check out the statement below...comments anyone?


"YES! You Can Discover…

HOW TO GET YOUR
BLACK BELT IN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU IN 3 ½ YEARS,
A JUDO BLACK BELT IN 1 YEAR
AND A BLACK BELT IN COMBAT SOMBO IN 1 YEAR
JUST LIKE LLOYD"

My judo sensei got his first dan in 8 months, but had to wait a further 5 for the minimum space of time as a 1st kyu. Hes now 6th dan, awaiting his 7th under the BJA.

even without the waiting period this would only be possible if you trained 15 hours a day for a year, and thatsj ust not humanly possible.

A fella in England I know got is 1st Dan Judo (BJA) in a year he came from a strong martial arts background and is a very hard man so yes it can be done, has been done and no doubt will be done again!

It depends on a whole host of different factors. Hes produced a black belt in 13 months, he beat his lineup of 3 people in 1:17 in TOTAL for all 3 fights.

I'm happy I'm learning from him! I'm going to gradings every three months and trying to rank up. I'm hoping to get my next tab or maybe even a green belt at my next one. A green belt in 5 months of judo wouldn't be bad.

Maybe it can be done, maybe not. With my limited experience in Judo I don't know really.

But that statement given in the first post to me sounds a lot like a McDojo advertisement. In which case maybe you could get your black belt in a year but I'd say, to put it politely, it would be worth very little.

Edit: Yeah! 20th Post. I know have my own obi under my name ;-)

It can absolutely be done. This is Judo not neuro-surgery.

I had a friend with strong MMA background as well. He was already a great competitor, fit, learned quickly ...

He was picking all the waza in matter of months and not to say that he was destroying people in competition with Kata guruma, kuchiki daoshis, chokes ...

The question is not whether it is possible for an exceptional person to attain a black belt in one year, I think the question is whether it is a reasonable goal for anyone who purchases the grappling system at http://www.thegrapplingblueprint.com/

OK - never mind my reply.

Wouldn't the proper question be for anyone who follows the system?

I know Lloyd Irving, he is a strong man, talented and an extremelly good grappler. He has done well in judo competition in the US, a couple of master's titles at US nationals, but it took him more than a year to get his judo BB. He may be a good compeditor, but can he teach judo? I mean teach judo with terminology, gokyo and kata?
Here in the US, I have seen a couple of great compeditors get their ikkyu in a year, and then their shodan in another year. It takes that long to at least learn the bare minimum to be a shodan.

It's just sports psychology stuff geared towards grappling arts... I like it... my bud recently got on the program and got silvers at gq in blue belt division.. he has only been training jiu jitsu for 7 months... The whole game plan and positive thinking does wonders for your game and development..

BLACK BELT IN ONE YEAR?!??!?!?!? seriously though? Ok sure black belt in one year but do you know exactly everything?! idk it seems alomst impossible unless you train every day for 4 hours a day for a year........

It's Shodan in One Year, not Kudan or Judan in One Year. Why do people covet Shodan so much. It's really not that big of a deal. I have known quite a few people who are higher ranks than Shodan who know very few things outside of the competition aspect of Judo. One thing I did notice in regards to BJJ, is that many of the People who gave Testimonials aren't BJJ Black Belts. Maybe they aren't on the same program.

Train Hard

Good Luck, Stay Safe

"He may be a good compeditor, but can he teach judo? "

He was USJF coach of the year in 2004.

Don't know about this particular program, but if you enroll in the Kodokan, it is normal to get Shodan in one year, training 4 to 5 days a week and attending all scheduled shiai. In fact, it's on their website.

Peace

Dennis

Well Shodan is a big deal! It means that you have the experience and skill to teach and compete in every aspect. I mean any belt can learn any technique at any time but the fact is that getting your shodan is a simbol of respect and seniority. Its about experience and knowledge. I believe that one year is not a good enough amount of time to aquire all of that! I am a nidan I compete in international tournaments and I win some and lose some. I believe that I have earned my right to become a ni dan because of the experience and knowledge that I have gained in the art. I got my shodan at 13 when I was in Japan! BUT I have been doing Judo since I was 5 so what does that tell you?

That your dad is cool as hell..

Im coming back to Guam this summer bro.... Where the judo clubs at?

The only guys to get BBs that quickly are BJ Penn and Vitor Ribeiro, haven't heard of anyone else.

ShoDan is not such a big deal.

As I keep telling people I have been involved
in Judo for over 40 years and only realised
AFTER I reached ShoDan just HOW LITTLE I REALLY KNOW.

There are of course those who are just extrordainary players
and gain rank very quickly, but these are few and far between.

I can see a very talented individual that speaks japanese (does not have to learn the terminology) getting a shodan at the Kodokan, training five or six days a week for four or five hours a day, with several highly advanced instructors (rokyudan/shishidan) and several hundred partners to work out with. But here the conditions are much different: You don't speak japanese and have to learn the terminology, you problably won't train a fraction of the forementioned time, you won't have the high quality multiple instructors and you will be lucky if you have a docen or so training partners.
Totally completely and inferior scenarios = same or better results???
You decide...

Ok folks ... Im a bit at a loss here ... as I have mentioned in my posts in other areas I have just recently and excitedly I must add reentered Judo. I am an old Yonkyu and for now just focusing on refreshing my technique and knowledge of the wazas. Reading up on the promotion systems for the USJF and the USJA ... following thier promotion guidelines its impossible for anyone to attain Shodan in one year ... the USJA requires 8, 10, and 10 months in Sankyu, Nikyu, and Ikyu before promoting to the next grade. How can someone attain Shodan in one year under the US Judo associations? I have read where it is possible to obtain Shodan in Japan at the Kodakan in 12 months .. it seems a tremendous challenge but not impossible I suppose ... but the Judo Orgs here in the U.S appear to simply not allow that to be possible .. or do they? As I mentioned .. I am sort of new to how the art/sport is "governed" here in the U.S. so If I am speaking out of turn, without knowing the full picture here in the U.S please forgive me, and fill me in?

Why do you care? I guess there are clubs that could handourt BB in short time. And then do the papewrwork look differently. But all JA's in USA have their requirements for minimum times as and I dont think that getting it one year is really possible without bending the rules. Here in finland it would take minimum of 3.5 years assuming that Judoka develops into international level player in that time and has won some international compettions and several national top graded tournaments and is tarining minimum of 4 times a week.

BB is no standard. BB in different judo-federations just does not mean the same thing. I think JApan you could get BB really fast if you win in grading tournament six opponents with ippon. No need to "know" any special thows or katas, all it takes is showing real judo ability and throw people.

And this real ability is what counts. Black belt and white belt have same functionality: Without one your jacket would fling open. Whole belt thing has gone out of propotion

This attitude that shodan is no big deal and that a black belt in a year is reasonable is exactly why bjj blue belts can honestly tell "tapping out judo black belt" stories over at Sherdog.

A buddy of mine came from about 8 years of wrestling (including collegiate level) to judo. He is one of the most gifted athletic persons I know. He's constantly in the weight room and an avid mountian biker (so his cardio is rock solid).
He got his judo black belt in about 3 years, training 3 days a week, and diligently learning throw names and the japanese language in that time period.
Now I consider that very, very fast to black belt. But look at his background in wrestling, natural athletic ability, cardio, and dedication to learning the traditional stuff. I promise you, no bjj blue belt is going to "tap" this guy.
We take the shodan too lightly sometimes. You ought to be a badass if you've got the black belt around your waist, bottom line.

I am intrigued by your philosophy and wish to subscribe to your newsletter

(IOW - I agree)

A blue belt bjj practitioner tapping out a judo black belt does not mean bjj is better, just that they distribute belts differently. Why would anyone felt threatened by this?

Personally I could care less and really have to stretch to understand why you would compare belts between arts when even within judo and between judo associations the same belt may mean different things. Anyone who has ever fought in a tournament knows better than to judge their competitors by the belt.

So, is a standard amount of time in grade amongst all judo associations and judo clubs necessary? If so then why?

What special priviledge do you get by being a black belt that the award of one must be protected.

Respect? That should come from yourself first.

Influence? That should be based on what you know and what you can do.

Ability? Does the belt have magic powers?

The belt follows the man (or lady) not the other way around.

The best quote I've seen on a black belt is when someone said it means "I know my ukemi so don't hold back on your throws", I imagine this relates to japanese judo. Not that I expect the white belts get treated super gently in japan =)

Don't get me wrong, I am working hard on getting my black belt and its important to me (its part of the certifcation requirement to run a judo class in BC, something I'd like to be able to do).

I just don't expect it to transform me into some sort of mystical fighter. I know my skills and there will always be those with better skills. Some will be wearing judo black belts, some will be kyu grades and some will not even be judo players (some other art like bjj).

I do know my ukemi though, and hope that people don't hold back on their throws when we fight.

A year in grade to get your blackbelt? So what.

I agree with GUEST that while we can pretend that gaining Shodan isn't what it's all about, the fact is that Shodan is the iconic measure of technical and combative proficiency within Judo. I've noticed in some circumstances that there is a tendancy now to offer "sympathy" black belts rather than ensure that the belt standard (at least the Western concept) is retained. All the black belts I know from last generation are not only knowledgeable about kata and techniques but can also apply those techniques in an adversarial situation at will. I think there is a danger in not acknowledging that some people are never going to be black belt standard, like no matter how much i play tennis, I will never be a tennis professional. I can know all the electrical components (kata), know the methods of installing them (techniques), but unless I can perform in the field, I'm not a true electrician.

Just my $0.02

I would have to agree with Learner and Oranje and have always believed that Black belt ment you where read to learn the good stuff so to speek, It says I know my Ukemi, I know and understand my nage waza and my ne waza. It says to me that I understand and respect why we tap, my ego is in check, and I am ready to take on the next challanges.
Can all that be learned in a year? perhaps the technical aspect, surely the physical aspect, but the other stuff, can someone who works that hard let go if a lower ranking student won't go over. can he say there 's the choke I know I've got it even if the guy didn't tap. This kind of practice comes with maturity, and experiance. It's no different in any other style for the most part the guys/ gals that are there only to get their black belt as quickly as possible are usually in to much of a hurry to really learn the techneques, and to learn the respect for others.
This is not true for all that I have met, but I have certainly met a lot of them that fit into this discription.
Sparkie.

I would hope that everyone cares ... otherwise the art/sport could be/will be very watered down. A Dojo is a school, learning is best served when it is performed/pursued under a consistent and well defined process. If Shodan grades are passed out with little regard to knowledge but only skill, that can be terribly misleading to an individuals full capabilities. An individuals total capacity to do something well doesnt just lie in thier skill, it also lies in experience, and extent of "education". Maybe I am way off with my personal philosophies .. but isnt the rank system (primarily Kyu ranks) intended to provide a method of measureing, identifiying, or whatever you want to call it .. a Judo students progression of skill AND education. It is in fact very much an educational process, training, etc .. should be structured and well defined in order to be efective. That is precisely why educational institutions are relatively similar in thier programs, High Schools, Universities, etc ... a physician from any University in the U.S has pretty much gone thru the exact same courswork, examinations, etc. If I chance to meet a physician who doesnt display a strong knowledge in basic human physiology, thats something to be concerned about ... same deal if I meet a Shodan who isnt intimately familiar with the Judo Wazas structure.

Its not that the "whole" belt thing has gone out of proportion, I think that its the fact that the "whole belt thing" hasent been consistently followed for what its true intentions were .. so now many dont pay much attention to the grading process?

That last post was from me .. forgot to log in and posted as guest.

I'm with you on the physician. The reasons are obvious (they might cause you physical damage by way of their ignorance)

I'm lost on the problem of meeting a black belt who doesn't have any skills. What does it matter? I suppose you might throw them hard and they might not know how to fall and get hurt.

It could in some folks minds reflect upon the professionalism or .. whats the word im looking for ... integrity? of Judo. Where would our health care system be without well defined requirements for medical professionals? And where will Judo end up without the same? Certainly as an individual, if I meet a McDojo Blackbelt as some call it .. Id be able to relatively recognize it .. and Id ofcourse avoid that Dojo, avoid pursuing lessons from that BB, etc. But .. for others who could not recognize a "qualified" blackbelt .. they may pursue lessons from this individual and be completly dissapointed, leave and never be interested in returning, having thier concepts of Judo tainted permanently. In general, the public views a BB as a "Physician" in MA. Certainly Judo has not become in the US what Tae Kwon Do has ... but .. I do care very much about the art/sport beyond my own self interest. When I achieve Shodan .. I WILL know that I deserve it, that I have worked hard for it, and have the technical knowledge and relative skill to demonstrate that, I owe it to myself and to the art/sport to make sure that I am a good representative to the art/sport. Yes we have bad physicians out there ... but at least they have all accomplished the same basic requirements to become a physican. One may argue that we also have Yudansha out there who certainly have all the technical knowledge, and may be able to demonstrate excellent Kata skills, but in Shiai they fail miserably ... but at least they HAVE the technical knowledge and basic skill set that one would expect .. or should even demand of a Shodan or higer. Alternatively, one who acheived Shodan "overnight" probably wouldnt be able to demonstrate this level of knowledge that one would EXPECT a Shodan to have. As others have mentioned, I have a good friend who is a fantastic wrestler, winning state championships years ago and still quite active in MMA activities, knows submission extremely well and could certainly take a few Shodans or even higher Dans ... so he goes to maybe 6 months of Judo class, learns maybe the Dai Ikkyo and Dai Nikyo , goes to a few tournaments and wins against several BBs, gets promoted to BB via "Batsugan" (correct spelling?), unless he has been studying on his own time , clearly he wouldnt even have the knowledge (nevermind the skill) of the various Wazas that one would expect a BB to have.

Im starting to ramble now! sorry .. lol ...

Personally, as a 3rd kyu, I'm making the transition from competent display of techniques while static to performing them while in randori. Obviously, this takes time and requires input from both my peers and instructors with regards the subtleties and intricacies of kazushi and the techniques in general. This is difficult enough already (how I wish I had started judo when I was five years old and not 6 foot 3) and I'm relying on the skills and knowledge of those around me to ensure that I continue to make progress. I'm always in a state of awe and reverence when I look at the skills of my instructors and am humbled that I am in a position where I can take advantage of and benefit from their knowledge. It's so important that the standards never slip and that we take things for granted. It DOES matter. You never realise what you've lost until it's gone. Heaven forbid we end up like some other arts with obese instructors and poor technique shown to the next generation.

Listen, this doesn't mean that the Kodokan guarantees that everyone will get their black belt in one year, just that if you have the dedication, discipline, desire, and attitiude, and you work hard enough, it might only take you 1 year with their training to achieve what they feel is a 1st dan level. Black belt is not the end of Judo, it's doesn't mean you've mastered Judo.

I work 2 and a half hours 4 days a week i have only been doing judo for 7 months and i am already a blue belt and will also become a brown belt soon enough..so i dont aggree with your statement that u cant become a black belt in a year.

Black is of course by no means the end ... however ... as Shodan .. you I would EXPECT one to at least know the FULL Waza Structure (by memory), know cleanly (by name and demonstrate) the complete traditional Gokyo No Waza, demonstrate the Nage No Kata from memory (in order), Katame No Kata, majority of the Shime and Kansetsu wazas .. etc... a fair amount of the Kaeshi No Kata, etc.

I will be testing for my Sankyu within the month ... I know and can demonstrate quite well the majority of the Gokyo No Waza ... of course I know each of the 15 wazas from the Nage No Kata if you asked me to demonstrate them .. naming them off to me .. but I dont know them in order by memory quite yet .. almost .. but not quite, I know a fair portion of the Shime and Kansetsu Wazas by name and technique, as well as a handfull of the Counter wazas .. and can demonstrate all of this in Kata form quite well .. how good in Randori? ... some excellent .. some fair ... some no idea ... its not like your Uke sets up the Kuzushi/Tsukuri voluntarily for you! .. lol

Holding a Shodan degree DOES imply a certain standard of performance, knowledge, and expertise, if one doesnt meet this level than they are doing a disservice to themselves as well as the art.

Wow! Well done #1 ! .. are you a Junior (17 and under) or a Senior (18 and older)? By the way .... not saying it CANT be done .. just my experience that its a TREMENDOUS challenge. And as everyone here knows ... All Shodans are NOT created equal .. and Im not talking about just skill in the tournament mat .. Im talking about a Shodans overall knowledge of Judo in general .... structure, terminology, technique names, etc. Its quite a bit of info to learn and retain.

Being able to get your 1st Dan within 1 year can depend on a lot of things. Yes it is a great thing to do....but does it make you 'Black belt standard'?

A person can attain their 1st Dan within 1 year by shear luck alone in some cases - no real 'skill' involved, just some poor officialing ( ) and a big foot (it's great when a person wins almost every fight by standing on his/her opponents feet/pants).

Other times ive seen it happen from shear size and strength - someone in the +100 kg/ +78 kg can go out, grab someone and then just......fall.....to the ground and then just 'sit' on them. The take down wasnt a real technique and there was no skill involved at all.

As has been said before - never grade someones skill just by the belt they have. Ive seen brown belts beaten by yellow and orange belts many times.

IMO a person should have been doing judo for at least 1 1/2 - 2 years before they fight for their 1st Dan. I had been doing judo for 10ish years before i got mine. Some coach's allow their players to 'fast track' in this way just so they can brag and say - 'I have 5 1st Dans in my club' . With your 1st Dan comes the ability to know all theory upto your grade, and be able to both teach and demonstraight it to others. To many time ive seen 1st and 2nd Dans doing their theory and not even knowing the throws and holds for their bottom brown!

In the end, it is not the belt that makes the player.....it's the player that makes the belt.

I think it deffers from country to country!Here in Greece you have to spend at least 6 years of training before you're handed a black belt!

Dead on Shane .. a Shodan should know ALL theory! and pretty much the whole dang Nage Waza and Katame Waza! . and be able to teach and demonstrate without hesitation! As I have said before ... a McDojo Shodan does a disservice to himself and the art of Judo .. it weakens the integrity of the art in general. And in my opinion its a bit of a slap in the face for those Shodans who worked thier tails off for at least a few years to earn thier 1st Dan.

In Japan a shodan grade may take a year, but they allready know the terminology (their language) and if you take into account the hours that they train:
5 days a week (or more), four hours a day (or more), fifty two weeks pewr year (they seldom miss a class) adds up to way over 1000 hours per year.
Here we train 2-3 times a week, maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours a class, maybe 48-50 weeks per year. Maybe 400 hour (without missing class) a year tops, plus we still have to learn the japanese terminology.
Also, japanese dojos are run by senseis of no less that a yodan (4th dan), some even have multiple instructors. They provide a better learning enviroment with superior facilities and better instruction overall.

No doubt Kodokan ... the best of everything at the tip of your fingers .. to add to that ... isnt Judo integrated into the Physical Education programs in the Japanese school systems?

Gee ... I guess it's just a matter of time before we see bjj brown belts dominating the judo podiums at the Olympics.

AAAACKKK! Someone give me a Xanex!!!

from what i understand. In Japan if you take Judo in PE you can get your shodan in a year. heard it from differient sources.

i recieved my shodan in about one year and my nidan about a a year and a half later. i deserved it, bottom line. i earned double the points required from comp did my katas. the only hang up was when the yudanshakai said i did not have enough time in grade so at 1st they denied me but by the end of the meeting they reversed their decision.
i only was practicing judo 2 days a week, no cardio or weights, but was wrestling 3 nights a week.
my background before judo was wrestling( freestyle and greco mostly) and had been wrestling since i was five. by the time i was 18 i won 2 greco roman national titles and silvered twice in freestyle. i continued on from there in college and in the army.
when i found judo the only thing new about it to me was the gi and submissions wich came fairly easy for me. so, when i started competing in judo as a white belt well lets just say practice was harder for me, my matches didnt last more than a few seconds each. so i convinced my sensei to let me compete in a brown and black belt division and he chuckled and said "if you want start digging your grave fine". so, i broke a sweat in this division but i think my total match outta five was about 35 seconds all with ippon throws no subs or pins. after that they gave me 1st ikkyu the following week of that shiai. then after that i entered a E level tournament and low and behold mike barnes was there at my weight but at the time i did not know he was the #1 ranked judoka at -100 kilos. needless to say i met my match neither one of us scored until there was about a minute left and he attempted a drop seio nage wich i countered with a lapel choke and i really had this sucker sunk in and after a few moments the ref stopped it and brought us to our feet except barnes didnt get up and the ref gave him injury time to recover from the choke. the match went on and now he was coming at me like a bat outta hell and got his high grip and went for uchi mata i stepped out and through him with a perfect side suplex right on his shoulders, my head or shoulder never toughed the mat but the wazari was awarded to barnes and the time ran out and i lost. needless to say i learned a bit about scoring rules that weekend( must change the direction of the throw in order to counter and score.) well anyways i won all of my other matches failrly easilly and the following week i was awarded my shodan.
so yes there are a number of ways to recieve your black belt in a short amount of time.
some on an earlier post said that to be a black belt you should be one bad ass person. i do not agree. i have some friends that are higher ranked thatn me that i can woop in shiai but their knowledge of judo in unbeleavable and have taught me alot. just because one cannot physically perform something at an olympic level doesnt mean they do not have the perception to understand it and teach it.
anyways enough of my beginings of judo.

Dunno who wrote that 2cents .. wasnt me for certain .. as the word badass is a relative term .. BUT ... a Shodan SHOULD know a CONSIDERABLE amount of theory, structure, etc about Judo. I personally am just not comfortable with earning Shodan so quickly ... its nothing against you personally and Im sure you do fantastic in Shiai as you have described ... but it just doesnt make a whole lot of sense to me ... it would be like giving one a college degree because they were able to challenge and test out of a few of the Higher level degree requirements. To me .. being a Shodan should be more than just being able to beat other Shodans .. it should also mean a TREMENDOUSLY stong knowledge about the structure and theory of the Judo system, knowing the full Gokyo No Waza, the full Nage Waza, full Katame Waza, etc ... a close friend of mine who is an incredible wrestler ... placing 1st in the state in our younger years has given me a serious thumping on the mat in the past .... and as you have clearly experienced a strong wrestler can do VERY well in Judo Shiai .. he could learn Ukemi, and even learn several of the Nage Waza, etc ... but that doesnt make him a Shodan even though he could possibly beat Shodans regularly ... being a Shodan to me means more than just being able to dominate in Shiai.

i agree with you. i did know everything that was required of me and more. like i have said in previuos posts judo is nothing new. i learned a crap load of judo from greco and as i stated above learning the the gi and terminology oh, and the submissions is about all i needed. wrestling taught me kuzushi and judo just taught me how to apply it with a gi. pins/ hold downs are exactly the same in wrestling so, nothing new there. so, i guess i had a head start. subs come pretty easilly to me prolly do to my postioning i learned in wrestling for newaza that is.
what i am saying is that there should be no limits on how long it should take someone to get rank it is all about the individual. some get it quicker than others and some dont. its about dedication and effort in my opinion. oh and i never looked for rank it was a surprise when i got it. i just wanted to compete because i love it.

SWEET!

i did it and i know total beginners with no martial arts background to get their black belt in less than a year its definately possible