Menkyo kaiden

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Menkyo kaiden (免許皆伝:めんきょかいでん) is a Japanese term meaning "license of total transmission." It is a certificate that is granted by a school, ryū, or other organization meaning that the recipient has learned everything that the organization or school can teach, and is licensed to pass on all aspects of his training.

In the older menkyo system of licenses and certificates that predates the more prevalent kyū/dan (dan-i) system of colored belts created by Jigoro Kano in the 19th century for Kodokan judo, the menkyo kaiden is typically the highest level of license that exists, and the highest rank achievable under the menkyo system. A holder of a menkyo kaiden is often, but not always, the de facto successor to the sōke of the ryū. Some schools that use the dan-i system still retain the menkyo kaiden as a method of denoting a successor to the head of the school.