An Introduction to The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt Ranking System

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt is considered the most prestigious and difficult to obtain among all the martial arts systems. It requires ten years of hard work and a lot of Jiu-Jitsu classes to reach the black belt. There are four belts to obtain before getting to the black belt and eight belts total. The point of Jiu-Jitsu, though, is not to climb the levels quickly but rather to enjoy the entire process. People often want to speed up the process and keep upgrading belts. This makes them get discouraged and quit. The secret to Jiu-Jitsu is to be patient and to keep your ego in check.

White Belt

The white belt is exceptionally significant. It marks the beginning of your journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It also can be the most frustrating stage along your journey. With a white belt, everyone knows you are a beginner and will be tapping out a lot. 

This is where you should develop your mindset and realize you will fail, but that is how we learn. So, a white belt is about persevering and gaining an overall understanding of the different positions and learning one or two essential submissions or transitions from each position.

Blue Belt

The blue belt is your first promotion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You must be at least sixteen years old to achieve. By the time you reach a blue belt, you should have a firm grasp of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is the stage where you apply everything you have learned in combinations. The skills you learn while on your blue belt will set the foundation for the rest of your Jiu-Jitsu career.

Still, keep your ego from getting big once you have gotten to this belt. You will lose just as much, and it will take you even longer to get to the next belt. You will continue to learn the basics in this stage but will learn new skills like new guards and gi techniques.

Purple Belt

Here is the halfway point to the black belt. You will have learned all the knowledge and skills a black belt would know. Purple belts can even be allowed to instruct lower-ranking students. 

This stage is where you start smoothing out your transitions and combinations. During the purple belt, you should focus on improving your weakest areas, strengthen your offense, and start learning to attack using combinations of techniques. It's all about training from here on out. 

Brown Belt

At brown belt, the student is just one stage away from black belt. Brown belt usually requires at least five years of training to achieve. When you are at this stage of Jiu-Jitsu, you are just putting in time training and adding little pieces to your games here and there to tighten it up. 

Black Belt

After nearly a decade or more of dedication and training, you earn the rank of Jiu-Jitsu black belt. It takes immense passion and commitment to get to the black belt. This is the highest belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

The black belt is the rank where you have smoothed out all the rough edges in your technique. But not only that, an excellent black belt understands the why behind each technique, and they can teach those little nuances that make the difference between a merely good technique and an expert technique. An excellent black belt can show you the subtle differences between skill and mastery.

Like any master of their craft, they don't just sit around once they have achieved greatness. They keep working on the techniques and teach the lower belts their wisdom. You are now a high-ranking representative of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and must represent it with respect and honor.

Coral Belt (Red/Black)

Now we get into the rare belts after the notorious black belt. The Red / Black Coral belt is given out once someone reaches the 7th degree. Those who hold this belt are often addressed as masters. You will need at least seven years of training as a black belt before moving on to the next belt.

Coral Belt (Red/White)

The Red / White Coral belt is the next level of your journey. You will need ten years of teaching and training to progress to the final belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu.

Red Belt

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the red belt is reserved "for those whose influence and fame takes them to the pinnacle of art," according to Renzo and Royler Gracie. You must have been a black belt for around 48 years to be considered for the red belt, which is regarded as an honor given to very few.

History of the BJJ Ranking System

Kanō Jigorō, the founder of Judo, introduced belts and gi in martial arts in 1970. Kanō's pupil Mitsuyo Maeda arrived in Brazil, a journey that led to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At the time, Kanō used only white and black belts. A lot of people believe that it was Mikonosuke Kawaishi that introduced the additional color belts. He thought that having more colors would be good so students could have visible rewards to show their progress.

The first official belt ranking system, though, was created in 1967 by the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara. From that point on, it developed into our current ranking system.

Conclusion

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the best form of martial art to get into. Once you start, keep going even if you are having trouble or not picking up on it fast. That is not the point of Jiu-Jitsu. Just have fun and enjoy the journey. That is the essence of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. Here at Combat Arts S&C, we focus primarily on teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, regardless of skill level. Try one of our free Jiu-Jitsu classes. See our unique community and the journey you can take with us.