Junior grades are two belts lower then that of a senior. When reaching 16 years of age all judokas become seniors although there is an intermediate period between 16 and 18 years of age to allow juniors time to make the transition between training with and competing against juniors to competing against adults.
Whilst the standard for juniors at the higher grades is still very high and especially so for Dan grades, juniors are allowed to make more mistakes, perhaps given more time to think and maybe even some pointers and reminders. To achieve a Senior Dan grade the standard is that much more where everything needs to be as near perfect as possible with no help given at all. It is for this reason that there is a difference in grades and why there is a need to re-grade.
Juniors do not have to grade for a senior grade at 16 but are free to do so if they and their coach feels they are ready. Juniors are also permitted to continue to wear their junior grade until they are 18 years of age where the senior equivalent must be worn or a senior grading must be taken.
An example of how the transition may work is if a junior black belt is awarded the senior equivalent then they will wear a Blue belt. If they go up a grade during then they will then be awarded and wear a Brown Belt and only a jump of two whole belts will entitle a Junior black to continue to wear the black belt they were awarded as a junior - difficult but achievable.
It is worth noting that Seniors do not have Tags and therefore each belt becomes a simple pass of fail. However from green onwards the grading examiner can award a lower green or lower blue etc which can then be converted in to a higher or full green, blue or brown at the next grading.
The transition between Junior and Senior can be an easy one for some and difficult for others. Some Juniors initially struggle as senior level because of the difference in physicality and ability but everyone has the potential to make the step up with just a little bit of ability to adapt.
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