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INI

Martial Arts Dan and Kyu Ranks - INI

The dan and kyu ranking system in martial arts was established by Jigoro Kano in 1883 for Kodokan Judo. Kyu ranks indicate progression from beginner to advanced levels, while dan ranks represent achievement as a black belt holder. Adopted by major martial arts including judo, kendo, and karate, ranks are visually distinguished by belt colors or badges. Achieving shodan (first dan) earns the black belt, and higher dan ranks evaluate not only technique but also teaching ability and character.

martial arts dan rank kyu rank judo kendo karate black belt Jigoro Kano Kodokan 
[item.judo-10kyu]
code=kyu-10
slug=judo-10kyu
name=Judo 10th Kyu
description=The lowest kyu rank in judo. The first rank beginners obtain.
beltColor=White or colored belt
martialArt=Judo
rankNumber=10
rankType=kyu
titleName=

[item.judo-1kyu]
code=kyu-1
slug=judo-1kyu
name=Judo 1st Kyu
description=The highest kyu rank in judo. Uses brown belt and qualifies for shodan examination.
beltColor=Brown belt
martialArt=Judo
rankNumber=1
rankType=kyu
titleName=

[item.judo-shodan]
code=dan-1
slug=judo-shodan
name=Judo Shodan (1st Dan)
description=The first dan rank in judo. Uses black belt, the first step as a yudansha.
beltColor=Black belt
martialArt=Judo
rankNumber=1
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.judo-godan]
code=dan-5
slug=judo-godan
name=Judo Godan (5th Dan)
description=A high dan rank in judo. Uses black belt, requiring capability as an instructor.
beltColor=Black belt
martialArt=Judo
rankNumber=5
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.judo-judan]
code=dan-10
slug=judo-judan
name=Judo Judan (10th Dan)
description=The highest dan rank in judo. Uses red belt, achieved by only a select few.
beltColor=Red belt
martialArt=Judo
rankNumber=10
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.kendo-1kyu]
code=kendo-kyu-1
slug=kendo-1kyu
name=Kendo 1st Kyu
description=The highest kyu rank in kendo. Uses kyu badge and qualifies for shodan examination.
beltColor=Kyu badge
martialArt=Kendo
rankNumber=1
rankType=kyu
titleName=

[item.kendo-shodan]
code=kendo-dan-1
slug=kendo-shodan
name=Kendo Shodan (1st Dan)
description=The first dan rank in kendo. Uses dan rank badge.
beltColor=Dan rank badge
martialArt=Kendo
rankNumber=1
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.kendo-hachidan]
code=kendo-dan-8
slug=kendo-hachidan
name=Kendo Hachidan (8th Dan)
description=The highest dan rank in kendo. Extremely difficult examination with less than 1% pass rate.
beltColor=Dan rank badge
martialArt=Kendo
rankNumber=8
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.karate-shodan]
code=karate-dan-1
slug=karate-shodan
name=Karate Shodan (1st Dan)
description=The first dan rank in karate. Uses black belt, common across all styles.
beltColor=Black belt
martialArt=Karate
rankNumber=1
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.karate-judan]
code=karate-dan-10
slug=karate-judan
name=Karate Judan (10th Dan)
description=The highest dan rank in karate. Awarded through special recommendation system.
beltColor=Black or red belt
martialArt=Karate
rankNumber=10
rankType=dan
titleName=

[item.renshi-title]
code=renshi
slug=renshi-title
name=Renshi (Instructor Title)
description=A title in kendo. For holders of 6th dan and above.
beltColor=
martialArt=Kendo
rankNumber=
rankType=title
titleName=錬士

[item.kyoshi-title]
code=kyoshi
slug=kyoshi-title
name=Kyoshi (Senior Instructor Title)
description=A senior title in kendo. For holders of Renshi 7th dan.
beltColor=
martialArt=Kendo
rankNumber=
rankType=title
titleName=教士

[item.hanshi-title]
code=hanshi
slug=hanshi-title
name=Hanshi (Master Title)
description=The highest title in kendo. For holders of Kyoshi 8th dan.
beltColor=
martialArt=Kendo
rankNumber=
rankType=title
titleName=範士