Tag: Combat

Korea has been the birthplace of some of the most practiced martial arts in the world. According to Google, many people often ask how many Korean martial arts are there.

We’ve researched and brought you our comprehensive Korean martial arts list. Check out the list of Korean martial arts below, with descriptions of each one included.

How Many Korean Martial Arts Exist?

Around twelve Korean martial arts are currently practiced around the world today. This number doesn’t include the countless lost arts that the public no longer practices.

You can break up the styles of Korean martial arts into four different categories.

1. Striking Martial Art
2. Grappling Martial Art
3. Weapon-Based Martial Art
4. Hybrid Styles

Gongkwon Yusul

Gonkwon Yusul is a fairly new Korean martial art that was developed in 1996 by Jeong In-Sun. It’s a modern self-defense style that incorporates various Korean and non-Korean martial arts techniques.

Resembling a form of MMA with various strikes, throws, and submissions that are presented like a traditional martial art. Gongkwon Yusul’s popularity has gradually increased since being introduced three decades ago.

Haidong Gumdo

Haidong Gumdo is a sword-based Korean martial art similar to the Japanese sword-based martial arts but with a Korean twist. In Haidong Gumdo, students practice with real and wooden swords called “jingum” and “mokgum.”

Practitioners of this martial art practice perform various sword fighting techniques. Both in a pattern or form while also in real-life sparring matches. Similar to a mix of Kendo and Kenjitsu.

Hapkido

Hapkido is a hybrid style that’s one of the most effective Korean martial arts that’s currently practiced. The name Hapkido translates to “the art of coordinated power.”

It took the principles and techniques of grappling arts like Judo, ssireum, and different striking styles. Combining them all together to make an effective and multi-faceted fighting style.

Hapkido is one of the styles practiced by the South Korean police and military, along with Taekwondo.

Hwa Rang Do

Hwa Rang Do is another one of the effective hybrid styles of Korean martial arts. Dr. Joo Bang Lee and Joo Sang Lee founded this style in the early 1960s. 

It’s an eclectic martial art that incorporates various striking, joint lock, throws, and weapon techniques. This martial art also emphasizes the spiritual growth of their students alongside their skill sets.

Kuk Sool Won 

Kuk Sool Won was created by Suh In-hyuk in 1958 after various attempts to establish a new style. It’s a comprehensive martial art that takes techniques from various Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts.

The style encompasses a wide range of striking and grappling techniques, along with traditional Korean weapons training. This is an effective self-defense style with many beneficial techniques you could learn.

Kumdo

Kumido is also known by many as Korean kendo. When the Japanese occupied Korea, they outlawed Korean martial arts and implemented their own styles.

Koreans would pick up the art of Kendo and change the name to “Kumdo.” Like with Kendo, Kumdo also means “way of the sword.”

For Koreans, practitioners of Kumdo would put a Korean twist on the martial art to make it palpable. Changing the names of techniques into Korean and introducing Korean-style techniques. In Kumdo, they also call the bamboo sword they practice with a “shinai.”  

Shippalgi/Sipalki-Do

Sipalki-Do, sometimes called Shippalgi, is another one of the multi-faceted Korean martial arts. The name Sipalki can be translated to mean the eighteen techniques or skills that the style was founded upon.

The techniques taught at a Sipalki-Do school can vary depending on who the instructor is and who taught them. They may include striking, kicking, blocking, grappling techniques, and weapon training.

Many members of the South Korean military also practice this style of Korean martial art.   

Ssireum

Ssireum is one of the grappling style Korean martial arts that’s considered Korean sumo. Although, the techniques and history of Ssireum are vastly different from the history of Sumo.

It dates back over a thousand years or more in ancient Korea. As time progressed, the sport of Ssireum would evolve into the popular form of wrestling that millions watch today.

This style of wrestling is a mix of Greco-Roman, Judo, and Sumo wrestling that takes place in a dirt ring. The first wrestler who hits the ground loses the match.

Subak/Hwa Soo Do 

Subak is an ancient Korean martial art that was said to have served as the basis for Taekkyon and Taekwondo. The term Hwa Soo Do is another name referring to the art of Subak.

It focuses on hand strikes, kicks, joint locks, and throws. There are many Hwa Soo Do techniques that you can see displayed in both Taekwondo and Takkeyon.

Taekkyon

Takkyon may be the oldest of the Korean martial arts that is still practiced today. This striking martial art dates back centuries, taking elements from earlier styles like Hwa Soo Do.

The popular martial art is known for its fluid motion and dance-like movement. It involves many dynamic kicks, footwork, and sweeps that are played like a game.

In Taekkyon sparring, the goal is to knock your opponent off their feet using these fluid movements. Many top Korean Taekwondo athletes also excel at Taekkyon and vice-versa.

Taekwondo 

Of all Korean martial arts, Taekwondo is, by far, the most internationally practiced martial art. Taekwondo was developed after WW2 as a way to help Koreans re-discover their identities. 

The style consisted of many older Korean martial arts styles like Taekkyon, which they were banned from practicing. Koreans got behind the style that consisted of high-flying kicks, spins, punches, and a mixture of them all.

In just a few decades, Taekwondo became one of the most practiced martial arts in the world.  There are over 100 million Taekwondo practitioners worldwide, and it’s one of the few styles that’s an official Olympic event.

Tang Soo Do 

Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art that was heavily influenced by the Shotokan style of Karate. Also, other traditional Korean martial arts.

It combines a wide variety of punching, kicking, and blocking techniques that are practiced in both form and sparring. When you watch a Tang Soo Do practitioner, you can clearly see the influence of Karate, Taekwondo, and even Chinese martial arts.

Many of the world’s best martial arts were developed and practiced within Japan. Many martial artists often want to know how many Japanese martial arts exist.

That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the most known Japanese martial arts. Below is a list of the most known martial arts from the land of the Rising Sun in alphabetical order with descriptions for each style.

How Many Japanese Martial Arts Are There?

Around fifteen or more prominent Japanese martial arts have been created over history. Numerous subgenres of styles came from these eighteen styles, which would be quite a feat to list.

You can break down the styles of Japanese martial arts in five different categories.

• Weapon-Based Martial Art
• Grappling
• Striking
• Horsemanship
• An Infusion of Two or More of these Styles

Aikido

Aikido is a non-aggressive martial art that focuses on redirecting an opponent’s energy and using it against them. This martial art uses various counter throws and joint locks against an attacking opponent.

This Japanese martial art was created by Morihei Ueshiba, who synthesized various styles of jujutsu together to make Aikido. It gained international popularity throughout the 20th century. Gradually being introduced and taught in numerous countries worldwide.

It is still practiced today, although many of the techniques have been proven ineffective against more modern fighting styles.

Judo

The art of Judo is one of the world’s most practiced Japanese martial arts. It was developed by Grandmaster Jigoro Kano, who studied various styles of jujutsu.

Through his training, Kano developed an effective grappling style that he would call Judo. A self-defense style, where you leverage and timing is used to throw/ sweep an opponent. Taking them to the mat and controlling them from on top.

Judo is considered one of the world’s most effective Japanese martial arts. This martial art is also responsible for the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Jujutsu (Japanese Jiu-Jitsu)

Jujustu is a blanket term that defines a wide variety of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu styles. There are hundreds of subgenres of JJJ that have been created.

They consist of numerous aspects of grappling, like throws, submissions, and controlling position. Modern Jujutsu (Japanese Jiu-Jitsu) resembles Brazilian Jiu-Jitu, taking elements from all previous JJJ styles.

If you practice BJJ, you do many of the same techniques that are done in modern JJJ. Some of the best Japanese MMA stars in the world are high-level Japanese Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.

Iaido

Iaido, or “Way of Drawing the Sword,” focuses on the art of quickly and efficiently drawing your sword. Drawing your sword as precisely and fast as possible to execute cutting techniques.

This is an ancient weapon art that was practiced for centuries within Japan. Samurais and soldiers were constantly at war and had to be effective with a blade. They would practice this art for hours every day.

In modern times, we don’t use swords as much, but Iaido is still widely practiced in Japan. Iaido practitioners are keeping this part of Japanese culture alive by continuing to practice this weapon art.

Karate

Karate is one of the most known Japanese martial arts. When people think of Japanese martial arts, Karate is always one of the first styles brought up.

The striking art of Karate was developed in the early 20th century by numerous Japanese martial arts masters. It was created based on an Okinawan fighting style with influences from Chinese Kung Fu.

Karate consists of various punches, kicks, knees, and other open-handed techniques. It’s one of the world’s most practiced martial arts, with numerous sub-styles derived from the style.

Kempo/Kenpo

Kempo or Kenpo, like Karate, is a blanket term that’s used for several types of striking martial arts. This Japanese martial art combines the techniques of traditional Japanese martial arts and Chinese martial arts.

The term Kenpo is translated to “Ken,” meaning fist, and “Po,” meaning way. Put together, they translate to the way of the fist.

Like Karate, a wide variety of styles of Kempo/Kenpo are practiced worldwide. Each style practices various techniques, but all use Kenpo/Kempo in their names.

Kendo 

One of the most known weapon-based Japanese martial arts is the art of Kendo. A popular weapon-based martial art that means “Way of the Sword.”

Practitioners use bamboo swords called “shinais” and practice sword fighting with full body armor. It is practiced to emphasize the development of your spirit as you learn proper sword-fighting techniques.

Kendo is still widely practiced in Japan, with many practitioners continuing to keep the art alive.

Kenjutsu 

Kenjutsu is another sword-based Japanese martial art that is practiced with a real katana. The art of Kenjutsu consists of practicing numerous techniques and katas alone.

Going through methodical movements for hours a day as they strive to perfect their technique. Many practitioners of Kenjitsu also practiced the sparring art of Kendo. Learning to put their Kenjutsu techniques into action in real sparring matches.

Kyudo

Kyodo is one of the archery styles of Japanese martial arts that was developed centuries ago. The word Kyudo translates to the “way of the bow” and is one of the best archery styles in the world.

The practice of Kyudo emphasizes a meditative and spiritual approach to shooting an area. Learning to stay calm and keep a proper breathing pattern as you focus on hitting your target.

Kyodo archers are among the best archers in the world, with numerous demonstrations with millions of views.

Naginatajutsu

Naginatajutsu is a weapon-based Japanese martial art that practices techniques using a naginata. A long bo-staff that has a curved blade on the end of it.

Practitioners learn thrusting, sweeping, and striking techniques while learning to keep at long range. Historically, women have been the best Naginatajutsu practitioners, as you can see from the video above. They have the perfect body types to perform naginata techniques.

Ninjutsu 

Another one of the most known Japanese martial arts is the art of Ninjutsu. A historical martial art that is associated with the skills and tactics that were said to be used by ninjas.

Some of the tactics included stealth, espionage, unconventional combat methods, and what some describe as dark techniques. Ninjas were said to have adapted from anti-weapon laws that were implemented by Japanese shogun warlords.

This would lead some rebels to dawn black close and go on secret missions, like assassinations. There are also many fake Ninjutsu artists, as we described in our list of the biggest fake martial artists in history. 

Sumo 

Sumo is one of the oldest Japanese martial arts in the history of the nation. It’s a style of wrestling, two wrestlers sit in a circular ring with two goals in mind.

Either pushing their opponent out of the ring or taking them off their feet. It’s one of the world’s most respected Japanese martial arts, with a loyal fanbase.

In Japan, a top sumo athlete is treated like a star in the same way Lionel Messi or Jon Jones is treated. Revered and respected by all.

Sojutsu 

Sojutsu is a weapon-based Japanese martial art of spear fighting. Students of Sojutsu practiced various stances, thrusts, and defenses using a long staff with a metal-bladed end called a “ yari.”

This was one of the weapon-based martial arts that soldiers and samurais practiced. Modern-day Sojutsu practitioners even practice traditional samurai armor, as shown in the video above. Depicting how a samurai would fight with the long-bladed staff.

Taido

The unique Japanese martial art known as Taido has its own style. Taido consists of various attacks either hidden within or mixed into flying acrobatic movements.

It also incorporates elements of dance into the teachings, which many consider it Japan’s version of Capoeira. This martial art emphasizes blending fluid and dynamic movements for self-defense and personal development.

Yabusame

Yabusame is another form of Japanese archery that has been practiced for centuries. In this style of archery, students learn to shoot arrows while riding horseback.

Practitioners aim to hit various targets as they zoom past them at high-speed on a horse. If you’ve seen any movie or anime where samurais are shooting arrows while riding a horse, you’ve seen Yabusame.

Shadowboxing is one of the most important types of training performed in combat sports. If you train in a striking art, you must learn how to shadowbox properly.

Here is our complete how-to guide to shadowboxing. Detailing important tips you must remember to improve your skills more rapidly.

What is Shadowboxing?

The art of shadowboxing is the act of performing striking techniques alone. Picturing an opponent in front of you and visualizing your techniques landing on your important.

This form of training was developed in boxing and was adopted within every combat sport with striking. It is a form of training that is generally used as a warm-up.

Moving around and performing striking techniques at a moderate to fast pace. It’s the perfect way to prepare for boxing or Muay Thai class by moving around and sharpening your technique.

All top athletes, from the amateur to pro level, perform shadowboxing in their training. If you want to improve your technique while getting a good warm-up, then you should be shadowboxing ritualistically.

Common Errors For Shadowboxing

There are many boxing students, both beginner and advanced, that make a variety of mistakes while shadowboxing. Here are some of the most common errors you should avoid when learning how to shadowbox.

Dropping Hands 

Not keeping your hands up might be the biggest mistake both beginners making when they first learn how to shadowbox. Even pros make this common mistake.

Making this mistake breaks the first rule of fighting, which is to protect yourself at all times.

Your hands must be either glued to your head or in front of your face to defend against incoming strikes. All striking coaches of any background will tell you this.

Not Footwork 

Some beginners have this perception that throwing punches is just moving your arms. They practice zero footwork and just wildly swing their arms.

In a fight, your feet constantly move to set up balanced attacks and defend yourself. Keep light feet to move fluidly into your combos with better technique and speed.

Looking at the Ground 

Looking at the ground is a no-no in any striking sport. If you’re looking at the ground while sparring, you won’t see any of the strikes coming.

Your opponent is going to hit you at will. Look at their chest or midsection to better see your opponent’s incoming strikes.

Keeping Chin Up

Keeping your chin up is a bad mistake boxing practitioners of all skill levels make. They will either keep their chin up in their stance, or it will gradually lift up when your throw punches. 

Remember to keep your chin tucked and behind your guards when you’re learning how to shadowbox.

Just focusing on Offense

Many boxing and Muay Thai students out there will focus on offense when learning how to shadowbox. Spending an entire round just throwing fast combos without using defensive tactics.

When you’re learning how to shadowbox, you mimic how you would move in a real fight. You must work on your offensive and defensive techniques to improve your fighting skills.

Bad Combos

Have you ever seen somebody shadowbox and throw some of the most ridiculous combos you have ever seen? Many beginners just learning how to shadowbox don’t understand that there are good striking combos and bad striking combos.

When you shadowbox or hit the bag/mitts, you have to focus on throwing good combos that are practical. Clean and fast combos that you have a higher statistical chance of landing on your opponent.

Closing Your Eyes

Some beginners have a bad habit of closing their eyes when they box. No matter if it’s when they’re going over how to shadowbox, bag work, or sparring.

They will either close their eyes as they punch or when an opponent’s punch is coming toward them. You can’t hit what you don’t see, so keep your eyes open while practicing striking.

Not Breathing

If you constantly get gassed when you shadow, you might think it’s because you have bad cardio. The real problem could actually be that you aren’t breathing during shadowboxing rounds.

When you’re a beginner first learning how to shadowbox, you don’t understand the importance of proper breathing. You must keep a constant breathing rhythm when you practice a combat sport. This will enable you to fight for longer and have better technique.

Throwing Too Hard

When people first start learning how to shadowbox, some of them forget that they’re not hitting anything. They will throw punches as hard as they can at the air.

Doing this will lead to you throwing your arm out and damaging your elbow or shoulder. That’s why you focus on speed over power while shadowboxing.

Keeping Mouth Open

Keeping your mouth open is a shadowboxing mistake you must avoid for good reason. If you are sparring with your mouth open and get hit, there’s a higher risk of severe injury.

You could break your jaw, break your teeth, or bite your tongue. Painful injuries that you can avoid by keeping your mouth shut.

Bad Aim

Working on your aim is important to understand as you learn how to shadowbox. You have to visualize where your punches are landed. Many novice boxers will pay no attention to where their punches are landing.

Then when they get to sparring, they will have no idea why their punches aren’t landing in the correct places. Always work on your aim and visualize hitting the targets while shadowboxing.

Being Lazy

Then there are others that are learning how to shadowbox, who just don’t take it seriously. They will just go through the motions and wait it out until they can hit a bag.

If this is you, then you are severely handicapping the growth of your skills. You must take shadowboxing seriously and act like you’re in a fight.

Tips On How To Shadowbox

Everyone can make their shadowboxing form better with just a few tweaks Here are some tips to remember when you shadowbox.

Keep Hands Up 

It’s the number one rule of all striking martial arts. Always keep your guard up and be prepared for any incoming attacks. Never forget this rule as you first start learning how to shadowbox.

Keep Chin Down 

When you practice a striking martial art, your opponent will target your chin. That is why you must keep your chin down and hands in front of your face. Making this correction will save you from being knocked out.

Use a Mirror 

The best tool that you can use to improve your shadowboxing is to use a mirror. A mirror tells no lies and will show you all the mistakes you make as you learn how to shadowbox. You will be able to correct your mistakes in real-time and keep moving.

Picture an Opponent in Front of You 

When learning how to shadowbox, visualization is extremely important. As you get more experienced, you will understand the importance of visualization during shadowboxing. You have to picture an opponent in front of you and begin game-planning for them.

Seeing where their weaknesses are and how you can set up your combos. This is an important tip that the top pros remember when they’re shadowboxing.

Breathe

In any fighting sport, you have to keep a constant breathing rhythm. Whenever you’re training, always remind yourself to breathe. This will help improve your cardio so you can fight for a longer period at a high pace.

Stay Loose

You must remember to stay loose while moving around when you’re shadowboxing. If you stay tight and rigid, all your movements will be slow and robotic. Keep losing and only tighten up as you’re throwing your combos.

Work on Your Defense

As you gradually figure out how to shadowbox isn’t just to practice your offense but also your defense. This is the time when you can see if your hand placement is correct, along with your slips and dips.

When you shadowbox, you should simulate it like a fight, throwing combos and defending your opponent’s attacks.

Break a Sweat

Shadowboxing should be treated just like any other part of training. This is where you get your heart rate up and enter fight mode. Put as much energy into your shadowboxing rounds as any other part of training.

Ways to Implement Shadowboxing Into Your Workouts

Shadowboxing is a workout on its known, but it can be implemented into any routine. Here are some ways that you can implement it into your training routines.

Mixing Shadowboxing Into Warm-Ups & Movement Drills 

The great thing about shadowboxing is that you can insert them into just about any warm-up or movement drill. You could do anything from mixing it in with side shuffling or rapidly switching between being offensive and defensive. The possibilities are nearly endless.

Shadowbox w/ Dumbbells 

If you want to mix your technical work with a strength workout, you can shadowbox with dumbbells. Adding dumbbells to your shadowboxing rounds can either increase your speed or power. Depending on the weights of the dumbbells you use.

Use Elastic Bands

Elastic bands are diverse pieces of training equipment that can improve your skills in various ways. You can put elastic bands around your arms or hands as you shadowbox.

Putting them around your arms can increase your punch speed while keeping your guards closed. If you put bands around your legs, you will strengthen your legs and fix your feet positioning. The bands will force you to keep your legs shoulder width apart.

Shadowboxing & Circuit Training

Shadowboxing is so effective that many conditioning coaches implement it into different circuit training workouts. For example, one fighter could be doing a weight-lifting exercise, and the other is shadowboxing at a high pace.

Sharpen Your Technique

Learning how to shadowbox is an important part of your training, where you sharpen your technique and fix errors. Follow the tips above, and you will eventually look like a pro when you shadowbox.

The Judo belt system is the original martial arts ranking system created by Jigoro Kano. It is the first belt system and one of the most difficult to complete.

This is our breakdown of the Judo belt system. Detailing how it was created, the significance of each rank, and examples of the belt tests.

What is the Judo Belt System?

The Judo belt system consists of seven different ranks. Starting at  your Judo journey at the white belt and then spending years working up to the rank of black belt 

• White Belt: Rokkyu 
• Yellow Belt: Gokyu
• Orange Belt: Yonkyu
• Green Belt: Sankyu
• Blue Belt: Nikyu
• Brown Belt: Ikkyu
• Black Belt: Shodan

The History of the Judo Belt System

The Judo belt system is actually the original martial art belt system. Before this system was introduced, most martial arts did not use a ranking system.

Students would train under their masters until they mastered their style and their master approved them to teach. Jigoro Kano wanted a way to differentiate Judo teachers from the students.

This would lead Kano to create the original Judo belt system, which consisted of two belts—white belts for students and black belts for instructors.

Problems with the Original Judo Belt System

While the original Judo belt system was a good idea, it did have its flaws. The most obvious was that having all the students wear white did not show their ability differences.

One white belt starting should not be ranked next to a student with years of training. This would lead Kano to begin expanding his Judo belt system.

He would gradually add more ranks between the white and black belts. Marking each rank with a different color, name, and significance.

The Judo Belt Tests are Created

To further add to the structure of the Judo system, belt tests for each rank would be created. For students to prove that they are ready to be promoted, they must undergo a test of knowledge.

The tests are a way for Judo students to demonstrate their knowledge of certain techniques and how to perform them. These tests would start easy and then gradually increase in difficulty with each rank.

Are There Ranks Beyond The Colored Ranks?

The colored ranks are the first stage of the Judo belt system. After you become a black belt, your journey through the dan ranks begins.

There are ten ranks of black belt that a Karate student could potentially earn.

• 1rst Grade: Shodan
• 2nd Grade: Nidan
• 3rd Grade: Sandan
• 4th Grade: Yandan
• 5th Grade: Godan
• 6th Grade: Rokudan(Red or Black w/ White)
• 7th Grade: Shichidan(Red or Black w/ White)
• 8th Grade: Hachidan(Black or Red & White)
• 9th Grade: Kudan(Red or Black)
• 10th Grade: Judan(Red or Black)

It takes between 3 to 5 years to receive your first promotion in the black belt ranks. This time frame is then doubled for each of the next higher ranks.

The Judo Belt Test

In order to receive a promotion in Judo, students must pass a belt test. Here are some examples of what a standard Judo belt test looks like.

The White Belt Test 

Nage-Waza

• Osoto-Gari
• Osoto-Otoshi
• Uki Goshi
• O-Goshi
• Tsuri-Goshi
• Ippon Seoi-Nage
• Deashi-Barai
• Tai-Otoshi
• Ouchi-Gari
• Kouchi-Gari
• Kosoto-Gake

Ukemi

• Zempo-Ukemi
• Koho-Ukemi
• Yoko-Ukemi
• Zempo-Kaiten

Ne-Waza

• Kesa-Gatame
• Kuzure Kesa-Gatame
• Yoko-Shiho-Gatame
• Kesa-Gatame Escapes(2)
• Yoko-Shiho-Gatame Escapes(2)

The Yellow Belt Test 

Nage-Waza

• Morote-Seoi-Nage
• O-Goshi
• Uki Goshi
• Tsuri Goshi
• Koshi-Guruma
• Sode-Tsurj-Komi-Goshi
• Tsuri-Komi-Goshi
• Sasae-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi
• Tsubame-Gaeshi
• Okuri-Ashi-Barai
• Kosoto-Gake
• Kosoto-Gari
• Kouchi-Gari
• Kouchi-Gake

Ukemi

• Zempo-Ukemi
• Koho-Ukemi
• Yoko-Ukemi
• Zempo-Kaiten

Ne-Waza

• Kami-Shio-Gatame & Escapes
• Kuzure Kesa-Gatame & Escapes
• Tate-Shio-Gatame & Escapes
• Nami-Juji-Jime
• Gyaku-Juji-Jime
• Kata-Juji-Jime
• Juji-Gatame

The Orange Belt Test 

Nage-Waza

• Harai-Goshi
• Kata-Guruma
• Uki-Otoshi
• Tani-Otoshi
• Tsuri-Komi-Goshi
• Sode-Tsuri-Komi-Goshi
• Hiza-Guruma
• Sukui-Nage
• Tomoe-Nage
• Uki-Waza
• Osoto-Guruma

Ne-Waza

• Kata-Gatame
• Ushiro-Kesa-Gatame
• Hadaka-Jime
• Kata-Ha-Jime
• Okuri-Eri-Jime
• Sode-Guruma-Jime
• Ude-Garami
• Ude-Hishigi-Ude-Gatame
• Waki-Gatame

Counters & Mixes

• Nage-No-Kata to Koshi Waza
• Harai Goshi Counter Against Osoto Gari
• Counter Tana-Otoshi
• Ouchi-Gari to Neoi-Sage & Vice-Versa
• Seoi Nage to Kesa-Gatame 

The Green Belt Test 

Nage-Waza

• Uchi-Mata
• Hane-Goshi
• Ushiro-Goshi
• Ashi-Guruma
• Harai-Tsurikomi-Ashi
• Morote-Gari
• Hikkomi-Gaeshi
• Sumi-Gaeshi
• Kuchiki-Taoshi
• Kibisu-Gaeshi
• Ouchi-Gaeshi

Ne-Waza

• Ryote-Jime
• Tsukkomi-Jime
• Hiza-Gatame
• Sankaku-Jime

The Blue Belt Test 

Nage-Waza

• Sumi-Otoshi
• O-Guruma
• Yoko-Wakare
• Yoko-Gake
• Yoko-Otoshi
• Yoko-Guruma
• Uchi-Mata-Sukashi
• Harai-Makikomi
• Osoto-Makikomi
• Uchi-Makikomi
• Soto-Makikomi

Ne-Waza

• Koshi-Jime
• Hara-Gatame

The Brown Belt Test 

Nage-Waza

• Utsuri-Goshi
• Ura-Nage
• Tawara-Gaeshi
• Daki-Age
• Obi-Otoshi
• Yama-Arashi
• Daki-Wakare
• Hane-Makikomi
• Uchi-Mata-Gaeshi
• Hane-Goshi-Gaeshi
• Harai-Goshi-Gaeshi
• Kouchi-Gaeshi

Ne-Waza

• Utsuri-Goshi
• Ura-Nage
• Tawara-Gaeshi
• Daki-Age
• Obi-Otoshi
• Yama-Arashi
• Dake-Wakare
• Hane-Mikikomi
• Uchi-Mata-Mikikomi
• Uchi-Mata-Gaeshi
• Hane-Goshi-Gaeshi
• Harai-Goshi-Gaeshi
• Kouchi-Gaeshi

The Black Belt Test

The black belt test is the last and hardest test within the Judo belt system. Black belt candidates undergo extensive tests to demonstrate their knowledge of Judo.

These tests include demonstrating techniques from all ranks and combinations of these different techniques. Also, including nage-waza or ground techniques.

Randori (Sparring)

In order to be promoted through the Judo belt system, students must participate in Randori (sparring). Live rounds against teammates, where they attempt techniques against a resisting opponent, who is also trying to throw them.

The number of Randori rounds depends on the school a student attends and what test they’re doing. As Judo students get higher in rank, the rounds of Randori they must do goes up.

How Long Does it Take to Complete the Judo Belt System?

On average, it takes a Judo student between 8-10 years to complete the Judo belt system and earn a black belt. Again, this is just the average time if a Judo student that consistently.

The time could be less or more depending on various factors, from how often someone trains and talent.

What Other Martial Arts Were Inspired by the Judo Belt System? 

The Judo belt system inspired numerous martial arts to develop their own belt system. Further structuring the system of their style like Judo had done.

Some of the martial arts that developed their own belts systems include:

• Karate Belt Order
• Taekwondo Belt Levels
• Aikido
• Hapkido
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt System