Everyone gets fascinated by those action sequences in movies. It’s exciting as it gives you an immediate adrenaline rush. Martial arts as a discipline involve passing various levels upon which a new belt is awarded to the candidate. That belt acts as a merit certificate. It goes from white belt to red belt. Let us now dissect and analyze the significance of these jiu-jitsu belts. However, learning and practicing these moves take a lot of time as a martial art is more than just a sport. It is a discipline that requires years of training to perfect.
Jiu-jitsu is one of the most popular martial arts forms which has gained recognition by the general public as well due to the popularity of mixed martial art promotions.
White Belt
This belt is the mark of a beginner according to the jiu-jitsu rules. The rank is held by any practitioner new to the art and with no prerequisite.
- Instructors and trainers believe that the training of the white belt should be focused on escapes and defensive positions. It is because the white belt holder will always be at a disadvantage in comparison to any other rank or belt holder.
- And training is done with an expert. That’s why this rank demands to get the trainee familiar with the rules and the basics.
Blue Belt
A trainee is required to hold a blue belt for a minimum of 2 years. It is the second adult rank. At this level, the training is focused on learning technical knowledge.
- A trainee needs to be at least 16 years of age to obtain a blue belt and hence entering the official adult ranking system.
- It demands hundreds of hours of practice on the mat to learn how to implement these technical moves.
Purple Belt
A trainee needs to hold on to its purple belt for a minimum of 1.5 years. It is considered the intermediate adult rank.
- It is achieved only after securing a great level of mastery over the lower ranks.
- Hence, purple belt holders can train the lower rank trainees.
Brown Belt
Unlike others, one only needs to hold onto a brown belt for a minimum of one year. Brown belt typically requires at least five years of dedicated training to achieve. It is often thought of as a time for refining techniques. A trainee needs to be at least 18 years to obtain this belt.
Black Belt
The black belt has six degrees of expertise as is the most difficult jiu-jitsu belts to achieve. This is a level of utmost dedication and patience.
- It demands 31 years of your life. It denotes an expert level of technical and practical skills. The rank of this belt is very common in other forms of martial arts but the requirements can differ.
- A trainee should be 19 years old at least to obtain this belt with all the requirements met for the brown belt.
Red Belt
It is the highest possible rank for any living practitioner of this form. Holding this rank means that this form is all that you have in your life and you live and breathe for it. People who achieve this belt are addressed as grandmasters. Just to give you an idea of how hard it is to achieve this belt is; a black belt holder at the age of 19 will be able to obtain it at the age of 67. Now, you can imagine how high this apex of jiu-jitsu belts can be.
Brown belt requires dedicated training of at least five years of dedicated training. It is the highest possible rank for any living practitioner of this form. Holding this rank means that this form is all that you have in your life and you live and breathe for it. People who achieve this belt are addressed as grandmasters. Just to give you an idea of how hard it is to achieve this belt is; a black belt holder at the age of 19 will be able to obtain it at the age of 67. Now, you can imagine how high this apex of jiu-jitsu belts can be.
A point to be noted is that there is a tenth degree of this form as well. However, it is reserved solely for the pioneers of BJJ—Carlos, Oswaldo, George, Gaston, and Helio Gracie.
