Red and Coral Belts: The Highest Achievable Ranks in BJJ

BJJ red and coral belts are an honor to any Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. Masters and grandmasters can achieve these highest belt ranks after several years of jiu-jitsu training.

Red belts are priceless gifts for any BJJ grandmaster. All belts have essential value and significance in the life of a practitioner. However, some martial artists believe the black belt is the most wanted in any martial arts discipline due to its great value.

This article discusses everything you need to know about the red and coral belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It covers the meaning and the progression timeline of the highest BJJ belts, among other things. Stay tuned!

BJJ Rankings After the Black Belt

how many degrees of black belt are there in jiu jitsu

The black belt rank may be a gift and recognition of the tremendous effort and commitment that a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner has offered to this beautiful martial art. But is that the end of the story? 

Most Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners agree that achieving the black belt is just the beginning of their grappling adventure.

The real work starts with more challenges to achieve higher black belt degrees. Then, why not the coral belts and the red belt BJJ rank?

Coral Belts In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Source: A Martial Life

The coral belt is the next BJJ rank a practitioner can achieve after the sixth-degree black belt. And it stands for the seventh and eighth-degree belts.

Some fighters might include the coral belt under the black belt category. They think this rank represents a transition phase between the black and red belts.

How Many Coral Belt Ranks Are There in BJJ?

As indicated above, the coral belt represents the jiu-jitsu rank under the red belt and is higher than the sixth-degree black belt. Otherwise, there are two coral belts classifications: 

  • Red and Black Belt (Coral belt)

The red and black belt (commonly known as a coral belt) represents a seventh-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Plus, thirty years of BJJ training and teaching as an active black belt (very knowledgeable and experienced BJJ practitioner).

Otherwise, the IBJJF requires that jiu-jitsu red and black belt students can’t move up in rank until they pass a minimum of seven years of jiu-jitsu training and teaching at this jiu-jitsu rank. 

  • Red and white belt (Coral belt)

The red and white belt (commonly known as a coral belt) is an eighth-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It represents a true expert master with at least thirty-seven years of BJJ training and teaching as an active black belt.

Otherwise, the IBJJF requires that jiu-jitsu red and white belt masters can’t move up to the red belts BJJ until they pass at least ten years of jiu-jitsu training and teaching at red and white belt jiu-jitsu rank. 

BJJ Coral Belts Masters

Coral belt is a master who reached the 7th or the 8th degree in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Here is an updated list of some coral belt holders:

List of 7th-degree Coral Belts Holders

  1. Royce Gracie: Son of Hélio Gracie with a remarkable career in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions.
Source: Valente BrothersTV
  1. Rolker Gracie: A prominent member of the Gracie family and, therefore, the fourth son of Helio Gracie.
  1.  Royler Gracie: Son of Helio Gracie, and he was the head coach of the Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro.
  1.  Carlos “Caique” Elias: One among only a couple of non-Gracie members to receive a black belt directly from Hélio Gracie. He received his red and black belt from Rickson Gracie in March 2009.
  1. Sergio “Malibu” Jardim: Rickson Gracie promoted him to the coral belt in 2011.
  1.  Jean Jacques Machado: He won every major title and competition award in Brazil and has appeared in several TV shows and films.
  1.  Fábio Santos (fighter): He was Trained at Rolls Gracie Academy. Otherwise, Fábio was promoted to jiu-jitsu black belt by Rickson Gracie and Red and Black belt by Relson Gracie.
Source: BJJLibrary
  1.  Luiz Fux: Current minister of the Supreme court.
  1.  Aloisio Silva: Black belt under Carlos Gracie, founding father of Dojo jiu-jitsu. And one among the primary Jiu-Jitsu masters to train female jiu-jitsu.
  1.  Fabricio Martins Costa: Black belt under Osvaldo Alves. He was promoted to the coral belt by Osvaldo Alves in 2012.
  1.  Carlos Valente: He starts BJJ training at 8 years old under Rolls Gracie. Valente received his black belt from Rickson Gracie and was awarded the 7th degree from Robson Gracie in 2011.
  1.  Charles Gracie: Son of Robson Gracie and founding father of Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
  1. Jorge Pereira: A Brazilian Gracie jiu-jitsu coral belt (7th degree) who earned his black belt training under Rickson Gracie (1986). Pereira was also a documented figure within the vale-tudo circuit during the 1990s.
  1.  Ricardo De La Riva: Founding father of the De La Riva guard.
Source: FloGrappling
  1. Murilo Bustamante: He was a mixed martial artist and former UFC Middleweight Champion. Otherwise, Bustamante was one of the founders of the Brazilian Top Team (now he is the leader)
  1.  Nelson Monteiro: He participates in establishing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, California. Then, Monteiro moved to Abu Dhabi to partake in the creation of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship. Otherwise, he was awarded a 7th-degree belt from Carlos Gracie, Jr. on October 6th, 2019.
  1.  Carlos “Bagana” Lima: Black belt under Carlson Gracie Senior and founding father of Irmandade Jiu-Jitsu received his 7th degree in 2018 from Master Robson Gracie.

 List of 8th-degree Coral Belts Holders

  1.  Arthur Virgílio Neto: Elected mayor of Manaus and former Federal Senator.
  1.  Carlos Gracie, Jr.: founding father of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), the Confederation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Gracie Barra.
  1.  Carlos Machado: World masters champion.
Source: John Machado
  1.  Derval Luciano Rêgo (Mestre Morcego): founding father of the FJJ-PE (Federação de Jiu-Jitsu do Estado de Pernambuco) and co-founder of the CBJJ/IBJJF. Otherwise, he is a black belt under Oswaldo Fadda and Jacê Paulino de Albuquerque. 
  1. Joe Moreira: One among the Pioneers of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
  1.  Marcus Soares: He is a Black belt under Carlson Gracie, and founding father of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Canada.
  1. Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti: Founder and head coach of Alliance Jiu Jitsu team, one among only six people promoted to black belt by Rolls Gracie.
  1.  Mauricio Motta Gomes: one among only six Rolls Gracie black belts and father of Roger Gracie.
  1. Luiz Palhares: Helio and Rickson Gracie black belt. And he is the founder and head coach at Jacksonville Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
  1. Pedro Sauer: Helio and Rickson Gracie black belt. Besides, he is the US military and enforcement trainer, and one of the best of the simplest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructors”
Source: xaguerox
  1.  Márcio Stambowsky: He began training at age 15 under Rolls Gracie, then, he becomes one among the Famous Five to earn a black belt under his tutelage.
  1. Rigan Machado: one of the tough BJJ tournament fighters with a fantastic record of 365 wins and a couple of losses.
  1. Sylvio Behring: Son of Flavio Behring, father of Ian Behring. He participates to develop the foundations of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense for college kids of all levels. 
  1. Moises Muradi: He is the founding father of Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu
  1. Rilion Gracie: Son of Carlos Gracie
  1. Sérgio Penha

Red Belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The BJJ Red Belt refers to a Grand Master who reached the 9th or 10th degree in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

That’s almost more than 50 years of BJJ experience and practice. Furthermore, the red belt is the highest rank in Brazilian jiu-jitsu martial art

Red Belt BJJ Holders

The red belt represents jiu-jitsu grandmasters with a large influence on the BJJ martial art community. Here is an updated list of some Brazilian jiu-jitsu red belt holders:

List of 10th-Degree Red Belt Holders

  1. Carlos Gracie Sr: Carlos Gracie Sr. was the founding father of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and therefore the brother of Helio Gracie. He was the author of the increase of BJJ worldwide.
  1. Gastão Gracie: He was Helio and Carlos’ brother and was one of the primary to assist call at the first formed BJJ School in 1925 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  1. Jorge (George) Gracie: He was the primary champion that came out of the Gracie family In Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Otherwise, George was more of a fighter than an educator and spent his time fighting everywhere in Brazil. 
  1. Hélio Gracie: Helio was getting on the top of the red belts grandmasters list. While involved in creating BJJ with Carlos, he was always more of a fighter than an entrepreneur. Hélio always believed in BJJ as a practical, self-defense art and taught accordingly. 
  1. Oswaldo Gracie
  1. Luiz França Filho
Source: Gracie Ohio Jiu-Jitsu Academy

List of 9th-Degree Red Belt Holders

  1. Pedro Hemeterio: He is the primary non-Gracie member to reach the red belt in jiu-jitsu.
  1. João Alberto Barreto: He was a red belt under grandmaster Helio Gracie. 
  1. Reyson Gracie: the third son of Carlos Gracie Sr. 
  1. Flavio Behring: A jiu-jitsu student under Helio Gracie and João Alberto Barreto. 
  1. Carlson Gracie: Carlson Gracie is the son of Carlos Gracie Sr. and one of the foremost essential figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Source: BudoVideos.com
  1. Carley Gracie: He is the 11th child of Carlos Gracie. He was one of the primary Gracie members to bring BJJ to the United States. 
  1. Geny Rebello: He was awarded jiu jitsu red belt under Helio Gracie.
  1. Armando Wridt: He was awarded BJJ red belt under Helio Gracie.
  1. Oswaldo Fadda: Probably the foremost important non-Gracie figure within the youth of the art. He was a rival of the Gracies and an influential figure in Rio. Fadda is one of the rare people that valued leg locks during the old days of BJJ. 
  1. Pedro Valente: A famous cosmetic surgeon and student of Hélio Gracie. 
  1. Luis Carlos Guedes de Castro
  1. Francisco Mansur: One of the foremost traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools within the world. His academy may be a proponent of Helio Gracie’s traditional, self-defense-oriented sort of Jiu-Jitsu. He was one among Helio Gracie’s only 7 red belts.
  1. Rorion Gracie: Helio Gracie’s son and the author of the UFC, which clothed to be a multi-billion organization today. 
  1. Relson Gracie: The second son of Grand Master Helio Gracie. 
  1. Francisco Sá: Master Francisco Sá is one of the foremost important instructors from the region of Ceará in Brazil. This academy developed several important fighters and is affiliated with the Nova Uniao team.
  1. Amelio Arruda
  1. Arthur Virgilio Neto: A student of Carlson Gracie, He received his red belt and therefore the ninth grade in April 2014.
  1. Candido Casale “Candoca”: A red belt since 2012, he was a prominent student of Jorge Gracie.
  1. Crézio Chavez: An important 9th Degree Red Belt of the Gentle Art. And he is a prominent Carlson Gracie Academy member.
  1. Deoclécio Paulo: He is an Oswaldo Fadda black belt and one of his top competitors. Paulo has taught everywhere in Brazil and is one of the most straightforward instructors who helped spread BJJ into Chile. 
  1. Eduardo Gomes Pereira: Involved in Brazilian jiu-jitsu since the 1950s, and he’s a student of Jorge Gracie.
  1. Geraldo Flores: He is within the group of Oswaldo Fadda lineage red belts. Flores is taken into account to be the most developer of Jiu Jitsu within the northern area of Rio.
  1. Helio Vigio: Alongside Carlson Gracie, Robson Gracie, and Joao Alberto Barreto, he was a teacher within the original Gracie academy. Before becoming one among the world’s premier MMA referees within the world.
  1. José Higino: A former student of Master Aderbal Baptista, he’s also from the Fadda lineage.
  1. Julio Secco: He is a BJJ game veteran living in Brazil. He owns three academies in the Rio Grande do Sul.
  1. Luiz Franca: Primary coached by Soishiro Satake and Mitsuyo Maeda. Afterward, he established one of the highest non-Gracie lineages in BJJ. 
  1. Nahum Raby: A student of Jorge Gracie, he’s a top BJJ figure in Sao Paolo. 
  1. Nilton Pereira da Silva
  1. Octavio de Almeida
  1. Oswaldo Carnivalle: A Jorge Gracie black belt, he’s another important member of the Sao Paolo BJJ community. Otherwise, he was known for fighting in other arts, like Judo and Wrestling, to prove the supremacy of Jiu-Jitsu.
  1. Hilton Leão da Silva
Source:fightlifeuae
  1. Oswaldo “Paqueta” Rosa: The owner of the world’s most important BJJ and MMA fight archive. Paqueta was a formidable Gracie Academy competitor and former bodybuilder. He was known to possess legendary strength.
  1. Paulo Mauricio Strauch: Trained by Reylson Gracie, he now operates an academy in Copacabana. Caio Terra is far and away from his most famous student.
  1. Pedro Emerito: A Gracie Academy representative within the youth, he was Helio Gracie’s first red belt. He fought and taught jiu-jitsu in Sao Paolo for many years.
  1. Walter Nogueira
  1. Orlando Saraiva: One of Sao Paolo’s figures that contributed tons to the spread of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was a neighborhood of the primary Carlson Gracie team and competed in MMA and Judo. Otherwise, Orlando started training Jiu Jitsu with Master Oswaldo Rosa.
  1. Rickson Gracie: The latest red belt promoted in 2017, Rickson is arguably Helio’s most famous son. He’s considered by many to be the best BJJ competitor of all time.
Source: JiuJitsuMag
  1. Carlos Antonio Rosado: He was the youngest red belt in BJJ to be promoted by Master Carlson Gracie. Otherwise, Rosado spread BJJ by creating a beautiful academy called Rosado jiu-jitsu.

Conclusion

The red belt is the highest possible rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after the coral belt. It is granted to people who have exhibited a lifetime of devotion, talent, and mastery in the discipline.

BJJ Red and coral belts are masters and grandmasters who have spent years learning, teaching, and spreading jiu-jitsu worldwide.

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