The BJJ belt system, explained
Brazilian jiu-jitsu uses coloured belts to show rank. Adults move from white to black through five belts, and black belts then earn degrees over decades. This guide follows the IBJJF graduation rules, which most academies use as their reference. Individual academies can set their own standards, so your gym may differ.
Looking for competition rankings instead? See the current BJJ rankings for black belt competitors.
Adult belts in order
Minimum time between belts (IBJJF)
| Belt | Minimum age | Minimum time before next belt |
|---|---|---|
| White | – | None |
| Blue | 16 | 2 years |
| Purple | 16 | 18 months |
| Brown | 18 | 1 year |
| Black | 19 | 3 years per degree (1st–3rd), then 5 years (4th–6th) |
Since 2022 the IBJJF lets instructors skip the minimum time for athletes who win an adult world title at blue, purple or brown belt.
Kids belts (under 16)
Children aged 4 to 15 start at white and move through grey (from age 4), yellow (from 7), orange (from 10) and green (from 13). Each colour comes in three steps: with a white bar, plain, and with a black bar, for 13 youth belts in total. At 16, students move into the adult system: grey, yellow and orange belts become white or blue at the instructor's discretion, and green belts can become white, blue or purple.
Stripes and degrees
On white, blue, purple and brown belts, instructors can add up to four stripes to mark progress before the next belt. Stripes are not standardised; each academy uses them its own way. On a black belt, stripes are degrees, awarded mostly for time spent at black belt.
Common questions
What is the order of belts in BJJ?
For adults: white, blue, purple, brown and black. After many years at black belt come the coral belts (red and black for 7th degree, red and white for 8th degree) and the red belt (9th and 10th degree).
How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ?
There is no fixed time, but under IBJJF rules a black belt must be at least 19, and the minimum times at blue, purple and brown add up to four and a half years. In practice it takes much longer: reaching brown belt alone typically takes eight years or more of steady training.
What are the kids belts in BJJ?
From age 4 to 15, the IBJJF uses white plus grey, yellow, orange and green belts, each colour in three versions (with a white bar, plain, and with a black bar). At 16, students move into the adult belts.
What do the stripes on a BJJ belt mean?
Coloured belts can carry up to four stripes that instructors award as progress markers between belts. On a black belt, stripes show degrees, which are based mainly on time spent teaching and training at black belt.
Are BJJ rankings the same as belt ranks?
No. Belt rank shows a practitioner's level. Competition rankings, like the ones on BJJ Ladder, compare black belt competitors by their tournament results.
Sources: IBJJF graduation system and the Wikipedia article on the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system.
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