Ge Chu Jyo – 下中上
When you say beginner, intermediate, or advanced, the tendency is that one would see one as essentially trying to accomplish the same goal, but at a less capable level. In budo, ge-chu-jo basically described these same levels of development, but in this they have very different goals that they wish to accomplish.
The first level, being, ge or “lower”, basically is the beginning phase. In this form is everything. Timing and seme and patience are always mentioned, but before everything else is form. This is why we repeat basic techniques over and over.
The second is chu or “middle” is the state in which you have achieved this form well enough to focus on seme or pressure on the opponent. Now timing has become an issue and a new level of difficulty is presented to you.
The final level jo or “upper” is the level in which you no longer try to outmatch your opponent in physical strength and speed, but try to “use” your opponent by having them perform a waza that you wish so that you may perform an oji-waza or kaeshi-waza at a time that you choose. This is what allows us all to keep training well into old age.