | Sandan |
Titles are used in paralell to grades. While grades are measures of ability, the titles tend to represent responsibility.
| Novice | White belt. |
| Assistant Instructor | As the name suggests assistant instructors help the instructor with the lesson. You can go on an Assistant Instructor course as soon as you are an Orange Belt and you must be an Assistant Instructor before you can grade to Purple. |
| Instructor | Instructors can teach Jitsu on behalf of the Club Instructor. This could happen when a class needs to be split for example. Courses are open to Purple belts and above and you must be an instructor before you can grade to Light Blue. |
| Club Instructor | Sensei's little helper. Club Instructors can teach the whole class as long as a sensei is present. Courses are open to Blue Belts and you must be a good Club Instructor before you can even think of a Brown Belt. |
| Acting Primary Trainer | Brown Belts with teaching licences. This is the lowest level at which you can be in charge of a club, be called Sensei and wear hakama . This must be done sucessfully for at least three years before attempting a 1st dan |
| Primary Trainer | First Dans who teach clubs. |
| Senior Primary Trainers | First Dans whose responsibility extends beyond their own clubs. |
| Acting Secondary Tutors and Secondary Tutors | Second Dans whose responsibilities cover many clubs or projects. Secondary Tutors wear black tunics as well as hakama . |
| Acting Tertiary Fellows and Tertiary Fellows | These are third dans who act on behalf of the Jitsu Foundation. They are the only ones who can award grades. Tertiary Fellows bear black tunics which also cover the sleeves. |