How long does it take to become a black belt in BJJ?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 24, 2026
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.
Can you get a black belt in BJJ in 3 years?
It can take up to 10 years to establish a black belt. There are only a few belts, so we spend a lot of time on each belt. Moreover, your progress is not linear. Stay on the plateau for weeks or months before you can get the skill jump reward.
How rare is a black belt in BJJ?
Getting a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an achievement that isn't necessarily documented with anything more than the belt. According to Rener Gracie: Only 10% of new practitioners will even make it to earning their blue belts. Out of that 10%, a mere 1% will continue on to a black belt.
Can you get a BJJ black belt in 5 years?
Think more like 3-5 times a week. 10 years is often said as a guideline, but in truth this too is on the short side. It's absolutely possible to get your black belt in a decade — but you'll need to train consistently, sustain few injuries and focus a large amount of your energy and lifestyle on Jiu-Jitsu.
Is Joe Rogan a black belt in BJJ?
Joe Rogan
He was a frequent Taekwondo competitor in his younger days. He's also Black Belt in BJJ under Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu. In 2012, his first black belt was given to him by Bravo and then subsequently with a Gi (a martial arts uniform) by Jean Jacques-Machado.
23 related questions foundWhat belt is Conor McGregor in BJJ?
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.
What belt is Jason Statham in BJJ?
Jason Statham is a BJJ purple belt under Renzo Gracie. The purple belt is the third of 5 belts in the BJJ belt system. This means he's legit, because Renzo doesn't hand out belts to people just for being famous. Jason also doesn't train BJJ specifically for his movies, he trains BJJ for its own sake.
Is BJJ the hardest martial art?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is considered to be the most difficult martial art to learn. Even to athletic students, mastering this discipline is unlikely to come easy. But the difficulty of learning Jiu Jitsu is attractive to many students.
Who is the youngest BJJ black belt?
Mica Galvao Becomes One Of The Youngest Ever To Reach Black Belt At 17. Mica Galvao has now reached one of the most important landmarks in anyone's BJJ development as he has now been promoted to black belt, despite being just 17 years old.
How long did it take for BJ Penn to get a black belt?
According to an interview given by BJ Penn, he received his black belt in 3 years and 4 months; 6 months to blue belt (Ralph Gracie), 1 year and 6 months more until he reached his purple (Ralph Gracie), 8 more months to receive his brown belt (Andre Pederneiras) plus 8 months to his black belt (Andre Pederneiras).
Why do most 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.
Is 22 too old to start jiu jitsu?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions by over 40 years old individuals who have become interested in the art of jiu-jitsu, but are unsure if they should try or not. The short answer is: “No! You are not too old to get started in jiu-jitsu.”
Why do people like BJJ so much?
BJJ is a journey of continuous self-improvement. Possibly the greatest reason why people find themselves continually coming back to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class is that you can simultaneously learn a brilliant martial art while also improving your body and mind.
Can I start BJJ at 30?
There's no right age to start training Jiu-Jitsu. Doesn't matter if you are a 5 years old child or already over 60, the gentle art has a lot to offer you. A huge part of new practitioners that join everyday at academies all over the globe, do it after hitting the 30-year-old mark.
What is the easiest black belt to get?
A student is capable of earning a black belt faster in certain martial arts disciplines than in others.
...
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (10 Years) ...
- Karate (5 Years) ...
- Aikido (4-5 Years) ...
- Judo (3-6 Years) ...
- Tae Kwon Do (3-5 Years)
Is it hard to get a black belt in BJJ?
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt System is a far stricter than in most other martial arts. It can take upwards of 10 years to achieve the black belt. As there are only a few belts, you will spend a long time on each one. Also, your progress will not be linear.
What is the hardest belt in BJJ?
Purple Belt – The Hardest Belt In BJJ.
How tough is a BJJ 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. Being difficult to submit is the best foundation to start building your attacks.
Which black belt takes longest?
A black belt in BJJ ultimate varies depending on the gym and instructor, however it's safe to say a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will take you the longest amount of time.
How many Jiu Jitsu black belts in the world?
In BJJ there are 2,658 black belts according to the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
What martial arts training does Jason Statham have?
Jason Statham
Action star Jason Stathom is another big fan of MMA. He's a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has trained in multiple martial arts disciplines including: Wing Chun kung fu, karate and kickboxing.
Was Bruce Lee a black belt?
Bruce Lee never needed a black belt
His movies — including Way of the Dragon, Enter The Dragon, and Game of Death — are bedrocks of the martial arts movie genre. He also never had a black belt in any discipline. Lee's primary martial arts background was in wing chun, which he studied directly under the famous Ip Man.
What belt is Ashton Kutcher?
TV and movie star Ashton Kutcher was awarded his brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, putting him just one step away from a black belt. A true A-list celebrity has leveled up in the “gentle art.”
Does Jim Carrey do Jiu-Jitsu?
Jim Carrey is a natural-born comedian – known for his humor, his ridiculous facial expressions, and his funky personality on screen. But, he's also an extremely skilled martial arts athlete and has achieved his brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Earning a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu is no small task.