I passed my 4th kyu Orange belt grading the other day and am pretty pleased. The belts from now on start getting darker (Green, Blue, Brown) so I'm starting to feel less of a complete novice and more like an advanced novice.
For those interested the syllabus is pasted below

5TH KYU – 4TH KYU
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
Tachi-waza:
• Tsuri -komi-goshi
• O-goshi
• Seoi-otoshi
• Morote-seoi-nage
• O-soto-gari
• Ko-uchi-gari
• Ko-soto-gake
• Ko-soto-gari

PERFORMANCE SKILLS
Combination Techniques:
• O-uchi-gari into Ko-uchi -gari
• Ko-uchi-gari into O-soto-gari or O-soto-gake
• Ko-uchi-gari into Morote-seoi-nage
• Ippon-seoi -nage into Ko-uchi -gari
• any technique as combinations with
- Seoi-otoshi
- Ko-uchi-gari

Counter Techniques:
• O-uchi-gari countered by Tsuri-komi-goshi • Tai-otoshi countered by Ko-soto-gari

Ne-waza:
• escape
- from Kesa-gatame using ‘bridge and roll’
- into Kesa-gatame from between Uke’s legs’
- into Yoko-shiho-gatame from between
Uke’s legs
• arm roll
- from behind Uke
- from in front of Uke
• turn over from underneath Uke into Tate-shiho-gatame

Randori:
• demonstration of attacking and defending in light Randori with a co-operative partner

PERSONAL CHOICE
Candidates arerequired to:
• select and demonstrate three waza (two tachi-waza and one ne-waza) from the BJA Technical Grading
Syllabus and demonstrate them as a combination, a counter and as a transition into ne-waza

TERMINOLOGY AND SUPPLEMENTARY KNOWLEDGE
Candidates are required to:
· know the common English translations and meaning of all Japanese terminology used in this section and
must be able to discuss with the Examiner the reasons for their choice of technique, grip etc
· translate the following Japanese words into their common English names and where appropriate explain
their meaning:
Shido Hiki -wake Uke Tori
Hantei Hansoku-make Waza-ari -awasete-ippon
· demonstrate the Referee’s signals for:
Matte Osaekomi Toketa Adjusting the judogi
· demonstrate the proper procedures for coming onto and leaving the mat during a contest
· give two examples of actions (not grips) against the contest rules
· give two examples of grips against the contest rules for negative or safety reasons

NOTES
1. Randori is introduced for this grade. It is to be demonstrated in the form of light Randori of approximately
three minutes duration. The examiner will expect to see a variety of waza and kumi-kata and, if possible,
throws to both right and left sides.
2. For the personal choice element, techniques must be demonstrated in an appropriate practical situation
that includes attacking opportunity, best grip and appropriate movement.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

How I envy you, goddamned Aikikai Italy has 6th kyu as well so i'm still just 5th...

Congratulations!

Well Done!

Congrats on the pass, enjoy your training for your 3rd kyu :)

Getting a kyu grade is like being in school recital. No one cares except your parents, and even they are secretly pleading for something to shut you up so they can stop feigning interest.

Congratulations! I remember when I was an orange belt (I was about 13 or 14, there were no junior grades then or other kids in my club). I remember it because I visited the Budokwai and practised with the national coach, Geoff Gleeson. He was always friendly to me but he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

Ignore Tom, you should be proud, ESPECIALLY if this spurns you on to keep training!!!!! Keep going & never stop!!!!
(pls note: as STAFF of Bullshido, he shouldn't be such a **** about someone training in a "real" art like Judo. For Shame!)

Keep up the good work! I'm orange to (not like an oompaloompa). I plan to grade up to green this autumn

Tom Kagen is a bitter and twisted chap, whoose parents never turned up to his recitals (IMO)

Keep up the good work! I'm orange to (not like an oompaloompa). I plan to grade up to green this autumn

Tom Kagen is a bitter and twisted chap, whoose parents never turned up to his recitals (IMO)

I am being encouraged by my instructors to enter more competitions from now on. They said that its not wise to wait until you are doing your Dan grading before deciding to enter competitions. So far I haveonly entered Newaza tournaments. What are your thoughts considering I will be 40 next year?

I heard Judo orange is same as BJJ blue. Congrats and happy maulings of BJJ blues.

I heard Judo orange is same as BJJ blue.You heard wrong.

Judo oranges throw better?

Go Stu have fun with it.

Getting a kyu grade is like being in school recital. No one cares except your parents, and even they are secretly pleading for something to shut you up so they can stop feigning interest.

I hate you.

:'(

I am being encouraged by my instructors to enter more competitions from now on. They said that its not wise to wait until you are doing your Dan grading before deciding to enter competitions. So far I haveonly entered Newaza tournaments. What are your thoughts considering I will be 40 next year?
You should compete if you want to get your dan grade.

Here's a good competition near to you:
http://www.wycombejudocentre.co.uk/Kyu_Grade_Cup_8th_October.pdf

It used to be called the national kyu grade championships, seems they've changed the name. Anyway its a good comp and it has a good belt split, green and below and blue and above.

So its relatively safe as a first comp, because you're not getting lined up against dan grades or anyone hardcore.

I wouldn't worry about cutting weight or anything, unless you're right down the bottom of a category i.e 91kg. Then its worth dropping the key to get into -90.

There are other good ones around, depends on how far you're willing to travel.


You heard wrong.
Yeh, more like a purple.