U.S. Kodokan Rank Committee
Instructions for obtaining Kodokan Rank
The U.S. Kodokan Committee was established in 1982 by USJI (USA Judo) president Frank Fullerton and Kodokan president Yukimitsu Kano to avoid the travel and other expenses for U.S. Judoka to take Promotion test at the Kodokan.
A U.S. citizen who lives in Japan and practice judo in Japan would be eligible for taking the test for the Kodokan rank at the Kodokan.
A U.S. citizen who lives in the USA and has a USA Judo, USJF or USJA rank may seek Kodokan Rank. Usually, the Kodokan does not skip rank. However starting in 2009, if candidates have a high rank with another country or USA rank, and they meet Kodokan requirements for higher than Sho Dan rank, it is possible that the U.S. Kodokan Committee will recommend to Ni Dan of higher. The U.S. Kodokan Committee recommends some cases even though they are borderline candidates to meet Kodokan rank requirements.Therefore after this recommendation is made, it is still possible.for the Kodokan Institute in Japan to reject or table the application for the necessary time in grade.
You must complete an application and send it to the U.S. Kodokan Committee, 12042 SE Sunnyside RD #346, Clackamas, Oregon 97015. The application form may be downloaded here. A $20.00 processing fee must accompany the application. Make check or money order payable to the U.S. Kodokan Committee.
If the U.S. Kodokan Committee approves your application, then we recommend your application to the Kodokan in Tokyo. We will send you a final statement including promotion fee, postage and bank fees. These fees do not change by Kodokan however due to change rate between U.S. dollar and Japanese yen the conversion rate may change form time to time.
You must include copies of your current U.S. or other country’s Rank Certificate and current Kodokan Rank certificates if you apply for higher than Sho Dan.
Important! For non-competitors, in the section marked “Shiai Record”, you must fill in this space with old records if necessary. Due to the enormous amount of applications the Kodokan receives, attachments will not be read, only the completed application.
Original Committee Members – 1982
Takahiko Ishikawa
Yasuyuki Sakabe
Ben Cambell
Mits Kimura
Sachio Ashida
George Harris
Henry Okamura
Don Kikuchi
Yoshisada Yonezuka (Chairman)
Keiko Fukuda
Kodokan Rank Requirement for Men and Women
Close Accordions
Classification of Judoka for Men & Women
A+:
• Placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd in the Olympic and/or World Championship.
A:
• Team member of the Olympic, World Championship, and /or Pan American Games.
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at the class “A” International Tournament.
B:
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at the U.S Senior National and/or any other point receiving International Tournament.
C:
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at Regional Championship in the Black belt Division.
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at Ladder Tournament, National Collegiate, and any non-point qualifying
• InternationalCompetitions.
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at World Masters Competitions.
D:
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd at local championship in the Black belt Division.
• Placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the Masters category at the US Senior Nationals.
E:
• Competes in any tournament 3 times or more a year in the Black Belt Division.
• Earn points according to the number of wins at Regional Promotional Competitions.
Kata Requirement for Men
Shodan: Nage no kata
Nidan: Nage no kata
Sandan: Nage no kata & Katame no Kata
Yonan: Nage no kata & Katame no Kata
Godan: Kime no Kata & Ju no Kata
Rokudan: Kime no Kata & Ju no Kata & Kodokan Goshinjutsu
Shichidan: Koshiki no Kata & Itsutsu no Kata
Hachidan: Koshiki no Kata & Itsutsu no Kata
Kata Requirement For Women
Shodan: Nage no kata & Ju no Kata
Nidan: Nage no kata & Ju no Kata
Sandan: Katame no Kata
Yonan: Ju no Kata & Katame no Kata & Kime no Kata
Godan: Ju no Kata & Kime no Kata
Rokudan: Ju no Kata & Kodokan Goshinjutsu
Shichidan: Koshiki no Kata & Itsutsu no Kata
Hachidan: Koshiki no Kata & Itsutsu no Kata
Minimum Age I Minimum Time in Grade for Men & Women
Age | A+ | A | B | C | D | E | |||
Sho dan | 14 | Non. | Non. | Non. | Non. | 2Non. | Non. | ||
Ni dan | 14 | 1/2yr | 1/2yr | lyr. | 1-1/2 yr. | 2 1/2 yr. | 4 yr. | ||
San dan | 14 | 1yr | 1-1/2yr. | 2yr. | 2 1/2 yr. | 3 1/2 yr. | 6 yr. | ||
Yo dan | 14 | lyr | 1-1/2 yr. | 3 yr. | 4 yr. | 5 1/2 yr. | 9 yr. | ||
Go dan | 20 | 1-1/2 yr | 3 yr. | 5 yr. | 6 yr. | 8 yr. | 12 yr. | ||
Roku dan | 27 | 5 yr | 6 yr. | 7 yr. | 9 yr. | 12 yr. | 16 yr | ||
Shichi dan | 33 | 6 yr | 9 yr. | 12 yr. | 15 yr. | 19 yr. | |||
Hachi dan | 42 | 9 yr | 12 yr | 15 yr. | 18 yr. | 22 yr |
Retired – Non Competitors by Recommendation / Time in Grade for Men & Women
Sho dan | 1yr. | 1yr. | 2 yr. | 3 1/2 yr. | 5 1/2 yr. | |
Ni dan | 2 yr. | 4 yr. | 5 1/2 yr. | 6 1/2 yr. | 8 yr. | |
San dan | 4 yr. | 6 yr. | 7 1/2 yr. | 9 yr. | 12 yr. | |
Yo dan | 3 yr | 6 yr. | 8 yr. | 10 yr. | 12 yr. | 15yr |
Go dan | 5 yr | 8 yr. | 10 yr. | 12 yr. | ||
Roku dan | 7 yr | 10 yr. | 12 yr. | 15 yr. | ||
Shichi dan | 8 yr | 12 yr. | 14 yr. | 17 yr. | ||
Hachi dan | 12 yr | 15 yr. | 18 yr. | 21 yr. |
Retired – Non Competitors by Recommendation / Time in Grade for Men & Women
Sho dan | 1yr. | 1yr. | 2 yr. | 3 1/2 yr. | 5 1/2 yr. | |
Ni dan | 2 yr. | 4 yr. | 5 1/2 yr. | 6 1/2 yr. | 8 yr. | |
San dan | 4 yr. | 6 yr. | 7 1/2 yr. | 9 yr. | 12 yr. | |
Yo dan | 3 yr | 6 yr. | 8 yr. | 10 yr. | 12 yr. | 15yr |
Go dan | 5 yr | 8 yr. | 10 yr. | 12 yr. | ||
Roku dan | 7 yr | 10 yr. | 12 yr. | 15 yr. | ||
Shichi dan | 8 yr | 12 yr. | 14 yr. | 17 yr. | ||
Hachi dan | 12 yr | 15 yr. | 18 yr. | 21 yr. |
Fillable Application form for Kodokan Rank (PDF)
Contact Kodokan Committee Representative
U.S. Kodokan Committee,
12042 SE Sunnyside RD #346
Clackamas, Oregon 97015.