Is the highest judo belt really red? - Martial Arts Stack Exchange Is the highest judo belt really red? I found a graphic detailing belt colours according to ranks . In there, the last two judo ranks are red and white for 6-8th dan ranks and full red belts for 9 and 10th dan. Is the highest judo belt really red? I thought it was black... up vote 8 down vote It is, and it takes a LONG time to reach. If you ever reach your 9th Dan, you get a red belt to wear. The white-red belt is gotten at the 6th Dan. But at this stage, you need to wait between 8 or 10 years between each test. And it's not automatically given to you ... the internal federation will only give the highest Dan to people who actually have an impact on judo as a whole ... in the history, there have only been 15 people who were awarded a 10th Dan. In Canada there have been only 4 poeple with a 9th Dan: Raymond Damblant, Hiroshi Nakamura, Yeiji Inouye, Yoshio Senda.

Dr.Senda was the 1st ever, and died in 2009. It actually goes Black -> Red White -> Red Those Upper ranks tend to be more about service to the art. up vote 3 down vote To add to the (excellent) answers already provided: Black is an arbitrary color for an arbitrary level . This is why I've told people to be very, very dubious of special "black belt tracks." There are two reasons for this: First, "1 dan" (or its equivalent) is an arbitrary designation within the art. It indicates that you have learned whatever set of principles they think you should know to be whatever they consider a 1 dan. This isn't flippant: It is part of why some arts get you to "1 dan" relatively quickly where others it can take years and years to get there. This means that while comparing 1 dans within a single art is fairly effectively, it breaks down somewhat even between schools in the same art and almost entirely when you transition between arts. The second reason is that, even within different schools within the same art, they will use different belts.

I've seen a "brown belt" and a "red belt" mean the same kup rank simply because the organization as a whole had no prescription and the individual schools used different belt color ordering. Basically what it boils down to is that if an individual is a "black belt" or a "red belt" it doesn't mean a whole lot without knowing how long it takes/what it takes to get there and where that particular school/tradition considers that belt color in whatever ranking system they use. …which of course all assumes they even use a graded ranking system and that it is represented by belts, neither of which are even entirely universal . up vote 1 down vote You are correct. Red belts are the highest level that one could obtain, 9th Dan being the highest level a normal person could become and 10th Dan which is reserved for the Head of the foundation or Ex Heads.. Usually for 3rd DAN and above, any promotion would no longer be based solely on your technical skills, but by your contribution to the JUDO society. Contributions such as organizing international Judo events in your country, participating in international seminar or competitions, and other activity that would uplift the image of JUDO.

Mind you these were verbal explanation of my sensei who's a 5th Dan belt holder. Aside from that, Judo and BJJ also share similar belt grading system and according to the official belt ranking system, if you obtained your black belt at the age of 19, you would only be getting your 9th dan belt (Red) at the age of 67yrs old. Quoting the Super Awesome BJJ Foundation : Current IBJJF regulations places the time it takes to progress from a 8th degree red-and-black belt to 9th degree red belt at 10 years. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the red belt is reserved “for those whose influence and fame takes them to the pinnacle of the art”. It is awarded in lieu of a 9th and 10th degree black belt (identical to the art of Judo). Assuming that someone received his or her black belt at 19 years old (the minimum age to receive a black belt under the IBJJF’s graduation system) the earliest they could expect to receive a 9th degree red belt would be at the age of 67.

Examples of 9th Degree Red Belt holders include the late Carlson Gracie, Oswaldo Fadda and Geny Rebello. The 10th degree red belt is permanently reserved to the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Carlos, Oswaldo, Jorge, Gastão and Hélio Gracie. up vote -1 down vote The Red colour is used to show the intense desire to train and the sacrifices made in achieving it. Since getting a white/red or pure red belt meant you invested a large portion of your life to your chosen art. Also a lot of (Japanese Martial Art) systems theoretically have unlimited rankings so there could be 11th or even higher DAN ratings. It is just that no one has ever achieved it. :-) But different organisations have different rules about what ranks you could achieve and what the requirements are. But all martial arts using this system got it from JUDO. The Judo Rank System – Belts – Judo Info About Us The Judo Rank System – Belts Achievement in Judo is recognized by a series of ranks. The student ranks are called kyu and are usually differentiated by colored belts (obi).

Different colors may be used around the world and in some countries there are more than 6 kyu ranks. The ten black belt, or expert, ranks are called dan. The traditional Judo ranks are: English Japanese 6th grade rokyu 5th grade gokyu 4th grade yonkyu 3rd grade sankyu 2nd grade nikyu 1st grade ikkyu 1st degree shodan 2nd degree nidan 3rd degree sandan 4th degree yodan 5th degree godan 6th degree rokudan 7th degree shichidan 8th degree hachidan 9th degree kudan 10th degree judan In the days before Kano created Judo, there was no kyu/dan ranking system in the martial arts. A more traditional method of recognizing achievement was the presentation of certificates or scrolls, often with the secrets of the school inscribed. Kano started the modern rank system when he awarded shodan to two of his senior students (Shiro Saigo and Tsunejiro Tomita) in 1883.

Even then, there was no external differentiation between yudansha (black belt ranks) and mudansha (those who hadn't yet attained black belt ranking). Kano apparently began the custom of having his yudansha wear black obi (belts) in 1886. These obi weren't the belts karateka and judoka wear today — Kano hadn't invented the judogi (Judo uniform) yet, and his students were still practicing in kimono. They were the wide obi still worn with formal kimono. In 1907, Kano introduced the modern judogi and its modern obi, but he still only used white and black belt ranks. The white uniform represented the values of purity, avoidance of ego, and simplicity. It gave no outward indication of social class so that all students began as equals. The black belt with the white gi represents the polarity of opposites, or In and Yo. The student begins empty, but fills up with knowledge. Professor Kano was an educator and used a hierarchy in setting learning objectives for Judo students, just as students typically pass from one grade to another in the public school system.

The Judo rank system represents a progression of learning with a syllabus and a corresponding grade indicating an individual's level of proficiency. Earning a black belt is like graduating from high school or college. It indicates you have achieved a basic level of proficiency, learned the fundamental skills and can perform them in a functional manner, and you are now ready to pursue Judo on a more serious and advanced level as a professional or a person seeking an advanced degree would. Of course, the rankings also represent progress towards the ultimate objective of judo which is to improve the self not just physically, but morally as well. Around 1930 the Kodokan created a new belt to recognize the special achievements of high ranking black belts. Jigoro Kano chose to recognize sixth, seventh, and eighth degree black belts with a special obi made of alternating red and white panels (kohaku obi). The white color was chosen for purity, and red for the intense desire to train and the sacrifices made. The colors red and white are an enduring symbol of Japan, and they have been used in Judo since Jigoro Kano started the first Red and White Tournament in 1884.

The kohaku obi is often worn for special occasions, but it is not required to be worn at any time and the black belt remains the standard for all the yudansha ranks. In 1943 the Kodokan created the optional red belt to recognize 9th and 10th degree yudansha. Theoretically the Judo rank system is not limited to 10 degrees of black belt. The original english language copy (1955) of Illustrated Kodokan Judo, by Jigoro Kano, says: "There is no limit…on the grade one can receive. Therefore if one does reach a stage above 10th dan… there is no reason why he should not be promoted to 11th dan." However, since there has never been any promotion to a rank above 10th dan, the Kodokan Judo promotion system effectively has only 10 dans. There have only been 15 10th dans awarded by the Kodokan in the history of Judo. Other colored belts for students who had not yet achieved black belt originated later, when Judo began being practiced outside of Japan.

Mikonosuke Kawaishi is generally regarded as the first to introduce various colored belts in Europe in 1935 when he started to teach Judo in Paris. He felt that western students would show greater progress if they had a visible system of many colored belts recognizing achievement and providing regular incentives. This system included white, yellow, orange, green, blue, and purple belts before the traditional brown and black belts. The Judo practice uniform and belt system eventually spread to many of the other modern martial arts, such as aikido and karate, which adapted them for their purpose. Karateka in Okinawa didn't use any sort of special uniform at all in the old days. The kyu/dan ranking system, and the modern karategi (modified judogi) were first adopted by Funakoshi in an effort to encourage karate's acceptance by the Japanese. He awarded the first shodan ranks given in karate to Tokuda, Otsuka, Akiba, Shimizu, Hirose, Gima, and Kasuya on April 10, 1924.

The adoption of the kyu/dan system and the adoption of a standard uniform based on the judogi were 2 of the 4 conditions which the Dai-Nippon Butokukai required before recognizing karate as a "real" martial art. If you look at photographs of Okinawan karateka training in the early part of this century, you'll see that they were training in their everyday clothes. Promotion requirements for each rank vary according to the sensei and the national organization that you are affiliated with. There is no worldwide standard for each rank, although it is generally accepted that a blackbelt has had many years of practice and can perform at least the nage-no-kata , the gokyo-no-waza and the newaza techniques. For further information about promotion requirements see your sensei. Belt Levels in Judo | LIVESTRONG.COM Belt Levels in Judo Last Updated: Aug 13, 2015 Lance Fuller Specializing in health and fitness writing, Lance Fuller is currently interning for the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. Fuller was the first student to write about health and fitness for "The Independent Florida Alligator," America's largest student-run college newspaper.

Fuller holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism, focusing on health and fitness writing, from the University of Florida. Judo students practicing on a mat. Photo Credit roibu/iStock/Getty Images In many Asian martial arts, the color of the martial artist's belt denotes the wearer's experience and rank. In judo, a Japanese martial art that focuses on throwing and grappling, there are a combined 16 belt levels. There are six colored-belt levels called grades, and 10 levels of degrees for black belts. White is the universal color that represents a novice practitioner, while black represents an expert with varying degrees of black belts. The highest rank in judo is a 10th-degree black belt. Grades and Degrees In judo, colored-belt ranks are called grades, or "kyu" in Japanese, and black-belt ranks are called degrees, or "dan." There are six grades ranked in descending numerical order, with first grade being the last before promotion to first-degree black belt. There are normally 10 black-belt degree ranks in ascending numerical order, though there is no limit to the number of degree ranks.

The colored belt system was introduced in 1935, when Mikonosuke Kawaishi began teaching judo in Paris, France. Belt Colors Depending on the country and the school's judo association/federation, there are different colored belt ranks for senior and junior members. White is the universal belt color that represents a novice or beginner. As the judo practitioner advances through the six grades, or kyu ranks, he will wear colored belts that include yellow, orange, green, blue, purple and brown. For example, the OBC Judo Club has its senior members wear a white belt for sixth to fourth grades and a brown belt for third to first grades. For black belts, sixth- to eighth-degree belts become red and white striped, and ninth- and 10th-degree belts are solid red. Junior and Senior Members Judo practitioners are grouped by age, with senior members 16 and older and junior members who are mostly children. It is typical that junior members of judo progress through more colored-belt grades before they reach the first-degree black belt than senior members. In Brazil, a gray belt sometimes is awarded before blue. The U.S.

Judo Association has 12 colored-belt ranks for junior members before first-degree black belt. Other Martial Arts The belt system in judo is notably different than other Asian martial arts, such as karate and tae kwon do, in that its highest belt color is actually solid red, not black. While some of the modern martial arts, such as Brazilian jiu jitsu, are considered a refinement upon traditional judo and follow a similar ranking system in their belt colors, their system doesn't include the 9th and 10th dan solid red belt. Brazilian jiu jitsu begins with the white belt being a new student and the black belt the highest level. Related Searches Lose Weight.

Feel Great Change your life with MyPlate by LIVESTRONG.COM GOAL Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week GENDER The 72-year-old Scot who's won judo's highest accolade | Sport | The Guardian Shortcuts The 72-year-old Scot who's won judo's highest accolade George Kerr has been practising judo since he was eight; now he's one of only seven people in the world to have attained 10th Dan George Kerr, 72, who has been given the status of 10th Dan - only 19 other people have won the honour since 1935.

Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/Press Association Images Monday 8 February 2010 19.05 EST First published on Monday 8 February 2010 19.05 EST Share on Messenger Close 'It is a huge achievement, I must admit," says George Kerr when pushed, with a slight note of reticence in his Scottish accent. On Saturday, Kerr was given the status of 10th Dan in judo at a ceremony in Paris – one of only seven living judokas in the world, and only the second Brit, to have achieved the highest level in the sport. (All but five of the 19 people who have won the honour since 1935 have been Japanese.) "I used to read the [judo] books when I was a kid, and see these old people in them who were 9th and 10th Dan," he says, "but I never dreamt I would one day be one of them." At 72, Kerr is also the youngest of this elite group – "a very young 72," he points out – chosen by the International Judo Federation, the sport's governing body.

What do you have to do to reach 10th Dan (to put its dizzying height in perspective, someone who is a "black belt" in judo is only a 1st Dan)? You don't need to be able to beat a 22-year-old – most are elevated to 10th Dan in their 80s, and even posthumously. "I think I just ticked all the boxes," says Kerr, who was European judo champion in 1957, twice won the British Open ­championship, trained an Olympic two-times-gold medallist, has ­refereed the sport at the Olympics and is president of the British Judo Association. He first tried the sport when he was eight – his father, an amateur boxer, had tried to get him to do boxing, but he lost his heart to judo. At 18, he won a scholarship to train in Japan, and lived there for four years. "Judo has been my life," he says, adding that it's more than just a sport. "There is the whole moral code you need to live by as well – honour, integrity, discipline, politeness, not picking on people who are weaker than you.

You have to live up to things such as looking after people. It's the way of the samurai, really." Kerr teaches all this – as well as some sharp moves – at the ­Edinburgh club he now runs for children (he says the kids he trains are "over the moon"). When I ask if he has any plans to retire, he laughs and says, "Don't be silly. If you retire, you die. I can't imagine it; this is just in my blood." Profiles of Judo 10th Dan Holders — Judan – Judo Info Mifune, Kyuzo (b1883-d1965) He began Judo at age 13 and joined the Kodokan in 1903. By 1912, he was already a Rokudan (6th Degree black belt) and a Kodokan instructor. He was unbelievably energetic and eventually stood at the head of the Kodokan’s instructors. The speed with which he mastered the techniques of Judo can only be matched by the rapidity of his promotion.

He received the grade of 10th dan on May 25, 1945 , was the second youngest man to be promoted to 10th Dan, and he held his rank nearly 20 years, the longest of any 10th Dan. He was a permanent member of the Kodokan Dojo Consultative Group. He is the author of the Canon of Judo . In 1964 the Japanese Government awarded him the honor of the Order of the Rising Sun. He was the first person ever to be honored this way during his lifetime. Before his death on January 27, 1965 he was the only tenth dan alive in the world. Iizuka, Kunisaburo (b1875-d1958) Entered the Kodokan in 1891 and was graded 10th Dan on April 5, 1946. As a young man he was very keen to go abroad but in 1906 was asked to become Judo instructor at Keio (the oldest private University in Japan) and he remained there for more than fifty years, devoting his whole life to the work.

He was a member of both the Kodokan Council and the Dojo Consultative Group. Samura, Kaichiro (b1880-d1964) One of the two longest living 10th Dans, he joined the Kodokan in 1898 and received the grade of 10th Dan on April 5, 1948. In 1899 he became the head of the Judo Section of the Butokukai and later traveled extensively teaching at schools and police establishments. In 1931 he began teaching at the Kodokan and was a member of the Dojo Consultative Group. Nagaoka, Hidekazu (b1876-d1952) Came to Tokyo from his birth place, Okayama at the age of 16 to seek out the Shihan. Entered the Kodokan in 1893 and practised so hard it was said of him, “The technique is Sutemi, the man is Nagaoka.” Many of his contests are still the subject of countless reminiscences.

All his efforts were poured into the training of young teachers and he was of the greatest assistance to the President of the Kodokan. He did much to gain for the Kodokan the secure position it enjoys today and was promoted 10th Dan on December 27, 1937 by Jigoro Kano, just a few months before Jigoro Kano died. He is one of only three 10th Dans promoted to that rank by the founder of Judo. He and Isogai were the first students of Kano to be promoted to 10th Dan while alive, and he was the youngest man ever to be promoted to 10th dan. He passed away on November 22, 1952. Yamashita, Yoshitsugu (Yoshiaki) (b1865-d1935) The Shihan’s assistant from the very founding of the Kodokan, he is one of the great names in Judo. He entered the Kodokan in 1884 and gained a formidable reputation from his contests with the strong men of other jujutsu schools during the Meiji period.

He later went to theUnited States where he taught Judo to President Theodore Roosevelt and altogether enjoyed a colorful life. Jigoro Kano awarded him the first 10th Dan ever awarded after his death on October 26, 1935, although he dated the certificate two days before the death. Isogai, Hajime (b1871-d1947) Entered the Kodokan in 1891 and practised assiduously under Jigoro Kano. In 1899 he was selected to go to the Butokukai in Kyoto where he worked for many years spreading Judo and training new teachers. On December 22, 1937 he was awarded the grade of 10th Dan directly by Jigoro Kano (only a few months before Jigoro Kano died). At the age of 66 he was the fourth youngest person to attain 10th Dan.

He is considered to be one of the great figures in Kansai Judo (Kansai is the mid-western portion of Honshu, the main island of the Japanese group.) Isogai died on April 19, 1947. Kotani, Sumiyuki (b1903-d1991) He received the rank of 10th Dan in April 1984, the oldest person to be awarded this rank (until 2006 when Ichiro Abe was promoted at age 83). Graduated from Tokyo College of Education. He was one of Jigoro Kano’s direct students, and only the 7th man to receive a 10th Degree Black Belt while he was still alive. He was very active in promoting Judo all around the world and was the head instructor of the International Division of the Kodokan for many years, and a professor of Tokai University. He was the Kodokan’s top ranked official and Vice President of the All Japan Judo Federation.

During his student days, he would practice with every powerful and skillful Judoka he could lay his hands on, rather than avoid the “beating” he knew would be coming. To be thrown, immobilized, or strangled, was nothing but delight for him. The thing that really counted was practice. He died on October 19, 1991. Tabata, Shotaro (b1884-1950) Entered the Kodokan in 1900 and was promoted to 10th Dan on April 5, 1948. He was the third youngest person to receive a 10th Dan. From 1905 he taught at the Butokukai in Kyoto where he trained many new instructors and contributed greatly to the development and diffusion of Judo. Together with Isogai, 10th Dan, he occupies a special place in Kansai Judo. He died on May 25, 1950. Okano, Kotaro (b1885-d1967) Okano was born April 1885.

He became the 9th man to be promoted to 10th Degree Black Belt after his death on June 2, 1967. He was the first graduated student from the Budo Senmon-Gakko (martial art school) and he became “shihan” (master of martial art) in 6th Okayama Higher School and Okayama Police. His mat technique was one of the best among the Judo world at that time. Shoriki, Matsutaro (b1885-d1969) Born April 11, 1885 in Toyama Prefecture, educated at Takaoka Middle School, Fourth National Higher School, and Tokyo Imperial University. Director of the Police Affairs Section of the Metropolitan Police Board, President of the Yomiuri Shimbunsha (Japanese newspaper) and later its owner. Appointed Member of the House of Peers and elected Member of the House of Representatives. Served as State Minister. Established Japan’s first commercial television station Nippon Television Network Corporation. Started professional baseball in Japan and contributed to its development.

President of the Franco-Japanese University Judo Association, Chairman of Nippon Budokan, and President of National Dietman’s Judo Federation. He is the only non-professional in the history of the Kodokan to hold the 10th Dan. He was promoted after his death on October 9, 1969. Kurihara, Tamio (b1896-d1979) Kurihara was born in May, 1896. He became the 11th person to be promoted to 10th Degree Black Belt after his death October 8, 1979. He graduated from the Kyoto Budo Senmon-Gako (Martial Art College) and became “shihan” (Master Instructor of Judo) at Kyoto 3rd higher school. One of his impressive competitions was the May 1926 Emperor’s Cup final facing one of the young upcoming strong players, Ushijima Tatsukuma, a 26 year old 5th Dan. He won a decision here after a hard competition to take the title.

The Levels of Karate Black Belts | LIVESTRONG.COM The Levels of Karate Black Belts by ANDREW FORTIER Last Updated: Nov 04, 2015 Andrew Fortier Andrew Fortier has been a writer since 2001. He has been published in "8clouds" literary magazine and in the "Writer's Slate" academic journal, as well as many small press newspapers and magazines. Fortier is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English at Metropolitan State College of Denver. There are 10 levels within the black belt. Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Stockbyte/Getty Images To many, the black belt is a sign that one has mastered the art of karate. However, holding a black belt, while a very impressive accomplishment, does not mean that one has reached the upper echelons of karate skills. Once a person tests into the black belt rank, there are still 10 levels that must be accomplished before he will get his final belt. Dan Belts Prior to getting your black belt, you must climb the ranks through the 10 "kyu" levels.

The first five levels, or ranks, are signified with colored belts: white, orange, red, yellow, and green. The sixth and seventh levels are signified with a purple belt, and the eighth through tenth levels are represented with a brown belt. After your last brown belt, you'll achieve your first black belt, or dan belt. Your first degree black belt earns you the title of "sempai" or assistant teacher. While this may seem like the end of the journey, it's the beginning of a new one. There 10 dan levels or black belt degrees to achieve. All 10 dan levels require continuous training. First Five Dan Levels Each level of dan, along with the numerical designation, has a name. The first through fifth levels of dan are designated, respectively, shodan, nidan, sandan, yodan and godan. Each of these levels is achieved through continual training; it can take upwards of 29 years of study and practice to reach the fifth level of dan. Levels Six Through Nine Black belt dan levels six through nine are named, in order, rokudan, nanadan, hachidan and kyuudan.

These levels of dan include continued practice of your martial art skills as well as the practice of the tenets of the martial arts for the betterment of mankind. These tenets include secrecy, humility of the heart, courtesy in all matters, charity in giving, high moral character, martyrdom -- or sacrifice directed to the right causes -- unconquerable spirit and certain victory. All in all, getting to a ninth level black belt can take up to 40 more years of training and following of the martial arts tenets. Dan Level Ten Achieving the final dan level of judan is an exceptional accomplishment. You must first gain your ninth dan belt and then be chosen by a group of ninth- and eighth-degree belt holders for the final belt. Tenth-degree black belts are chosen from a larger group of high-ranking black belts as means of establishing a hierarchy within the art, according to the Tao International Martial Arts Association. Related Searches Lose Weight.

Feel Great Change your life with MyPlate by LIVESTRONG.COM GOAL Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week GENDER The Difficult Way: Understanding the Judo ranking system Saturday, 16 April 2011 Understanding the Judo ranking system For those of you unfamiliar with Judo’s rank system it is divided into two sections. The Kyu grades called collectively in Japanese Mudansha and Dan called collectively in Japanese Yudansha. There are normally 6 levels of kyu grade with 6th being the lowest and 1st being the highest. Referred to in Japanese as: Rokkyū – 6th kyu Nikyū - 2nd kyu Ikkyu - 1st kyu There are 10 levels of dan ranks with 1st being the lowest and 10th being the highest.

Referred to in Japanese as: Shodan – 1st dan Shichidan – 7th dan (Also called Nanadan) Hachidan – 8th dan Ku-dan – 9th dan Jū-dan – 10th dan 6th dan and above are considered high grades and are sometimes referred to as Kohaku grades. The Origins of the Kyu and Dan system: The Kyu and Dan system was invented for the Japanese board game Go in the 17th century by Honinbo Dosaku, a grandmaster of the game, and is now widely used throughout many Japanese disciplines not just the martial arts, for instance, Ikebana or the art of flower arranging. The kyu and dan system was also adopted by the Japanese school system and a black sash was used in swimming to denote advanced swimmers from novices. Kano adopted the kyu and dan system in 1883 issuing two dan grades to Shiro Saigo (Sugata Sanshiro of Yama Arashi fame) and Tsunejiro Tomita.

Kano's move was part to help integrate Judo into the Japanese education system as was his aim and to differentiate from Jujutsu which used certificates or licenses to rank. Shoden (entry level), Chude (middle level ) and Okuden (“secret teachings”). Different levels could be also included in each major level to designate further achievement depending on the Jujutsu school, schools had between 3 and 5 total levels some stretched up to 9. Normally these ranks weren't indicated on the gi in anyway, but plaques would hang on dojo walls indicating level with the owners name. Some Jujutsu schools used black sashes to indicate advanced practitioners and some Jujutsu schools such as Tenjin shin'yō ryū (Kano possessed Okuden in this ryu and Kito ryu) used different colour stitching and fabric on gi to indicate rank. Kano's adoption of the kyu and dan system and abandonment of the certificate system was part of his attempt to set Judo apart from Jujutsu, which had developed a thuggish reputation during the 19th century.

Until 1886 no black belt was worn to indicate dan rank in Judo all practitioners wore a white sash which was a common practice in Jujutsu for average level students and as such some saw the Kodokan as an inferior school of Jujutsu. The black sash was introduced to indicate senior Judoka in time for the famous Tokyo metropolitan police contest between the Kodokan and Jujutsu schools. The black belt as we recognise it today was introduced to Judo at the same time as the modern Judogi in 1907. Finalising of the Dan system: In 1931 Kano wrote that 6-9th dans were to wear a kohaku (red and white panels) obi and 10th to 12th dans were to wear a solid red obi. All others were to wear white.

For those of you who speak or read Japanese here is the original quotation: "十段以上を紅帯とし、その以外は白帯とする帯は修行の段階に依って色を異にし、初段より五段ま で を黒帯、六段より九段までを 紅白のだんだら、十段以上を赤帯とし、その以外は白帯 とする" Kano thus specified that Judo would have 12 ranks, however, there was room left open for the possibility for more ranks which the quotation indicates would likely have worn a white belt. Other sources indicate that this would likely have been a double width white belt, presumable in order to distinguish it from a beginners white belt. Upon Kano’s death this open ended 12 dan system was subsequently revised. As Kano only promoted up to 10th dan it was decided that no one could override Kano and so no rank higher than 10th dan would be awarded from the moment onwards.

The belt colours were then altered from only 10th to 12th wearing a red belt to 9th to 10th dans being able to wear a red belt and 6th to 8th dans being able to wear a kohaku belt. The standard belt for randori and day to day Judo activities remained black, however. A mistranslated Kodokan pamphlet Q&A section contains a line indicating that the colour for 10th dan would be ‘purple’, however, this is a mistranslation from the Japanese into French and then French into English. Coloured kyu belts: The origins of coloured kyu belts are often believed to have originated with Mikinosuke Kawaishi. It should be noted also that contrary to popular belief Kawaishi did not study Jujutsu or Aikijujutsu or any other form of Koryu. He attended Himeij Middle School and then Waseda University, where he studied Judo and some Kendo. He was awarded shodan in Judo from the Dai Nippon Butokukai in February 1918, but his early Judo studies were in Himeji.

He started at Waseda University in 1919, and in the following year enrolled at the Kodokan, where he became a 4th dan in 1924. He left Japan in 1926 for the US where he taught Judo and graduated from Columbia university. He then travelled the Amazon in Brazil before arriving in London in 1931 due to disagreements and a court case he left England for France in 1935 where he proceeded to fall out with more people. Gunji Koizumi is actually the likely originator of the coloured kyu belt system, whilst teaching at the London Budokwai. The coloured belts for Kyu grades as we now know them were instituted in 1927 at the Budokwai in London. Then it was decided that 5th kyus would wear a white belt, a 4th kyus would wear a yellow belt, a 3rd kyus would wear a green belt, a 2nd kyus would wear a blue belt, a 1st kyus would wear a a brown belt.

It was later decided that the number of kyu grades would be expanded to 6 and so orange belt became 4th kyu, yellow 5th kyu and white 6th kyu. In 1927 Kawaishi was still settling into life in America and would not reach France where he is normally supposed to have developed the coloured kyu grades until 1935. Budokwai minutes also detail that at the 9th annual Budokwai display in 1926 Baron Hayashi and Prince Chichibu under the guidance of Koizumi and Tani, Hayashi awarded 3 dan grades and "belts of various colours". So the Budokwai was issuing coloured kyu grade belts in 1926 the year Kawaishi left Japan and had codified their issue by 1927. The probably reason that the origin of coloured kyu belts in Judo is attributed to Kawaishi is because he not only produced the famed Kawaishi method, by which techniques were numbered rather than named and so it was ease for people to conflate coloured kyu grade belts into the Kawaishi method.

Also because the Budokwai was a private and clique organisation and there was little Judo teaching outside of the Budokwai. Whereas in France Judo was far more widespread under the likes of Aida Hikoichi and Ishiguro Keishichi and so when Kawaishi arrived in 1935, presumably bringing the Budokwai’s kyu belt system with him, it found a network of clubs nationwide which adopted the new belt practices and so became far wider spread and instituted in France than in England. Japanese cultural origins of rank colours: The colour white is associated with new life a.k.a beginnings through its association with womanhood and birth. This is why traditionally in Japan women have worn belts with a white stripe on them the joshi obi. White is also the funeral or Ososhiki colour in Japan so it's associated with endings. Hence why it was chosen to be both the beginning belt and the ultimate belt- 12th dan and above. White is also associated with purity, pure intentions and honour, think Jita kyoei...

This is why it is the colour of the Judogi and why in Japan it remains the only acceptable colour for Judogi with blue gi being tolerated in certain situations and dojo. The colour red signifies happiness, the sun and completeness. The red belt signifies one who is complete or close to becoming complete in their mastering and/or knowledge of Judo. The kohaku obi shows that one is beginning the process of trying to accomplish becoming complete in Judo, the combination of white - beginning and red completeness. The colour black being an absence of colour symbolizes emptiness, an absence of individualism and opening the mind and body to absorb knowledge and to "start a new chapter" in one's life. In Japan traditional wedding dress is black for the groom and guests. Black is considered a unique colour and shouldn't be combined with other colours except white. The effects of Judo’s rank structure on martial arts Judo’s ranking system has been almost universally taken up by the other Gendai budo that emerged from Japan in the same period.

In particular the notions of ‘kyu’ and ‘dan’ with variously coloured belts making up the ‘kyu’ or beginner grades and ‘black’ marking the transition into the ‘dan’ or advanced grades and with red symbolizing the top rank, have spread to pretty much every style of martial arts from Tae Kwon do to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Indeed the effects of Judo’s rank system have spread beyond the confines of martial arts into the popular imagination. Where ‘the black belt’ has become associated with immense skill, wisdom, fighting prowess and overall deadliness. The black belt has become a symbol of mastery in popular culture to such an extent that the business management strategy Six Sigma issues the rank of ‘black belt’ to expert practicioners. How modern dan ranks are awarded in Judo: Dan ranks are issued by the national governing body (NGB) for Judo in each country and its affiliated organisations. The NGB is always the recognised governing body for Judo by that nations Olympic committee. All national NGBs are members of continental unions – EJU, AJU, JUA, PJC and OJU.

These continental unions are all members of the International Judo federation, IJF, which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for Judo. As well as each countries’ respective NGB and affiliates two other organisations issue dan ranks globally the IJF and the Kodokan. In national NGBs dan ranks from 1st to 5th dan are awarded either on the basis of contest results and technical exams or purely on technical exams. Awards for 6th dan and above are generally given for advancement and understanding of the principles and philosophy of Judo, not for fighting prowess. At present there are 6 legitimate Judo 10th dans worldwide. The Europeans; Henri Courtine of France, George Kerr of Great Britian and Jaap Nauwelaerts de Agé of Holland who have all been awarded 10th dan by their respective NGB. However, many consider the only ‘true’ 10th dans to be those issued by the Kodokan, the three current Kodokan 10th dan are pictured below.

(From L to R: Ichiro Abe -87- 10th dan, Yoshimi Osawa -83- 10th dan and Toshiro Daigo -84- 10th dan) Posted by none at

Question: What is the highest level Dan in judo?
Answer: 10th