BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU (BJJ)
in southampton

The white belt is the entry point for all new BJJ students, marking the start of their journey through the BJJ belt ranks. At this stage, students focus on mastering basic techniques such as escapes, holds, and positioning. Earning stripes on the white belt signifies progress in these foundational areas.

There are no age requirements for the white belt. Children as young as four wear it, as do adults just starting out. 

You’ll practice as a white belt for approximately 1.5-2.5 years - depending on your mat time and ability - before advancing to a higher belt. There are upto four stripes a BJJ practitioner can earn as a white belt before progressing to the next stage, but the qualifications for those stripes will vary depending on your ability, knowledge and circumstances. 

The overall goal for a white belt student is to learn how to relax and focus on building fundamentals, technique and good timing on the mat. While strength seems like the core characteristic of BJJ, it’s more likely to lead to injury, especially in the beginning stages.

This introduction to BJJ gives you a chance to focus on form and conditioning as you prepare yourself for the next level.

After spending a couple of years as a white belt, students advance to the blue belt, the intermediate level in the BJJ belt system. You must be at least 16 years old to obtain this belt. Under 16’s move on to the kids belt system.

Blue belts begin exploring more advanced techniques such as setups and submissions, while refining their defensive skills. Again earning upto four stripes at this level before advancing to the next stage, the purple belt.

You’ll be a blue belt for approximately 2-4 years. During that time, you’ll continue to learn moves for escaping, holding, and advancing and how to apply them in combination. You’ll also begin experimenting more with submissions and setups. A student is also expected to have enough of the basics down to defend against standard submissions.

The purple belt indicates you are an advanced student of Jiu Jitsu. It means you have mastered the skills required to build good technique and perform smoothly on the mat. 

Once you’ve reached this level, you’re well on your way to your black belt. You’ll continue to prove yourself as competent and controlled in your movements. 

Your rolls will be relaxed, and you’ll perform attack manoeuvres with more grace and precision. You’ll also improve your combinations and setups.

Among the goals of a purple belt are executing multiple combination attacks and being comfortable against advanced guard variants. And you’ll focus on building your game and taking your techniques to the next level.

Those who wear the purple belt are more self-aware fighters, able to determine their limitations and work to get better. You’ll be at purple belt for 2-4 years on average, collecting upto 4 stripes on your way to brown belt.

Brown belt is the highest ranking colour belt below black belt in BJJ. Progressing from a beginner white belt through to a brown belt typically requires at least 6-8 years of dedicated training, followed by another 2-3 years at brown. It is often thought of as a time for refining techniques.

At this stage, you’ll have confidence in your abilities and have crafted your own fight style. Now that you have mastered the basics, the brown belt level is a time to experiment with different modifications of sequences and details.  

Also, as a brown belt, you can perform attacks in long, successive series and accomplish complicated setups. You’ll have gained extensive knowledge and know most of the moves in attack and defence.

There are again upto four stripes to be earned before being promoted to black belt.

Black is the colour that indicates the most advanced status in the BJJ belt system. Many people think wearing a black belt means you have gone as far as you can with Jiu Jitsu. But the truth is, even senior black belts are still learning and improving their skills. 

You must be at least 19 years old to achieve the black belt level. Once you’ve reached this BJJ belt ranking, you’ll have thirty-one years to master the skills fully. By this point, you’ll have learned a high percentage of BJJ moves and techniques and will have the ability to perform them at the highest level. 

There are six stripes - or degrees as they’re commonly known - included in the black belt level. They are acquired over the course of years, generally according to the following schedule:

• Three years each for first, second, and third degrees

• Five years each for fourth, fifth, and sixth degrees

BJJ practitioners study as a black belt for decades before another belt promotion. During that time, they become true masters of the sport, intimately acquainted with every aspect of BJJ. They instruct others, compete, and train endlessly to improve themselves. 

Red / Black belt (Coral belt)
When a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt reaches the seventh degree, he or she is awarded an alternating red-and-black belt. This belt is commonly known as a coral belt, after the coral snake. Coral belts are very experienced practitioners, most of whom have made a large impact on BJJ, and are often addressed within the art by the title master. The International Brazilian jiu-jitsu Federation (IBJJF) requires a minimum of 7 years of training and teaching at the black and red belt level before progressing to the next rank.

Red / White belt (Coral belt)
This is the rank of our Master Mauricio Gomes.

In 2013 the IBJJF amended the graduation guidelines with respect to the transition between seventh degree and eighth degree black belt. In short, a practitioner who has achieved the rank of 8th degree black belt will wear a red and white belt also commonly called a coral belt. The IBJJF requires a minimum of 10 years of teaching and training at the red and white belt level before progressing to the next rank.

Red belt
The red belt is reserved "for those whose influence and fame takes them to the pinnacle of art". It is awarded in lieu of a ninth and tenth degree black belt. If a practitioner receives his or her black belt at 19 years old, the earliest they could expect to receive a ninth degree red belt would be at the age of 67! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu red belt holders are often addressed within the art by the title grandmaster.

The 10th degree was given only to the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the Gracie brothers: Carlos, Oswaldo, George, Gaston and Hélio. The highest ranking living practitioners are 9th degree red belts, as there are no living 10th degree red belts.