INTRODUCTION  
This  syllabus,  effective  from  1  April  2008,  supersedes  all  previously  published  syllabi.  All  previously  taken  theory  examinations  for  7‐18  Mon  are  no longer  valid.   Within  the  British  Judo  Association  (BJA)  there  are  18  Mon  grades.  The  grades  are  indicated  by  the  following  coloured  belts:‐
 

Click on a belt colour to go to that belt grading syllabus

	1st Mon	Red + 1 Yellow  Tag			10th Mon	Green + 1 Red  Tag
	2nd Mon	Red + 2 Yellow  Tags			11th  Mon	Green + 2 Red  Tags
	3rd  Mon	Red + 3 Yellow  Tags			12th  Mon	Green + 3 Red  Tags
	4th  Mon	Yellow  +  1  Red  Tag			13th Mon	Blue + 1 Red Tag
	5th  Mon	Yellow  +  2  Red  Tags			14th  Mon	Blue + 2 Red  Tags
	6th  Mon	Yellow  +  3  Red  Tags			15th  Mon	Blue  + 3 Red  Tags
	7th Mon	Orange + 1 Red  Tag			16th Mon	Brown + 1 Red  Tag
	8th Mon	Orange + 2 Red  Tags			17th Mon	Brown + 2 Red  Tags
	9th  Mon	Orange + 3 Red  Tags			18th  Mon	Brown + 3 Red  Tags

 Promotion  within  the  Mon  grades  is  based  on  technical  knowledge  and  understanding,  together  with  Japanese  terminology  and  supplementary  knowledge.  There  is  no  contest  requirement  in  the  Mon  Grade  syllabus  however  there  is  a  progressively  structured  Randori  element  at  the  higher  grades,  where  at  the  highest  level,  Randori  is  based  on  open  skills.   

For  grades  up  to  and  including  9th  Mon,  gradings  must  be  completed  within  the  candidate’s  club  and  can  be  examined  by  the  same  coach  that  instructed  the  candidate.  

For  10th  Mon  and  above,  gradings  may  be  completed  within  the  club  but  candidates  may  also  grade  at  Inter‐club,  area  promotion  examinations  and  at  any  other  event  such  as  a  Technical  Training  course.  For  these  examinations,  the  examiner  must  be  a  different  coach/examiner  to  the  one  that  instructed  the  techniques.  

With  regular  study  and  training,  the  judoka  should  be  able  to  complete  the  syllabus  by  the  age  of  18  (the  keen  judoka  may  complete  it  as  early  as  15  years  of  age).  It  is,  however,  vitally  important  that  all  they  follow  the  progressive  study  of  techniques  detailed  in  this  syllabus  and  attempt  promotion  to  ext  grade  at  regular  intervals.  

All  judoka  are  encouraged  to  take  increasing  responsibility  for  their  technical  development  as  they  progress  through  the  grades and  it  may  be  necessary  for  them  to  undertake  supplementary  study  and  training  in  addition  to  that  which  is  available  at  the  juokas  club.  Study  of  the  BJA  Technical  Grading  Syllabus  (TGS)  and  other  resources  will  be  highly  beneficial  (see  page  5  for  further  information).  

Important  Notes:    
1.   Candidates  can  only  be  graded  one  grade  at  a  time.  (See  Fast  Tracking  on  Page  5)  

2.   Although  there  is  no  contest  requirement  in  this  promotion  syllabus,  judoka  are  encouraged  to  participate  in  competition  of  the  appropriate  level  for  their  age  and  experience.  There  are  many  competitive  opportunities  which  can  be  used  to  supplement  the  judoka’s  technical  development.

BRITISH  JUDO  ASSOCIATION   JUNIOR  MON  GRADE  PROMOTION  SYLLABUS     

GRADING  FEES
The  BJA  charges  a  grading  fee  of  £5.00  for  all  gradings  (including  transfers).  This  fee  is  used  for  the  administration  and  development  of  the  BJA’s  grading  schemes  and  must  be  forwarded  to  the  BJA  along  with  the  completed  Grade  Registration  Sheet.   

The  BJA  recognises  that  organisers  of  gradings  may  require  to  add  a  surcharge  to  the  £5.00  grading  fee  to  cover  additional  costs  such  as  venue  hire,  examiner’s  expenses  etc.  The  BJA  recommends  a  surcharge  of  £5.00  but  recognises  that  grading  organisers  may  charge  more  or  less  depending  on  circumstances.  Any  surcharge  should  be  retained  by  the  grading  organiser  and  not  sent  to  the  BJA.  

AUTHORITY  TO  GRADE
The  following  may  conduct  examinations  in  accordance  with  the  Memorandum  and  articles  of  the  association  and  Bye‐Laws  of  the  association. They  must  have  either  a  current  valid  coach  or  examiner’s  card,  hold  current  individual  membership  and  are  the  only  ones  authorised  to  submit  a  completed  grading  sheet:‐ 

Novice  to  18th  Mon
BJA  Senior  Examiners,  BJA  Examiners, BJA  Senior  Coaches, UKCC  Level  2  Coaches, UKCC  Level  3  Coaches, BJA  Club  Coaches  

TIME  REQUIREMENTS/FREQUENCY  OF  PROMOTIONS

Novice  up  to  and  including  6th  Mon  ages  5‐7
Candidates  may  be  promoted  one  Mon  every  3  calendar  months.   

Novice  up  to  and  including  6th  Mon  —  ages  8‐17
Candidates  may  be  promoted  one  Mon  every  calendar  month.  

This  allowance  for  ages  8‐17  is  because  it  is  known  and  accepted  that  at  this  age  range  young  people  have  a  greater  capacity  for  learning  and  therefore  mre  able  to  undertake  examination  at  shorter  interval.   

From  7th  Mon  and  above  —  all  ages
Candidates  are  limited  to  one  promotion  every  two  calendar  months.  

The  recommended  minimum  time  period  between  attempts  at  any  promotion  for  7th  Mon  and  above  is  four  weeks,  however,  there  is  no  limit  to  the  number  of  attempts  to  gain  promotion.  A  month  is  a  calendar  month  e.g.  a  candidate  can  be  examined  any  date  in  January  and  then  any  date  in  March.  This  means  a  candidate  can  enter  a  maximum  of  six  gradings  per  year,  following  a  learning  pathway  of  continuous  progress  however  it  is  anticipated  they  would  go  up  1  belt  colour  per  year  

NOTES  ON  THE  TECHNICAL  REQUIREMENTS
For  promotion  to  all  grades,  candidates  are  required  to  know  the  common  English  names  and  meaning  of  all  Japanese  terminology  used  for  the  grade  and,  where  appropriate,  must  be  able  to  discuss  with  the  examiner  the  reasons  for  their  choice  of  technique,  grip  etc.  

Techniques  must  be  demonstrated  in  an  appropriate  practical  situation  and  is  intended  that  the  exam  process  should  be  become  grater  in  depth  as  the  candidate  progresses  through  the  grades  and  acquires  greater  knowledge  and  understanding  of  Judo  

Some  terminology  has  been  included  in  the  earlier  grades  to  ensure  that  the  candidate  is  conversant  with,  for  example,  the  main  terms  used  in  refereeing.  

From  7th  Mon  (juniors)  and  above  there  is  no  specific  Ukemi  requirement.  The  candidate  may,  however,  be  required  to  act  as  Uke  and  must  be  able  to  demonstrate  the  level  of  Ukemi  required  by  the  grade.  

Male  and  female  candidates  may  be  examined  together  as  can  candidates  of  different  ages  and  physique.  

Candidates  achieving  18th  Mon  can  convert  to  1st  Kyu  after  the  age  of  14.  They  must  have  a  record  of  contest  activity  on  at  least  2  occasions  within  the  last  24  months  recorded  in  their  BJA  record  boo  under  "Record  of  Judo  Events  Attended”  before  entering  a  competitive  Dan  grading  and  must  be  a  minimum  age  of  15.  

Although  there  are  no  specified  requirements,  the  candidate  must  understand  and  observe  the  simple  regulations  and  terminology  governing  randori,  including  the  correct  method  for  signalling  submission.  

QUALITY  CONTROL
Club  gradings  may  be  subject  to  visits  from  the  Area  Director  of  Examiners  to  ensure  a  consistent  application  of  the  examinatio  criteria.  These  visits  will  be  selected  on  a  random  basis  as  a  means  of  sampling  a  percentage  of  the  clubs  within  the  area  

Areas  and  Club  gradings  may  be  visited  by  the  National  Director  of  Examiners,  again  to  ensure  consistent  application  of  the  exam  criteria.  

PERSONAL  CHOICE
For  each  grade  there  is  an  element  of  personal  choice.  This  element  has  been  included  to  encourage  originality  and  to  assist  the  judoka  in  developing  a  personal  style  which  is  suitable  for  their  physique  and  personality.   

TERMINOLOGY  AND  SUPPLEMENTARY  KNOWLEDGE
There  is  a  limited  amount  of  supplementary  knowledge  required,  the  main  emphasis  on  the  use  of  the  correct  Japanese  terminology.  For  promotion  to  all  grades,  candidates  are  required  to  know  the  common  English  names  and  meaning  of  all  Japanese  terminology  used  for  the  grade  and,  where  appropriate,  must  be  able  to  discuss  with  the  examiner  the  reasons  for  their  choice  of  technique,  grip  etc.   
Click here for Japanese / English Terminology translations

CONVERSION  TO  THE  SENIOR  KYU  GRADE  SYLLABUS
Judoka  of  14  years  of  age  and  above  who  hold  a  junior  (Mon)  grade  may,  if  they  wish,  convert  to  the  Senior  (Kyu)  grade.  The  following  table  will be  used  for  all  junior  (Mon)  grade  conversions.  It  may  appear  that  the  junior  is  converting  to  a  lower  level  of  examination;  however  this  is  to  allow for  a  period  of  assimilation  into  the  Kyu  grade  system.  Judoka  holding  a  junior  (Mon)  grade  will  be  converted  to  the  senior  (Kyu)  grade  on  reaching 18  years  of  age.

CANDIDATES  FROM  IJF/EJU  MEMBER  ORGANISATIONS
It  is  acknowledged  that  there  are  many  Judoka  from  foreign  countries  residing  in  the  UK  and  joining  the  BJA.  If  they  hold  a  grade  in  an  association  that  is  a  member  of  the  IJF  or  EJU,  then  that  grade  is  accepted  by  the  BJA.  Examiners  are  to  convert  the  colour  belt  from  the  original  association  to  the  higher  BJA  grade  e.g.  An  IJF  Mon  Blue  belt  would  become  a  BJA  15th  Mon  

TRANSFER  OF  GRADES  FROM  NON  BJA  ORGANISATIONS
In  a  similar  way  to  the  process  for  recognising  IJF/EJU  judoka,  candidates  from  non  BJA  organisations  that  have  joined  the  BJA  may  convert  from  the  colour  held  in  the  previous  organisation  t  the  colour  appropriate  to  the  BJA  grade.  However  they  must  undertake  the  examination  of  all  the  previous  grades  and  this  can  be  done  by  examining  a  percentage  of  the  syllabus  deemed  suitable  by  the  examiner.  If  the  examiner  is  satisfied  that  the  candidate  has  demonstrated  the  knowledge  and  understanding  appropriate  to  the  grade  being  converted  he  can  add  the  candidates  name  to  the  Grade  Registration  Sheet  annotating  the  "From  Grade"  block  as  initials  of  previous  organisation  e.g.  British  Judo  Council  (BJC).   

FAST  TRACKING
Judoka  taking  up  the  sport  at  the  of  12  years  of  age  and  above  may  be  ‘Fast  Tracked’  in  their  first  year  of  BJA  membership  a  maximum  of  three  Mon  grades  in  each  of  their  first  two  gradings  i.e.  Novice  to  3rd  Mon  and  3rd  Mon  to  6th  Mon.  

BJA  TECHNICAL  GRADING  SYLLABUS  BOOK
The  BJA  Technical  Grading  Syllabus  (TGS)  referred  in  this  document  is  a  separate  publication  which  may  be  purchased  directly  from  the  BJA.  The  TGS  is  a  photographic  guide  which  is  intended  to  act  as  a  memory  aid  to  assist  candidates  prepare  for  grading  examinations  The  320‐page  book  is  crammed  full  of  coloured  photographs  which  illustrate  the  basic  principles  of  body  placement  and  the  most  effective  grips.  Many  of  the  techniques  are  additionally  illustrated  by  contest  photographs  and  English  translations  of  the  Japanese  names  are  also  included.  This  book  is  an  essential  resource  for  all  judoka.  

ADDITIONAL  RESOURCES  AND  INFORMATION
The  BJA  is  developing  a  range  of  additional  resources  to  support  candidates  seeking  promotion.  These  resources  will  be  available  to  purchase  or  to  download  from  the  BJA  website  (www.britishjudo.org.uk/home/index.php).   

Any  queries,  requests  for  further  information  should  be  addressed  to  the  BJA  at  the  address  below.
British  Judo  Association
Suite  B  Technology  Centre
Epinal  Way
Loughborough
LE11  3GE

Click on a belt colour to go to that belt grading syllabus

Red Belt	Yellow Belt	Orange Belt	Green Belt	Blue Belt	Brown Belt

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