Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belts: The Complete Guide

Disclaimer: Belt rankings and timelines can change a lot depending on your gym, your instructor, and even the country you train in. This guide is here to give you the big picture. If you want the official rulebook, check with your coach or organisations like the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation).

Introduction

Ask anyone who’s trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) for more than a week and they’ll tell you: belts matter, but they don’t tell the whole story.

The belt system is one of the most visible parts of BJJ. It shows your progress, it marks your time on the mats, and let’s be honest, it’s nice to feel that stripe or new belt tied around your waist after months (or years) of hard training.

But unlike some martial arts where you fly through ranks in a couple of years, BJJ is different. Promotions are slow, demanding, and sometimes unpredictable. A black belt can easily take a decade to achieve, and even then, you’re only at the beginning of a lifelong path.

This guide breaks down the basics: what the belts are, what stripes mean, how kids’ belts differ, how long it usually takes, and why coral and red belts are so rare. We’ll also point to the IBJJF belt progression chart, but remember, your coach has the final word.

The Belt Order in BJJ

The adult path looks simple on paper. In reality, each step can feel like a mountain.

• White Belt – Everyone starts here. White belt is survival mode. You learn how to shrimp, frame, and maybe not panic when a higher belt crushes you in side control. If you stick it out, the mat stops feeling like a foreign country.
• Blue Belt – This is the first big promotion and it feels like a milestone. Blue belts start stringing moves together, learning solid escapes, and dipping into submissions. Many people say this is the hardest belt to survive, not because of the techniques, but because life, injuries, and motivation can get in the way.
• Purple Belt – The so-called “engineer” belt. Purples start building their own game. They know enough techniques to pick favourites and begin refining a personal style. You’ll often see purple belts teaching warm-ups or helping newer students.
• Brown Belt – By now, you’ve got years of mat time. Brown belt is about cleaning up details, fixing sloppy grips, adding pressure, and preparing for the jump to black. It’s often a shorter stage than blue or purple, but just as intense.
• Black Belt – The most recognised rank in martial arts. But in BJJ, black belt isn’t the finish line. It’s the point where you realise how much more there is to learn. Black belts continue to earn degrees, usually every three years of active training and teaching.
• Coral Belt (Red/Black and Red/White) – Awarded to very high-degree black belts. Red/black is 7th degree, red/white is 8th. These belts usually represent 30–40 years of dedication to the art.
• Red Belt – The rarest of all. Reserved for 9th and 10th degree black belts, typically pioneers who helped shape Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As of now, only a handful exist worldwide.

The IBJJF belt chart explains this in detail, with age requirements and minimum time-in-rank. Many gyms follow it closely, others are more flexible.

Stripes and Promotions

Between belts, most gyms use stripes, little bits of tape on your belt that show progress. You can earn up to four before moving on.

Stripes don’t have an official rulebook. They’re just a way of recognising that you’re improving. For white belts, stripes are a huge motivator. They’re proof that yes, you’re getting better, even if you still get smashed in sparring.

Not every gym uses them though. Some promote straight from belt to belt. Others hand out stripes to kids more than adults. It all depends on your academy’s culture.

Kids’ Belts vs Adult Belts

Kids follow a completely different system because they can’t be promoted to blue until they turn 16. Instead, they move through extra colours:

• Grey (with white, solid, or black borders)
• Yellow (with variations)
• Orange (with variations)
• Green (with variations)

It might look confusing, but it keeps children motivated with smaller steps. A 10-year-old isn’t going to wait five years for a single promotion, so these extra belts help.

At 16, kids transition into the adult system. Their junior rank counts, but they always fall into the white → blue → purple → brown → black path.

How Long Does It Take to Earn Each Belt?

The number one question beginners ask: “How long will it take me to get my blue belt?”

The honest answer: it depends. How many times a week you train, how quickly you learn, whether you compete, and what your instructor values all play a part.

That said, here are some rough averages for adults:

• White → Blue: 1–3 years
• Blue → Purple: 2–4 years
• Purple → Brown: 1.5–3 years
• Brown → Black: 1–2 years
• Black Belt: Often 8–12 years total

The IBJJF sets minimum times, like at least one year as a brown belt before black. But in practice, some people fly through, others take much longer.

It’s worth repeating: don’t chase belts. If you train consistently and focus on improving, the promotions come when they’re meant to.

Rare Belts: Coral and Red

Once you hit black belt, things slow down. Promotions above black aren’t about hitting new techniques, they’re about decades of contribution.

• Coral Belt (Red/Black): 7th degree, usually after 30 years at black.
• Coral Belt (Red/White): 8th degree, often 35–40 years.
• Red Belt: 9th and 10th degree, reserved for pioneers who’ve dedicated their lives to spreading BJJ.

Today, there are fewer than 50 red belts in the world. Seeing one in person is rare, and usually only at major seminars or IBJJF events.

How to Tie a BJJ Belt

It seems simple, but every beginner struggles with this at some point. Here’s the classic method most gyms teach:

1. Find the centre of the belt and place it against your belly.
2. Wrap both ends around your waist so they overlap behind your back and come forward.
3. Cross the ends in front, tuck one underneath both layers.
4. Pull tight, then tie a square knot.

Done right, your belt stays put through a whole roll. Done wrong, and you’ll be retying it every 30 seconds. Don’t worry, every black belt you see once fought with their knot too.

FAQs

How many belts are there in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
Five main adult belts: white, blue, purple, brown, black. Above black you have coral and red.

How many red belts exist?
As of 2025, fewer than 50 worldwide.

Do all gyms follow the IBJJF system?
Not exactly. Most do, but some lineages have their own approach.

How long does it take to get a black belt?
On average 10 years, but it can be faster or slower.

Is blue belt really the hardest?
Some people think so. Lots of students quit at blue because the novelty wears off and progress feels slower.

Final Thoughts

The belt system in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is inspiring, frustrating, and motivating all at once. It’s easy to obsess over colours, but the truth is, the best parts of BJJ happen day to day, learning a sweep that finally works, surviving against a tough roll, or just showing up when you’re tired.

Belts will come when they come. Every gym and every coach does it a little differently. The IBJJF sets standards, but at the end of the day, it’s your coach who ties that next belt around your waist.

So if you’re starting out, don’t stress about timelines. Train, enjoy it, and the belts will follow.