If you have ever watched a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, you probably noticed the belts first. White, blue, purple, brown, black, and little strips of tape on the ends. It can look confusing from the outside. The good news is that the BJJ belt system is simpler than it seems, and understanding it takes a lot of the mystery out of starting.
This guide walks through every adult belt, what stripes mean, how the kids belts work, and what actually gets someone promoted. If you are new to the mats in Powell, this is a good place to start.
Why BJJ Belts Mean Something Different
In many martial arts, a new belt can come every few months. Jiu-jitsu moves slower on purpose. There are only five adult belts, and each one usually takes years. That is why a blue belt in BJJ carries real weight: it means that person has put in the time and can apply their technique against people who are resisting.
That slower pace is a good thing for beginners. Nobody expects you to race. You learn at your own speed, and the belt shows up when your skills are ready for it.
The Adult BJJ Belts, in Order
White Belt
Everyone starts here, no matter their age, size, or background in other sports. White belt is about survival and learning the basic positions: guard, mount, side control, and the back. You will learn how to escape bad spots, how to stay calm under pressure, and how to tap safely. Most people spend somewhere between one and three years at white belt.
Blue Belt
Blue belt is the first big milestone. A blue belt knows the fundamentals well enough to defend themselves and has started building a game of their own. This is also the belt where many people realize how much more there is to learn, which is part of the fun.
Purple Belt
Purple belts start connecting techniques into chains and setting traps a few moves ahead. They often help newer students in class, and their style becomes more personal. Purple is commonly seen as the point where someone goes from student of the art to someone who truly understands it.
Brown Belt
Brown belt is about polish. The game gets tighter, the mistakes get smaller, and a lot of time goes into refining what already works. Brown belts are close to the top, and they train like it.
Black Belt
A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu commonly takes around ten years of steady training. It is not the end of the road. Most black belts will tell you it is where the real learning starts. Above black belt there are degrees, and later red and black and red belts, which are earned over decades.
What Are Stripes?
Because each belt takes so long, most academies use stripes to mark progress in between. A stripe is a small piece of tape or embroidery on the black bar at the end of your belt. Most belts can hold up to four stripes before the next promotion.
Stripes matter more than people expect. They give you a clear signal that your coach sees your progress, and they keep motivation up during the long stretches between belts.
How the Kids Belts Work
Kids follow their own belt path. Most BJJ academies use a youth system with colors like grey, yellow, orange, and green, often with white or black variations in between. More belts at a younger age means kids get regular, meaningful goals to work toward, which is great for focus and confidence. When a young student reaches their mid teens, they move over to the adult belts.
If you want to know how that goal setting carries over to school and home, read How Kids Martial Arts Improves Focus in Powell, or see our Kids Program.
What Actually Gets You Promoted
There is no single test that every academy uses, but most coaches are looking at the same things:
- Consistent attendance over time
- Solid technique in the core positions
- Understanding why a move works, not just how
- How you roll against resisting partners
- Being a good, safe training partner
Notice what is missing from that list: being the strongest person in the room, or winning every round. Promotions in jiu-jitsu reward steady improvement. If you are curious where you stand, the best thing to do is ask your coach. At Jits 56, Head Instructor Justin Kennedy and our coaching team are always happy to talk through what to work on next.
Do Not Rush the Belt
It is easy to get fixated on the next color. The people who earn high ranks are usually the ones who stopped watching the belt and started enjoying the process. Show up, learn something each class, and the promotions take care of themselves.
A good academy also makes that process welcoming at every level. As one of our students put it: "Every instructor is super helpful and patient as you learn. I would 100% recommend this gym if it's your first class or you are an experienced upper belt!"
Starting later in life? Read Starting BJJ After 30: What Adult Beginners Should Know. Nervous about day one? What to Expect in Your First Martial Arts Class covers it step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most adults who train two or three times a week, somewhere around one to three years. It depends on how consistently you train and how quickly the fundamentals click, so ask your coach where you stand rather than counting months.
Not exactly. Most BJJ academies use a separate kids belt system with colors like grey, yellow, orange and green. When a young student reaches their mid teens, they move onto the adult belts.
Stripes are small steps of progress inside a belt. Most belts can hold up to four stripes, and a coach adds them as your skills grow. They are a way to show you are moving forward between the bigger belt promotions.
No. Competing is one way to test yourself, but it is not required. Coaches look at your technique, your understanding, and how you roll with training partners in class.
Start Your Journey at White Belt
Every black belt you will ever meet started exactly where you are now, with a white belt and no idea what they were doing. The only way to start is to step on the mat. Try our Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program and see how it feels. Book your free trial class at Jits 56 in Powell and take the first step today.