Rank Sturcture

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Structure of the Junior Rank System There are 20 junior ranks in the USA Judo Junior Judo Rank System. They are listed below with the titles, belt colors, and time in grade necessary for promotion and minimum age requirements, if any.
Rank	Belt Color	Time Requirement
Junior 1^st Degree	Yellow	3 mo. as white belt
Junior 2^nd Degree	Yellow with one -½ inch black stripe on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 1^st
Junior 3^rd Degree	Yellow with two -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 2nd
Junior 4^th Degree	Yellow with three -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 3rd
Junior 5^th Degree	Orange	3 mo. as Jr. 4^th
Junior 6^th Degree	Orange with one -½ inch black stripe on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 5th
Junior 7^th Degree	Orange with two -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 6th
Junior 8^th Degree	Orange with three -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 7th
Junior 9^th Degree	Green	3 mo. as Jr. 8^th
Junior 10^th Degree	Green with one -½ inch black stripe on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 9th
Junior 11^th Degree	Green with two -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 10th
Junior 12^th Degree	Green with three -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 11th
Junior 13^th Degree	Blue	3 mo. as Jr. 12^th
Junior 14^th Degree	Blue with one -½ inch black stripe on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 13th
Junior 15^th Degree	Blue with two -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 14th
Junior 16^th Degree	Blue with three -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 15th
Junior 17^th Degree	Purple	3 mo. as Jr. 16^th
Junior 18^th Degree	Purple with one -½ inch black stripe on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 17th
Junior 19^th Degree	Purple with two -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 18th
Junior 20^th Degree	Purple with three -½ inch black stripes on both ends of the belt, three inches from the ends	3 mo. as Jr. 19th
Minimum Age: There is no minimum age to be registered and promoted in the USA Judo Junior Judo Rank System below Junior 8^th Degree. However, to be promoted to Junior 9^th Degree, the Judo student must be at least 13 years of age and less than 17 years of age. Time In Grade Requirements: In this system it is possible for a student to be promoted four times each year (three months per promotion). This means that a junior who begins practice at the age of five can attain 12 ranks within three years. This means it is possible for a junior to attain the Junior 12^th Degree by the age of eight or nine. Since the student cannot be promoted to Junior 9^th Degree until the age of 13 it is important that all coaches manage rank promotions in a timely manner. Note: After a student is 13 years of age, and is promoted to Junior 9^th Degree, he or she can reach the highest rank in the system, Junior 20^th Degree, in two more years, by the age of 15. Promotions to senior ranks are permitted from the age of 13 or 14 in special cases where the student competes in senior events. Conversion From Junior To Senior Ranks: The USA Judo Junior Judo Rank System recommends the following conversions from Junior to Senior rank: Junior 4th = Rokyu (Yellow) Junior 8th = Gokyu (Orange) Junior 12th = Yonkyu (Green) Junior 16th = Sankyu (3rd Grade Brown) Junior 20th = Nikkyu (2nd Grade Brown) Note: Grades of Ikkyu and Dan are reserved for the Senior Rank System.