Fifteen Senshin judoka passed their grading on 20 September, with six achieving Passed with Merit. The successful group progressed through grades from 2nd Mon to 7th Mon.
Red and yellow belt achievements
Henry Sanders passed at 2nd Mon. Fionn Flaherty, Matthew Fleming, Edric Philip George, Gizelle Mariam George and Jack Mannion achieved 4th Mon, with Edric and Gizelle earning merit passes.
Progress through yellow, orange and green
Tom Baynes, Reagan Greener, Sean Kavanagh and Lorcan Testa each passed 5th Mon with merit. Alice Bonito-Bastos, Tomas Bonito-Bastos, Jack Grandjean and Leon Grandjean passed 6th Mon. Saoirse Delaney achieved 7th Mon, the highest grade attained by this group on the day.
Congratulations to all fifteen on their successful assessments and to the six merit recipients on their additional recognition.
Why an assessment is a different kind of challenge
In a contest, a judoka responds to an opponent. During a technical assessment, the task is to demonstrate understanding and perform the required skills. A technique that feels familiar in class still has to be recalled and shown with enough clarity for the assessor to judge it.
That makes grading a useful milestone for athletes with different ambitions. A recreational judoka can work towards a specific technical target without needing to make competition their main focus. A competitor also needs those foundations, even when their weekly goals include contest preparation.
The September results recognised progress at several stages of that learning. Henry's 2nd Mon and Saoirse's 7th Mon were different achievements within the same group of successful assessments. Each belongs to the athlete's own stage, rather than a comparison with the highest grade awarded on the day.
Give the completed step its value
The fifteen passes included nine Passed outcomes and six Passed with Merit. Both are successful results. Merit adds recognition within the assessment; it should not make an ordinary pass feel like an incomplete achievement.
For a young judoka, a new grade provides something tangible to connect with the practice that came before it. The technique work, corrections and repetition now have a recognised milestone. That can make an otherwise gradual process easier for the child and family to see.
It is useful to ask what the athlete understands better after preparing. They may describe a movement, the name of a technique or a detail that helped them perform it more consistently. The answer gives the grade meaning beyond the belt itself.
The next session still matters
Passing does not mean a technique has been perfected for every situation. Skills need to be revisited with different partners and as the athlete grows. The new grade provides a foundation for further work, alongside the satisfaction of having met the assessment standard.
The next objective can remain manageable. Rather than immediately measuring progress against another distant belt, a judoka can concentrate on consolidating what they have learned and understanding the first part of the next stage. Coaches help turn that wider syllabus into suitable work in class.
A pathway beginners can understand
For families considering judo, grading offers a clear example of how learning is recognised. A child can join without knowing a single technique and build towards achievements that make sense for their experience. Little Ninjas, Little Samurai and Fighting Fit provide different starting points, with coaches helping families identify a suitable group.
Ask Senshin about a free trial and how the grading pathway works for your child's age. The fifteen September passes began with the same essential step: becoming a learner on the mat.