Dan (rank) is by far the most recognizable symbol to the general public. The highest dan ranks are sometimes reserved for the founder or leaders of a style and only high-ranking students can be promoted to them. For example, only five living people hold a tenth dan in judo and only about thirty-five worldwide have been promoted to the rank since its inception; of those 10th dan promotions only fifteen were conferred by the Kodokan, all of them to Japanese judoka. This has led to upper level ranks becoming extinct in some arts. In other styles, the dan ranks are not the
Jim Webb (judo) in Japan. He was a long-time student of 9th Dan Vince Tamura. Dr. Webb was educated at West Point, the University of Dallas, MIT, Southern Methodist University, and the University of Maryland. He subsequently provided leadership to such prominent consulting firms as Price Waterhouse, Deloitte & Touche and A.T. Kearney. Prior to his strategy consulting career, he served as a Special Forces commanding officer. He is currently a professor and program director at Southern Methodist University. Jim Webb (judo) James R. Webb is an American businessman who is a former President of the United States Judo Association elected in 2006.