Simplified the belt system goes like this in Japanese arts..... Color belts start with white belt and progress through various colors. Color belts are Kyu belts. They start with high kyu numbers like white belt being 8th or 10th kyu.
Progressive colors are higher in rank but lower in kyu usually ending with the last color belt being brown belt and 1st kyu. Black belts start with the first one being first degree (1st dan) and higher dans increase in dan number. 1st dan, 2nd dan, 3rd dan, ...etc. today many styles have a black belts going as high as 10th dan.
A few styles only go as high as 8th dan. And, a few style only go as high as 5th dan. In style having more than 5 degrees of black belt the ranks above 5th dan are honorary ranks awarded for contributions to the style and continued development of the individuals knowledge and abilities.
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