Jiu-Jitsu Belt System (BJJ Rank and Order)
About
There are five adult belts; white, blue, purple, brown, and black. There are an additional 13 belts for kids under 16; white, gray-white, gray, gray-black, yellow-white, yellow, yellow-black, orange-white, orange, orange-black, green-white, green, and green black.
Adult Jiu-Jitsu Belt System
There are five adult belts that are awarded in the following order; white, blue, purple, brown, and black. Each belt has five levels (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 stripes). A practitioner is awarded four stripes on the previous belt before being promoted to the next belt. It is up to the instructor to decide when to promote an individual to the next belt. However, a competitor cannot compete for a third time at the same belt level if they have been champion of the same tournament for two years (except for black belts).
White Belt
How Long Does It Take to Get a BJJ White Belt? 0 Years (0 Hours)
Minimum Age: None
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: N/A
Skill Level: Beginner
A white belt is the first belt that you will get when beginning jiu-jitsu. It does not require any skills or qualifications to obtain.Â
Blue Belt
How Long Does It Take to Get a BJJ Blue Belt? 1-3 Years (300-900 hours of training)
Minimum Age: 16 Years Old
Minimum Time at Previous (White) Belt: 1 Year
Skill Level: Intermediate
Who Can Promote a White Belt to a Blue Belt? Any Black Belt
The blue belt is the first belt that is awarded based on merit. A blue belt should have a solid understanding of jiu-jitsu, especially the defensive aspect. A blue belt should easily be able to out-grapple a larger, unskilled opponent.
Purple Belt
How Long Does It Take to Get a BJJ Purple Belt? 3-5 Years (900-1600 Hours)
Minimum Age: 17 Years Old
Minimum Time at Previous (Blue) Belt: 1 1/2 Years
Skill Level: Intermediate
Who Can Promote a Blue Belt to a Purple Belt? Any Black Belt
Every gym will have its own criteria for what determines a purple belt. A purple belt will appear highly skilled to the layperson. A purple belt should have intermediate to advanced knowledge of all aspects of jiu-jitsu.
Brown Belt
How Long Does It Take to Get a BJJ Brown Belt? 5-8 Years (1600-2500 Hours)
Minimum Age: 18 Years Old
Minimum Time at Previous (Purple) Belt: 1 Year
Skill Level: Advanced
Who Can Promote a Purple Belt to a Brown Belt? A First Degree Black Belt (and Higher)
Brown belts are advanced practitioners of jiu-jitsu and should be respected. Many people ask, how dangerous is a brown belt? The answer is very dangerous. A brown belt can easily manipulate and toy with its opponent, much like a predator teasing its prey.
Black Belt
How Long Does It Take to Get a BJJ Black Belt? 8-12 Years (2500-3700 Hours)
Minimum Age: 19
Minimum Time at Previous (Brown) Belt: 1 Year
Skill Level: Advanced
Who Can Promote a Brown Belt to a Black Belt? A Second Degree Black Belt (and Higher)
Black belts have reached the pinnacle of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) ranking system. A black belt will be proficient in all aspects of jiu-jitsu. A black belt should be held with the highest respect and addressed as "professor" or "sensei," depending on the individual's personal preference.
Kids Jiu-Jitsu Belt System
There are 13 belts for kids under 16; white, gray-white, gray, gray-black, yellow-white, yellow, yellow-black, orange-white, orange, orange-black, green-white, green, and green black. The minimum age requirement is based and counted from the year the athlete was born (i.e.; if an athlete was born in 20012, their age is considered 10 for all of 2022). A competitor is not allowed to compete for a third time at the same belt level if they have been champion of the same SJJIF tournament for two years.
White Belt
Age Group: Any
Group: White Belt Group
Skill Level: Beginner
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: N/A
Gray-White Belt
Age Group: 4-15 Years Old
Group: Grey Belt Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Gray Belt
Age Group: 5-15 Years Old
Group: Grey Belt Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Gray-Black Belt
Age Group: 6-15 Years Old
Group: Grey Belt Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Yellow-White Belt
Age Group: 7-15 Years Old
Group: Yellow Belt Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Yellow Belt
Age Group: 8-15 Years Old
Group: Yellow Belt Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Yellow-Black Belt
Age Group: 9-15 Years Old
Group: Yellow Belt Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Orange-White Belt
Age Group: 10-15 Years Old
Group: Orange Belt Group
Skill Level: Advanced
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Orange Belt
Age Group: 11-15 Years Old
Group: Orange Belt Group
Skill Level: Advanced
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Orange-Black Belt
Age Group: 12-15 Years Old
Group: Orange Belt Group
Skill Level: Advanced
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Green-White Belt
Age Group: 13-15 Years Old
Group: Green Belt Group
Skill Level: Advanced
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Green Belt
Age Group: 14-15 Years Old
Group: Green Belt Group
Skill Level: Advanced
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
Green-Black Belt
Age Group: 15 Years Old
Group: Green Belt Group
Skill Level: Advanced
Minimum Time at Previous Belt: 8 Months
How Long Does It Take to Get Each Belt in BJJ?
Adults
White: 0 Years (0 Hours)
Blue: 1-3 Years (300-900 Hours)
Purple: 3-5 Years (900-1600 Hours)
Brown: 5-8 Years (1600-2500 Hours)
Black: 8-12 Years (2500-3700 Hours)
Kids
White: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Gray-White: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Gray: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Gray-Black: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Yellow-White: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Yellow: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Yellow-Black: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Orange-White: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Orange: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Orange-Black: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Green-White: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Green: 8 Months in Previous Belt
Green-Black: 8 Months in Previous Belt