Dan (rank) highest level that might be attained, with instructor certification and judge/judgment authorization being understood as higher-level or more sophisticated. Many arts use between one and ten dan ranks: In some martial arts, black belts are worn for all "dan" grades. In others, the highest grade (10th "dan") wears a red colored belt. In Jūdo and Shotokan 6th to 8th "dan" may wear a red and white-patterned belt and 9th to 10th "dan" may wear a solid red belt. There is some variation even within styles. Generally, belts do not have markings that indicate the actual "dan" grade. Okinawan styles used
Dan (rank) Dan (rank) The ranking system is used by many Japanese organizations and Korean martial arts to indicate the level of one's ability within a certain subject matter. As a ranking system, it was originally used at a go school during the Edo period. It is now also used in modern fine arts and martial arts. The system was applied to martial arts in Japan by Kanō Jigorō (1860–1938), the founder of judo, in 1883, and later introduced to other East Asian countries. In the modern Japanese martial arts, holders of dan ranks often wear a black belt; those of higher