What Are the Belt Levels in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

There are several different grades in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Have you ever heard anyone say that they are a black belt in these self-defense classes? Well, chances are that person has worked very hard to obtain a black belt in the sport. There are many different color belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and each color belt represents a grade. Journey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, a school where you can learn Jiu Jitsu in Madison, WI, has provided some additional information on those colors and grades.

There Is Order in the System

The belt color grading system in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu certainly has an order to it. The first color belt in the system is the lowest level in the belt color of white. The highest level in the grading system is the black belt. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve a black belt in the sport. There are several colors in between. Below are each color of belt and what it takes to master them.

More information on what it takes to achieve a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is available at BJJ Eastern Europe. 

The White Belt

The white belt is the simplest belt to receive in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is the first one on the list and anyone who becomes involved in the sport will automatically receive a white belt. It does not require any experience in Jiu Jitsu to get either. Most of the time, people with a white belt will be learning defense training and escape methods, which are vital skills in life and in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

This YouTube video shows some of the pertinent steps and skills obtained with a white belt. It is the starting platform for more to come and a necessary grade to have in order to move on to the next stage of training.

The Blue Belt

A blue belt will be received once a student has completed two years of training and mastered a specific set of skills. A blue belt is the second step up in the ranking of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Tons of knowledge will be obtained and many hours of training will be done with two years of this experience before a blue belt is received.

The Purple Belt

The purple belt can be considered the third step up in the belt ranking system. However, in the adult realm of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it would be considered the intermediate stage. Generally, the purple belt is to be held for at least a year and a half. A lot of skills and training will have been done to receive a purple belt.

The level of training is significant, and many skills will be mastered over this period of time as long as time has been dedicated as well as training for the skills to be developed in this area. In order for someone to obtain a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, they will need to accomplish the time frame set above as well as being of the appropriate age, which would be sixteen years old.

At GracieBarra.com, more information on the purple belt can be found, including some of the training required to mater the purple belt.

The Brown Belt

The brown belt will take a great amount of time to accomplish. It will take at least five years before the belt can even be received. Generally, a brown belt is held for at least one year. The brown belt is one of the highest rankings in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. A substantial amount of time and training as well as a great commitment to learning and training in the sport will be needed in order to receive a brown belt.

Brown belts do not come easily, but they are a very great honor to have in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Many people in the sport take years to earn this belt color. A year and half of having a purple belt will be needed before this can be obtained.

In order to receive a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the person will have to be eighteen years old and complete the time and training listed above. Starting at any age is good, and it is never too early to start.

The Black Belt

The black belt is the highest level one can go on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It takes a tremendous amount of skills, time and training in order to get a black belt in the sport. Having a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often considered the equivalent of being a professor in the art. A brown belt must be held for a year before a black belt can be awarded.