What Does '10 Dan in Martial Arts' Mean for Actor Ji Seung-hyun's Father? A Combined Judo 6 Dan and Taekwondo 4 Dan
The description of actor Ji Seung-hyun's father as holding '10 dan in martial arts' does not mean he holds 10 dan in judo or 10 dan in taekwondo. Rather, it is a combined figure based on his judo 6 dan and taekwondo 4 dan, presented as a total of 10 dan. The two ranks should accurately be understood as separate qualifications in different martial arts.
What Martial Arts Ranks Does Ji Seung-hyun's Father Actually Hold?
According to information revealed on KBS 2TV's 'Fun-Staurant' on 2026-09-17, Ji Seung-hyun's father holds 6 dan in judo and 4 dan in taekwondo. Reports covering the broadcast added the two ranks together and described him as holding '10 dan in martial arts' or as 'a martial artist with a combined 10 dan.'
The breakdown is as follows.
| Martial Art | Reported Rank |
|---|---|
| Judo | 6 dan |
| Taekwondo | 4 dan |
| Simple combined total | 10 dan |
Therefore, interpreting '10 dan in martial arts' as meaning that he earned 10 dan, an exceptionally high rank, in a single martial art would change the meaning of the description.
The clearest and most accurate wording would be that he 'holds 6 dan in judo and 4 dan in taekwondo.'
Can Dan Ranks From Different Martial Arts Be Added Together?
Adding the numbers together and describing someone as holding a 'combined 10 dan' may be understandable in television or popular media. However, judo 6 dan and taekwondo 4 dan do not become a single officially recognized '10 dan in martial arts' qualification.
Taekwondo has its own rank-promotion system. Kukkiwon maintains separate taekwondo examination regulations governing poom and dan ranks and promotion examinations. It has also separately published examination regulations revised on 2026-06-01.
In other words,
Judo 6 dan + Taekwondo 4 dan = 10 dan when the numbers are added together.
However,
Judo 6 dan + Taekwondo 4 dan = an official 10 dan rank in a particular martial art
is not a valid equivalence.
Because the disciplines are different, each rank must be listed separately to accurately identify the qualifications a person holds.
Which Is Higher: Judo 6 Dan or Taekwondo 4 Dan?
Based solely on the rank numbers, it is not possible to conclude that someone holding judo 6 dan is '2 dan stronger' than someone holding taekwondo 4 dan. Each martial art has its own promotion system and examination standards.
Rather than asking which represents a higher skill level, 6 dan or 4 dan, it is more appropriate to understand these qualifications as evidence that he trained in both disciplines for considerable periods and earned ranks in each.
Why Ji Seung-hyun's Father Drew Additional Attention: 38 Years as a Physical Education Teacher
His martial arts ranks were not the only details revealed during the broadcast.
Ji Seung-hyun's father was introduced as a graduate of Yong In University's Department of Judo who worked as a physical education teacher for 38 years. The program also reported that he currently teaches golf.
His mother was also an educator. Ji Seung-hyun revealed on the program that she had worked as a middle and high school English teacher before serving as an educational supervisor, vice principal, and principal.
Although the phrase '10 dan in martial arts' attracted attention following the September 17 broadcast, a closer look at his background shows that the essential point is that his father is a former physical education teacher with 38 years of experience who separately holds judo 6 dan and taekwondo 4 dan.
Remembering Only '10 Dan in Martial Arts' Can Be Misleading
In the case of Ji Seung-hyun's father, '10 dan in martial arts' is an example of combining ranks from different disciplines into a simplified description.
When examining martial arts certificates or training backgrounds, it is therefore more accurate to check which rank was earned in which martial art, rather than focusing on a combined numerical total.
Ji Seung-hyun's father holds judo 6 dan + taekwondo 4 dan. The figure '10 dan' represents the combination of those two qualifications. It does not mean that he earned 10 dan in either judo or taekwondo.
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