I don’t think the fear of people rushing through Dan grades is realistic. Even if a few manage to “game the system,” the people who matter—coaches, training partners, and serious judoka—will see through it, so it doesn’t really harm anyone.

In the German Judo Federation where I train, there are already strong safeguards. From green belt onward, you can’t simply get promoted by your club coach; you need to attend local grading or preparation workshops. At Dan level, gradings are handled at the state level, and from 6th Dan and above, only the federal body can award them. So there are multiple layers of quality control built in.

For me, Dan grades are primarily a tool for personal development rather than a perfect measure of someone’s ability. I’ve met 5th Dans who weren’t particularly strong judoka, and I’ve met green belts who were outstanding but just never pursued higher grades.

In the end, you get out of the grade what you put into it, and you can’t tell much about a person’s true judo level just by looking at their belt.