How many BJJ blue belts are there in the world?
Mia Smith
Updated on June 13, 2026
There are 265,900 blue belts, leading to the conclusion that there are likely 13,295 purple belts and 4387 brown belts. Combining these calculations, this brings our total number to 2,945,240 people practicing BJJ.
How many BJJ belts are there?
Students of Brazilian jiu-jitsu must graduate through their training, receiving a different color belt upon each successful completion of training. There are five belt levels: white, blue, purple, brown and black.
How many BJJ black belts are in the world?
But how many? How many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts are there? The International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation has over 4,000 registered black belts in their database.
Is a BJJ blue belt a big deal?
Blue belt is the belt of competence. But it can also, if you are not careful, be the belt of complacency. Being a blue belt is safe. People expect a certain roll from you, but if you're tapped out by a fellow blue, no big deal.
How hard is it to get a blue belt?
BJJ blue belts are extremely tough because they will have spent 1-2 years mastering unpleasant defensive positions. The longer you train difficult positions as a white belt, the tougher you'll be as a blue belt.
29 related questions foundHow long does it take to reach blue belt in BJJ?
You have to show proficiency in a number of basic techniques and train a certain amount of time. The average person can usually obtain a BJJ blue belt after 2-3 years of training Jiu Jitsu. Each BJJ school has different requirements and you have to prove to your coach that you're ready for a blue.
Can you get a blue belt in BJJ in 6 months?
In short, how long to get blue belt in BJJ? Getting your blue belt in BJJ can take anywhere between 6 months up to 2 years. The speed at which you can go from white belt to blue belt depends on various things like natural athleticism and coordination, learning ability, and commitment to training.
Can a blue belt beat a black belt?
And here's the kicker: a high-level competitor of any belt color– even a blue belt– will beat most hobbyists of any belt color, even a black belt. Before you start getting apoplectic about this, I know what I'm talking about because I've seen it again and again.
What is BJJ blue belt equivalent to?
More than one martial artist has said that in their opinion, a blue belt in bjj is the equivalent to a black belt in many other martial arts. Whether you agree or disagree with this, the fact remains it is a major goal for most who start training bjj.
What belt is Joe Rogan?
Yes, he could literally kick your lights out. An incredibly dedicated practitioner of martial arts, Joe holds black belts in both Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu. The former Fear Factor host is also trained in karate, wrestling, Muay Thai, and boxing.
Why do white belts quit BJJ?
The common explanations are that jiu jitsu is too hard, takes up too much time, causes injury, or that it is too expensive.
How many red belts are there in BJJ?
Out of respect for the creators of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Carlos, Gastão, George, Oswaldo, and Hélio Gracie), the BJJ community will not promote anyone above a 9th degree red belt rank. To date, from open source research, we believe there are only 42 people who have earned a BJJ red belt.
What percent of people quit BJJ?
People quit.
A small percentage - probably less than 25% - make it to blue belt. Of those, less than 10% make it to purple, and on, and on. It's a tough art and most people don't stick around.
What belt is Conor McGregor in Jiu Jitsu?
Conor McGregor is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in MMA. However, one aspect of his game is highly underestimated - his Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 'The Notorious' is currently a proud holder of a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. McGregor has even competed in grappling tournaments in the past.
Who has the highest BJJ belt?
Red Belt. The 9th degree red belt is the highest rank awarded to any currently living practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Can a BJJ blue belt teach?
Yes, blue belts that have been doing BJJ for a while can teach BJJ. Will they teach you everything perfectly? No. But, as long as they know something that you don't, they can teach it to you.
What is the hardest belt to get in BJJ?
Simple answer: black belt. Because you need to get all the other belts before this, the black belt is logically the hardest belt to get in BJJ.
What is the hardest martial art to get a black belt in?
Karate. Karate's many divisions have separate black belt requirements. The toughest may be Shodokan Karate, which requires around 75 memorized striking moves. It also calls for four different types of sparring sessions and a kata, a memorized sequence of techniques.
Can you get a BJJ blue belt in 3 months?
During this 3 months the student will be taken through all the training needed to work towards a blue belt grading that is fully IBJJF approved. Phuket Top Team and Prof. Alex Alves are achieving a 70% success rate on grading from white to blue at the end of the 3 months.
Why do some BJJ black belts have a blue bar?
Royce Gracie and the Valente brothers started a black belt with a blue bar to honor the legacy of Hélio Gracie, but this has not been widely adopted.
How long does it take to rank in Jiu Jitsu?
The average time it takes to achieve this is usually around 10 years. There are some individuals like BJ Penn and Kit Dale, who have amazing rapid rises up the ranks to very high levels.
How much do BJJ pros make?
In most cases, Jiu-Jitsu fighters make between $4,000 and $40,000 for a win. Depending on the tournament. More and more tournaments are starting to pay winners. But unless you're winning every tournament, it won't be enough for a living wage.
What does first stripe in BJJ mean?
The first stripe is the first achievement in your Jiu Jitsu journey, which already makes it a proud moment for any beginner. To get your first stripe, you've most likely endured at least 3-6 months of hard training.
How long does it take to get a BJJ black belt?
For most of us, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is all about hard work over a long period of time. For the average practitioner, as in over 90% of us, expect a black belt to come after 10 to 15 years of dedicated training. It'll take a long time to earn your black belt.