In our style of Jitsu there are 8 coloured belts, or Kyu grades, and 3 Dan grades, or black belts. The belt order is as follows:
Kyu grades
White / novice - 8th Kyu Yellow - 7th Kyu Orange - 6th Kyu Green - 5th Kyu Purple - 4th Kyu Light blue - 3rd Kyu Dark blue - 2nd Kyu Brown - 1st Kyu
The first two grades Yellow and Orange have subgrades called mons. When passing these grades, students can be awarded a plain belt, 1 mon, 2 mons, or 3 mons depending on how well the candidate performed above the level required to pass. The mons are strips of colour of the next belt to be obtained, i.e. yellow belt mons are orange, and orange belt mons are green. Subsequent belts do not have any mons.
From 1st Kyu and above, Jitsuka that are fully qualified club instructors wear hakama to signify instructor rank. Teaching is an important part of our style and grades are encouraged to assist in instruction. 4th, 3rd and 2nd Kyu have teaching assessments that students must pass before atempting that grade. 1st Kyu instructors are awarded Acting Primary status.
Juniors (17 and below) have a white stripe through the centre of the belt.
There are 3 Dan grades, or black belt levels in Jitsu, each having a division marking a teaching qualification. The basic Dan grade is awarded after passing the technical grading, then the teaching grade is awarded after passing a teaching assessment. Each Dan grade is signified by a different coloured badge worn on the right arm.
1st Dan - Shodan.
- Primary Trainer. Black belt, hakama, white badge with black writing. Has run a club for at least 1 year.
- Senior Primary. Black belt, hakama, Black badge white writing. Takes an active role in the region.
2nd Dan - Nidan
- Acting Secondary Tutor. Black belt, hakama, white badge with red writing.
- Secondary Tutor. Black belt, hakama, black waistcoat, white badge with red writing. Teaches at a regional level.
3rd Dan - Sandan
- Acting Tertiary Fellow. No belt, hakama, black waistcoat, red badge with white writing. Examiner for 7th to 1st Kyu gradings. Teaches at a national level.
- Tertiary Fellow. No belt, hakama, full black over-gi with sleeves, red badge with white writing. Examiner for shodan to sandan gradings.
