Climbing gym chain · Japan
ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym grades, explained
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ROCKY is a Japanese bouldering-gym chain run by Funabashi Rocky Co., Ltd., which marked its 30th anniversary in 2023. It has six gyms: Shinagawa, Shinjuku Akebonobashi and Ryogoku in Tokyo, Inzai and Funabashi in Chiba, and Tsukuba-Ami in Ibaraki. Problems are graded on the kyu/dan scale and marked with coloured tape, and the chain runs its own comps (such as the BEAST series) and joint events with NOBOROCK.
Bouldering grades
Problems are marked with coloured tape, one colour per Japanese kyu/dan grade, from yellow (10–9級) to black (3段 and up). The colour key below is from a climber's 2017 blog; the gym does not publish it online. Font equivalents use the kyu/Font table on Japanese Wikipedia, not the gym's own conversion.
| Level | Font | ≈ V-scale |
|---|---|---|
| 黄 Yellow (9〜10級)Below the conversion table (8級 = 1+–2); hands and feet free | 1–1+ | VB− |
| ピンク Pink (8級)Feet free. V: VB- | 1+–2 | VB−–VB |
| 茶 Brown (7級)Feet restricted to taped holds from here. V: VB to VB+ | 2+–3 | VB–VB+ |
| 白 White (6級)V: V0- to V0 | 3+–4 | VB+–V0+ |
| 赤 Red (5級)V: V0+ to V1 | 4+–5 | V0–V3 |
| オレンジ Orange (4級)V: V2 (V3 falls between 4級 and 3級) | 5+–6A | V2–V3 |
| 紫 Purple (3級)V: about V3 to V4 | 6A+–6B | V3–V4 |
| 緑 Green (2級)V: about V4 to V5 | 6B+–6C | V4–V5 |
| 若草 Yellow-green (1級)V: V6 (V5 falls between 2級 and 1級) | 6C+–7A | V5–V6 |
| 紺 Navy (初段)V: V7 | 7A+–7B | V7–V8 |
| 水 Light blue (二段)V: V9 (V8 falls between 初段 and 二段) | 7B+–7C | V8–V9 |
| 黒 Black (三段〜)Open-ended. V: V10 to V11 | ≥ 7C+ | ≥ V10 |
ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym doesn't say so outright, but its gyms appear to share this grading. From climbers' descriptions and photos of the gym's grade boards. Gyms reset and regrade often, and grades vary between setters, so treat this as a guide and check the boards when you visit.
6 ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym gyms
Each gym's page has its address, how to book, and links to prices and opening hours.
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Questions
- What Font grade is 黄 Yellow (9〜10級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym?
- 黄 Yellow (9〜10級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym is 1–1+, about VB− in V-scale.
- What Font grade is ピンク Pink (8級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym?
- ピンク Pink (8級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym is 1+–2, about VB−–VB in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 茶 Brown (7級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym?
- 茶 Brown (7級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym is 2+–3, about VB–VB+ in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 白 White (6級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym?
- 白 White (6級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym is 3+–4, about VB+–V0+ in V-scale.
- What Font grade is 赤 Red (5級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym?
- 赤 Red (5級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym is 4+–5, about V0–V3 in V-scale.
- What Font grade is オレンジ Orange (4級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym?
- オレンジ Orange (4級) at ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym is 5+–6A, about V2–V3 in V-scale.
Sources
- ROCKY: home page (six gyms, branch Instagram accounts)
- ROCKY: company profile (Funabashi Rocky Co., Ltd.; six addresses)
- ROCKY: Color of Fire 2023 (30th anniversary party)
- ROCKY: BEAST 2026 season (categories by grade climbed at ROCKY)
- ROCKY: events page (NOBOROCK & ROCKY store-tour events)
- ROCKY: first-timers page (no booking needed)
- POZNEN (2018): Shinjuku Akebonobashi opening review (same ROCKY setters)
- mirei3のblog (2017): Shinagawa tape-colour chart
- Japanese Wikipedia: ボルダリング, kyu/dan vs Font/V table (source: Dai Koyamada, 2009)
Checked 3 October 2026. Gear Loop isn't affiliated with ROCKY Climbing & Fitness Gym.