Jujitsu Belt Ranking Order- Japan And Brazil Plus Times To Black Belt

When parents or even adult students hear the name Jujitsu, there is not much of a reference they have to go by when picturing what it might mean. In this article I want to show you the gambit of what the word Jujitsu entails by describing how many versions of it deal with belt ranking orders and levels in their systems.

Traditional Japanese Jujutsu uses limited 1st to 6th Dan black belt systems or certificates. Modern Japanese Jujitsu styles have 9 color belt and 10 Dan rankings. Brazilian Jiu jitsu sometimes only use 4 to 5 main colors and 10 black belt levels. Times to black belt vary wildly.

First I will start by giving a taste of what traditional Japanese Jujustu ranking entails. Then we will move on to the attempts by more modern teachers to make many of these Samurai fighting arts belt systems applicable to today. After that, we will look at the sport side that has developed in recent years with its full speed techniques against resisting opponents as well as cautions and limitations they inherently have.

If you are interested more in the TaeKwonDo belt ranking order see a complete rundown here.

If you are more wanting to see the vast array of Japanese Karate belt systems get a comprehensive guide to the top 20 Karate styles here.

Contents

Traditional Japanese Jujitsu Styles and Ranking Systems
Modernized Japanese Jujitsu Styles
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Orders
- Special Warning to Parents Considering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu For Their Kids
  - Issue #1 – Children Doing Strangulation Techniques
  - Issue #2 – Children Doing Arm Barring Techniques
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Ranking Order
  - Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt Ranking Order
  - IBJJF Belt Ranking Order

Traditional Japanese Jujitsu Styles and Ranking Systems

The Japanese Jujitsu systems were in their inceptions huge martial arts that covered weapons, grappling, striking, and even hostage taking and etiquette. Many of today’s styles have taken small parts of these enormous offerings and have become specialized in their use.

The fact that some of these modern versions have taken portions that center on ancient weapons or have zeroed in on situational techniques, does tend to make some more useful in specific situations.

Yet many that follow a system like those dealing with the sword or spear, are not simply interested in sport or even self defense. Though, there are reports of people defending their homes with Samurai style swords. Many are hoping to keep alive parts of an ancient culture that speak to them.

There are a great many of these styles. For our purposes here, to illustrate the wide variety that exists in Jujitsu as a whole and its long and interesting history, I will survey three of the traditional styles.

The Similar Ranking Systems of Traditional Japanese Jujutsu Styles

There is a ranking system in most traditional Koryu or martial arts of the Japanese Samurai, but it is unlike what many think of when they imagine martial arts belts and levels. There are two versions of the ranking system.

There is a certificate version, where groups of techniques are mastered by a student who is subsequently issued a certificate asserting proficiency.
Then there is a ‘Dan’ level (equivalent to black belt) certification that parallels the certificate one, but is not necessarily connected.
All other beginning students wear white or no belts.

Traditional Jujutsu Dan Ranks

All students begin as a novice.

After mastering the required techniques and training for the minimum amount of time, Dan or black belt ranks are available.

Time to black belt in most traditional Japanese Koryu styles is 2-3 years.
All of these times vary slightly from style to style, but in general are what you can expect.
The minimum age requirement in most Koryu styles to achieve a Shodan (black belt) level is 16 years old.
The minimum age requirement in many Koryu styles to achieve a Hachidan (8th dan black belt) is 50 years old.
Dan ranks past Yodan (4th Dan black belt) usually require some sort of teaching certification. This is a separate requirement to be fulfilled.

Traditional Jujutsu Certificate Ranks

This is an example from Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu. This is an older form of ranking that existed prior to the more modern belt order systems. It is still in use in some styles today.

Certificate	Curriculum	# of Techniques
Hiden moduroku	Ikkajo	30
Hiden moduroku	Nikkajo	30
Hiden moduroku	Sankajo	30
Hiden moduroku	Yonkajo	15
Hiden moduroku	Gokajo	13
Aiki no jutsu	Aiki no jutsu	53
Hiden Ogi	Hiden Ogi	36
Goshin’yo no te	Self-defense	84
Kaishaku soden	Explanation of Inheritance	477
Menkyo kaiden	License of complete tranmission	88

Now let’s look at some examples of what you can expect from these types of traditional Jujutsu styles.

Araki-ryu Jujitsu

This style of traditional Japanese weapons based arts does not have the colored belt system as initiated by Judo’s Jigoro Kano. This was the system used by peasant fighting soldiers and lower level Samurai during the more feudal periods of Japan.

The style that is practiced today is based on the techniques and weapons as much as can be reconstructed from that time period. Some displays of this art use heavy hardwood weapons, while at times semi-sharp metal weapons are used.

The cultural aspect and respect for historical traditions of Japan keep this style alive and practitioners training. Most of their public efforts center around demonstrations at cultural events and conventions. Children are normally not allowed to study this type of style until they are nearer adulthood.

Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu

In this ancient system of standing, small joint manipulation grappling with off balancing throws, pain compliance is the aim. The throws are not leverage throws, but reactions to pain with added balance manipulation from the one performing the takedown.

The Daito-ryu system stems from close quarter combat situations that Samurai may have faced in protecting dignitaries from assassinations to smaller space attacks where their longer weapons would not be either accessible or efficient.

There is no competition with fully resisting opponents in this sort of system. The movements are considered too dangerous to practice at those speeds and with full resistance. The techniques are ‘collected’ and trained against complying opponents.

This has led to criticism of the effectiveness of these systems in practical applications today. Yet, again this is not the sole purpose of these systems. The nature of the techniques also severely limit the ability of children to fully participate in the art.

We will see that some martial arts have come from smaller versions of these larger ones utilizing only techniques that can be applied at full speed on resisting opponents.

Hontai Yoshin-ryu Ju-jutsu

This is an ancient style of Jujutsu which not only utilizes unarmed techniques, but spends much time perfecting the short sword and the long bo (wooden staff).

The name comes from the bending of a willow that bends when pressure is applied rather than breaking like other tall trees. The traditional teachings in this system come from the 1600s in the heart of the age of the Samurai.

In our time, it would not be acceptable to walk in public carrying a set of swords or a spear. Yet, hundreds of years ago in Japan, this was not a strange sight. Much of what is taught in these systems point back to that time and to a memory of a people that students strive to keep alive.

If this sort of respect and honoring of ancient traditions interests you, there is one book that you must read. It was written in the late 1600s by a Samurai named Yamamoto Tsunetomo. It is The Hagekure. It is sometimes referred to as the book of the Samurai. I had all my adult students read it years ago. It is short and very manageable.

It details a view of what it meant to be a samurai from first hand accounts, albeit from an extended time of peace. This is said to caution that it is a romanticized view of the Samurai (which is more fun anyway) from someone decrying their looming disappearance.

Tsunetomo dictated it to a scribe who only published it after his death. Now you can get a first hand glimpse into what that world looked and felt like. Get a copy of this very readable translation of The Hagekure on Amazon here.

Modernized Japanese Jujitsu Styles

Danzen-ryu Jujitsu

The major organization that oversees the Danzen-ryu Jujitsu martial arts system is the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation (AJJF). This organization is in direct lineage of the systems founder Master Henry Seishiro Okazaki.

Master Okazaki combined several of the ancient styles of Jujitsu with Karate, Hawaian Lua, Escrima, wrestling, Kung Fu, and western boxing. From his Kodenkan dojo in Hawaii his students moved to the mainland of the United States and spread his hybridized form of Jujitsu across the U.S.

Within the system, students going through the color belt ranks can expect to learn throwing, grappling, striking, and weapons techniques. The weapons taught are a mix of Japanese and Filipino weapons: the knife, sword, and stick.

A student can reasonably expect to earn a black belt in Danzan Ryu Jujitsu in 4 to 5 years.
Classes in Danzan-ryu Jujitsu are primarily for ages 16 yrs and up. Some instructors may have exceptions, but as a rule the techniques taught are too dangerous to allow children to attempt.
The first 5 Dan (black belt) ranks are for learning further curriculum. The last 5 Dan ranks are designated for senior instructor and professor rankings.

Small Circle Jujitsu (Prof. Wally Jay)

Professor Wally Jay was a student of Master Okazaki at his Hawaii dojo, the Kodenkan. Professor Jay had his own list of martial arts styles and instructors that he had studied under before taking on Master Okazaki’s hybrid style, Danzan-ryu Jujitsu.

Due to the fact that much of Jujitsu had been developed by the Samurai and passed down through the generations showed in the techniques themselves. Most of the movements looked like movements found in the techniques they used in Katakana sword play. The large arching motions and flowing movements were specifically used by swordsmen.

Professor Jay learned from the subtle, but dominating wrist movements of his Judo instructor Ken Kawachi how to adjust the movements in the ancient sword oriented techniques. Small Circle Jujitsu™ was thus born in 1944 when Professor Jay began to augment all of the techniques of Jujitsu.

Not only did he apply the concepts to Jujitsu, but also other styles like Judo (a style directly descending from Jujitsu). Small Circle Jujitsu™ was officially instituted and recognized as a complete Jujitsu system in 1987. Today the style is headed by Professor Wally Jay’s son, Professor Leon Jay.

In some dojos children are taught a truncated version of Small Circle Jujitsu™ mixed with other styles. Youth ranks in these dojos end at around 13 to 15 years old.
It can depend on the dojo, but it usually takes a minimum of 3 years to earn a black belt in Small Circle Jujitsu™.

Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu

Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu was developed by Riukiu Mura. He was an empty hand combatives instructor at the Tokyo police academy. His background was in Japanese Jujitsu and Judo.

Matthew Komp, a jiu jitsu student of Riukiu Mura, added to these techniques elements he learned from Judo, Karate, and Aikido. He returned to Australia and began teaching. One of his black belt students, Brian Graham returned to England. It was Graham that named the system Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu.

The Jitsu Foundation was formed in the 1990s from the National Samurai Jiu Jitsu Association, which oversees the over 100 clubs in the UK. Since its foundations in the UK, dojos have spread around the world.

It takes approximately 5 years to earn a black belt in Shorinji Kan Jiu Jitsu.
Dan levels have a base and senior level. The base level is for technical skill and the senior level is based on teaching experience and contribution to the style as a whole on local, national, or international levels.
The Hakama (large flowing black Samurai style pants) is worn by each club instructor. Club instructors must be at least a 1st Kyu brown belt level. Instructors must be at least 18 years old
Junior Dan black belt levels are issued for 17 year olds and under. All junior Kyu and Dan ranks have a white stripe running the length of the belt.
Junior Dan holders must retest for their 1st Kyu brown belt at the age of 18 and fulfill the 2 year waiting period as well as the 1 year club leader and teaching requirements in order to be eligible for adult Dan rankings.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Orders

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the more popular sport styles of martial arts in the world today. Due to much advertising and marketing of grappling versus striking style dueling in the 1990s by the Gracie family in Brazil, the Judo derivative known as BJJ became world famous by the early 2000s.

This wrestling for position and waiting out your opponent for long periods of time until they are tired or make a mistake, has become quite popular recently in martial sports. What has worked in the sport arena for this style is its emphasis on the ground newaza or wrestling technique of Judo and that was learned from Kodokan Judo black belt Mitsuyo Maeda.

In essence, the entire style is Judo, which was derived from traditional Jujutsu. Founders of BJJ later added elements of wrestling and Sambo. Yet, this is not the entire story.

Much of what is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu today is expanded and nuanced ground techniques bred from thousands of long time limit matches, one on one against resisting opponents, agreeing to the same rule system. Standing throwing techniques are fairly neglected due to rule systems downplaying their use and scoring.

This inevitably leads to many matches beginning with both competitors simply sitting down.

Special Warning to Parents Considering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu For Their Kids

I do not make this recommendation lightly. Mostly this site is for parents so I feel it necessary to address it. This is not an issue with many other forms of Jujitsu, because age restrictions are in place. Yet, with BJJ this can be an issue, and some unethical practices may be more prevalent than some know.

Here is the problem. There are way too many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructors willing to teach inappropriate fighting techniques to children. Let me preface this with, ‘not all’ but there is a good number.

Not only that, many in this group would openly defend against what I am about to say with supposed reasoned and ethical arguments that just wouldn’t hold up.

Issue #1 – Children Doing Strangulation Techniques

Parents should be aware that unlike Judo and most all traditional Jujitsu systems, many instructors of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teach young children to apply choke holds. Judo chokes are prohibited for children under 13. This restriction is not applied in BJJ.

Some instructors will self regulate this especially in a family oriented school. The problem is that it is not expected or even recommended by most organizations. It is solely up to the individual instructor. Another note here: I know some very ethical and great BJJ kids instructors that don’t teach young children chokes. It is just something to be very aware of.

WARNING: This video is disturbing. Allowing small children to be taught and apply choking techniques is arguably unethical.

Issue #2 – Children Doing Arm Barring Techniques

Kids are also taught arm bars which could break and dislocate elbows. Judo does not allow this under the age of 16 years old for good reason. These children studying BJJ can be taught dangerous techniques and then left to their own ill-formed sense of ethical codes as they spend most of their days away from parental guidance.

WARNING: This video is also disturbing. This small girl was taught how to dislocate the elbow of another child. She was then cheered on by parents and other adults as she obviously injured another little girls arm. Will the girl recover? Sure. The issue is, should armbars been allowed in the first place?

Take downs and restraining type holds are excellent for younger children. Armbars, leg locks (dislocating knees and ankles), chokes, along with many other ‘submission’ techniques are NOT.

Are there unethical practices in other martial arts? Absolutely. It just is very avoidable with armlocks. Just set an appropriate age limit.

There are bad Karate, Judo, and TaeKwonDo instructors as well, there is no doubt. But there are also many mainstream BJJ instructors that will defend arm bars and chokes being taught to young children, thinking they actually have morally sound arguments.

They do not. It is not justifiable. There are even many adults that should not be taught these techniques.

Well adjusted adults and disciplined teens (which good instructors should screen for) looking to add one of these many components to their self defense tool box, should definitely study grappling. There are several types of controlling style ground grappling, BJJ is one of them.

There is a serious ethical decision to be made on the part of parents if picking a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor. It should be taken seriously.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt Ranking Order

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt Ranking Order

The Gracie family of Brazil was one of the first to bring Maeda’s Judo instruction to their country, or at least to make it widely known. They are not the only ones taking credit for this, but they are one of the most popular.

Here is the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu™ adult belt ranking order.

Here is the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu™ child belt ranking order.

The minimum age requirement for earning a blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu is 16 years old.
The minimum age requirement for earning a black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu is 18 years old
Children completing the child belt ranking sequence, once reaching 16 years old can begin the adult ranks at blue belt.
Instructors must become certified to teach Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
A new student could expect to earn a Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt in approximately 10 years.

IBJJF Belt Ranking Order

The IBJJF is an international organization hosting tournaments and registering black belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This organization has close ties with parts of the Gracie family which leads some earning black belts under other lineages not to seek this certification.

That being said, it is the largest of the organizational bodies in the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The adult belt ranking order in the IBJJF is for adults 16 years old and over.

Though there are some differences in time in the adult IBJJF and the Gracie systems and an upper belt change or two, the children’s belts hold the most differences.

The IBJJF children’s belt ranking system is for ages 15 years old and under.

A student can expect to earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the IBJJF system in between 5 to 10 years.
To start in the adult belt ranking order a student must be at least 16 years old.
To earn a black belt in the IBJJF a student must be at least 19 years old.
Instructors must be certified to teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the IBJJF.

Level	Color	Time to Achieve Rank
None	White Belt	Minimum of 2 years to Shodan

Level	Dan	Time To Achieve Rank
1st	Shodan	Minimum of 2 years from white to Shodan
2nd	Nidan	Minimum of 18 months from Shodan to Nidan
3rd	Sandan	Minimum of 2 years from Nidan to Sandan
4th	Yondan	Minimum of 3 years from Sandan to Yondan
5th	Godan	Minimum of 4 years from Yondan to Godan
6th	Rokudan	Minimum of 5 years from Godan to Rokudan
7th	Shichidan	Minimum of 6 years from Rokudan to Shichidan
8th	Hachidan	Minimum of 7 years from Shichidan to Hachidan

Kyu	Belt Color	Stripes	Time in Rank
kukyu	White Belt	Instructor designated	4 months
Hachikyu	Yellow Belt	Instructor designated	4 months
Shichikyu	Orange Belt	Instructor designated	4 months
Rokyu	Purple Belt	Instructor designated	4 months
Gokyu	Blue Belt	Instructor designated	4 months
Yonkyu	Green Belt	Instructor designated	4 months
Sankyu	Brown Belt	Instructor designated	6 months
Nikyu	Brown Belt	Instructor designated	6 months
Ikkyu	Brown Belt	Instructor designated	6 months
Shodan	1st Dan Black Belt		1 year
Nidan	2nd Dan Black Belt		2 years
Sandan	3rd Dan Black Belt		3 years
Yodan	4th Dan Red/Black Panel Belt	Red and Black Alternating	4 years
Godan	5th Dan Red/Black Panel Belt	Red and Black Alternating	5 years
Rokudan	6th Dan Red/White Panel Belt	Red and White Alternating	6 years
Shichidan	7th Dan Red/White Panel Belt	Red and White Alternating	7 years
Hachidan	8th Dan Red/White Panel Belt	Red and White Alternating	8 years
Kudan	9th Dan Red/White Panel Belt		9 years
Judan	10th Dan Red/White Panel Belt		10 years

Kyu	Belt Color	Stripes	Time in Rank
kukyu	White Belt	Instructor designated	3 months
Hachikyu	Yellow Belt	Instructor designated	3 months
Shichikyu	Orange Belt	Instructor designated	3 months
Rokyu	Purple Belt	Instructor designated	3 months
Gokyu	Green Belt	Instructor designated	3 months
Yonkyu	Blue Belt	Instructor designated	3 months
Sankyu	Brown Belt	Instructor designated	6 months
Nikyu	Brown Belt	Instructor designated	6 months
Ikkyu	Brown Belt	Instructor designated	6 months
Shodan	1st Dan Black Belt		1 year
Nidan	2nd Dan Black Belt		2 years
Sandan	3rd Dan Black Belt		3 years
Yodan	4th Dan Red/Black Panel Belt	Red and Black Alternating	4 years
Godan	5th Dan Red/Black Panel Belt	Red and Black Alternating	5 years
Rokudan	6th Dan Red/White Panel Belt	Red and White Alternating	6 years
Shichidan	7th Dan Red/White Panel Belt	Red and White Alternating	7 years
Hachidan	8th Dan Red/White Panel Belt	Red and White Alternating	8 years
Kudan	9th Dan Red/White Panel Belt		9 years
Judan	10th Dan Red/White Panel Belt		10 years

Kyu	Belt Color	Badge
8th Kyu	White Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
7th Kyu	Yellow Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
6th Kyu	Orange Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
5th Kyu	Green Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
4th Kyu	Purple Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
3rd Kyu	Light Blue Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
2nd Kyu	Dark Blue Belt	White badge with black writing	4 months
1st Kyu	Brown Belt	White badge with black writing Must run a club for 1 year to advance	2 years
Shodan	1st Dan Black Belt	Black badge with white writing
Nidan	2nd Dan Black Belt	White badge with red writing
Sandan	No Belt Worn – Black Gi Top 3rd Dan	Red badge with white writing