In this episode of Social Gelo with Angelo, I sit down with T. Lee, Judo black belt and President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, to break down the history, evolution, and reality of the Judo ranking system. Where did the belt system actually come from? What did Jigoro Kano originally intend? And how do modern organizations interpret rank today? We go deep into: • The origins of the Kyu and Dan system • How promotions are handled in different organizations • Time in grade vs competition performance • Rank inflation, is it real? • Kata requirements and testing standards • How rank transfers between federations • What a black belt really represents in 2026 This wasn’t just a history lesson. This was a real conversation about standards, integrity, and what rank should mean in martial arts. If you're a Judoka, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, or a martial arts instructor navigating rank systems, this episode is for you.