As with many Asian martial arts, a Judo practitioner wears a colored belt that signifies his skill, commitment and time of rank in the art. Unlike most other fighting styles, which have fragmented and highly varying standards for achieving rank, Judo's status as an Olympic sport has kept different judo programs fairly congruent as to their grading. This means Judo brown belts the world over are very similar in skill.
History
Judo was among the first martial arts to adopt a colored belt system for demonstrating rank and grade. Although the concepts of Judo are ancient, the art was organized into a single system by Dr. Jigoro Kano during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally, Kano's system of belts included only white, brown and black ranks. The colors of yellow, orange, and green were not added until the 1930s.
Time In Grade
Time in grade is a common requirement for rank in many martial arts, representing the idea that even talented practitioners need time to digest and consider material before they can claim true proficiency. Judo rank is often an exception, basing promotion more on the ability to perform specific moves and sometimes on a competitive record. As a rule, however, you should expect to train for two to three years before you can reasonably expect to accumulate the knowledge most judo programs require.
Position
The rank of black belt in judo is called "shodan," with higher ranks carrying the Japanese word for "2nd grade" -- "nidan", "third grade" -- "sandan," and so on. A similar naming system uses kyu ranks counting down from nearness to black belt. "Sankyu," or "third kyu" is three ranks away from achieving black belt. Brown belt is the grade immediately prior to attaining black belt rank, and thus called "ikkyu." Some programs have two or three levels of brown belts, with subsequent levels titled "nikyu" and "sankyu." A judo student can expect to pass through white, yellow, orange and green belt ranks prior to testing for brown belt.
Typical Techniques
The specific requirements for brown belt will vary from club to club, but you can expect brown belt techniques to require a level of ability and knowledge beyond what you learned as a beginner. Some typical techniques taught to black belt candidates include the corner drop throw, major wheel sweep, wrap around sweeps, side hook and choking techniques. Some clubs will also require scholarship, service or healing education as part of the requirements for this grade.
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