British Judo’s separate Sho scheme covers nine awards for children aged 5–7, before transfer to Mon at 8. Summit’s use of Sho assessments has not been confirmed.

Official British Judo Sho requirements ↗ (external link, opens in a new tab)

Transfer starts at age 8. The coach considers the child’s experience and competence when transferring.

• Sho 1, 2 → Novice
• Sho 3, 4 → 1st Mon
• Sho 5, 6, 7 → 2nd Mon
• Sho 8, 9 → 3rd Mon

The linked Mon/Kyu PDFs allow an optional transfer from 14 and require transfer at 18. The Mon webpage still says 16; confirm the applicable route with the club.

• Mon 1, 2 → Novice
• Mon 3, 4, 5 → 6th Kyu
• Mon 6, 7, 8 → 5th Kyu
• Mon 9, 10, 11 → 4th Kyu
• Mon 12, 13, 14 → 3rd Kyu
• Mon 15, 16, 17 → 2nd Kyu
• Mon 18 → 1st Kyu

A coach may assess the missing Mon grades before conversion where appropriate. Do not assume that one or two tags preserve the same belt colour on transfer.

Summit’s existing guidance says assessment can take place during lessons or at a separate session, with a coach checking readiness. Speak to a club coach about the scheme, assessment arrangements and current registration cost.

The previous page says club coaches assess up to 18th Mon / 1st Kyu and that a registration charge applies after a successful grading. The club should confirm current examiner qualifications, costs and arrangements before assessment.

Club review needed: the old page lists waiting periods, twice-yearly grading and fixed Hampshire/AWE months without a current confirmation. These have not been presented as current rules or dates. The old claim that Mon and Kyu syllabuses are identical also needs correction against the current linked documents.

Sources checked 13 October 2026. The January 2026 Dan syllabus supersedes the archived versions. The linked Mon/Kyu PDFs have differing webpage, revision and effective-date wording; those distinctions are recorded here.

Mon effective date

The Mon full syllabus cover says Revised January 2025, but its introduction says effective January 2024.

Identify the linked document as the revised January 2025 syllabus; retain the conflicting printed effective date in source metadata.

Mon band 7 9 cover date

The current 7th–9th Mon booklet link and filename say January 2025, while the booklet cover says October 2024.

Its requirements agree with the corresponding grades in the full January 2025 syllabus. Display the printed booklet version accurately.

Mon transfer age

The Mon webpage says optional Kyu conversion starts at 16; the linked Mon PDF and Kyu scheme permit it from 14.

Use 14 as the documented syllabus eligibility, disclose the webpage discrepancy and ask the coach to confirm.

Mune gatame translation

A Mon grade table gives Mune-gatame the English meaning of Osoto-otoshi. The terminology appendix and Kyu booklet identify it as a chest hold.

Use chest hold; this is supported by the official appendix and matching Kyu syllabus.

Waza ari translation

The 7th Mon table labels Waza-ari-awasete-ippon as Almost Ippon. The appendix and current contest rules describe ippon from two waza-ari.

Use two waza-ari combine for ippon, consistent with the official appendix and current rules.

Kyu 4 checklist personal choice

A linked 4th Kyu checklist reduces personal choice to one standing technique and one hold. The full January 2025 syllabus and grade booklet require two standing techniques and one groundwork technique.

Use the full syllabus and matching grade booklet. Earlier example or checklist requirements are not used.

Kyu 1 duplicate san gaku

The 1st Kyu technique table lists San-gaku-jime twice.

Show the named technique once; preserve every distinct technique and all application requirements.

San gaku wording

The British Judo terminology appendix uses triangular hold-down for San-gaku-gatame and triangular strangle and hold-down for San-gaku-osae-gatame; these labels can be confused with related triangle arm-lock terminology.

Retain the exact Japanese syllabus terms and label the English gloss as BJA wording. A coach should clarify the intended demonstration.

Osoto gake meaning

Osoto-gake is explicitly offered as an alternative in a required combination, but an English gloss was not located in the current linked terminology appendices.

Preserve the required Japanese name in the application text without inventing an English translation.

Transfer registration fees

The Kyu PDF says its registration charge covers all gradings including transfers, but its Mon-conversion section states that conversion has no fee. Mon and Kyu documents also quote different charges for conversion accompanied by missing-grade assessment.

No fee is quoted in the learning guide. Confirm the applicable administrative charge with British Judo and the club.

Estimated completion ages

The Mon webpage suggests completion by 17 or as early as 15; the full PDF suggests 15 or as early as 14. These are estimates, not guaranteed or mandatory completion ages.

Avoid promising a completion date. Use the syllabus eligibility, competence and minimum intervals.

1st Sho assisted breakfall wording

The assisted rear-breakfall instructions refer both to one hand and to both hands. The guide uses a coached overview instead of resolving the physical instruction.

Use the source-qualified overview and confirm detailed assessment with the club coach.

O-soto-otoshi English label

This booklet uses “Major body drop”. Preserve that source wording when reporting it; do not treat different English translations as different techniques.

Use the source-qualified overview and confirm detailed assessment with the club coach.

4th Sho inconsistent stage heading

One assisted-breakfall heading says Stage 4; the checklist and following heading place it at Stage 1. The six-stage checklist determines the guide order.

Use the source-qualified overview and confirm detailed assessment with the club coach.

5th Sho inconsistent Yuko description

Its heading and accompanying explanation give different landing descriptions for Yuko. The guide does not assert a precise landing criterion from this inconsistent passage.

Use the source-qualified overview and confirm detailed assessment with the club coach.

Foot-sweep spelling in Sho booklets

The linked Sho booklets spell the sweep De-ashi-bari, with an additional spelling variation in the fifth booklet. Keep source provenance; do not invent an additional technique.

Use the source-qualified overview and confirm detailed assessment with the club coach.

8th Sho pull activity repeats push wording

The section headed TO PULL repeats the push/backwards instructions. The overview names the checklist activity and refers detailed physical instruction to the coach.

Use the source-qualified overview and confirm detailed assessment with the club coach.

Current British Judo version

Use the BJA syllabus effective 1 January 2026 and the documents linked by the current scheme page. October 2024 is explicitly archived; July 2025 drafts/search results are superseded. Forms with Oct 2025 filenames are still linked for the current scheme.

Existing candidates may have transition rights

2026 grandfather arrangements can preserve completed assessments, points/time or earlier kata evidence. Some 3rd–5th-Dan candidates who began points before 2026 may complete 100 during 2026 instead of the normal 120. The 6th-Dan guide also protects specified pre 2026 kata evidence. Have British Judo check the individual record rather than applying a blanket exception.

High-grade authority wording needs care

The BJA introduction names IJF for 7th Dan, while its detailed table identifies EJU approval. The dedicated 7th+ guide describes BJA review then EJU/IJF referral. Sixth-Dan documents also use both Board and Judo Commission approval wording. Describe national/continental/international review without presenting the club as the awarding authority.

Confirm the international recognition process

Current IJF 2026 documents introduce recognition and contribution/presentation rules that differ from the BJA scheme still linked today. For example, IJF 7th Dan includes Itsutsu-no-kata, whereas the BJA high-grade list names six other kata. Keep this guide labelled as the published British Judo scheme; ask the national grading authority to confirm applicable international requirements before a high-grade application.

10th Dan is an exceptional nomination

The age/time figures in the BJA summary do not make 10th Dan a scheduled personal grading. Current IJF rules restrict nominations to institutions/Executive Committee members and make the award an exceptional Executive Committee decision.

Technical age/time depends on route and category

A–D activity categories produce 5–8-year intervals for a fully technical progression. The first technical promotion after a competitive Dan follows its competitive waiting period. Technical categories are not identical to high-grade categories. The official tables and assessor determine the applicable category.

Future event licensing date

The BJA page announces promotion-examination licences from 1 January 2027. This is an event-organiser requirement beginning after this guide’s 13 October 2026 check, not a current extra personal grade requirement.