The question “how many belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu” usually gets a simple answer—five—but that only tells part of the story. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), the sport’s main governing body, runs a far deeper grading ladder that includes a separate youth system and advanced black-belt degrees. Whether the true count is 5 or something closer to 20 depends entirely on which part of the ladder you’re measuring.
The 5 Adult Belts And What They Mean
Each one carries a minimum time requirement before you can be promoted to the next level.
- White belt — where every beginner starts; the focus is survival and basic positions.
- Blue belt — the first major milestone, typically earned after 1–2 years of consistent training.
- Purple belt — requires a minimum of 2 years at blue; this is where offensive games begin to take shape.
- Brown belt — requires a minimum of 1.5 years at purple; a refining period before black.
- Black belt — requires a minimum of 1 year at brown; the rank most practitioners spend their entire careers pursuing.
These are IBJJF minimums, not guarantees. Many instructors hold students longer than the federation’s baseline, and promotion ultimately depends on skill, competition results, and the professor’s judgment.
The Youth Belt System: 13 Ranks For Kids And Teens
Young practitioners aged 4 to 15 follow a completely separate ladder that the IBJJF divides into 13 ranks. Instead of the adult color progression, kids work through a grey-to-green sequence, with each color broken into solid and striped variants.
| Age Group | Youth Belt Ranks | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4–15 (all youth) | White, grey/white, grey, grey/black | Grey ranks dominate early childhood |
| 4–15 (continued) | Yellow/white, yellow, yellow/black | Yellow begins around age 7 |
| 4–15 (continued) | Orange/white, orange, orange/black | Orange typically starts near age 10 |
| 4–15 (continued) | Green/white, green, green/black | Green is the top youth rank before age 16 |
When a youth practitioner turns 16, they transition into the adult system. A green belt who has trained through the full youth ladder does not start over at white—their instructor evaluates their skill and places them at the appropriate adult rank, often blue or purple if they’ve competed successfully.
Black Belt Degrees And The Coral Ranks
Beyond black belt, the IBJJF awards degrees—small bars or stripes worn on the belt itself—that recognize years of continued teaching and competition. After that, the intervals stretch considerably, and the belt itself changes color.
Only a handful of living practitioners hold 9th or 10th degree.
So, How Many Belts Are There Really?
The honest answer depends on scope. Count only adult ranks and you get 5. Count the full IBJJF ladder—adult belts, youth ranks, and black-belt degrees—and the total climbs past 20 distinct levels. Most practitioners mean the adult system when they ask, so “5” is the standard reply, but the full structure is far richer than a single number suggests.
The IBJJF’s official athlete ranking information documents the full progression from youth through black-belt degrees, and the federation’s published graduation rules confirm the timing minimums cited here.
Whether you’re a beginner buying your first white belt or a parent outfitting a child for their first class, knowing the ladder helps you set realistic expectations—it’s a decade-long journey to black, not a quick milestone. If you’re shopping for your first or next belt, our tested roundup of the best belts for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu compares durability, fabric weight, and price across the top brands.
FAQs
What is the hardest belt to earn in BJJ?
The gap between white and blue represents the largest skill jump, while later promotions reward refinement rather than survival.
How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ?
Competition success and training frequency dramatically shorten or lengthen that timeline.
Do BJJ belt ranks transfer between different federations?
Yes, generally. A blue belt earned under one instructor or federation is recognized by virtually all BJJ schools, since belt rank reflects mat time and skill rather than organizational membership. The IBJJF’s system is the most widely followed standard, but non-affiliated schools still honor ranks from other lineages.
References & Sources
- IBJJF. “Athlete Ranking Information.” Documents the official adult and youth belt progression and ranking rules.
- IBJJF. “Graduation Rules.” Outlines minimum time-in-rank requirements for belt promotions.