Jujutsu belt colors run from beginner white through colored kyu ranks to black and senior red tiers, with details varying by style.
New students ask this on day one. The plain answer is that jujutsu is a family of styles, so colors shift a bit from school to school. Two roadmaps show up worldwide. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) uses a compact adult ladder of white, blue, purple, brown, and black, then senior red-based ranks for masters. Sport ju-jitsu under the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) follows a classic kyu path of white, yellow, orange, green, blue, and brown before black dan grades, with red-and-white and full red belts for senior teachers. Traditional Japanese ryu often mirror the JJIF path, with small tweaks in shades or stripe rules.
Quick Overview Of Common Jujutsu Belt Paths
This broad table lines up names you will hear at dojos around the world and notes where stripes, age marks, and master belts fit.
| System / Style | Typical Belt Colors (Order) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Adults) | White → Blue → Purple → Brown → Black → Coral (red/black, red/white) → Red | Five adult belts, then senior coral and red tiers set by IBJJF degree rules. |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Kids) | White → Grey → Yellow → Orange → Green (with stripe steps) | Extra colors and stripes keep progress steady before the adult track. |
| Sport Ju-Jitsu (JJIF) | White → Yellow → Orange → Green → Blue → Brown → Black → Red/White → Red | Global sport body lists classic kyu to dan with master belts in red-based colors. |
| Traditional Japanese Jujutsu (Common Pattern) | White → Yellow → Orange → Green → Blue → Purple → Brown → Black | Exact shades vary by ryu; many follow a kyu/dan model with stripes. |
| USJJF National System | White through Brown (kyu) → Black (1st–10th dan), senior red-based options | Ten kyu classes and ten dan degrees used by a national body in the U.S. |
| Kyushin Ryu Example | Colored belts with center stripes by age; senior belts may be red/white or red | Shows how a ryu marks juniors, seniors, and master grades with stripe rules. |
| Judo (Reference Only) | White → Colored kyu → Brown → Black → Red/White → Red | Close cousin; many jujutsu schools borrow similar color logic and red-belt tiers. |
What Are The Belt Colors In Jujutsu? Details That Matter
You will see two broad families of ranks. In one, belts track kyu grades up to brown, then dan grades in black with senior red belts later in life. In the other, BJJ runs a short adult color path and places depth in stripes, degrees, and coral stages. Both paths honor time, skill, and service.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Adult Colors
Adults move through white, blue, purple, brown, and black. At black, degrees mark years on the mat and service to the art. Later, holders wear coral belts, then a full red belt for grandmasters. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation publishes shared guidance for promotions and belt use; see the IBJJF graduation system.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids Colors
Kids move through white, grey, yellow, orange, and green, with multiple stripe steps between each color. These steps give steady goals and help coaches pace growth. When a student reaches the right age, they switch to the adult ladder.
Sport Ju-Jitsu Under JJIF
The JJIF guide lists white, yellow, orange, green, blue, and brown for kyu grades, then black for dan, with red-and-white and full red for master ranks. Minimum ages and waiting times apply at dan level so standards match across regions; see the public PDF, the JJIF grading guidelines.
Traditional Japanese Jujutsu Schools
Classical ryu use the same kyu to dan pattern you see under JJIF, with their own touches for stripes, patches, and exam format. Some list purple as a late kyu color; others go from blue to brown, then black. A ryu may mark age groups with a center stripe or a white stripe, or reserve a red/white belt for teachers. Schools such as Kyushin Ryu show how a system can set junior, sub-junior, and senior belts with clear stripe rules and optional red or red-and-white belts for high grades.
Jujutsu Belt Colors List And Meanings
This section gives plain names and the typical meaning behind each color. Use it when you start training, switch schools, or help a new parent understand the path.
White: New Starter
White signals a fresh start. Work centers on base movement, safe falling, posture, and survival. Expect lots of reps of escapes, breaks, hip movement, and grips. The best plan is calm, steady effort.
Grey To Green: Youth Ladders
In BJJ kids programs, grey, yellow, orange, and green break the long stretch between white and blue. Each color adds more sparring awareness, positional thinking, and simple submissions. Stripes fill the gaps so a child always sees the next step.
Yellow / Orange / Green: Classic Kyu Colors
In JJIF and many Japanese lines, these colors mark steady growth in basics, throws, and controls. Exams often cover safe falling, core throws, ground holds, and simple locks. The aim is sound movement and control, not a giant catalog of tricks.
Blue And Purple: Mid Path For Adults
Blue marks time served and clear basics. Purple adds timing, pressure, and chain attacks. Students at this stage guide rounds, solve live problems, and help new teammates. Many gyms assign teaching help here as part of growth.
Brown: Pre-Black Polish
Brown is about clean execution. The game sharpens, matches slow down, and small edges decide rounds. Students fix habits, smooth transitions, and learn how to pace a round against many styles.
Black: Dan Grades Begin
Black opens a new phase. The belt stays black for many years while degrees tick up. People at this level often teach, build programs, or coach at events. In BJJ, time and contribution guide degrees; in JJIF and many ryu, dan grades follow set age and waiting periods.
Coral And Red: Senior Levels
Coral belts (red-and-black and red-and-white) bridge the gap between black and red. The full red belt sits at the top and honors decades of service to the art. These ranks reflect years on the mat and a record of teaching and leadership.
Taking Jujutsu Belt Colors In Context: Style Differences
Now map color names to the way different groups handle promotion so you can see how paths line up across dojos.
How BJJ Handles Testing
Most BJJ schools promote based on a mix of attendance, skill demos, and live ability. Stripes on the belt help track progress. Testing may be formal or informal, but the adult path stays short and clear, which keeps goals in sight.
How JJIF And Traditional Schools Handle Testing
These groups tend to publish clear requirements for each kyu and dan grade. You may see written lists of throws, locks, and kata. Time-in-grade and minimum age rules show up at dan level to keep standards aligned across regions.
JJIF Minimum Ages And Waiting Times For Dan Grades
The JJIF guide sets baseline ages and waiting periods for dan ranks. Your national body or ryu can ask for longer gaps. Here is a compact view.
| Dan Grade | Minimum Age | Waiting Time Since Prior Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Dan | 15 years | 1 year |
| 2nd Dan | 17 years | 2 years |
| 3rd Dan | 20 years | 3 years |
| 4th Dan | 24 years | 4 years |
| 5th Dan | 29 years | 5 years |
| 6th Dan (Red/White) | 35 years | 6 years |
| 7th Dan (Red/White) | 41 years | 6 years |
| 8th Dan (Red/White) | 47 years | 6 years |
| 9th Dan (Red) | 53 years | 6 years |
| 10th Dan (Red) | 59 years | 6 years |
Choosing A Dojo: What To Ask About Belts
Belt names help, yet the method behind them shapes your path. Use these prompts when you visit or trial a class.
Ask About The Curriculum
Is there a written path for each grade? Are throws, ground skills, and striking covered in a way that fits the style? Do kids and adults share the same moves, or do they differ by age group?
Ask About Promotion Rhythm
How do stripes and tests work? Does the school hold set exam days or promote on the mat? What kind of rounds or demos show you are ready for the next step?
Ask About Coaching And Safety
Who leads classes at each level? How are warm-ups run? Are breakfalls reinforced in every class so newer folks stay safe while throws build height and force?
What Are The Belt Colors In Jujutsu? Two Reliable Reference Points
When you explain this topic to a parent or a friend, point to clear sources. For BJJ, the best anchor is the IBJJF graduation system. For global sport ju-jitsu and many Japanese style lines, use the JJIF grading guidelines. Together they show the shared core: white through colored kyu ranks to brown and black, then red-based master levels over long spans of training and teaching.
Before You Leave: A Handy Recap You Can Share
Share this with a new student. If you train BJJ as an adult, the colors are white, blue, purple, brown, black, then coral and red later in life. If you train under a JJIF-style or a classic Japanese line, you move white through yellow, orange, green, blue, and brown, then black for dan grades, then red-and-white or red for senior levels. That is the clear answer to “what are the belt colors in jujutsu?”, and it matches what people see at most dojos across the world.