I turned 40 in october. Spent my life studying martial arts because I couldn't physically do so due to a heart defect. it still amazes me every time I look at my Orange belt to see how far I've developed since starting a year ago.

PHD in Judo. You are a true living Legend.

Good timing. Yesterday, a coral belt instructor visited our school and gave us a really in depth class.

When my uncle passed he was a red belt, 9th dan. He committed over 60 years of his life to judo and the martial arts. He had numerous accolades to his name, black belt hall of fame twice, air force championships, he even had a day named after from the city he lived in. Was he an innovator on the mats? I don't know, but he trained high level competitors and even Olympians. He was one of the guys to help spread judo in the United States. I don't think it's just about innovation but how you change people's lives, change the community for the better.

4:16 you represent your coral belt in a great way. I really love your videos, how you share your knowledge and help us improving ourselves every day again 🙇🥋

interesting take on rank... thanks. Seems that with every promotion I received I came to understand just how much I DIDN'T know and understand about my art. Once promoted to Sho-Dan I realized that my learning journey was now only just beginning.

I just turned 47 and I am going to pick up judo. I have spent half my life training, TKD and 2 different styles of japanese Jui Jitsu. The learning is what drives, me but i find real satisfaction in learning through teaching. When you really get to understand the mechanics of techniques and can communicate it to students like it was communicated to you by your master. I was fortunate to enough to train under a grand master from korea for TKD who had dedicated his entire life to the art and do JJJ with an instructor who trained in japan. So now at 47 I think it is time to learn more and take on a new challenge. Judo is going to be it. Maybe i will find another 25 years of absolute enjoyment.

...that gi is SOOO CLEAN yo!...

"I don't want to say that." Master class in effective and considerate communication right there Sensei Higashi. 🙏

Thats awesome you got to do randori with another red and white belt. Its a mark of pride and you should take great pleasure in both your achievement but also the rare experience of competing with someone else at your level, even if it was just at the end of a class. Very cool story :)

I love hearing knowledgeable and passionate people talk about their field of expertise, whatever that might be, but especially in things that I enjoy doing, such as judo. My current sensei is an eighth Dan and I enjoy his explanations as much as I enjoy sensei Higashi's. Thank you so much for your contribution to the sport!

I started judo last February at the age of 33 and at first thought that as i was told we do 2 gradings a year at our dojo, i could technically be a black within 3. Then i realised how much more effort has to be put in after green, which i completely respect. I now have decided, when i get to green (next belt) i will stop grading for a while and work on improving myself before i rush to keep grading.

Damn you look great for almost 40.

Your contributions have been out standing. Keep up the Judo Revival 👍🙌✊🥋

Years ago I was in town and stopped at my old dojo. I didn't have my black belt on me so I was looking to borrow one. My old instructor told me to grab his "other" black belt from his bag. It was his coral belt. I was like, there's no way I'm putting that on.

Now I know why I love your channel! Great explanation.

My instructor also wears his coral belt when he randori's. Love your videos.

Very cool explanation! I saw some videos from Bernie Lau who does Aiki-jujitsu and former cop. He created his own variation of aiki-jujitsu. He and his top instructors work black and white coral belts. Also very cool!😎

I have had the privilege of training under Shintaro and his father since 2001. There is no finer place to learn the arts. We call his father "Soke" which means "Founder of Family." KBI has been and always will be a family to me.

When I was doing judo way back in the '80s I was aware, or thought I was aware, that there was an 11th and 12th Dan grade which was a white belt. It represented life coming full circle like starting over again. But perhaps these grades never existed but I understood they did. Thanks for the video. Good work.

I really wish Judo was bigger in my area, enough to where I can volunteer at Judo events and come into other practitioners of some tangible skill.

Congratulations on this accomplishment and many more to come sensei oss🥋

Well spoken Shintaro

Thanks!! Great explanation on your viewpoint.

紅白帯おめでとうございます。私は去年初段を取ったので二段に向けて頑張ります。

I have a kohaku belt in a presentation box waiting for me. It helps me to stay focused on my path (the '-do' in "judo"). One day I might get there. Jita Kyoei all the way!

The story of you and Mikhail Kozitskiy is really cool. At the Sambo FIAS coach certification seminar he was still doing front hand spring warm ups. I couldn’t believe it. I wish I could have seen y’all’s randori.

I met one coral belt at a national tournament 25 years ago. I thought it was super cool.

this is outstanding!

Your Dad cannot do harai goshi anymore yet he loves it more than any guy who can do it. I think there is something profoundly spiritual going on there, which I don't quite get at the moment. Maybe I will when I am 82.

Hello!) I just want to say "Thank You!" for your work at Tbilisi GS. Really, Good Work! It was some kind like "Fresh Stream". JudoTv needs it, imho. n.b. There was a commetaiting in my native language, too. But your was much better. p.s. And one more time - Thank You!

I always try to explain it to people. I was 42 when I started Judo. I had already done just about everything else, started at 11. My sensei was 17. But he started at 7. National Competitor, 3rd dan, and now National Coach until 2025.

Great video, thank you sir.

Don't forget that the USJA awards a black-and-red belt to 4th and 5th dan before going to red-and-white for 6th and up. My instructor wears his red-and-black belt (he's a godan) all the time just like you do. I didn't realize until recently that some people consider that weird.

Really Great video

Congratulations! 🙏🏾

we have a coral belt who often visits our club, very cool guy

Thanks man

I didn't even know a coral belt existed, probably because your dad always wore a red-and-white belt when I was at your dojo (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). Thanks for sharing!

belt system is designed to motivate, reward and keep ppl practicing and remaining in the system. Many ppl are motivated by external/extrinsic rewards.💁‍♂️. And of course, let’s not forget belts also designate rank/authority, responsibility, and privilege…and to a degree skill (pun not intended), but that’s a super nuanced convo.

You can do judo for 80 years and clock in without contributing anything to the world, and you can do judo for a lot less but selflessly give back. I feel like time isn’t always the best indicator, Shintaro is very young yet gave so much for many many years, and that’s what matters. After all the founder said that the goal was to give back to society not hoarding medals.

i have a tournament coming up do you have any tips?

Traditional Okinawan Karate also uses the coral belt after black, then full red for the highest rank of grandmaster.

I've already asked a coral belt to do randori... He kicked my ass.

I waiting for the inevitable mugger going for a coral belt who left the gym without changing after mistaking him/her for having a children's rank. Jokes aside, grats on climbing the mountain, Higashi Sensei. It is uplifting to see people attaining master instructor with so many years ahead of themselves to practice and teach.

I've never seen a coral belt in Finland. I know there's I think a 9th dan japanese guy in some small village (you can see their name, rank and club on the national list online) who moved to Finland when he was younger and founded the club, he's the highest rank in Finland.

My gym started displaying the Dan rank on both sides of the belt, I am the last 1st Dan with no gold stripes. I am ten years late for my 2nd grading 😢

It’s similar in Okinawa styles right?

What brand gi is that ? Anyone know ?, I have not seen it before

Respect sensei! Oss

OSS Brother

What’s the difference between red and black belt and red and white belt?

Sensei Higashi, are you familiar with the high ranking Judokas from Ajax, Ontario. The Dohertys, father bill 8th Dan, Kevin 7th Dan, Karl 6th..Of course the Hatachita family is pretty well known here also.

I believe Judo has the best ranking system. You must demonstrate knowledge and then apply it at a relevant level. Also it doesn’t take so long, as it often does in BJJ and you know precisely what is expected of you at each rank (exception for Gracie schools). You can train anywhere in the world and still progress, without the stupid mafia like loyalty that applies to most BJJ places. I’m not saying it’s better than BJJ, just it has a better ranking system.

I cant wait until I get my coral belt in bjj. I will be only 90 years old!

Deep down you know if you have earnt it and other can see if you understand it. Osu!

What brand is that Gi? I’m in love with it

Where is that judogi from!?

Everyone that lives long enough to get old gets gray hair. Some deserve it, some it's just time in the system. Some people are better than others in life; they're kinder, they help others, they give, and they'll leave with few regrets. May your belt color be the same thing.

Everyone knows a worn in belt is always better than a crisp one.

I tried BJJ .I always thought,maybe i should have done Judo instead?

You remind me of Teimoc.

I'm 37 and just started judo about two months now and I'm still a white belt 😂

I will be 135 when I get my Coral Belt!!!

My head Sensei has a Coral belt. He is early 70ths and 6th Dan. He mainly coaches now and mostly wears coral belt, but sometimes he joins in and wears the black I only know of one other sensei local that has a coral belt. He is younger, maybe 60, but he was a higher level athlete and started younger Edit Quick Google search, only 6 Judoka have achieved the 6th Dan or higher in the North of Ireland. Still a small number for the amount of Judoka. We are a small country/province, but Judo is still plenty popular and has many clubs with a lot of comps

40 is just tenth-degree 30

Could a 46 year old start judo and earn a blackbelt? I’m not interested in competing? I’m mostly focusing on improving as a martial artist and self defense to incorporate into my BJJ and Kenpo.

"when you reach 10 dan you are so old and broken that you are no longer worth anything" Jon Bluming

If you got em smoke em. Nothing wrong with that.

I have a great respect for your pursuit of self cultivation but as a master you should take seriously the myths and legends which underpin your martial art. For instance you have patron who is composed of ten very different individuals.

First belt after white is a red belt. The last belt you get at the higher level is red so you have effectively gone full circle.

Wait. You’re under 40? I thought you were older than me.

Oh okay, I thought you the American fashion thing.

you wear bjj gi with judo belt - i think this is wrong some way

Do I understand it correctly, that your father didn't care if he ripped someone's knee or shoulder? Damaging your opponent on purpose in randori is shameful behaviour. The dojo is a place for ultimate sportsmanship.

If you are willing to fake your height by about 4 inches, I'd think you'd also fake your degree of belt by 4 as well. Fake judoka.

Your gi doesn’t look legal for judo

You don't necessarily need to be old. I knew a girl who was a world champion representing Japan, and she says she was eligible for 6th dan, just didn't bother getting it because it had a $2k fee and she wasn't interested in teaching. She was pretty elite though, she'd won the all Japan, Judo Grand Slams etc. Oh and she's about 33, but has been retired for half a decade or more

4:16 you represent your coral belt in a great way. I really love your videos, how you share your knowledge and help us improving ourselves every day again 🙇🥋