How long does it take to learn Judo?

What belt would you need to have mastered to feel confident that you could defend yourself if attacked on the streets?|||Depends on so many factors. Are you really athletic? Do you pick up instruction rapidly? Are you willing to train on your own?





The awarding of belts varies widely from dojo (gym) to dojo.





Judo may not be the appropriate discipline for you if your primary motivation is to defend yourself on the streets. Judo literally translated means %26quot;gentle way%26quot;. It is more of a sport than some of the other martial arts.





Many dojos are multi-disciplinary. A combination of martial arts disciplines is probably the most efficient in quickly becoming proficient in %26quot;street self defense%26quot;.





Visit different dojos and ask to visit when they are teaching self defense classes. Almost all dojos have classes in self defense. Some don%26#039;t focus on the %26quot;belt promotion%26quot; system others integrate it into their self defense classes.





If your primary interest is in self defense, the composition of the class will have a big impact on how much you learn and how satisfying it is. An example is a middle age woman might be very uncomfortable taking instruction in classes dominated by adolescent males or any other awkward combination.





When you visit a dojo to observe a class, visualize how you think you would fit in and how many of the people in that class you would feel comfortable having physical contact with.





If you find the right dojo and class, you will become more capable and confident from your very first lesson.





Years ago I taught the Saturday morning %26quot;self defense%26quot; class at my dojo (because no one else liked doing it) and jokingly called it %26quot;dirty street fighting%26quot;. I taught unconventional but highly effective techniques and put some emphasis on how to avoid dangerous situations. One 15 year old, slender, girl hospitalized two adolescent male attackers after about 9 months of instruction.|||I took Judo lessons when I was in 4th grade and kept with it for 4 years. In the four years I earned my purple belt and attended tounaments. You will get out of it what you put in to it. It is continually learning until you have reached the point where you will be the teacher., its an art that you continually learn, self control, self respect and respect for others.