BJJ Belts In Order: The Complete Guide to The Jiu Jitsu Belt System

The BJJ belt system is basically the ranking structure for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that shows off a practitioner's skill level and years of experience. Knowing how BJJ belts in order work helps set realistic expectations for your own jiu jitsu journey and really puts into perspective what each promotion means.

A BJJ belt is a sign of a practitioner's progress and mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Each rank signifies a bunch of learning milestones and a step up in skill level.

The modern BJJ belt system has its roots in a martial arts belt system created by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, way back in 1907. Kano's original system was pretty simple – just a white belt and a black belt. It was Mikonosuke Kawaishi who introduced more colours in 1935 while teaching Judo in Paris, and that's how the coloured belt progression we're familiar with came about.

The Gracie family learned from Japanese judoka Mitsuyo Maeda starting in 1914 and adapted this BJJ belt system as they developed Brazilian Jiu Jitsu over the years. By 1967, the Federation of Jiu Jitsu got around to formally codifying the belt ranking system we know today.

Here's what you need to know about the standard structure:

• Adult BJJ belts in order: You start off as a white belt, then move on to blue, then purple, then brown and black. From black you go to coral (which is a red and black stripe, then a red stripe on its own ) and finally red belt.
• Kids' Jiu Jitsu belt order: For kids, its white, then a bunch of different shades of grey, yellow, orange and green before they make the jump to adult blue at the age of 16.
• The IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation) is the one who sets the standards for all this stuff, though the exact timing and criteria can vary from academy to academy.
• Each coloured belt can have up to 4 stripes to track your progress between formal promotions.
• From black belt and up, its a degree system rather than stripes.

The Jiu Jitsu belt levels are a way to acknowledge and celebrate a practitioner's progress and mastery in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Each color marks a new stage of development in your skills. The different BJJ belts show off a practitioner's skill, progress and mastery, and that's what makes the belt system so fundamental to the sport.

Adult BJJ Belts in Order: White to Black

Here's a rundown of the adult BJJ belts in order - covering the technical expectations, mindset shifts, degree structure and typical promotion timelines for each level. The adult belt system is for practitioners who are 16 years and up.

Each colored belt and stripe in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a reflection of a practitioner's skill level and technical proficiency, marking their progress and mastery.

IBJJF minimum age requirements are:

The Stripe System: What it Means & How it Works

The stripe system for colored belts is pretty straightforward. Essentially, you can earn up to 4 stripes on your belt before moving up to the next rank. These stripes represent your progress in terms of technique, mat time, and overall development.

When we decide whether or not to promote you to a higher belt, we look at a range of factors - including how often you show up, how well you understand the technical aspects of BJJ, how you do when you're actually rolling (i.e. in class), whether or not you do well in competitions (optional), and your overall attitude. We also look to see if you can actually apply what you've learned when you're up against someone who's not just letting you win.

White Belt (The Beginning)

White belt is the entry point into the world of Jiu Jitsu for all new adult students, regardless of whether or not they've done any other kind of martial art before. We see white belts coming in from all sorts of different backgrounds - some have wrestled, some have done Judo, some are complete beginners with no prior experience.

Goals to Work Towards at White Belt:

• Mastering basic positions like guard, side control, mount and back control;
• Getting comfortable with fundamental movements like shrimping, bridging, getting up from the ground and escaping bad positions;
• Learning basic submissions like the armbar, triangle, rear-naked choke, and americana;
• Escaping common bad positions;
• Figuring out proper etiquette and safety protocols;

Our main focus at this stage is just getting you safe on the mat. We want to teach you when and how to tap out, how to train without hurting yourself or your training partners, and how to move around efficiently on the ground.

White belts may get up to 4 stripes before moving up to blue belt, and these are usually tied to the amount of time you put in on the mat and demonstrable improvements rather than formal testing.

What to Expect:

Most people take 1-3 years to get through the white belt phase, depending on how often they train (typically 2-4 times a week) and how their instructor is pushing them. Unfortunately, the biggest dropout rate in BJJ tends to happen at this stage, so stick with it even if you're not seeing improvements right away.

Blue Belt (The 1st Major Milestone)

Blue belt is the 2nd rank in the BJJ belt order and is often seen as a major milestone in your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey. By the time you reach blue belt, you've got a solid foundation in the fundamentals and have moved past the beginner stage.

IBJJF requires a minimum age of 16 to be eligible for blue belt promotion, and most students reach it after about 1.5 - 3 years of consistent white belt training.

What's Going On At Blue Belt:

• You'll be working on solidifying your understanding of all the major positions in BJJ;
• Developing reliable escapes from all the major positions;
• Building a personal game - your favorite guards, go-to takedowns, and favorite submission holds;
• Blue belt students are starting to develop a style of their own, experimenting with different techniques and trying out new things;
• At this stage, you should be able to roll safely and effectively against people of different sizes;

It's not uncommon for people to get discouraged at this stage because they feel like they finally know something. But trust us, this is when the real learning begins. Most instructors will encourage you to keep a long-term mindset and keep pushing towards purple and beyond.

The blue belt to purple progression is an important one, as purple belt represents an advanced rank just above blue that marks a significant milestone in your BJJ journey.

Purple Belt (Intermediate to Advanced)

Purple belt is the midpoint in the standard adult BJJ belt order, and it marks the transition from solid fundamentals to becoming a proficient, advanced practitioner. At purple belt, you're no longer just learning techniques - you're starting to really understand how BJJ works.

IBJJF requires a minimum age of 16 to be eligible for purple belt promotion, and most students take 4-6 years to get here, depending on how often they train.

What to Expect at Purple Belt:

• You'll be chaining attacks and defenses together smoothly;
• Managing distance, timing, and pressure effectively;
• Developing a personal style - whether that's being a guard player, a guard passer, a leg lock specialist, or something else;
• Understanding advanced guard variants, multiple submission setups, and complex transitions;
• At this stage, purple belts are often helping out in class, demonstrating techniques, mentoring white belts, and maybe even taking on assistant teaching roles;

Purple belts get recognized as having a substantial amount of knowledge and instructional capability, and they're often qualified to instruct lower-ranked students. The purple belt to brown belt progression is a big deal, as this is when you start to really see the results of all your hard work.

At this stage, strategic thinking is key. Purple belts start to anticipate what their opponents are going to do, and they learn to set traps and maintain control even against tough resistance. Mastering techniques and developing a personal style are key components of progressing to the next level. By this point, you should be able to explain why you're doing a particular technique, not just how to do it.

Brown Belt (The Final Stretch)

Brown belt is the almost-but-not-quite top colour rank before black belt in the BJJ belt system, indicating near-expert skills and a whole lot of experience. At the brown belt level you're expected to be honing your techniques, trying out new sequences and gaining all-round knowledge that usually takes several years to develop - years of training that is, not just a couple of months.

Brown belt means mastering the techniques you already know - not learning a whole new set of them.

IBJJF's minimum age requirement for a brown belt is 17. Most people don't reach this level until they've had at least 6, sometimes up to 9 years of training under their belts.

What brown belts focus on:

• Focusing on the details with precision grip fighting and smooth transitions;
• Polishing up their skills with pressure, timing and match strategy;
• Teaching classes or leading portions of them;
• Mentoring lower belts and helping shape their academy's culture;
• Competing at high levels in their chosen divisions;

The typical brown belt journey is 1 to 3 years long. At this stage of their journey, instructors are looking for more than just technical skills - they want to see maturity, consistency, and a willingness to contribute to the community before considering black belt promotion.

Getting a brown belt isn't just about being technically excellent - it's also about showing leadership potential. Many brown belts can execute techniques as cleanly as black belts - the difference is often about experience, how they teach and their overall contribution to the art.

Black Belt - The Pinnacle of Achievable Mastery

Black belt is the highest color rank in the basic BJJ belt system and a symbol of expert level understanding of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. To be honest, black belt does not represent the end of learning - it's actually the beginning of a whole new journey.

IBJJF has a minimum age requirement of 18 years for a black belt. It usually takes 8 - 12 years of steady training to get to this point although it can vary depending on talent, how often you train and instructor standards.

What black belts show:

• Executing techniques from all major positions with both speed and accuracy;
• Controlling skilled opponents with minimal effort;
• Teaching effectively and contributing to the development of the art;
• Not getting stuck in a rut - they keep evolving their skills;
• Having a deep understanding that lets them innovate and adapt;

The degree system at black belt works a lot differently than the stripes on coloured belts:

Degree Typical Time Required

1st Degree - 3 years

2nd Degree - 3 years after reaching 1st degree

3rd Degree - 3 years after 2nd degree

4th to 6th Degree Longer periods of time (5-7+ years each)

Most black belts teach and help shape the technical direction of their academy. Earning your black belt is a big deal but experienced practitioners know that it's only when the real journey begins.

After several degrees at black belt, you can start to qualify for coral belts, which are special ranks that recognise a lifetime of achievement in the art.

Beyond Black Belt: Coral and Red Belts

The BJJ belt system doesn't end at black belt - in fact there are coral and red master ranks that represent the very pinnacle of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu achievement.

These ranks follow the same degree structure as black belt and are incredibly rare. Reaching coral belt status requires at least 30 years of black belt experience combined with significant teaching contributions and influence on the sport.

Coral and red belts are usually reserved for senior black belts who have spent their lives teaching, developing students and spreading Brazilian Jiu Jitsu around the world.

Red/Black Coral Belt - A Long Journey

The red/black coral belt is awarded at the 7th degree black belt level. Typically, holders have trained and taught as black belts for 30+ years.

Key features:

• The belt has alternating red and black bands;
• It symbolizes both ongoing mastery and a deep connection to black belt fundamentals;
• IBJJF requires about 7 years to pass before you're eligible for coral belt\
• Holders are often referred to as "Masters";
• It's recognition for deep technical knowledge and a long term influence on the sport;

This rank is very rare and usually reserved for those who have headed up academies, produced many black belts and made a significant contribution to the art's development. The belt itself reflects both wisdom and an ongoing commitment to training.

Red/White Coral Belt - The Highest Honour

The red/white coral belt represents an 8th degree black belt - one step above red/black in the BJJ belt system.

Key features:

• The belt has alternating red and white segments;
• IBJJF requires at least 10 years at 7th degree before they'll consider you for 8th degree;
• Typically, you're in your 60s or older;
• Black belt experience of 40+ years is typical;

Red/white coral belt holders are often major historical figures in BJJ and have typically mentored generations of instructors and helped spread Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to new regions or countries.

Red Belt - The Grandmaster Ranks

In the higher ranks of BJJ, the Red belt indicates a 9th or 10th degree Grandmaster rankThe solid red belt is the highest formal rank found in the BJJ belt hierarchy, corresponding to the 9th degree red belt and 10th degree grandmaster status.

What you need to know:

• 9th degree red belt holders are called grandmasters - that's an extremely rare honor, requiring more than 45 years of black belt experience;
• Promotion to red belt typically happens very late in life - we're talking 60s or beyond;
• The 10th degree has historically been reserved for the pioneers of BJJ - mainly members of the Gracie family;
• The 8th degree red and white belt precedes the solid red belt;
• A red belt symbolizes a lifetime of devotion, teaching, and contributing to the global spread of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - it's a huge achievement that most practitioners will never reach in their lifetime;

Achieving or even seeing a red belt in their journey is a distant dream for most BJJ enthusiasts. These ranks represent the absolute pinnacle of the art- reserved for those who have helped shape and spread Brazilian Jiu Jitsu around the world.

Kids and Youth Jiu Jitsu Belt Order

Children between 4 and 15 follow a separate Jiu Jitsu belt order that's designed to provide more frequent promotions and age-appropriate goals. The youth belt systems are tailored to help kids stay motivated by providing visible progress markers.

The IBJJF and many major associations use a structured kids' belt system with more colors than the adult system 2025 standards. It's a system that recognizes kids have different developmental needs.

General kids BJJ belts in order:

Kids get stripes and coloured tag variations more frequently than adults, which helps to track small improvements and keep them enthusiastic about training.

Key points about youth progression:

• When kids turn 16 they move to the adult belt system;
• The youth belt typically maps to an appropriate adult rank (often blue, sometimes white or purple depending on their achievement);
• Coaches look at a kids' technical standards but also evaluate their behavior, respect, attention and emotional maturity;
• The highest color belt a youth can achieve before transitioning is green;
• Some schools offer a Gracie combatives belt or similar program for younger kids;

The youth belt systems exist because younger practitioners have different needs. The additional colours provide more opportunities for recognition while building the foundation for their eventual adult training.

Stripes, Degrees, and Promotion Criteria

Beyond the BJJ belt colors, there's also a stripe system and degree system that shows progress within each belt level. Understanding this system will help you track your development and set realistic expectations.

Stripe system (White through Brown belt):

• Up to 4 stripes can be awarded before promotion to the next belt rank;
• Your instructors decide when to award stripes based on your demonstrated progress - there's no universal standard for stripe timing - it varies from school to school;
• Some schools use formal testing, others promote during regular classes;

Degree system (Black belt and beyond):

• Degrees range from 1st through 6th before you can be eligible for a coral belt;
• The IBJJF defines minimum time intervals (typically 3 years between early degrees, longer later);
• Degrees recognize time in rank and contributions to the art;
• Belt integrity is important - degrees aren't handed out lightly;

Common promotion factors:

• Consistent attendance over extended periods;
• Technical knowledge that's up to date for your current belt level;
• Performance during rolling against various skill levels;
• Competition experience (encouraged but rarely required);
• Ability to apply pressure and timing safely;
• Attitude and behavior on and off the mats;
• Teaching ability (especially at higher levels);

Promotions are cumulative - instructors look at your long-term development, not just short bursts of effort or isolated tournament results.

A lot of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu students expect automatic promotion after a certain timeframe. This just isn't how it works. Your instructor evaluates your overall trajectory, not just calendar time.

For those seeking good equipment, brands like Hayabusa Jiu Jitsu belts and other reputable manufacturers offer products that meet competition standards. Your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi and belt really do represent your commitment to the art.

How Long Does It Take to Move Through The BJJ Belts in Order?

Timelines for moving through the Jiu Jitsu belt colours are averages, not guarantees. The BJJ belt levels reward consistency over many years rather than short-term intensity.

Approximate adult timelines:

Getting to coral and red belts takes several more decades at black belt, making them lifetime achievements rather than something most practitioners can aim for.

Factors that affect progress:

• Training frequency (2 vs. 5+ sessions per week makes a big difference);
• Injury history and recovery time;
• Job, family and life obligations* Competition focus & intensity;
• Promotion culture & the instructors behind it;
• Prior grappling experience (wrestling, Judo and all that);

TL DR here's the lowdown on BJJ belt levels: focus on showing up and training regularly - the rest will happen naturally. This comprehensive guide to how BJJ rank progression works is a reminder that people who genuinely train for the love of it will naturally get through the belt ranks without getting too caught up in the next promotion.

The belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a marker of where you've been, not where you're going. A jiu jitsu belt is a reminder of all the training and effort you've put in - not a promise of anything to come. How much you know and how far along you are varies a lot from person to person.

Whether you're just going for the next belt rank or just in it for the training itself, don't forget the BJJ belt system is meant to encourage you to keep getting better - not to stress you out with arbitrary deadlines.

FAQs: Common Questions About BJJ Belts

Q1: What is the standard adult BJJ belt progression?

The typical adult progression is: white - blue - purple - brown - black belt. After black belt, the coral belts (red / black for 7th degree, red / white for 8th) and eventually red belt (9th & 10th degree) are up for grabs. Most people see all the first 5 belts in their lifetime, to be honest.

Q2: Do all schools use the same jiu jitsu belt colours and order?

The basic adult colours are pretty much universal across the board, but some schools do things differently for kids - a bit more flair in terms of stripes and half-belts. The general idea matches the IBJJF guidelines but individual academies can have their own take on things so its always a good idea to check in with your own school before you start training.

Q3: Can you jump ranks or get promoted faster because of your prior martial arts experience?

Its pretty rare for people to get a free pass to a new rank in a legit BJJ academy. Having a background in grappling (judo, wrestling etc) will give you a bit of a head start and might mean you get promoted a bit quicker. But even if you've got loads of experience already, instructors will usually stick to the established system - though there are exceptions for top level competitors and pros.

Q4: Does competing in tournaments make you rank up faster?

Tournament going can help you develop your skills faster and get noticed by instructors - but competing isn't the only way to get a promotion. Lots of top level practitioners get through the ranks in order without ever competing a lot. What instructors really care about is how hard you train, how good you are on the mat and how your overall skills are developing.

Q5: How much should you actually care about getting a new rank vs just getting on with the training?

Truth is, getting good training and looking after yourself on the mat is way more important than chasing ranks. Your belt is just a marker of your progress, not the ultimate goal. People who train because they love jiu jitsu tend to progress naturally and get the belt in the end. The best approach is to train because you love it and the ranks will follow.