IJF Rank Certificate Request Form

 

IJF Grade and “dan” rank Commission

Grades:

The grades and the “dan” ranks are very important in the education system of judo. Our discipline has been conceived by its founder, Jigoro Kano, as a physical and mental education system by the practice and the grades are the measure of the student's progress. This progress is in the field of judo, but more one advances in the grade more this measure takes into account the individual's personal evolution as a human being.

The three components of the grade are:

• The "Tai" (the body) that one could materialize in the assessment of the individual by the results in competition.
• The "Ghi" (the survey, work) that is valued by the student's technical knowledge.
• The "Shin" (the mind), the most difficult to value, that materializes by the engagement towards the others and the judo, the radiance, the example.

In the beginning of a judoka's life, until the 3^rd dan the "Taï" aspect is very important, then the "Ghi" aspect until the 5^th dan and finally the "Shin". The three components must always be present, but it is their value that varies according to the progress in the grade. It is to note that the "Tai" value is compulsory to progress in the grades. Indeed one cannot have an education system based on the practice without making compulsory the result in the practice.

Grade and “dan” rank Commission:

The Grade and “dan” rank Commission is established by the IJF.

This Commission is composed by a representative per continent and an international manager.

The Grade and “dan” rank Commission processes all the subjects concerning the attribution and recognition by IJF of the Judo grades.

It can, if necessary, seize any file for which it was not requested and to alert the IJF president and the IJF Executive Committee.

IJF Grade and “dan” rank Director:

An IJF Grade and “dan” rank Director is proposed by the IJF President and appointed by the IJF Executive Committee.

Role and functions of the IJF Grade and “dan” rank Director:

• Propose the criteria of attribution of the grades to the IJF Executive Committee.
• Chair the Grade and “dan” rank Commission.
• Coordinate the missions of the continental grades managers.
• Examine the files of the candidates and subject to the IJF Executive Committee the validation of grades.

 

Profile of the Grade and “dan” rank Directors:

- IJF:

The IJF Grade and “dan” rank Directors, appointed by the IJF Executive Committee, is at least 8^th dan.

-Continental:

The managers have to be at least 7^th dan (wished 8^th dan).

The continental Grade and “dan” rank Directors are proposed by the continental unions for validation by the IJF Executive Committee.

Functioning of the IJF Grade and “dan” rank Commission:

• All the files are handled by mail (electronic or paper).
• Forms are elaborated by the Grade and “dan” rank Commission.
• Up to the 6^th dan, the grades are within the competence of the Member National Federations. If they wish them to be formalized by the IJF, they must send a request to their Continental Unions.
• The 7^th dan can be validated only by the Continental Unions.
• The 8^th dan and higher must, after opinion of the continental Directors, be sent to the IJF Grade and “dan” rank Commission Director who will examine files and will propose the appointments. The 10^th dan grade can be awarded only unanimously by the IJF Executive Committee.
• The holding of the Grade and “dan” rank register is carried out by the Commission, which sends to the IJF General Secretary an updated file after every modification.
• Diplomas and possible “dan” cards are sent under the responsibility of the Manager of the IJF Grade and “dan” rank Commission by the Continental Grade Director for the 7^th and inferior dan. For higher grades the IJF is in charge of sending the documents.

IJF STATUTES

Article 24 - Grades and “dan” ranks

24.1 Official recognition of grades

The IJF officially recognizes only those grades and “dan” ranks which are awarded by the Member National Federations to their own members, to the exclusion of all others.

A National Federation may not award a grade and/or a “dan” rank to a member of another Member National Federation or of the nationality of this Federation without the written agreement of that Federation. Any grade or “dan” rank awarded without this agreement will not be validated by the IJF.

Each Member National Federation is in charge of representing the IJF for the purpose of ensuring compliance with International regulations on grades and “dan” ranks throughout its national territory.

24.2 Grade diplomas

IJF grades and “dan” ranks shall be awarded by the President of the Continental Union where the student originates from.

24.3 Amount of Fees

The amount of fees paid for awarding of grade and “dan” diplomas and for ID Cards shall be set by the EC.

24.4 Application procedure

The awarding of IJF grades and “dan” ranks shall be performed according to the procedure validated by the EC. From the 1^st to the 6^th dan, ranks shall be awarded under the responsibility of Member National Federations.

The 7^th dan shall be awarded upon the proposal of Member National Federations by the Executive Committees of the Continental Unions, after the opinion of the Continental Grade and “dan” rank Director is given.

As of the 8^th dan, Ranks shall be awarded by the EC upon the proposal of Member National Federations and after the opinion of the Continental Unions has been given, as well as the opinion of the Grade and “dan” rank Commission of the IJF.

 

Kata recognized by the IJF:

Nage No Kata – Katame No Kata – Kime No Kata – Ju No Kata – Koshiki No Kata- Kodokan Goshin Jitsu

 

SPECIFICATION TABLE :

National Federation Level

	Minimum Age	Degree	Time passed since the last degree	Number of Ippon made in federal competition	Knowledge of Kata
1st dan	15 years	brown belt	1 an	10	Nage No kata
2nd dan	17 years	1er dan	2 ans	10	2 kata
3rd dan	20 years	2ème dan	3 ans	12	3 Kata
4th dan	24 years	3ème dan	4 ans	12	4 kata
5th dan	29 years	4ème dan	5 ans	Regional sport level required	5 kata

 

CATEGORIES :

	Competitor	Referee	Official	National Coach	Club Teacher
A	3 first of the Olympic Games or Senior World Championships	IJF	IJF Continental	Athletes of category « A »
B	3 first of the Paralympic Games 3 first of the Kata or Disabled Sports World Championships Senior National team	Continental	National	Athletes of category « B »	International Competitor
C	3 first of Senior National Championships	National	Regional	Athletes of category « C »	National Competitor
D	Other	Other	Other	Other	Other

 

HIGHT GRADES

National Federation level :

Categories Minimum Age Time passed since the last validation Knowledge of Kata 6th dan A 30 years 6 years Koshiki no kata B 35 years 8 years Koshiki no kata C 40 years 10 years Koshiki no kata D 50 years 12 years & 25 years of 1st dan Koshiki no kata

Continental Union level :

Categories Minimum Age Time passed since the last validation Knowledge of Kata 7 th dan A 38 years 8 years All kata B 45 years 10 years All kata C 50 years 10 years & 25 years of 1st dan All kata D 62 years 12 years & 30 years of 1st dan All kata

IJF level :

Categories Minimum Age Time passed since the last validation Knowledge of Kata 8 th dan A 50 years 10 years All kata   B 60 years 15 years All kata

Categories Minimum Age Time passed since the last validation Knowledge of Kata 9 th dan A 60 years 10 years Practical and theoretical knowledge of all Kata

Categories Minimum Age Time passed since the last validation Knowledge of Kata 10 th dan A 70 years 10 years Practical and theoretical knowledge of all Kata

DISPENSATION

Dispensation can be exceptionally granted to high personalities of judo by the Executive Committee of the IJF.

 

8th dan – 9th dan – 10th dan of the IJF:

Criteria:

The 8^th, 9^th, 10^th dan can be awarded only to those who:

• have been continuously involved in activity of judo such as competition, teaching, training, coaching, refereeing or administration.
• have actively practiced judo.
• have a perfect personality, recognized for his/her charisma, radiance, ethics.
• have a perfect career.
• have been promoted gradually from 1^st to 7^th dan, without passing several “dan” at the same time.
• have become a prizewinner in any national – level tournament
• are recommended by both the national federation and the Continental Union.

 

8th dan – 9th dan – 10th dan:

The candidates must:

• be proposed by the National Federation which they are citizens of.
• respect time limit between the grades and the minimum age meeting the criteria of the tables previously exposed.
• -be devoted to judo without interruption.

 

Exceptional cases:

As the high grades are very exceptional, the IJF Grade and “dan” rank Commission reserves the right to propose the validation of particular grades which don’t completely meet usual criteria.

These nominations will be validated by the EC of the IJF.

Procedure:

All the applications of grades validation are sent by the Member National Federations to the General Secretary of their Continental Union.

The Director of the continental Grade and “dan” rank commission will verify the information and possibly make complete the form.

He will then propose the validation of this grade to the President of the Continental Union. The duly completed and validated document will be sent to the General Secretary of the IJF.