Who are the people who hold a 10th degree black belt?

Answer 1

There are a limited number of true 10th Dans in the world. Many of the Japanese styles do not even go that high. They feel that 10th Dan should only be awarded to the originator of the art. The Okinawa karate styles have a single 10th Dan in each style. To meet and train with one is an honor.

Answer 2

The 10 degrees (1st through 10th) are divisions of expertise in the Martial Art.

The Black Belt itself is a material and visible representation of knowledge, skill, and accomplishment in various systems of Martial Art. It is more of a threshold one crosses between the basic instruction of graded color belt education to an expert level. The completion of the basic training is the foundation upon which the remainder of a life-long education is built. The "dan" (degree), or Black Belt level is the first permanent rank that a student holds for the rest of their life.

There was a time when the Black Belt distinguished the teacher from all others as students. With the increased number of students reaching a Black Belt level, there was a need to distinguish the more advanced and experienced instructor from the newer Black Belt graduate, thus the dan rank was divided into various "degrees" -- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree being beginner, intermediate, and advanced Black Belts, while the 4th Degree was the Master. Again, with more and more Black Belts reaching the 4th Dan level, their teachers were once again identified with higher levels of 5th, 6th, and even 7th Degree. In many systems, this was a transitional period in history when 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree were viewed as advanced students, and the teachers were 4th or 5th Dan with the Master holding the rank of 6th or 7th.

In recent decades, even greater numbers of Black Belts earning the level of 6th and 7th dan, and more being awarded the title of Master, their instructors were then viewed as the teachers of the Masters, or "Grandmasters." This brought about the advent of the 8th and 9th Dan. Now that many modern day Martial Art pioneers are getting older (70, 80 or 90 years old), they retire from active teaching, and remain involved only as experienced advisors. For this reason, an Honorary 10th Degree has been awarded to them, or in some cases posthumously to 9th dan who have died after a life-time of dedication to the art.