Rank in Judo are ranked in ascending numerical order. The ninth ("kudan") and tenth degree black belt ("jūdan") and, theoretically, those higher, have no formal requirements. Only 15 individuals have been promoted to the rank of Kōdōkan 10th dan. On January 6, 2006, three individuals were promoted to this rank simultaneously: Daigo Toshirō, Ichirō Abe, and Ōsawa Yoshimi. This is the most ever at the same time, and the first in 22 years. No one has ever been promoted to a rank higher than 10th "dan", but in theory the Judo rank system is not limited to 10 degrees of black belt. The
German Judo Federation German Judo Federation The German Judo Federation (}) is an association of German judoka. The judo sport in West Germany was organized as a sport of heavy athletics from 1949 to 1954 in the German Athletes Federation (DAB). On 8 August 1953 the German Judo Association was founded by Dan-bearers of the German Dan-Kollegium (DDK) like Alfred Rhode of the 1st German Judo-Club (1st DJC in Frankfurt am Main). Alfred Rhode had introduced judo sport in Germany with the 1st DJC at his Frankfurt summer school in 1932. The separate areas of responsibility of the two associations DJB and DDK