Ranking
The ranking of kendo is divided into kyu and dan. The beginners start at 10th kyu and rise in rank to 1st kyu. The dan starts with shodan and goes to 10th dan. Originally, dan ended at 5th dan, and continued as renshi, kyoshi and hanshi but, in 1957, it was modified to extend to 10th dan although the honorary titles were also retained. This move was due to the demand to make the ranking system of kendo correspond to that of judo. However, the duality of honarary titles and the revised ranking system created problems. The hanshi was the highest one could achieve in personal character, leadership, and kendo skills. Some feels that it is inconsistent to have 8th dan hanshi, and still have higher ranks of 9th dan and 10th dan. In fact, no 10th dan has been awards in the past 30 years, and it does not appear that a candidate will likely appear in the near future.
There is a waiting period for the dan award. It is one year between the 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd dan. Two years are required between 3rd an 4th dan. It is three years between 4th and 5th dan. Four years are needed between 5th and 6th dan. Five years must pass between 6th and 7th dan and 10 years are spent between 7th and 8th dan. The honorary titles are given to the specially qualified candidates in the following categories. The renshi title can be given to the 5th dan holders who are older than 40 years old or 6th dan holders. The kyoshi title is iven to the 7th dan holders. The hanshi title may be given to 7th dan holders who are over 70 years old and who have been kyoshi for 20 years or 8th dan who have been kyoshi for 20 years and receive the unaimous consent of the board.
First see to it that you, yourself, are all right, then think of defeating an opponent. —The Way of the Spear