Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become a popular martial art for people of all ages – especially kids! It’s a great method to teach them discipline, confidence, and of course, self-defense skills. Furthermore, the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) has established a belt system to help signify a child’s progress in the sport. But, as we can all agree, the system can be confusing for parents and kids alike. To help you understand just that, let’s talk about the different belts, what they signify, and the requirements for each belt!
Before anything else, keep in mind that the structure is composed of 5 different belts:
- White
- Gray
- Yellow
- White
- Green
IBJJF Belt System White Belt
If a child trains regularly, usually two times a week, they have a White belt. Generally, a white belt last up to 6 months before deciding whether the kid will move on to the next one. A BJJ student’s main objective is to grasp the knowledge of martial art and showcase his/her talent by having a strong focus on fighting the opponent. During this time, the student will receive “stripes” on their white belts. The “stripes” are typically earned by every month. Once they received 5 stripes, the kid will be promoted to the Gray belt.
Gray Belt
Once a child has a Gray belt, it indicates that he/she has reached the intermediate level. They are now subjected to training or playing offense. The solid gray belt will have up to 11 stripes and each of them is earned per month as a reward for regular attendance.
IBJJF Belt System Yellow Belt
The next color on IBJJF Belt System kids is yellow. If a kid has this belt, it means that they have been training for almost 3 years now. More so, a kid will be able to gather a plethora of techniques in grappling and developing strategies to take down the next opponent.
Orange Belt
The orange belt is considered an advanced belt. It means that a child has developed his/her strategy when it comes to martial art, and they have been part of BJJ for a longer period of time.
IBJJF Belt System Green Belt
The last belt on IBJJF Belt System kids is green. This is the highest rank in the structure. It means that the child has very advanced skills and is now equipped with a skillset to defend themselves. It’s important to remember that to earn Green or Black belts, the kid should have reached a 10-year training milestone. Meaning, this belt is for children who have been training since they were little.
Final thoughts
We hope that this blog made it clear for you to understand the kids’ belt system in martial arts. Remember that by delving into the different belt colors, requirements, and expectations, we aimed to provide a comprehensive guide to navigating the IBJJF belt system for children.
Come try a class at Active Jiu Jitsu!