Belt Tying

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Do BJJ belts matter?

This question is very subjective and you will get very different answers depending on who you ask.

Belts in general do matter. They are representative of time spent on the mats and generally signify a particular level of competence in BJJ. However there will always be discrepancies in belt systems between academies and even within academies.

For example a world champion Purple belt will most likely be significantly better than your average black belt. Age is also a factor in belts. A 20 year old newly promoted black belt will have a significant athletic advantage over a 40 year old newly promoted black belt. This extra athletic ability means that they will have more options in terms of technique and will also most likely have an advantage in terms of recovery.

  BJJ Stripes

All belts in BJJ have a field for stripes. This field holds up to 4 stripes or degrees for each belt up to Brown. 

A black belt will hold a maximum of 6, coral belts hold up to 8, and red belts hold up to 10.

Juvenile BJJ belts

Since blue belt and higher have age requirements the ranking system for children is different.

At juvenile level the belts are as follows: White, Yellow, Orange and Green. These belts are utilized until age 16 and each belt can have up to four stripes.

White Belt

The most common belt in BJJ. It is the belt that you wear in your first ever BJJ class and is the first step on the ladder.

White belt is where you learn the fundamentals and develop a basic understanding of the key concepts of the marital art. It is when you build your initial defensive skills.

White Belt level is also where you will find the biggest discrepancies in terms of skill level. This is because there is a vast gap between a four stripe white belt and someone who just walked in for their first class.

Blue Belt

Blue Belt is the 2nd belt in the BJJ ranking system. At blue belt you will learn a large number of techniques and positions. A practitioner must be at least 16 years old to receive a blue belt.

This period will also be a time of experimentation as you test out different types of techniques. In this regard blue belt can be very exciting as it is also the time where you figure out your own style of BJJ. For example, you may discover a preference for a particular type of guard and can begin adding techniques and attacks that go along with that type of guard.

Blue belt is also a time when many people stop practicing BJJ. This is for many reasons, the main reason is a BJJ Blue belt is competent enough for self-defense standards to level an unfair assault critical situation. This is the sole goal of some practitioners "to be able to handle themselves" and therefore are not willing to seek deeper levels of instruction. For most this is the tip of the iceberg, and ignites a lifelong passion of mastery. 

Purple Belt

Purple belt is the 3rd step in the BJJ ranking system. At purple belt you will begin the process of refining many of the techniques that you have already learned.

At this stage you will most likely have established your favorite game and will be looking to refine your skills. At purple belt you may not have perfected every technique but will at least have an awareness of most techniques.

Purple belt can be a frustrating period for some as they find the rate of improvement slower than the previous two belts. However this can avoided by mixing up your training and doing a little more experimentation.

A BJJ student should be at least 16 years old and should have one- two years ranked as a blue belt to be eligible for a purple belt.

Brown Belt

At brown belt you are almost an expert in BJJ. You should have a well-rounded game and be proficient in a wide range of techniques. As a result you should have multiple options for each position that you find yourself in.

At brown belt the focus should be tightening up your technique. Increased focus on fundamentals and concepts may be required to take you to the next level.

It is required that students be at least 18 years old and recommends they have spent a minimum of 18 months as a purple belt to be eligible for a brown belt.

Black Belt

A black belt in BJJ means that you have reached an expert level of skill and learning in BJJ. A black belt is a massive honor in BJJ and is only achieved through thousands of hours spent on the mat. Achieving a black belt in BJJ can take up to 10 years for the average practitioner.

However black belt does not signify the end of learning, in fact the opposite is the case. When people receive a black belt they are often told “now the journey begins”. The journey is different for everyone but continuous learning and personal development will be central to the journey.

Unlike the other colored belts Black belts do not have stripes added. Instead Black belts can receive degrees.

It is required that a student be at least 19 years old and recommended that they have spent a minimum of 1 year ranked as a brown belt before promotion to black belt.

Coral Belt

7th and 8th degrees are considered a coral belt. Theses belts signify mastery of the gentle art. They are given after 26 years of being a black belt. 

Red Belt

9th and 10 degrees are considered a level of mastery and a contribution to the BJJ community as a whole. 10th degree is reserved for Founders only. Most will never achieve a red belt, yet is great distinction to recognize those that have dedicated a life to our beautiful art.