The BJJ Belt System Explained: Belt Order, Stripes and Timelines
The adult BJJ belt order is white, blue, purple, brown and black. Coral and red belts come decades later and honor very senior black belts. Most academies add up to four stripes on each belt before a promotion, and a blue belt usually takes somewhere between one and three years of steady training. Every coach promotes a little differently, so treat the timelines below as typical ranges.
What is the BJJ belt order?
Brazilian jiu-jitsu has five main adult belts. Most schools follow the system the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) uses, and it runs in this order:
If you're about to start as a white belt, read What to Wear to Your First BJJ Class.
- White belt. Everyone starts here, whatever their background in other martial arts.
- Blue belt. You know the main positions and can defend yourself against people who don't train.
- Purple belt. You start building a game of your own, and teaching newer students becomes natural.
- Brown belt. You refine and connect what you know, and you close the gaps in your game.
- Black belt. You understand the art deeply enough to teach all of it.
The IBJJF also sets minimum ages for adult belts. You need to be at least 16 for blue and purple, 18 for brown, and 19 for black.
What are coral and red belts?
After black belt, the system counts degrees. A black belt earns degrees over many years of teaching and training. At the seventh degree, a practitioner can wear a red-and-black belt, and at the eighth degree a red-and-white belt. Both are called coral belts. The red belt sits at the ninth and tenth degrees, and very few people in the world have worn one.
For almost everyone who trains, black belt is the goal. Coral and red belts recognize a lifetime of contribution to the art.
How do stripes work in BJJ?
Stripes mark progress between belts. Most coaches award up to four stripes on white, blue, purple, and brown belts. The stripes go on the black bar near the end of the belt, usually as small strips of white athletic tape.
The IBJJF allows up to four stripes on each colored belt, and each academy decides how to award them. Some coaches give stripes on a regular schedule. Others give them only when they see a clear jump in your game. Some gyms skip stripes entirely. A fourth stripe often signals that a promotion is close, but a coach can also promote you with fewer.
Black belts don't use stripes the same way. Their belt has a red bar instead, and degrees go on that bar after set periods of time.
How do kids belts work in BJJ?
Kids train in their own belt system until they turn 16. Under IBJJF rules, the kids belts run from white through grey, yellow, orange and green. Most of those colors come in three versions: one with a white stripe through the middle, a solid belt, and one with a black stripe through the middle. That gives kids more steps along the way, which keeps them motivated over a long stretch of years.
When a kid turns 16, they move into the adult system. Depending on their kid's rank and the coach's call, they usually step up to blue belt, and an experienced green belt can sometimes go straight to purple.
How long does it take to get a blue belt in BJJ?
Most adults who train two to three times a week earn a blue belt in about one to three years. Two years is a common middle point. People who train more often, or who come in with a wrestling or judo background, can move faster. People who train once a week, or who take long breaks, usually take longer.
Your coach looks for a few things. You should escape bad positions, hold good ones, and finish a handful of basic submissions against people your size. Coaches also watch how you train with partners, because safe training matters as much as technique.
How long does each BJJ belt take?
These ranges reflect what many academies see. Your path depends on how often you train, your coach, your age, and your goals.
- White to blue: about 1 to 3 years.
- Blue to purple: about 2 to 3 years. The IBJJF sets a two-year minimum at blue belt for anyone it registers.
- Purple to brown: about 1.5 to 3 years. The IBJJF minimum at purple is 18 months.
- Brown to black: about 1 to 2 years. The IBJJF minimum at brown is one year.
Added together, most people take around 8 to 12 years to earn a black belt. Some take longer, and that is normal. Many people quit at blue belt, so the ones who keep showing up through the slow years are the ones who get there.
How do BJJ promotions work?
Your head coach decides when you get promoted. There's no single test that every academy uses. Most coaches watch you train over months and judge your technique, your live rolling, your attendance and your attitude on the mat.
Promotions happen in a few common ways:
- Promotion ceremonies. Many gyms hold a promotion day a few times a year, where students get stripes and belts in front of the team.
- Surprise promotions. Some coaches call a student up at the end of a regular class.
- Formal tests. A smaller number of academies run a structured test with a set curriculum.
Many gyms also have a tradition where newly promoted students walk through a line of teammates who whip them with their belts. It's lighthearted, and you can always ask to skip it.
Competition results can help your case, but most coaches don't require you to compete. If you want to know where you stand, ask your coach directly. Most will tell you what to work on next.
Should you focus on your belt?
Belts give you markers, and earning one feels good. Still, the people who last in jiu-jitsu tend to care more about the next round than the next belt. You'll learn faster if you show up consistently, tap early, ask questions, and train with people better than you. The belt follows the work.
Wear the rank you train for
The Ranked line carries all five adult belt colors, so you can wear your rank off the mat. The Ranked Oversized Hoodie ($65) comes in white, blue, purple, brown and black, with the Pressure Point Snake on the chest and mirrored large across the back. The Ranked Heavyweight Joggers ($60) come in the same five colors, with the Snake on the front thigh. Pair them for the walk to class, the drive home or a rest day after a hard week.
Start with the color you've earned, like the Ranked Blue Oversized Hoodie, or pick the color you're working toward. The first run is open for preorder until Nov 15. During preorder, the hoodie is $55, the joggers are $50 and the full set is $100, and every preorder delivers by Dec 15. After preorder closes, Ranked pieces arrive in 13–20 business days.
Pressure is a privilege, so put it on.
