Rank and Grading  Judoka are ranked according to skill and knowledge of judo, and their rank is denoted by a system of ranks in modern systems these ranks are reflected by their belt colours. Ranks are split into kyu grades and dan (Black belt grades. This kyu/dan ranking system was introduced into the martial arts by Kano and has since been widely adopted by modern martial arts as was. As initially designed, there were six student grades ranked in descending numerical order, with 1st kyu being the last before promotion to shodan (first degree black belt). The highest grade judan (tenth degree black belt) has no formal requirements and is decided by the president of the Kodokan, currently Kano Jigoro's grandson Yukimitsu Kano (Kano Yukimitsu). As of 2011, fifteen Japanese men have been promoted to this rank by the Kodokan, three of whom are still alive; the IJF and Western national federations have promoted another seven who are not recognized by the Kodokan. On July 28, 2011, the promotion board of USA Judo awarded Sensei Keiko Fukuda the rank of 10th dan, she is the first woman to be promoted to judo's highest level. Although dan ranks tend to be consistent between national organizations there is more variation in the kyu grades, with some countries having more kyu grades. Although initially kyu grade belt colours were uniformly white, today a variety of colours are used. The first black belts to denote a Dan rank in the 1880s, initially the wide obi was used; as practitioners trained in kimono, only white and black obi were used. It was not until the early 1900s, after the introduction of the judogi, that an expanded colored belt system of awarding rank was created. Click here to link Australian Judo Grading System