As in other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has a graduation system. In this system belts of various colors are awarded to its practitioners. These belts indicate the level of skills and technical knowledge of each of its practitioners. BJJ is a sport that is derived from Judo, so its academic structure or degrees are similar. The criteria for advancement are determined by the individual instructor of the academy in which the practitioner is training. The top goal, for practitioners who make BJJ the center of their life, is to get the coveted red belt. So what is a red belt in Jiu-Jitsu? The red belt is the highest ranking belt in BJJ.
Belts That Come Before the Jiu Jitsu Red Belt
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as in Japanese Jiujutsu, you must go through different levels before reaching the maximum. Each level of learning is represented by a different colored belt than the previous one. The lowest levels are achieved in just a few months while it takes several years to achieve expert status.
• White Belt
White belt (Faixa Branca) is the lowest-ranked belt in BJJ. White belt is the default belt given to any newcomer and has no prerequisites. Most jiu jitsu teachers say that this belt is the rank where the emphasis is on defense and escapes. This is due to the fact that white belts spend most of their time fighting in lower positions (particularly when sparring with advanced students). However, to advance to blue belt, most academies require knowing offensive moves such as submissions and guard passes.
• Blue Belt
A rough calculation of the time needed to earn a blue belt at most academies is 1 to 2 years. The Blue Belt (Faixa Azul) is the second highest rank in BJJ. It is between the beginner’s white belt grade and the intermediate range purple belt. A person who earns the jiu jitsu blue belt must acquire and refine technical knowledge in the general aspects of the sport AND spend countless hours rolling on the mats. They must start to develop aspects of their game that are unique to them (ie. preferred submissions and guards). The IBJFF states that a student needs to be at least 16 to receive a blue belt.
• Purple Belt
The purple belt (Faixa Roxa) is an intermediate belt in BJJ, which comes between the blue and the brown belt. Usually, at least 3 years are spent in dedication and training to achieve the purple belt (total training time of 4-5 years from the white belt). Although it is an “intermediate” range, the purple belt practitioner has an enormous amount of skill and knowledge. For this reason, in many academies, the purple belts have the task of instructing the lower belts. In other martial arts, practitioners with similar experience on the mat would be regarded as a black belt (instructor). The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation states that, to aspire to a purple belt, the practitioner needs to be at least 16 years old and have at least 2 years old classified with the previous belt rank (blue).
• Brown Belt
The brown belt (Faixa Marrom) is the highest “color” range in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu art, which serves as another growth stage between the purple intermediate belt range and the black belt. This belt is seen as the beginning of the elite ranks and usually takes at least 5 years of training. Since it is a degree of transition, the BJJ brown belt is often considered a time to refine rather than accumulate techniques. Most brown belts have already acquired the technical and practical knowledge to attain an elite belt, they just need to develop this knowledge before moving on to a black belt. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation mandates eligible purple belt students to be at least 18 years old and possess a minimum of 19 months classified in the purple belt rank before earning a brown belt.
• Black Belt
SImilar to other martial arts, the black belt (Faixa Preta) is the difference between students and instructors, proving its wearer as an undisputed expert in BJJ technical skill and practice. It is estimated that the time invested to achieve this belt is 10 years (or more). It doesn’t matter how many years it can take someone to go from white to black belt: all BJJ black belt wearers will undoubtedly have to invest thousands of hours in fighting and reflect that they have what it takes to justify a black belt. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation or IBJJF requires the black-belt aspirant to be at least 19 and spend a minimum of 1 year classified in the previous rank (brown).
• Black and Red Belt
Also called Faixa Koral. Once a BJJ fighter has a black belt and reaches the 7th and 8th degrees, his belt receives red stripes and a black belt. Black and red belts are worn by experienced jiujitsu fighters, implying that their wearers have exerted a great influence locally or internationally in the martial art. They are often given the title of Master.
Requirements for the Jiu Jitsu Red Belt
When teachers or academies comment on the criteria needed to get the jiu jitsu red belt, the most accepted measures are the following:
- Be a black belt for AT LEAST 48 YEARS
- LIfetime contribution to the art and practice of Jiu-Jitsu
- The grasp of tactical and conceptual knowledge.
- Performance in intra-school fights or in competition.
- The level of ethics achieved by the practitioner
General Jiu Jitsu Belt Promotion Criteria
Yes, IBJJF maintains a comprehensive grading standard that considers time-in-grade for standing members. However, within this martial art, it makes no mention of a list of special skill requirements for development and evolution within this art. In other words, the change of belt or the passage from one rank to another is specifically determined by the instructors or academies who are specialized in BJJ. The instructors are responsible for belt promotion recommendations. What is known is that the most accepted measures are:
- The degree of concept understanding
- Technique a practitioner can demonstrate
- Performance during competition
- Contributions to the academy or BJJ as a whole
• Formal tests
Unlike other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is still considered a relatively “new” sport or martial art, so its take on belt promotions has been very informal. It allows an individual or a group of instructors to consult about a particular student and determine if he/she is eligible for promotion.
In recent years, however, some schools have tried to lean a little more towards a more formal testing system. They have started to do this especially for lower-ranking practitioners, where the promoting decision is possibly the least controversial. Roy Harris was a pioneer among the teachers to make public some reference to formal testing criteria, standardizing his promotion tests for belt promotion. However, reputable academies such as the Gracie Academies network and associations such as the BJJ Alliance have been trying to apply more formality to their assessment system to promote their practitioners.
The formal evidence is roughly based on the same concepts around a traditional promotion: an assessment of how well the student’s conceptual and technical knowledge hold up, plus demonstrating their skill to put this knowledge into practice against an opponent. Some evaluation criteria appoint to other traits, such as the person’s morals and a general grasp of BJJ history, into account. Formal tests may require payment of test fees and one requires a minimum of pre-test training regime alongside a master, which tends to be private.
• Competitions
The experience acquired within the competitions is vital for the students; therefore, in the academies, they feel motivated to compete. This allows instructors to better measure students’ abilities to resist and deal with an opponent they do not see as a partner and ally. However, in most academies, it is not critical to compete to be promoted, while in a small group of schools, competing becomes a requirement to pass.
Stripes on the Jiu Jitsu Belt
Besides the belt system, many academies grant stripes. These serve as a means for recognizing the knowledge and ability between belt promotions. The number of stripes in a belt (usually 1 to 4 between belts) is an indicator of the practitioner’s level compared to others wearing the same belt. The stripes are rectangular pieces of fabric sewn onto the belt sleeve or colored plastic attached to the belt. Although the standard for stripes differs among institutions, the IBJJF offers a general system in which instructors may add four bands before the student becomes eligible for a full rank-up to the next color. These stripes are reserved for ranks before the black belt.
After the practitioner achieves a black belt, the marks earned from that point are called degrees and are formally awarded. The time donning the black belt and its practitioner’s skill level are two important factors. A downside of using stripes is that, as previously mentioned, these do not apply in every academy and thus are generally disregarded as a consistent standard.
The First Person to Achieve a Red Belt in Jiu Jitsu
Talking about the first person who ever achieved a red belt in jiu jitsu also means mentioning a bit of its history. Carlos Gracie, the forefather of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, learned judo from Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese immgirant who happened to be a 4th Dan in Kodokan Judo and was on his way to settle a Japanese colony in Brazil. Carlos then gathered his brothers Gastão Jr., Helio, George, and Oswaldo to teach them. In 1925, Carlos opened their first school in Brazil along them, giving birth to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. As founding members, after coming of age, they all wore red belts with the special 10th degree. Until his death in 2009, Helio Gracie was the last living 10th degree BJJ Grandmaster.
Aside from the 5 founding members of the Gracie Family, who hold the 10th grade exclusively, Pedro Hemeterio was the first student under master Helio Gracie to achieve the red belt. Pedro represented the Gracie Academy in many competitions and challenges. He also taught jiu-jitsu in São Paulo State for more than three decades.
List of People Who Have Achieved Red Belt Status
Here is a list of jiu jitsu red belts and most people would be surprised to see how many there are:
- Alvaro Barreto
- Amelio Arruda
- Armando Wridt
- Arthur Virgilio Neto
- Candido Casale “Candoca”
- Carley Gracie
- Carlos Antonio Rosado
- Carlson Gracie
- Eduardo Gomes Pereira
- Flavio Behring
- Francisco Mansur
- Geny Rebello
- Geraldo Flores
- Oswaldo Carnivalle
- Helio Vigio
- Alberto Barreto
- Julio Secco
- Luis Carlos Guedes de Castro
- Luiz Franca
- Nahum Rabay
- Nilton Pereira da Silva
- Octavio de Almeida
- Orlando Saraiva
- Osvaldo Alves
- Pedro Hemeterio
- Oswaldo Fadda
- Oswaldo Rosa “Paqueta”
- Paulo Mauricio Strauch
- Pedro Emerito
- Pedro Valente
- Relson Gracie
- Renato Paquet
- Rickson Gracie
- Robson Gracie
- Rorion Gracie
- Walter Nogueira
- Wilson Mattos
Has Anyone Turned Down the Red Belt?
Yes! Rickson Gracie was a “Black/Red” 8th-grade belt and got promoted to a “Red” 9th-grade belt at age 58. A very young age, as normally this type of belt is reached from 67 years old. For many fans, Rickson is considered the highest representation of Jiu-Jitsu.
Initially, Rickson Gracie did not accept the promotion to a red belt. In his belief, he should have received it later in his life. He also claimed if he received it, he would put it in a safe until the time was right. His brothers Royler and Rorion told him that if his father Helio were here today, he and Rickson would have to argue with him about receiving such an honor even on such a special circumstance. He finally accepted it.
Conclusion
Achieving the title of Grandmaster within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can become a goal for those who decide to make this art part of their life.
Like any title of power, it carries with it a great responsibility, it is not only the equivalent of receiving a red belt, it also means that the person who carries it, has a high level of technical, tactical, and history expertise; and that with its development, the red belt can pass this knowledge to new generations.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a distinctly individual art, and professionals adapt techniques to their body, strategic preferences, and level of fitness. The ultimate criterion for promotion is the ability to execute the techniques successfully, rather than strict adherence to style.