Yes, I realize that may be a reason, but I was hoping to have someone state the theory or philosophy behind why something was or is a certain way. I was always taught to ask the best question, WHY?
I think far too many people just do & do not ask why. As a result they tens to go through the motions & I don't think the martial arts are suppossed to be just going through the motions. If it was - join any aerobics club etc.
I still would like to know the stated or given reason why an organization would have 10th Dan as the highest?

why have 10th as the highest in TKD? because other arts have 10th. at competitions, seminars and whatnot the 9th degree TKD guys want equal footing with the 10th dans of other systems.
I'm sure it's a matter of time before people start adopting the ninjitsu 15th degree system. then they'll think of something else.

Ed is probably right. The beginning martial artists would see the 9th dan and wonder "Why don't we have a 10th? Are we not as good?" Etc. That would probably filter right up through the ranks.

Ahh! remeber the days when 5th dans (in any art) were so thin on the ground they were almost mystical and godlike!




Stuart

I am just recycling information, but my own Instructor said he was not going to even try going for his 5th Dan due to it is all political. In fact to achieve his 4th Dan he did not even have to have hours in Taekwondo to obtain it through the WTF, any hours in other martial arts could be used towards it. So if everything is political at the higher levels, and the higher levels do not make you a better martial artist ... then why try to achieve these? I think many do because they like ranks. Many may do it for business reasons. Many may do it as they want people to view them as something great. I would rather follow an Instructor that was a good teacher and knew what they were talking about then somebody that held a 9th or 10th degree belt. Makes you wonder how many asses they kissed to obtain these.

Can someone give me the reason WHY 15th degree is the highest in ninjitsu?

What is the reasoning behind it?

Yes, it is best to learn from someone who is a good teacher, with knowledge to share, rahter than some 1 with a particular rank.

I do agree that if you have or run a school, or teach, it helps to have rank, at least to advertise & be on somewhat equal footing as others.

However, no one has been able to offer an explanation as to why WTF, or other styles have 10 degree as the terminal rank. Can somneone please tell me?
I offered why ITF has IX Dan as the highest.

could be a human tendancy to decimal/base10/metric systems? why 10 commandments? why Letterman Top Ten Lists?