INTRODUCTION AND MEANING
He fourth dan of judois known in Japan as Yondan. In some places you can see the dan room named as lit instead of yondan, although in Japan they tend to avoid it, since the term Four shi referring to the number is homophonous to die shi referring to “death.” Therefore, to avoid negative associations, instead of shi it is preferred to use a to refer to the number four.
Yondantranslated from Japanese means «fourth step». the word a means “fourth” and And It means “grade”, “rank” or “step”.
At this level, importance also begins to be given to Take note “the job.” Obviously it is still important This “the body”, since judo is a system based on practice, so the result of it must also be evaluated. And although he Shin “The mind” does not become the most important, it is important that the three aspects are always present.
In this way we see that although the exam is technical and knowledge-based, commitment to judo and others is also valued. May your attitude be an example worthy of the degrees you are obtaining.
As in previous degrees we have a black belt, which we can change or keep the same. Many keep their usual training belt since they are first dan, since after so many years of practice it may look somewhat worn, something of which some judokas feel proud, thus showing all the years of dedication in this martial art.
If you are one of those who want your belt to accumulate years with you, it is also always good to have a well-maintained and newer belt for training or more formal courses. Because as we said, attitude is important, and within that attitude comes keeping your material in good condition as a form of respect for your classmates and teachers.
Each time one advances in dan, it becomes more common to find judokas with lines embroidered on one of the ends of the belt to show their degree.
Initial tips:
- Research the history and philosophy of judo: This advice that I give, although it is not strictly necessary, I do believe that it is of great help, since delving into the history and philosophy of your martial art makes you feel more connected and inspired to evolve.
- Manage stress: At this point you may have a job and a busy life, if you add the preparation for the fourth dan it can generate some stress. You must understand that everything will come in its time, it is about enjoying daily practice.
- Manage your time: Use your time well to get the most out of your workouts. Get organized well.
- Surround yourself with great teachers: Attend courses and seminars and learn from as many teachers as you can to form your judo and inspire you to continue evolving.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Single exam:
- Age: 27 years old (minimum 24 years old if you obtain good results in competition* and meet the rest of the requirements)
- Minimum time: 5 years of third dan (5 licenses) – (4 if for competition*)
- Hours: (500h) Certificate of practice hours signed by a national coach (400h per competition*).
*To be able to participate via competition, it is necessary to have obtained a total of 40 points or to be a High Performance athlete listed in the BOE or BOJA, or to obtain a medal in the individual Spanish Championship.
Ippon is 10 points, Waza-ari is 7 and for participating 4 points.
It is advisable to consult with your coach or regional federation if they have any specific requirements or modifications to the ages and length of stay.
METHOD OF OBTAINING
To obtain the fourth dan we have to take an exam before a panel of national teachers. This exam is carried out annually in each autonomous community. During the exam, your theoretical knowledge, technical mastery and execution of the kata will be evaluated.
Currently (2024) continuous assessment courses cannot be taken from fourth grade onwards, so we only have the option of taking the single exam. The possibility of taking courses with a total duration of 36 hours to obtain them is being considered, although it is not being carried out yet.
EXAM STRUCTURE
RESOURCES AND NOTEBOOKS
All the federation resources you need are available in the resources section of our website. Like belt program tables to download.
To prepare for an exam, it is advisable to take notes and notes, in addition to using support material.
At Chishiki Judo, we offer specialized notebooks to help you with:
- Organize your notes and structure your study.
- Learn the fundamentals effectively.
- Master the kime-no-kata with precision.
We have the notebook ideal for every need:
- Workbook: To organize your notes and guide you in preparation.
- Fundamentals notebook: For a clear and concise study.
- Kata notebooks: With detailed analysis.
- Complete fourth dan pack: All the notebooks in one for your convenience.
Why choose Chishiki Judo notebooks?
- Created by judokas for judokas.
- Updated content and adapted to the official program.
- Practical and easy-to-use format.
- Attractive and motivating designs.
