Dan Grade Theory Course

Southern Area Dan Grade Theory Course

This practical mat-based course is suitable for players graded 1^st kyu to 4^th dan preparing for competitive and technical dan grade skills assessments. Competitive and technical skills examinations will be conducted during the course, but you will need to have completed some prior preparation if you wish to be examined on the day. To be examined on the day, you must have selected your Performance Skills techniques (Sections 3 to 5) before attending. Players are of course welcome to attend the course and arrange examination at a later date. The course fee includes the examination, so anyone preferring to be examined at a later date may make suitable arrangements with the examiners.

Please bring a pen and notebook, zori and a packed lunch. If you would like to be examined on the day, you must also bring your completed Candidate Supplementary Exam Sheet. Tea and coffee will be available. Food is also available for purchase locally (5 min walk from the venue).

Course Content

• Sections 1 and 2: Fundamental Skills
• The 20 Kodokan techniques required for 1^st and 2^nd dan (at a minimum) will be covered. The techniques covered will be tailored to the grades of players attending the course.
• Sections 3, 4 and 5: Performance Skills
• A variety of examples of combinations, counters, escapes, complex entries and transitions from nage-waza to katame-waza will be demonstrated. A workshop-style format will be used to support players to develop their own performance skills, or to practise their chosen skills if these have been selected before attending the course.
• Competitive and Technical Skills Examinations 

Please note that the kata requirements for grading will not be covered during the course. If you would like to be examined for L1 or L2 nage-no-kata or katame-no-kata on the day, please let us know in advance.

Please note that you must register online via the link above. We are unable to accept email or telephone entries. Please direct any enquiries to Dave Stanley at [email protected] or 01322 663597.

Dan grading resources and documents are available in the Dan Grade Scheme section of the British Judo website.

The course will be run by Dave Stanley, 7th Dan – Senior Examiner, John Malkinson, 5th Dan – Senior Examiner, Kata Examiner and James Lewis, 4th Dan – Senior Examiner 

10:00 to 16:00 booking-in 0930
£30.00 

Closing date for online registration: Monday 28th September 2026. No bookings will be taken after this date.