BJJKO Grading Criteria

BJJKO club instructors use their own syllabus, unique to their clubs history and style, we expect instructors to evolve and develop the techniques they teach and share.


For Kyu Grades the time between grades will depend largely on the club instructor, their belt structure and syllabus.


DAN Grades are awarded based on the following traditional criteria, synonymous with all Japanese martial arts.

BJJKO Criteria for DAN Grades

1st Dan (Shodan) 

A minimum of 5 years consistent training.

A minimum of 1 year from passing Brown Belt

A minimum age of 16 years.

Successful completion of the examination.

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.


2nd Dan (Nidan)

A minimum of 2 years from passing 1st Dan (Shodan).

A minimum age of 18 years.

Successful completion of the examination.

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.


3rd Dan (Sandan)

A minimum of 3 years from passing 2nd Dan (Nidan).

A minimum age of 21 years.

Successful completion of the examination.

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.


4th Dan (Yondan)

A minimum of 4 years from passing 3rd Dan (Sandan).

A minimum age of 25 years

Successful completion of the examination.

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.


5th Dan (Godan) Masters Grade

A minimum of 5 years from passing 4th Dan (Yondan).

A minimum age of 30 years.

Successful completion of the examination.

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.


6th Dan (Rokudan)

Although the BJJKO have a specific syllabus for this grade, the grade of Rokudan may be awarded using our time-served criteria, without the need to pass the physical examination - where special circumstances apply.

Minimum of 5 years of consistent training / teaching from passing 5th Dan (Godan).

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.


7th Dan (Shichidan)

Although the BJJKO have a specific syllabus for this grade, the grade of Shichidan may be awarded using our time-served criteria, without the need to pass the physical examination - where special circumstances apply.

Minimum of 5 years consistent training / teaching from passing 6th Dan (Rokudan).

The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.



Time Served or Special Criteria Grades


8th Dan - Hachidan - (Time Served Criteria Applies)

  1. This grade is awarded on a strict time-served criteria only.
  2. There is no physical examination require before being awarded this grade.
  3. Minimum of 5 years consistent training / teaching from passing 7th Dan (Shichidan).
  4. A minimum age of 50 years.
  5. The candidate must be either a Club Instructor – Assistant Instructor or a Club Official, and must hold BJJKO Membership.
  6. The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.
  7. This Grade must be ratified and presented by Organisation officials.


9th Dan - Kudan - (Special Criteria Applies)

  1. This grade is not awarded on a time-served criteria and cannot be earned by completing a specific number of years teaching or training.
  2. There is no physical examination required before being awarded this grade.
  3. The Grade of 9th DAN (Kudan) is awarded to Instructors where their contribution to their Martial Art, their Club or the Organisation has been noted and recognised.
  4. A minimum age of 60 years.
  5. The candidate must be either a Club Instructor, Club Official and hold BJJKO Membership
  6. The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.
  7. This Grade must be authorized and ratified by Organisation officials.


10th Dan - Judan - (Special Criteria Applies)

  1. This grade is not awarded on a time-served criteria and cannot be earned by completing a specific number of years teaching or training.
  2. There is no physical examination required before being awarded this grade.
  3. The Grade of 10th DAN (Judan) is awarded to Instructors where their contribution to their Martial Art, their Club or the Organisation has been noted and recognised.
  4. A minimum age of 65 years.
  5. The candidate must be either a Club Instructor, Club Official and hold BJJKO Membership.
  6. The candidate must have current BJJKO Membership.
  7. This Grade must be authorized and ratified by Organisation officials.



BJJKO Criteria for Junior Black Belt Grades

Junior Black Belt (KOHAI KURU)

A minimum of 5 years consistent training.

A minimum age of 10 years.

Successful completion of the examination.


Junior Black Belt to 1st DAN

After successful completion of the Junior Black Belt Examination, the student will be required to complete their training for 1st DAN.

There is a minimum age of 16 years and a minimum training time of 12 months from Junior Black Belt to 1st DAN.

A Transitional Black Belt to 1st DAN syllabus is available on request.


Options for Students moving from Junior Black Belt to 1st DAN

Option 1: For Teenage Junior Black Belts who have one or two years to train before 1st DAN

Transition Syllabus: Prepare the student for 1st DAN using our Transition Syllabus in the same way you would prepare a Senior Brown Belt for 1st DAN.


Option 2: For younger Junior Black Belts who have longer to wait until grading for 1st DAN

A Tab System: Modules can be completed at your club and students would be graded for each module by their instructor at their club (with no interference from BJJKO officials).

Revision of the Adult Kyu Grades: Alternatively Instructors may want to teach their Junior Black Belts the Adult Kyu Grade Syllabus, signing them off and making a record of when they have completed each belt to a good standard before starting teaching 1st DAN ready for when they are old enough to take the 1st DAN Grade.



Our Conduct for Grading

 

When a student grades at one of our events they will be graded by one of our officials and their grade will be officiated by our Senior Technical Instructors, Andrew McConville Shihan, 8th DAN or Mike Rowan Hanshi 9th DAN.


Although most grading conducted at an organisation level are DAN grades, the following should also apply to Kyu grades graded by one of our club instructors, either at a grading event or at one of our registered clubs.


While conducting the grading the examiner will use the syllabus provided by the club’s senior instructor.


  • They will not ask the student to demonstrate anything that is not included within the syllabus provided, nor will they criticise or offer advice, their focus is on conducting and officiating the grade.
  • Students will be graded based on the quality of their Ju-Jitsu, regardless of the style they practice, or variation of technique unique to their club.
  • The student will be assessed based on the syllabus provided and not asked for revision that is not relevant to the grade.


In short, when a student takes their grading, the grading will be fair.



We do not expect club instructors to put their students forward unless they are ready for the grade, but we understand that on occasion a student will have a bad day. 


Should this happen we will always attempt to help the student through the grade unless there is a reason we can’t ethically continue. 

If we reach this point we will stop the grading, have a conversation with the club’s senior instructor to decide whether to, either:

  • Give the student as much time as they need to compose themselves before taking the grade again later in the day. 
  • Reschedule the grade once the student feels they have overcome whatever issue they may have. This may be a few weeks later at their own club or at another one of our events. 


It's important to remember that every grade a student takes is a once in a lifetime event, once passed, they will never have the opportunity to perform it again, a student should feel that they have had the opportunity to complete the grading and they feel happy with their performance.