I started BJJ when I was 19. I’ll be 30 this November and I just recently received my black belt in March. 10 1/2 years in the game... it’s all worth it.

I have a snakeskin blackbelt with a gucci buckle

I have a spinal cord injury so I'm definitely not a martial artist, but I love learning new things and that was very informative. Thank you.

Your journey shouldn’t be about belts, but enjoying the ride. Enjoy training and never stop.

Your channel is very informative. Thank you!

Thanks for all the geat vids, you seem like a genuine and humble dude!! Keep up the good work!

This means when you get the red belt you're already an old man and can't even fight

Very informative, thank u.

I’m the only one that’s annoyed because the black belt comes before the brown in the thumbnail

I'm a purple belt just got back into training after finishing school love the breakdown best one I've heard!!

Hell yeah dude, this is a great explanation. Thank you!

thanks for being u, professor. I'm going back home to jiu-jitsu. I one of many who got frustrating start in bbj. thanks for the spark to going back to training. much love brother.

Ive got a whitebelt with a special brown tip. Custom made by accidentally leaving in the wash

thank you sir for sharing your knowledge

My Jiujitsu school requires 4 years to get from white to blue belt if student doesn't compete @@ It's so tough

Great vid! Thanks bud

The day I get a blue blet I'll be happier then when I earned my 4 yr degree.

Excellent! Thanks for sharing!

Great insight and history of how the belt system works for BJJ 👏 Love the Channel 🙏OSs

This was very helpful. Thanks!

I lived in Dallas/Ft. Worth for 5 years and only had the opportunity to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for a total of 4 months. The studio in which I trained was a competition-based school, and I loved every moment of being there. On average, I trained twice a day, learned to apply the techniques at a consistent rate, and genuinely just enjoyed being there. Then I had the honor of attending a class at Kama Jiu-Jitsu, and my entire concept of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was completely shattered! Prof. Kama taught a class on the underlying principles of the Upa Escape, and the effortless nature of the principle was absolutely incredible. In hindsight, I probably looked like a crazy person during that class because I literally told my practice partner how amazing the principle was at least 30 times. After the class was complete, I was invited to roll with Prof. Ryan and a bunch of his students. With Prof. Ryan everything he did was effortless. I attempted several positions and even more techniques. After each attempt, Prof. Ryan simply adjusted as he deemed appropriate then smiled while he watched me tap. I've been tapped a bunch of times, so that was nothing - but the ways in which he tapped me were the part that both fascinated and continues to fascinate me. In rolling with Prof Ryan for approximately 10 minutes, I had a direct lesson regarding the difference between applying a technique and applying a principle, which was a completely different level. I understood the important of position of submission as well as any white belt could, but the concept of applying a principle never even entered my mind before I rolled with Prof. Ryan. On top of this, the real beauty of Kama Jiu-Jitsu was the consistency of the students. I rolled with almost every student in the room, and each one - whether they knew it consciously or not - applied the principle before they applied the technique. The quality of the students Jiu-Jitsu astonished. Even the guys that I tapped were just better than me in such as overt way. They just moved with more efficiency, flowing and adsorbing, pushing and pulling with little to no effort. It was like an exchange of energy, a call and response in physical form. When I expressed my observations to Prof. Kama and Prof. Ryan after the randori they confirmed my findings and encouraged me to come back. I moved home about a month after I took this class and did not get a chance to return, but that class was over a year ago and the impression made by both Prof. Kama and Prof. Ryan will forever remain. As a result, I can tell you first hand that there are very clear differences between competition-based and self defense-based schools. They both offer some wonderful gifts to the world, but I personally have an interest in preserving the tradition of Helio & Carlson Gracie in its original form through the teachings of Rickson Gracie. However, given the limited access to the Rickson lineage, I have seen the JJGF academies and teams struggle to offer solutions for their global directive. In my opinion, this is because their operational model remains compartmentalized. If they would work from the whole instead of the part, rotational standards could be established that would definitively progress students through the principles of Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, all while providing a sound, financial foundation - both with or without a belt system. I am happy to help the JJGF mission, but don't know where to start. Regardless, whether attending a competition or self-defense based school, the principles taught at Kama Jiu-Jitsu will make your Jiu-Jitsu better. Period.

White belt 1 year? In my gym (under Robin Gracie) it takes about 2-2,5 years to get to blue belt EDIT: Coming back to this comment a year later. If you train about 2-3 times a week it's about 2 years to get it, usually not more. Just wanted to clarify :)

I also like how Eddie Bravo does the belt system. He'll give a stripe or color if you're a beast but maybe you need to learn the names of moves etc. He'll give you a stripe if you're there every dam day but man you need to lift more weights. Black belt 1 reason he said. You have everything down. Strength, flexibility, terminology, dedication, ripping heads off etc.

1 year on white? I was white for like almoust 3. First year I trained a decent amount, second I trained way to little and last year I trained every day. Then I whent to a turnament and entered advanced as a white belt. I beat 4 bluebelts and won silver. A few weeks after this I got my blue.

I trained for a year then quit and now I’m back at it again, I thought I had forgotten but it’s coming back real quick.

Dang, you really have to dedicate your life to the sport to get to the top. BJJ is an interest for me but not a hobby or something I'd dedicate myself to (yet). I started a few weeks ago and it's tough... Mad respect for the people who do it 🙏

Very very helpful video thanks so much

Putting that here as a reminder I’m coming at each new strap : 10/10/19 white belt 06/02/20 white belt (first strap) Covid fck it up 🤦‍♂️

BJJ's belts look really, really good, especially the black belt with the red bar! Also, I know that in some associations, the white bar on each end of the red patch, the ones you call "Professor bars", are for school owners only. The other black belts, teachers included, would get the red patch, and accumulate degrees(white bars INSIDE of the red patch), but never have the white bar at each end of the patch. I prefer your way though, because again, the BJJ Black belt with the red patch with the white bars on each end is the most beautiful belt in any martial arts. Gosh that thing is sexy!

I have the rainbow belt but nobody will roll with me :(

I love all your videos. Could I ask a favor. Not sure if you already made the video, and I will be looking to see if you have, but could you do one for the youth belts please profesor. Thank you again.

Well done video. Perfect for beginners

Excellent presentation/explanation...I would love to enroll in a BJJ class...but...I need to find the right school. It's a great martial art...and I've been a huge MMA fan for nearly 2 decades. I need to start soon...because I'm 51. Just earning a blue or purple belt would be a wonderful achievement at this point in my life...anything more...would be beyond awesome...

I studied under Grand Master Mansura for ten years. He's a 9th degree red belt. 2nd oldest bjj academy inthe world.. kioto system. . Thank goodness for you master and kioto. Oss

Im enjoying your videos my friend👍🏿

Good stuff. Thanks.

It changes a lot from Academy to Academy, and even inside same Academy there are differences too. The thing here is to not worry about the belt, it wont give you super powers so just keep going and the rest will come with time.

Great video! My tip for you would be to better the audio. Invest in a quality mic and maybe look in to how to reduce echo. Good info though

Nice, good and informative

Gigi Paiva runs Alliance here in Boise and just got his Coral belt this last month. Absolutely insane commitment to BJJ

I just turned 18 and I train at Roger Gracie eight hours a week at the moment plus four hours of boxing and a lot of these questions are about defence and streetfights. Before I started I would think about similar things. The mindset changes the martial art is not about invoking aggression but much for of a diffusing tactic. If someone knocks you out in a single is the only way these high level belts could lose because the muscle memory just from reaching blue belt is shocking how effective your groundwork becomes.

Ahh, and I'm still a blue belt since 2011! Gotta love no-gi training.

Thank you for the clarification. I wondered what red and white belt meant.

This is very interesting, i practiced ishinnryu and our belt system is way different. With the added yellow, orange, green belts. Then we have 3 different brown belts, with white stripe, black stripe, then solid brown being the third. Takes you about the same amount of time as it took me.10 years for my sandan. Learning about the different styles and systems is very fascinating.

I thought that blue belt not purple belt was the longest belt to have in BJJ.

Singing the blue belt blues currently, lol 6 YEAR EDIT: I've now been a purple belt for about 2ish years

I’m not training any of these fighting skills but this was interesting to know cheers mate

Thank you for that

Blackbelt in Shotokan Karate, White belt in BJJ, looking forward to training

I've been doing Judo for a while now and I'm thinking about cross-training BJJ but I don't get the massive emphasis on time dependency for grading in BJJ. Surely if you know x, y, and z techniques, and can perform them consistently against skilled opponents, you should be awarded the corresponding belt, regardless of how long you've been training? Maybe it's because there are so few official grades in BJJ but, in Judo at least, it's based more on knowledge of certain techniques, proficiency in performing these techniques, and a set number of hours of randori (sparring). That means you could theoretically get your first belt in as little as a month or two, or take years, depending on your aptitude and the effort you put in. Of course there are almost twice the number of belts in Judo so it isn't directly comparable.

My journey has been very different. 5 years as a child, then as an adult I did 6 years as a white belt (never attended a grading but was training regularly), 7 months as a blue belt, 7 months as a purple belt and have been a brown belt for about 4 months now

yes sir professor.

Man...my old teacher Brandon Hetzler is a black belt under Rickson, and received it in one of the shortest amount of times just under 8 and 1/2 years, but DAMN did Brandon put us students through the grinder. White belt was usually 2 years to reach blue belts, then another 2-3 years before becoming purple, again 2-3 years to for a brown belt, finally 2-3 years to become black belt. 8-10 year journey to black but it seems legit and necessary to develops real skills and martial artist mentality...

Belt just for holding GI

I thought so, just wounder why someone would feel like that. wow. thanks for the insight.

How many times a week do you have to train in order to proceed through the system that you have laid out in the video? Great Info btw!

I got a Gucci Belt I rock at When I roll. I tap out to everyone but at least I look good.

I’m 16 so I have a lot of free time to box and work out I need to go to a mma gym to learn BJJ looks like a lot of fun.

I've always wondered what the extra 2 white bars on a black belt was. Thank you!

Ibso much regret quitting mma and grappling back in 2018..now i will have to restart my journey at 23..i hope it will be as good as when i started at 15

I was told that all high percentage moves, or submissions that are done by top fighters are all learned by the time you get to purple. I tend to agree because while judo has a load of throws, the top judokas are specialized in 3-5.

When I was 9-11 I had the privilege of training under a 7th degree black belt in Judo, after that my sensei retired and his assistant took over.

I’m 16 and I turn 17 this ear I started bjj 2 months ago and I got promoted to an Orange belt and I thought that was for 15 and under. Or is it just saying I’m a step closer to being a blue belt ?

thank you

It sometimes depends on the school, a buddy of mine went to the Gracie Academy in Torrance starting in 1992 and didn’t get his black belt till 2010 took him 18years, then I have another buddy of mine who and the to a different BJJ school and he got his black belt within 8 years.

I’ve wondered about this. My cousin just got his brown belt. Took longer than usual because the trainers he worked with for years were at a blue belt level in his words and yea they were a joke I’ve rolled with em

Recently I've been seeing more black belts with the white bar vs the red. What's the difference?

I started my son on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when he was almost five-years-old. He's now almost nine and he's on the cusp of obtaining his gray/black belt. With the kids, it goes WHITE, GRAY, YELLOW, ORANGE, then GREEN, but each colored belt starts with a white stripe running down length-wise, then the solid color, then the colored belt with a black stripe running down the middle... and with each of THOSE color variations, you earn stripes along the way, so right now, he's at solid gray with three stripes.... and they allow for more frequent promotions to either a new stripe or a new belt to keep the kids interested and to encourage them to keep working at it. It's such a great martial art.

At my school it takes a minimum of 3 years. That's what everyone tells me in my gym to get to blue belt. I want that belt so bad. I used to not care but having something money can't buy makes me want it more

1 year white belt here with 0 strip lol maybe blue belt in 6 years lol. Upgrade: 3 strips lol

Jeff Hudson is getting his coral belt this Saturday. September 9, 2023. Probably the last time Relson will be in Ohio too so more than likely the last seminar by him here as well.

can you give a short explanation on why most schools doesn't have a set curriculum? are some that have?

IBJJF 8th degree is a red and white coral belt, not a red and black. Red and black is 7th degree only.

I think bjj probably has one of the best belt systems . I know a karate school in my are that gives away black belts . I’m assuming it’s all about test to make money . How the f does a 12-14 yr old be a 2nd-3rd degree black belt ?

You can be blue belt and still great at grappling, jiujitsu is just so good for that element of martial arts

I’m 19 and I just started last week, the journey to black starts now.

huh. i got my blue belt after 2.5 years of 4-5 days of training a week. shows how subjective the promotion process is.

So I am fifteen, been in jiu jitsu since April 2017 (April 2018 rn) and my instructor is talking about my blue belt. I usually have a hard time with my opponents ( I am in the adults class; 13 and up) even against some of the other white belts. I would say I am moderately knowledgeable in terms of being a white belt, it's just that I often forget to keep pressure when transitioning (ex: side mount to Kasa) and sometimes during matches I'll get into a position that I can't think of any submissions and lose my ground. Not to mention most of the adults have a weight and muscle advantage. The only real advantages I have are flexibility, endurance, and stamina. Any tips?

Hey Kama. Do you recommend Gracie Baja schools for people with a pacemaker? Can the leads on the heart be dislodged from certain arm holds/ sweeps etc? Thinking of getting back into Gracie Baja. Heart Doc said no prob, but am a little cautious. Have been out since 2006. Trained under Marcio Lauder "Mamazinho" In Seattle. ☔ Several of my neighbors go to a Gracie Baja school just down street from me. Thx. Weirdness

I saw a video of a guy with a belt earlier, it looked like how you describe a coral belt except it was just yellow and green instead of red and black. Is this some personal kind of thing or is there a special meaning to that?

Took my dad 9 years to get his black belt and he trained almost every day he got it in 9 years due to him doing judo

When I am older, i would love to open my own jiu jitsu gym. But the gym I train at doesnt do belts, we just do rash guards. So I need help with how could I open my own dojo without knowledge on the belt system and how the ranking up works?

I’m trying to join a bjj school and i was looking through their insta page and one of their students got the brown belt in 14 years, Is there something wrong or is it normal? Their classes start from Sunday till Wednesday so 4 days a week is that less than other bjj schools?

I just started about 3 to 4 weeks ago I train with white belts, blue, brown, black I have taken down someone who has been doing it for 2 months and they are 17 I’m 14 it felt really good it gave me the push I needed and after that now when I trained today I went up against the brown and blue belts they helped me as we went along and I like how respectful and nice everyone is my instructor is a great teacher he has so much passion for bjj and he is so happy while doing it he is not serious he likes us to give it our best and learn something

Just started BJJ- and I’m 11 years old- I’m gonna have to wait a while

Good video, but the sound it too low

I just started bjj so I’m a white belt but I’m wondering if you’re a blue belt for example at one school and then moved location and joined a new school would you remain a blue belt or move back to white. Or would you for example remain a blue belt at Gracie barra schools but be a white belt at others?

In Asia their are no belt system. In America, you pay $$ to test out of a certain color. So yes, it’s all about charging extra $$$$. Like he said, it’s about 8 - 10 years of f additional fees on top of the regular class fees! I hope I cleared it up for you all! Your welcome

but what does it mean... 1 year at white? a pro athlete trains 2 hours per session, 2 sessions per day, 5 days per week, 50 weeks per year for 1000 hours in 1 year... but the average guy can only train 1.5 hours per session, 1 session per day, 3 days per week, 45 weeks per year for 200 hours in 1 year... These are 2 totally different animals... 1 is a lion, 1 is a cub... but they are both blue belts? how does that work?

Bj Penn ..got his black belt in 4 years..what a beast..

Professor Ryan, I have a video request. When we look at the development of BJJ/GJJ we can imagine how it would be possible to develop grappling techniques based on Judo/Kosen Judo that require less strength, etc. But what about the self defense curriculum? In judo there are self defense techniques but they don't at all resemble those in GJJ. How were these developed? What was the process? Did Carlos develop them or Helio or both? Thank you!

Just hit 2 yrs., hoping to get blue belt soon.

Yeah, I'm Gracie Academy now, we do the Combatives Belt before Blue. White Belt = stripes every 20 lessons guaranteeed. Combatives Belt = technical proficiency of the 36 basics, as well as combinations and basic fight simulation. Blue Belt = Combatives belt plus at least 100 hours extra study. Usually 18-24 months to get from white to blue. Blue/Purple/Brown Stripes = every 100 hours minimum. Not guaranteed. Must include at least 10hrs each of fight simulation and combination training.

I have the leapord skin belt but people are too scared to spar with me.

Do you actually get the white belt when you start or do I have to practise a littler bit? I've been doing no-gi BJJ for like two months now.

Thank you for the great video! One question: I received three stripes for my white belt at once a few days ago. I have already been training for 9 months and I consistently showed up, but I still think it's a little too much given I don't really think I have the skillset a three stripe white belt should have (we have a small school and even our teacher is only blue belt in BJJ with a black belt in traditional JJ - promotions are usually all 4-5 months when our black belt comes to give seminars). I decided to visit another school's fundamental program for a few months (they offer a great technique training for white belts with takedowns and other skills I lack) and I don't know whether I should leave on my three stripes or not. I just wanna be respectful and learn the art without having to focus so hard on stripes and belts.

Great video. Do you know why Flavio Behring is now wearing a white belt with red tab to celebrate doing 70 years of jiu jitsu? I'm just guessing when you have been doing jiu jitsu that long you can do whatever you want so don't ask these questions?

It takes 10 or 12 years of training to get a black belt at my gym it takes 3 years to get my blue so next year 2018 ill get the blue

My brother (now brown belch) was white for like 6 years. He was a super hooligan so it definitely had something to do with it, but he also took off 3-4 months a year to wrestle for the high school and freestyle/greco over the summers. Dude was borrowing a purple belt from a guy at the gym to wear at competitions. Moral of the story, the professor is in charge.

Pretty accurate.