Rank in Judo

In Judo, improvement and understanding of the art is denoted by a system of ranks split into kyū and dan grades. These are indicated with various systems of coloured belts, with the black belt indicating a practitioner who has attained a certain level of competence.

Practitioners of Judo (柔道家, Jūdōka^?) are ranked according to skill and knowledge of the art. Their rank is indicated by the colour of belt that they wear. There are two broad categories of rank: those who have attained a level of competency at which they are considered worthy of a black belt (黒帯, kuro obi^?) and who hold dan (段^?) grades and those who are yet to attain that level and who hold kyū (級^?) grades. Those who hold dan grades are collectively termed Yūdansha (有段者^?) (literally "person who has dan") and those with kyū grades are Mudansha (無段者^?), literally "person without dan".

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