The Brazilian jiu-jitsu belts system determines a practitioner’s level of grappling experience.
BJJ belts range from the beginner levels of white and blue belts through the intermediate level of purple belts and, eventually, the advanced grades of brown and black belts.
This article will go over the various colored belts used in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It discusses the meaning of different belts, the progression of promotions, and many other topics.
How Many Belts Are There in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The range of belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is astounding: there are eight adult belt levels and five belt levels for children and adolescents.
| Adult Belt Levels (practitioners that are over the age of 16 years old) | – White belt – Blue belt – Purple belt – Brown belt – Black belt – Red/black belt – Red/white belt – Red belt |
| Youth Belt Levels (practitioners who are under the age of 16 years old) | – White belt – Gray belt – Yellow belt – Orange belt – Green belt |
Both adult and youth students can earn stripes for various factors such as time, knowledge, behavior, and performance at competitions, among other factors.
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What Are the Different Colored Belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
BJJ belt colors are white, blue, purple, brown, black, red/black, red/white, and red.
White Belt
The white belt is the first colored belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is the most crucial level for any practitioner. Newcomers to the BJJ sport who have no prior experience are assigned this level when they begin training.
Aside from that, moving from white to blue belt typically takes 2 to 3 years of dedicated training. However, the length of time may vary depending on the requirements of each academy.
Meanwhile, students must demonstrate to their coach that they deserve to be promoted to the blue belt level.
A common misconception is that demonstrating talent or athleticism will automatically result in a promotion to a higher belt. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Your wrestling or grappling skills may be excellent, and you may even have defeated a few opponents. But it would help if you had time to comprehend the concepts and fundamentals of jiu-jitsu.
A wise instructor should not promote his students solely based on physical strength. Instead, he must take into account a variety of other factors.
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Blue Belt
The blue belt is the second colored belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Indeed, it is considered one of the most elementary levels for any practitioner because it will gain a wealth of technical information.
Aside from the black belt, a blue belt is the most likely rank in which BJJ students will spend most of their time training and developing their skills.
After learning the fundamentals of BJJ, they begin to develop their methods of doing things at this level.
It is possible to go from blue to purple belt rank within two years of dedicated training (at least three sessions per week), following the International Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation’s requirements.
Despite this, numerous practitioners have advanced to the rank of purple belt in less than two years, many of whom have progressed in more than two years.
Purple Belt
The purple belt is the third colored belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It is a stage at which a student begins to perfect his technique and mentor others.
The purple belt assists lower-ranked practitioners by instructing them to improve in jiu-jitsu using his experience as a model. As a result, purple belts should foster positive relationships with their blue belts team partners.
Aside from that, achieving the purple belt is a significant accomplishment. However, it is a formidable accomplishment without demonstrating high talent and determination.
Generally speaking, the purple belt is considered an advanced practitioner, which places them at the top of the team hierarchy in most school systems.
Consequently, instructors believe the purple belts will improve the overall team quality by assisting the white and blue belts in their jiu-jitsu training.
Brown Belt
The brown belt is the fourth colored belt in the BJJ ranking system. So, it comes before the black belt in the hierarchy.
Essentially, it is a stage in which a student refines their list of techniques they rely on in the competition and thoroughly understands them.
Among the highest Brazilian Jiu-jitsu ranks, the brown belt is the fourth highest after the white, blue, and purple belts and before the black belt.
A purple belt who maintains a high level of consistency can earn the brown belt in a training period of 1 to 2 years.
But generally, a consistent practitioner can earn his brown belt between 3 and 6 years from when he first stepped onto the mat.
Black Belt
The black belt is the fifth colored belt in the BJJ ranking system, which comes after the brown belt and before the coral and red belts.
Because of its significance in BJJ and other martial arts disciplines, it is the most wanted rank.
The black belt rank is awarded to practitioners practicing Jiu-jitsu for a significant time. Furthermore, achieving a black belt can take up to ten years.
Having spent many years on the BJJ mats has provided him with a comprehensive background. In addition, black belts have a high technical and practical proficiency level.
Coral Belt
The coral belt is among the most prestigious and highest ranks after attaining the 6th-degree black belt. Aside from that, the coral belt comes before the red belt and represents the 7th and 8th black belt ranks.
There are two types of coral belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which are as follows:
- Red/Black Coral Belt
The red and black belt (coral belt) represents a 7th-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu. It’s awarded to practitioners with at least thirty years of experience as active black belts.
The IBJJF, on the other hand, requires that red and black belts are only eligible to move up to the next rank after at least seven years at their current level.
- Red/White Coral Belt
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners who wear a red and white belt (coral belt) have completed at least thirty-seven years on the mats as active black belts. Otherwise, This red/white rank is also represented by an 8th-degree black belt.
On the other hand, the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation requires that red and white belts be eligible for promotion to the next rank (red belt) only after they have spent a minimum of ten years at this level.
Red Belt
The red belt is the highest rank in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and refers to a Grand Master who has achieved the 9th or 10th-degree black belt in martial arts.
Otherwise, there aren’t many red belts because it takes approximately 50 years of BJJ practice to achieve this rank.
Youth Belts In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Youth practitioners (those between the ages of 4 and 15) can earn colored belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. These belts serve as a visual representation of their progress in both BJJ learning and practicing.
When toddlers first begin training in Jiu-jitsu (white belt), they earn many belt ranks before making the blue belt, which can only be awarded to practitioners older than 16.
Otherwise, the IBJJF recognizes five youth belt levels eligible for promotion (white, gray, yellow, orange, and green).
More information on the youth BJJ belts and progression time can be found in the image below.
Conclusion
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu belt ranks indicate how much knowledge a martial art practitioner has. Here is a summary of the colored belts in this grappling martial art.
The white belt, blue belt, purple belt, brown belt, black belt, coral belt, and red belt are the jiu-jitsu belts in order of chronology.
The white belt is the first belt to be earned. While progressing from one level to the next, the practitioner gains more technical skills and a better understanding of the art of BJJ.
What rank do you currently hold in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Do you adore it? Do you believe that you deserve a higher rank?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the BJJ Belt System?
The BJJ belt ranking system highlights the extent of a practitioner’s experience. It is ranged from the novice levels of white and blue belts to the intermediate level of purple to the advanced rankings of brown and black belts.
What Does It Mean to Be a Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is a significant achievement for any practitioner because he or she has worked extremely hard to achieve this highly desired rank.
Is the Black Belt the Highest Rank In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Generally speaking, a black belt is considered the highest rank a practitioner can achieve in various martial arts disciplines.
However, in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, other highest ranks besides the black belt are available, such as the coral and red belts, which are the most prestigious.
Aside from that, the seventh and eighth degrees of the black belts are commonly referred to as the coral belt, and a red belt represents the ninth-degree black belts.
