Brain-Jitsu was a

CBBC CBBC is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6 to 12. Its sister c ...

show which tests contestants (called ''brainees'') to complete a set of challenges using different parts of their

brain The brain is an organ (biology), organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head (cephalization), usually near organs for ...

s. After each challenge, one is eliminated whilst the rest gain a higher level brain belt. The show was led and commentated by the

Sensei The term "先生", read in Chinese, in Japanese, in Korean, and in Vietnamese, is an honorific used in the Sinosphere. In Japanese, the term literally means "person born before another" or "one who comes before". It is generally used ...

, whilst the

Shihan is a Japanese term that is used in many Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. It can be translated as "master instructor". The use of the term is specific to a school or organization, as is the process o ...

organises and watches over the tasks. All 25 episodes were broadcast from 25 February 2008 to 28 March 2008. Between each level, contestants get the chance to prepare themselves for the challenge ahead in ''The Room of Mental Nourishment''. They are given a challenge to train the part of the brain needed for the next level. The brainees are given the choice whether to participate or not, but any extra training they do prepares them for the task ahead. The loser of each level is interviewed in a ''Walk of Eternal Regret''. Sometimes a segment called ''Brainy, Not So Brainy'' is shown between some levels.

Levels and belts

At the start of the show, all eight brainees begin with a white belt. At the start of each following level, the brainees who are yet to be eliminated are given a higher level brain belt (worn around their forehead). * Level 1 – ''Yellow Belt'' – This level uses the

occipital lobe The occipital lobe is one of the four Lobes of the brain, major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The name derives from its position at the back of the head, from the Latin , 'behind', and , 'head'. The occipital lobe is the ...

s of the Brain. The task here is always ''Enter the Dojo''. * Level 2 – ''Orange Belt'' – This level uses the

frontal lobe The frontal lobe is the largest of the four major lobes of the brain in mammals, and is located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere (in front of the parietal lobe and the temporal lobe). It is parted from the parietal lobe by a Sulcus (neur ...

s; requiring the brainees to do something they would normally do without thinking differently. * Level 3 – ''Green Belt'' – This level requires the brainees to get into teams of two, each of the pair using a different half of their brain. * Level 4 – ''Blue Belt'' – This level uses the

amygdala The amygdala (; : amygdalae or amygdalas; also '; Latin from Greek language, Greek, , ', 'almond', 'tonsil') is a paired nucleus (neuroanatomy), nuclear complex present in the Cerebral hemisphere, cerebral hemispheres of vertebrates. It is c ...

as brainees are challenged to overcome fear. * Level 5 – ''Red Belt'' – This level exercises the thinking part of the brain, the

cerebrum The cerebrum (: cerebra), telencephalon or endbrain is the largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex (of the two cerebral hemispheres) as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfac ...

, and the doing part, the

Cerebellum The cerebellum (: cerebella or cerebellums; Latin for 'little brain') is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as it or eve ...

. * Level 6 – ''Brown Belt'' – This level requires the brainees to use their occipital lobes,

temporal lobe The temporal lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The temporal lobe is located beneath the lateral fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the mammalian brain. The temporal lobe is involved in pr ...

s and cerebellum. * Level 7 – ''Black Belt'' – The two remaining contestants push a ball across a table using their focus. The force with which the ball is pushed is measured by the average amount of brain waves used during the challenge.

Transmissions

Cancellation

On 28 March 2008, CBBC had announced that it would not recommission for a 2nd series.

References

External links

* 2008 British television series debuts 2008 British television series endings 2000s British children's television series BBC children's television shows British children's game shows 2000s British game shows British English-language television shows {{BBC-children-tv-prog-stub