BJJ Belt Ranks Explained: Every Belt, Stripe & Degree
Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has five main belts: white, blue, purple, brown and black. Kids under 16 follow their own ladder of grey, yellow, orange and green belts. Above black belt come degrees, and then the rare red-and-black, red-and-white and red belts held by a handful of people in the world.
That is the short version. Below is how each belt works, what the stripes mean, the minimum ages set by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), and how long people usually spend at each rank.
Why BJJ belts take so long
In many martial arts you can test for a new belt every few months. BJJ is different. There is usually no scheduled belt test. Your coach promotes you when your skill on the mat, against people who are really trying, matches the next rank.
That is why a BJJ blue belt often takes longer to earn than a black belt in some other styles. It also means your belt says something real about how you grapple.
The adult belts, in order
Here is the adult ladder at a glance. The IBJJF sets minimum ages and minimum time at some ranks; individual schools can be stricter.
| Belt | IBJJF minimum age | IBJJF minimum time before the next belt | Typical time at this belt |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | none | none | 1–3 years |
| Blue | 16 | 2 years | 2–3 years |
| Purple | 16 | 1.5 years | 1.5–3 years |
| Brown | 18 | 1 year | 1–2 years |
| Black | 19 | degrees start after 3 years | for life |
The “typical” column is a general range, not a rule. It varies by school, by how often you train and by how much you train outside class.
White belt
Everyone starts here, whatever their age or background. White belt is about survival and learning the basic positions: guard, mount, side control and back control. You learn how to escape bad spots, how to tap (and when), and how to roll safely with a partner.
Blue belt
Blue belt means you have a working defensive game and a few reliable attacks. Many coaches call it the first “real” belt. You can handle yourself against an untrained person and you can start to build your own style.
Purple belt
Purple belt is where people start to look like jiu-jitsu players instead of students. You link techniques into chains, set traps and often begin helping newer students in class.
Brown belt
Brown belt is the polishing stage. Most of the game is there. Brown belts tighten details, fix holes and prepare for black belt.
Black belt
A black belt has a deep understanding of the art and can usually teach it. It is not the end. Most black belts say it feels like the start of a new level of learning.
What the stripes mean
On white, blue, purple and brown belts, coaches mark progress with stripes, small bands of tape on the belt’s colored bar. Most schools use up to four stripes per belt. A four-stripe blue belt, for example, is getting close to purple.
Stripes are not required by the IBJJF, and every school awards them a little differently. Some coaches give stripes for attendance and time, others only for clear skill jumps. They are there to show progress during the long stretch between belts.
Black belt degrees and the red belts
Once you reach black belt, progress is counted in degrees, shown as stripes on the belt’s bar. Under IBJJF rules, the first three degrees each take at least three years, and degrees four through six take at least five years each. That puts a 6th-degree black belt decades into their black belt career.
After the 6th degree come the “coral” and red belts:
- 7th degree: red-and-black belt. Awarded after many years at 6th degree.
- 8th degree: red-and-white belt. Also a coral belt, held by long-time masters of the art.
- 9th degree: red belt. Reserved for people who have spent most of a lifetime in jiu-jitsu.
- 10th degree: red belt. Given only to the pioneers who founded the art, such as members of the Gracie family’s first generation.
Very few people alive hold a coral or red belt. For context, the head coaches at Squared are Gabriel Gonzaga, a 5th-degree BJJ black belt, and Luis Soto, a 6th-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu. Ranks at that level reflect well over two decades on the mat.
The kids belt system
Children have their own belts because their bodies and judgment are still developing. Under IBJJF rules, kids’ belts are for ages 4 to 15. In order, they are:
- White
- Grey (grey-and-white, solid grey, grey-and-black)
- Yellow (yellow-and-white, solid yellow, yellow-and-black)
- Orange (orange-and-white, solid orange, orange-and-black)
- Green (green-and-white, solid green, green-and-black)
Each color has minimum ages, so a very young child cannot jump straight to green. At 16, a kid can move into the adult system, often straight to blue belt or higher depending on their rank and skill.
Kids also earn stripes, and many schools use them often, because young students need to see progress more regularly. If your child trains in our kids martial arts program, they will see those stripes on their belt as they improve.
How promotions actually happen
Most BJJ schools look at a mix of things before promoting someone:
- Skill in live rolling. Can you apply your techniques against a resisting partner of your level?
- Technical knowledge. Do you understand the core positions, escapes and submissions for your rank?
- Time and consistency. Regular training matters more than bursts.
- Attitude. Being a good training partner, helping newer students and staying safe all count.
Competition results can help, but you do not have to compete to earn belts. Plenty of black belts never stepped on a tournament mat.
How long does the whole path take?
Going from white belt to black belt usually takes somewhere around 8 to 12 years for someone who trains a few times a week. Some people do it faster, many take longer, and both are normal. We cover the full timeline, and what speeds it up, in how long it takes to get a BJJ black belt.
If you are brand new and wondering what that first white-belt class looks like, read your first BJJ class: what to wear and what to expect.
Do belts matter for beginners?
Honestly, not much at first. Your first goal is to show up, learn the basics and have fun. The belt takes care of itself. A good coach will tell you that the people who reach black belt are not always the most athletic. They are the ones who kept coming back.
Start your white belt in Leominster
If you are in Leominster or anywhere in central Massachusetts and want to start your own belt journey, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program at Squared is for ages 14 and up, and beginners are welcome. Your first class is free. Book a free trial class and come see how it feels on the mat.