The most traditional ranking system of renju comes from Japan. They have developed the series of titles that show the player's skill and contribution to renju - the KYU and the DAN titles. The kyu titles are the the beginner and medium level ranks, and the dan titles are the masters ranks. The lowest rank is the 15 kyu. The highest kyu is 1, after which the dan titles begin, starting with 1 dan, up to the 9 dan.
There are not so many 9 dan players in the world. In fact, there is only 1 player of 9 dan outside Japan. The rest of the 9 dan masters are all from Japan.

The titles are always issued by respected renju institutions, such as national renju federations. Online Renju Class has acted since 1999 and has a great reputation in the world of renju. Since February 8, 2004, Online Renju Class has begun to issue the kyu and dan titles.
The dan titles are very serious ranks and they should not be given easily. Online Renju Class has set very strict rules and conditions for those who want to earn a dan title. The higher the title, the more conditions there are to be fulfilled.

All the kyu ranks can be earned in Online Renju Class by earning the credit points. The range of -2cp to 2 cp equals to 15 kyu, 3-7cp is 14 kyu, 8-12cp is 13 kyu, 13-17cp is 12 kyu, 18-22cp is 11 kyu, 23-27cp is 10 kyu, 28-32cp is 9 kyu, 33-37cp is 8 kyu, 38-42cp is 7 kyu, 43-47cp is 6 kyu, 48-52cp is 5 kyu, 53-57cp is 4 kyu, 58-62cp is 3 kyu, 63-67cp is 2 kyu, 68-74cp is 1 kyu.
All the kyu titles are counted automatically. There are no printed certificates given for the titles.

Below there is the table of dan conditions. The higher is the dan, the more conditions there are to get it. The applicant of the title is responsible for checking the conditions of the dan he wants to get, and see if he has fulfilled all of them. If the applicant is having the questions or problems about those conditions, he can turn to the chairman of ORC Qualification Board for assistance. When the applicant is sure of having all the conditions fulfilled, he can apply for the dan title, by sending the following information to the ORC Qualification Board:

• The real first name, surname and username in Renjuclass
• The Dan title he applies for
• Showing the proof list of having the conditions fulfilled (for homeworks show the homework dates, for teaching show the teaching dates, for articles show the url of the article in Renjuclass, etc.)
• The valid postal address (preferably home address), number, street, city, county/state, country.
• The valid e-mail address

Having reviewed the application and checked the conditions, the ORC Qualification Board will make the decision about presenting the title. If the title was approved, then the Board may consider to either present the digital licence online, or to send the real printed licence by regular mail signed and stamped by Ando Meritee. The higher is the dan, the bigger the chance that the applicant can receive the printed licence. The number of printed licences each year depends on the financial possibilities of Online Renju Class. The licence is free for all the applicants, however, all the donations are very welcome [About financial support]. Even without any support, Online Renju Class is determined to issue the printed licences and send them out to our best members.

Those dan licences have a high value. Online Renju Class gives its full guarantee on the fairness of the title, assuring that the owner of the title is really worthy of the title and should be respected accordingly! Each earned title is a lifetime rank, it will never expire. In addition to the dan scale, Online Renju Class gives additional Master title corresponding to the Dan title.