Learn
The BJJ belt system
Adult progression runs WHITE → BLUE → PURPLE → BROWN → BLACK.
Accurate points to know
- The IBJJF blue-belt minimum age is 16.
- Youth ranks through age 15 may include gray, yellow, orange, and green categories.
- Coral belts are senior black-belt degrees, not the next routine rank after black.
- "About ten years to black belt" is a common rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
- This Connect Group awards no belts or stripes and respects every member's home academy.
How advancement really works
Promotion standards vary by academy. Coaches may consider attendance, technical skill, positional understanding, live application, character, and time in rank. Some schools use formal tests and others do not. On the mats, skill is difficult to counterfeit and humility is impossible to skip.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Take it to the mat
- First Class GuideWhat to wear, what to bring, and exactly how the 90 minutes run.
- 2027 ScheduleEvery session date, Central Time, hosted at 3 Embers Grappling Academy.
- Our CodeThe mat code, consent rules, and techniques we do not train here.
- Reserve My Mat — FreeMen and sons 13+. A parent or guardian registers a minor and stays on site.