Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Order: BJJ Belt Ranks Explained
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is widely known as one of the most effective martial arts in the world. It’s a discipline that emphasizes leverage, strategy, and technical knowledge over sheer strength, making it a martial art where smaller practitioners can successfully defend against larger opponents. Beyond the techniques and philosophy, one of the most recognized features of BJJ is its belt ranking system.
The BJJ belt order represents a practitioner’s journey through the art — from complete beginner to seasoned master. Each belt has its own meaning, skill requirements, and time frame, and earning one is often the result of years of dedication. Unlike some martial arts where belts can be earned relatively quickly, BJJ belts are notoriously hard-earned, with the black belt often taking a decade or more of consistent training.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about BJJ belt ranks:
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The standard belt order for kids and adults.
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What each belt represents in terms of skill and mindset.
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The time-frames and requirements for promotion.
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Differences in ranking systems across federations like IBJJF and JJGF.
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What happens after black belt, including coral and red belts.
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The role of stripes and degrees in tracking progress.
By the end, you’ll have a complete understanding of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu belt order and what each rank means in the journey.
🔹 The Belt System in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, belts are awarded based on skill development, mat time, and overall growth, not simply on attendance. Unlike some martial arts with frequent promotions, BJJ requires years of practice at each rank.
There are two main systems:
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Kids’ Belt System (under 16 years old):
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White → Gray → Yellow → Orange → Green (with variations like Gray/White, Yellow/Black, etc.)
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Designed to keep children motivated with incremental progress before they transition to adult ranks.
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Adult Belt System (16 years and above):
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White → Blue → Purple → Brown → Black.
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After black belt, there are further degrees and honorary belts for decades of contribution to the art.
🔹 Adult Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Order
1. White Belt – The Beginner
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Meaning: A symbol of starting fresh, with no knowledge. It’s the foundation where students learn survival skills, defensive posture, and the rules of rolling.
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Focus Areas:
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Escapes from common positions (mount, side control).
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Basic guard concepts.
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Introduction to submissions (arm bar, triangle, rear-naked choke).
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Time-frame: 1–2 years on average.
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Mindset: Learn, absorb, and survive. White belts are encouraged to focus on fundamentals instead of chasing flashy techniques.
2. Blue Belt – Building the Toolbox
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Meaning: Mastery of basic techniques and the first major milestone. Many practitioners quit before reaching this belt, making it highly significant.
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Focus Areas:
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Developing a personal game (guard passing, guard retention, sweeps).
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Submissions with setups and counters.
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Understanding transitions between positions.
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Time-frame: 2–3 years minimum (IBJJF requires 2 years before purple).
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Mindset: Experimentation. The blue belt stage is about exploring styles and figuring out what works best for the individual.
3. Purple Belt – The Technician
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Meaning: Considered the “engineer’s belt.” Purple belts are seen as advanced practitioners capable of teaching lower ranks.
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Focus Areas:
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Sharpening technical precision.
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Attacking combinations and chaining submissions.
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Developing strong defense as well as offense.
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Time-frame: Minimum 1.5 years at purple (IBJJF rule), though often longer.
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Mindset: Mastery of fundamentals while building a strategic and creative game.
4. Brown Belt – Refinement and Leadership
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Meaning: A transitional belt before black. Brown belts are expected to be technical, polished, and capable of dominating rolls.
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Focus Areas:
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Refinement of techniques to high efficiency.
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Fixing weaknesses and solidifying strengths.
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Leadership on the mats, often helping coach lower belts.
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Time-frame: At least 1 year at brown.
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Mindset: Focused on details, precision, and leadership.
5. Black Belt – The Expert
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Meaning: Represents mastery of the art but also the beginning of a new journey. A black belt is expected to not only demonstrate technical skill but also embody discipline, respect, and teaching ability.
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Focus Areas:
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Complete knowledge of positions, submissions, transitions, and counters.
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Strategy in live rolling and competition.
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Contribution to the academy and wider BJJ community.
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Time-frame: Typically achieved after 8–12 years of consistent training.
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Mindset: Lifelong learning. Black belts often say that earning it is “just the beginning.”
🔹 Beyond Black Belt: Coral and Red Belts
After achieving black belt, practitioners can earn degrees (stripes) that recognize time, teaching, and contribution.
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1st–6th Degree Black Belt: Each degree requires 3 years (for the first three) and then 5 years (for the next three).
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7th Degree (Coral Belt, Red/Black): Awarded after 30+ years of black belt.
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8th Degree (Coral Belt, Red/White): Requires decades more of dedication.
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9th and 10th Degree Red Belts: Reserved for the pioneers and most senior figures in BJJ (10th degree only for the Gracie founders).
These belts are rare and symbolize not only skill but also lifetime dedication and legacy.
🔹 Kids’ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Order
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White Belt (4+) → The starting rank for all kids. Focus is on basic movements, discipline, and fun drills.
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Gray Belts (Gray/White, Gray, Gray/Black) → Typically ages 4–6+. Introduces more techniques, positional understanding, and teamwork.
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Yellow Belts (Yellow/White, Yellow, Yellow/Black) → Usually ages 7–9+. Kids gain more structured technique knowledge and start applying submissions in controlled ways.
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Orange Belts (Orange/White, Orange, Orange/Black) → Commonly ages 10–12+. Focus shifts toward refining techniques, sparring, and tactical thinking.
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Green Belts (Green/White, Green, Green/Black) → Typically ages 13–15. This is the highest kids’ rank, preparing them for adult blue belt once they turn 16.
At age 16, kids transition into the adult system, usually beginning at blue belt.
🔹 Stripes and Degrees
Stripes are smaller promotions within each belt, typically up to four stripes before the next belt. They serve as markers of progress and motivation, especially during the long years at each rank.
For black belts, stripes are called degrees and are awarded based on years of teaching and contribution rather than competition skill alone.
🔹 Different Ranking Systems in BJJ
One unique feature of BJJ is that there’s no single universal governing body. While most academies align with the IBJJF system, others follow their own guidelines.
1. IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation)
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The most widely followed standard.
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Strict rules for time in rank and age requirements.
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Recognized globally, especially in competitions.
2. JJGF (Jiu-Jitsu Global Federation)
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Founded by Rickson Gracie.
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Emphasizes self-defense and philosophy of Jiu Jitsu.
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Less focused on competition rules, more on traditional martial arts values.
3. Independent Academies
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Some gyms have their own promotion criteria.
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Variations include skipping certain kids’ belts, adding more stripes, or awarding belts faster/slower depending on philosophy.
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No-GI schools may even use rash guard ranking systems instead of belts.
🔹 Why Promotions Differ Between Academies
BJJ promotions are not universal, and this often confuses beginners. Two students at the same belt may have very different skill levels depending on their gym. Factors include:
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Competition focus (athletes may be promoted faster).
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Self-defense focus (emphasis on mastery before promotion).
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Coach’s philosophy (some are stricter, others more relaxed).
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Attendance and dedication.
This lack of uniformity is sometimes debated, but many see it as part of the individualised journey of BJJ.
🔹 What the Belt Order Truly Represents
At its core, the BJJ belt order is not just about skill. It represents:
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Discipline: Showing up consistently over years.
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Resilience: Overcoming plateaus, injuries, and challenges.
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Growth: Not just technical, but mental and emotional.
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Community: Each promotion reflects the recognition of one’s peers and coaches.
Unlike many martial arts where belts can be earned in a few years, BJJ belts are rare and deeply respected. They symbolise not only proficiency but also character.
🔹 Final Thoughts
The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu belt order is a road-map of a martial artist’s journey — from the survival-driven white belt to the lifetime commitment of a red belt. While federations and academies may differ in their systems, the essence remains the same: each belt is a milestone of dedication, perseverance, and growth.
Earning a BJJ belt is never just about learning techniques; it’s about becoming a better version of yourself on and off the mats. Whether you dream of reaching black belt or simply training for fitness and self-defense, the belt system ensures that every step of the journey is meaningful.
