Last updated: July 15, 2026
Quick Definition
A BJJ stripe is a small mark, usually a piece of tape, placed on a jiu-jitsu belt to show a student’s progress within their current belt rank. Most belts hold up to four stripes before the student is promoted to the next color.
What is a BJJ stripe?
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the colored belt is only half of the ranking picture. Between each belt promotion is a smaller marker called a stripe. It usually looks like a strip of athletic tape wrapped around the end of the belt, near the black bar.
Stripes exist because BJJ belts take a long time to earn. The gap between white and blue belt alone often runs one to two years, and later belts take longer still. Stripes break that long stretch into smaller steps, giving students and instructors a way to mark progress along the way.
A stripe signals that a student has grown in skill and mat experience since their last mark. Belts from white through brown can carry up to four stripes each. Once a student earns four, or sometimes fewer, the instructor may decide they are ready for the next belt color.
For MMA fans, stripes turn up often. Plenty of fighters cross-train in BJJ, and a grappler’s belt rank and stripe count are a quick shorthand for how deep their jiu-jitsu experience runs.
How BJJ stripes work
Stripes are awarded by the instructor rather than requested by the student. Most academies place them on the black bar at the tip of the belt, using tape that can be added or removed easily.
Four is the standard maximum on any belt from white to brown. In practice, the count is not always tidy. A student might train for months with no stripe, then collect two at once, while another earns them one at a time.
Some instructors skip stripes and promote straight to the next belt when they judge a student ready. Others rarely use them at all. Because of this, the number on a belt is a rough guide to experience rather than a precise measurement.
| Belt | Max stripes | Rough time per stripe |
|---|---|---|
| White | 4 | 3 to 6 months |
| Blue | 4 | 6 to 12 months |
| Purple | 4 | 12 to 18 months |
| Brown | 4 | 12 to 24 months |
These are averages, not rules. Training frequency and an instructor’s standards both shift the timeline.
Stripes vs degrees
The word changes at black belt. On colored belts, the marks are called stripes. On a black belt, they are called degrees, and they work differently.
| Stripes | Degrees | |
|---|---|---|
| Belts | White to brown | Black and above |
| Maximum | 4 per belt | Up to 6 before coral belt |
| Basis | Skill and progress within a rank | Years of experience and contribution |
| Timeframe | Months | Years, often decades in total |
A black belt can earn up to six degrees, each shown by a stripe on the red bar at the end of the belt. These come at multi-year intervals rather than after a few months of training.
Beyond the sixth degree, the ranks change color again. The seventh degree brings the red-and-black coral belt, the eighth a red-and-white belt, and the ninth and tenth the solid red belt. According to IBJJF time-in-rank requirements, reaching these final ranks takes decades, and few practitioners ever get there.
How stripes are earned
There is no universal checklist. Each academy sets its own criteria, and instructors weigh several things when deciding whether a student has earned a mark.
Technical proficiency is usually central. Instructors watch how cleanly a student performs techniques and controls positions against a resisting partner.
Consistency matters too. Regular attendance and steady effort in both drilling and live sparring show the kind of progress a stripe is meant to recognize. Competition results can speed things up at some gyms, though most do not require competing.
Attitude carries weight as well. Respect for training partners and a willingness to help newer students often factor into a coach’s decision. At white belt, especially, the earliest stripes sometimes reward encouragement and attendance as much as raw skill.
Do stripe colors mean anything?
Not on adult belts. A white belt comes with a black bar at one end, and white stripes show up clearly against it. When a student’s belt has no black bar, some instructors switch to black tape so the stripes stay visible.
Either way, the color of the tape carries no rank meaning of its own. It comes down to visibility rather than status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get your first stripe in BJJ?
Most students earn their first stripe within three to six months of consistent training, though it depends on attendance, progress, and the instructor’s judgement.
Can you skip stripes in BJJ?
Yes. A student can be promoted to the next belt without collecting all four stripes if the instructor believes they are ready.
Do all BJJ gyms give out stripes?
No. Stripes are common but not required. Some academies use them at every belt, some only at white belt, and some not at all.
Are stripes official IBJJF ranks?
The IBJJF recognizes belt colors and black belt degrees formally. Colored-belt stripes are widely used but left largely to each academy’s discretion.
Sources
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). “Graduation System.” Accessed July 2026.
https://ibjjf.com/graduation-system - Easton Training Center. “Know Your Colors: The BJJ Belt System.” Accessed July 2026.
https://eastonbjj.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/know-your-colors/ - Groundworks BJJ. “BJJ White Belt Stripes.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.groundworksbjj.com/stripes - JiuJitsuBlog. “BJJ Belt Progression: Stripes.” Accessed July 2026.
https://jiujitsublog.com/posts/bjj-stripes - Project BJJ. “Understanding the Stripes on Jiu-Jitsu Belts.” Accessed July 2026.
https://projectbjj.com/understanding-the-stripes-on-jiu-jitsu-belts/
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