The Kodokan and the Dan System

Kano's school

In 1882 Jigoro Kano opened a small training hall in Tokyo with a handful of students to teach his new art, judo, which he built from older jujutsu schools. He called it the Kodokan, roughly the place for teaching the way. Kano also introduced randori, free practice against a resisting partner, which helped judo spread quickly.

Inventing the black belt

Kano borrowed ranking ideas from the game of go and introduced kyu grades for students and dan grades for experts. Within a few years, dan holders wore black belts with their training uniform. Karate, taekwondo, jiu-jitsu and many other arts later adopted coloured belts, though colours and requirements vary by art and school. See our belt ranks page for comparisons.

The Kodokan today

Today's Kodokan building in Bunkyo, Tokyo, opened in 1984 and has a huge main dojo and smaller halls on several floors, plus a museum and library. It is still the headquarters of Kodokan judo and awards dan grades to judoka worldwide. The highest grades are rare: red-and-white belts for sixth to eighth dan and red belts for ninth and tenth.

Did you know?

Kano designed judo for education as well as sport, and he became the first Asian member of the International Olympic Committee in 1909. He believed judo should develop character and benefit society, summed up in two well-known Kodokan principles often translated as maximum efficiency and mutual welfare and benefit. The Kodokan also publishes the official list of judo throws, the gokyo, which students learn as they progress through the kyu and dan grades.

Visiting

Visitors to Tokyo can watch practice from viewing galleries at set times and see displays about Kano and judo history. Check the Kodokan website for hours and rules, dress modestly and stay quiet during training, as you would at any dojo.

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