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
Dan (rank) the highest attainable rank. Unlike Judo, all "dan" promotion within the All Japan Kendo Federation, International Kendo Federation and its member countries is by examination. Whereas "dan" grades are awarded for technical ability, there is a parallel "shogo" system awarding the higher teaching grades of "renshi", "kyoshi", and "hanshi". "Renshi" and "kyoshi" are awarded by written examination while "hanshi" by election. Although the "dan" system is distinctly Japanese, it has been adopted by many other martial arts styles. The "dan" system and the well-known symbol of a black belt have been absorbed into common usage to represent a person with