Martial arts belt ranks explained
Belt colours show a student's progress. Almost every martial art starts at white and works towards black, but the colours in between, and what comes after black, depend on the art, the federation and often the school.
By Bolide Fight Gear · Updated
Which belt has the most value?
The black belt is the best-known sign of expertise in every major martial art. Above it, the highest honours in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are red belts, awarded at 9th and 10th degree and held by very few people in the world.
Karate belt order
Karate has no single worldwide colour order. Each style, association and dojo sets its own. A common progression for coloured belts (kyu grades) is:
| Stage | Common belt colours |
|---|---|
| Beginner | White |
| Novice | Yellow, orange |
| Intermediate | Green, blue |
| Advanced | Purple, brown |
| Expert (dan grades) | Black, 1st dan and above |
Some dojos add red belts or tag stripes between colours. Always use your own association's grading syllabus.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) belt order
In the IBJJF system, adults (16 and over) progress white → blue → purple → brown → black. Black belt has degrees; at 7th degree the belt becomes red-and-black (coral), at 8th degree red-and-white, and at 9th and 10th degree red. Coloured belts usually carry up to four stripes on the rank bar.
Under-16s use a separate youth system: grey, then yellow, orange and green, each with white, solid and black variants, starting at about ages 4, 7, 10 and 13.
Judo belt order
Judo kyu (student) colours vary by country. The International Judo Federation and several national bodies use white, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. For dan grades in the Kodokan system, 1st to 5th dan wear black, 6th to 8th dan may wear a red-and-white belt, and 9th and 10th dan a red belt.
Taekwondo belt order
Many taekwondo schools use white, yellow, green, blue, red, then black, sometimes with tag belts in between. Juniors who reach black-belt level before about age 15 often wear a red-and-black poom belt. Orders differ between federations and schools.
Ordering custom rank belts for your gym or brand
Rank belts are made from layered cotton stitched in rows, which keeps them stiff and durable. For a club order you choose the colours, width and length per size, any rank bar (for BJJ stripes), and embroidery such as the gym name or the student's name. See custom martial arts belts or ask for a quote.
Quick answers
What is the highest belt in martial arts?
Black belt is the highest standard rank in most martial arts. In judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the very highest honours are red belts at 9th and 10th degree, which only a handful of people hold.
Is the belt order the same in every martial art?
No. Most arts start at white and reach black, but the colours in between differ by art, federation and school. Always follow your own association's grading system.
What does a coral belt mean in BJJ?
In the IBJJF system, the red-and-black belt marks a 7th-degree black belt and the red-and-white belt marks an 8th-degree black belt.