There are different answers for different Martial Arts. Ten degrees is the typical number. Some styles never go over 9. Some forms of Ninjitsu recognize 15 levels.
Tae Kwon Do - traditionally, there are nine degrees of black belt. The number nine is a special number in Asian culture, much like the number seven is considered lucky in many western cultures. Traditionally, a graduate must remain at first degree black belt for one year before testing for second degree black belt. A graduate must remain at second degree black belt for two years before testing for third degree black belt, and so on. If these traditions are maintained, it would require at least 36 years to achieve the rank of 9th degree black belt; therefore, most Taekwondo practicioners at this level are at least 50 years old.
Traditional Okinawa karate recognizes 10 degrees of Black Belt. They often include age requirements for promotion. Most styles have a single 10th degree that is the senior practitioner in the style.
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There are a limited number of true 10th Dans in the world. Many of the Japanese styles do not even go that high, believing that only the originator is worthy of that rank. I have trained with two 10th Dans from Okinawa.
2,300,000 - the Kukkiwon conducts standardized dan promotion tests and issues black belt certificates (not the actual belts) to taekwondo practitioners through member nation associations of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). To participate in international taekwondo competitions sponsored by the WTF contestants must hold a Kukkiwon dan certificates. Kukkiwon dan holders were estimated at 2.3 million persons worldwide in 1995.
8.4 million. The Kukkiwon Managment system allows you to see this and also break it down by country or Dan
Thousands of them. Tae Kwon Do is the most prevelent martial art found in the United States. Just about every community has at least one school in it. I can name about a dozen within 20 miles of my house.
There are many world wide, and there is no complete list compiled of all of them. To find out the number of any degree within a specific organization, you would need to contact the headquarters or President of that organization.
There is no consolidated listing. Each organization and style will keep its own records. To come up with some sort of definitive answer would require someone to contact each organization and ask the question.
It depends on the martial art ninjutsu goes all the way to 15 dan. I think the general idea in most styles is 10th degree is the highest.