How Many BJJ Black Belts Are There in the US
Using IBJJF’s registered black belts, there are 2,000 registered black belts in the US. However, many black belts do no register with the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation) so we can estimate that there are approximately ~12,000 black belts in the US.
I surveyed black belts from my current bjj gym, 10th Planet San Diego, to come up with these jiu jitsu statistics and found that, on average only 1 out of every 6 black belts were registered with the IBJJF, so we can estimate there are approximately ~12,000 (2,000 IBJJF registerd black belts x 6 = 12,000) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in the US.
How Many BJJ Black Belts Are There in the World
As of May 2024, we can estimate (based off of IBJJF registered black belts) that there are approximately ~60,000 black belts in Brazilian jiu jitsu worldwide.
Again, using my bjj gym surveyed results, we can estimate there are approximately ~57,678 (9,613 IBJJF registerd black belts x 6 = 57,678) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in the world.
Currently, as of May, 2024, there are 9,613 registered black belt holders on the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) website. However, this number only reflects those people who opted to register as black belts for competition, validation, and formality. Meaning, there can be many more unregistered black belts untallied on the site.
Most jiu-jitsu students strive for the prestigious black belt, as is the case in other martial arts. Although there is a higher rank in jiu-jitsu, black belts are generally considered to be the instructors and leaders of the art.
On average, it takes a dedicated jiu jitsu student ~8-12 years to achieve their black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
With these figures, it may seem pretty common to receive a black belt in in BJJ as there are thousands of people who have done so. But, relative to Earth’s 8 billion population, getting a black belt can be stated approximately as 1-in-a-million.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt?
The black belt signifies mastery in the art and roughly 10 years of consistent training. However, this time frame can vary depending on your dedication and skill level.
When a martial artist achieves the rank of black belt, it usually means they have trained for at least a decade or two to earn that respect. The black belt is both the culmination of one’s training and the beginning of another phase.
Factors that determine the time it takes to obtain a black belt
1. Training frequency
Mat time will always be the number one factor in high quickly someone improves in bjj. The frequency and intensity of training plays a significant role in the progression to a black belt.
Practitioners who train multiple times per week are more likely to advance faster than those who train less frequently. Consistent training helps develop a solid foundation of techniques and improves overall understanding of the martial art.
2. Individual ability and dedication
A student’s natural aptitude for BJJ, combined with their prior grappling or martial arts experience as well as level of dedication, can influence the time it takes to achieve a black belt.
Some individuals may grasp concepts and techniques more quickly, while others may require more time to hone their skills. A strong work ethic, commitment, and passion for the sport will always accelerate progress.
3. Quality of instruction
The quality of instruction and the guidance provided by a knowledgeable instructor are crucial factors in a student’s journey to a black belt.
This helps them develop good habits on the mat and avoid bad ones.
Learning from experienced and skilled instructors ensures that students receive proper, personalized technical instruction and a comprehensive understanding of BJJ principles.
How Many Black Belts Are There in the World in BJJ?
There is no definitive answer to this question as there is no scientific methodology for estimating the rarity of black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
But, if you based it on IBJJF’s official tally, there are 7,447 listed black belts and counting by the time this post is written.
If we use IBJJF’s registered black belts as a guide and from estimates taken at my current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym, 1 out of 6 black belts were registered with IBJJF so we can estimate that there are approximately ~60,000 black belts in Brazilian jiu jitsu worldwide.
There are incentives to register as a black belt on the IBJJF’s website. For one, you can earn a certificate, and you are allowed to compete at IBJJF competitions. While the process costs money, many people see it as a way to validate their black belt status.
Unfortunately, it’s not the only way of counting black belts. Overall, the number of 7,447 also sounds quite small. In fact, there are actually more black belts unregistered on the IBJJF website.
While the IBJJF encircles many certified black belts, it doesn’t cover those who aren’t registered with the IBJJF. The number can be upward of 10,000 as a starting point of estimate.
You can look at some of the black belt holders on Jujitsu America. You can also look at the national rank system on the USJJF site to get a better view of America’s belt progression.
How Many People Practice BJJ in the World?
Based on a report from 2017, sourcing studies from finalstepmarketing.com and Jiujitsutimes.com, the short version is that there are 2,945,240 people practicing BJJ (as of 2017).
Since it’s a 6-year-old report, we can estimate that the number of BJJ practitioners rose about 1.5 to 2.5 times since then. We’ve mentioned that the black belts listed on the IBJJF site are 7,447. So, since black belts relative to all BJJ practitioners is approximately .1%, this means that there could be over 7.5 million BJJ practitioners in the world. Not to mention more, since there are many unregistered black belt holders worldwide.
How Many Red Belts Are There in BJJ?
Few BJJ professionals have attained the red belt, which is presented at the 9th and 10th degrees. In fact, just five men have achieved the 10th-degree red belt rank; Carlos Gracie, Gastão Gracie Filho, George Gracie, Helio Gracie, and Oswaldo Gracie.
Fortunately, although the red belt might appear insurmountable, if you dedicate yourself to this martial art, you can definitely achieve the black belt or brown belt.
How Many BJJ Brown Belts Are There?
People start doing BJJ for various different reasons; to lose weight, for self-defense, or just to pick up a martial art. For most beginner practitioners, BJJ has a steep learning curve, thus, they’re more focused on attaining the next level, which is the blue belt.
Generally, blue belts tend to be a beginner’s crowning glory. Once they get to blue, they get a feeling of “mission accomplished”. So, at this point, many chose to quit.
White belts have the highest drop out rate with estimates as low as 10% making it to blue belt. Once you’re purple and higher, then you’re too invested so you won’t quit either. Therefore, blue tends to have the highest dropout rate just behind white belts.
This gives you an idea of how people, especially uninspired martial artists, play the ranking system. So, in the case of a brown belt, people who made it that far usually aim for the black belt and are unlikely to quit.
Let’s say there are 7.5 million BJJ practitioners in the world. Of the 7.5 million white belts, only ~10% of them make it to the blue belt. That gives us 750,000 blue belts.
Of the 20% (150,000 practitioners) who make it to the blue belt, maybe half will make it to purple. That gives us 75,000 purple belts
For some reason, many people are content with a purple belt. This other “crowning achievement” is enough for them. However, ~30% of them will go on to the brown belt. It gives us approximately 15,000 brown belt holders out there aiming for the coveted black belt.
That’s a reasonable number, considering there are 7,447 listed black belts on IBJJF.
How Many People Get Their Black Belts in BJJ?
Obtaining a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) requires significant effort. Many people’s journey toward a BJJ black belt is arduous and never-ending, with no obvious destination in sight.
Being awarded a black belt in BJJ is an accomplishment since it shows how much one values the activity.
Only 10% of new BJJ students, according to Rener Gracie, will proceed with a blue belt; what’s more intriguing, only 1% of that 10% will finish with a black belt.
What Are Some of the Best Places for BJJ in the USA?
Nowadays, you can almost always get good BJJ experiences. Gone are the days when you have to travel far just to get into a quality gym.
There are many great places to practice BJJ in the USA. Some popular centers include Gracie Barra (Sand Canyon Avenue Irvine, CA), Renzo Gracie Academy (Midtown Manhattan, NYC), Alliance Jiu-Jitsu (Atlanta, Georgia), and Revolution BJJ (Staples Mill Rd, Richmond, VA). There are also many gyms that offer classes specifically for women or children.
When it comes to finding some of the best places for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America, there are many options available. Each region has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to do your research and find a gym that offers the training you need.
Do BJJ Black Belts Sometimes Quit BJJ?
There’s a lot of discussion on the internet about whether or not black belts in BJJ quit the sport. The answer to this question is complex and depends on a few factors.
While it is rare that black belts quit bjj entirely, it does happen. While bjj is the passion for many sometimes life gets in the way, a new job, a relocation, family, age. However, what we mostly see in black belts as they continue to age is that they will lessen their training or lessen the intensity of their training.
Some people who quit BJJ may do so because they want to focus more on other martial arts disciplines like MMA, while others find that they can’t continue to devote the time and energy necessary to keep up with the lower ranks and may lessen training or quit entirely
In short, quitting BJJ as a black belt does happen, but it’s not something that happens very often.
Debunking Myths and Misconceptions
Can you get a BJJ black belt in 2 or 3 years?
While it is theoretically possible to achieve a BJJ black belt in 2 or 3 years, it is highly unlikely
practitioners. Such rapid progress would require exceptional talent, previous grappling experience, and an intense training regimen. In most cases, this accelerated timeline is unrealistic and does not allow for the development of a deep understanding of the martial art.
However, there have been a few notable examples of individuals who achieved their bjj black belts in a short amount of time such as:
- Geo Martinez – 3 years
- Demian Maia – 4 years 7 months
- BJ Penn – 3 years
- Travis Stevens – 18 months
- Kit Dale – Under 5 years
- Nicolas Gregoriades – 4 years
- Richie ‘Boogeyman’ Martinez – 3 years 11 months
- Caio Terra – 3 years
These cases are rare exceptions and should not be considered the norm for BJJ practitioners.
Fake BJJ black belts
With the growing popularity of BJJ, there have been instances of individuals falsely claiming to be black belts. However, they are quickly found out the moment the step onto the mat.
You simply can’t fake the movement, skills, and knowledge of someone who has been training bjj for 10+ years.
While its common to come across someone that may perform significantly higher or lower than their belt rank (I’ve seen many blue belts give black belts trouble), it is pretty rare to see a fake black belt in real life.
The only time I’m seen fake black belts is on the internet or social media, and even then they are quickly found out to be illegitimate.
Can a BJJ black belt beat anyone in a fight?
While BJJ black belts possess a high level of skill and expertise, it is essential to understand that no martial artist is invincible.
Factors such as physical attributes, strategy, and other combat experience can influence the outcome of a fight.
However, if we’re speaking hypothetically, BJJ black belts are often very well-prepared for self-defense situations, since in bjj training there is frequent live sparring.
Live sparring = where you practice bjj techniques on fully resisting partners/opponents.
Can a BJJ black belt beat a black belt from other martial arts?
Comparing BJJ black belts to black belts from other martial arts can be challenging, as each martial art has unique techniques, strategies, and philosophies.
While BJJ black belts may have an advantage in ground fighting, other martial arts may excel in striking or other aspects of combat. The outcome of a contest between practitioners from different martial arts will depend on various factors, including individual skill, experience, and adaptability.
However, if the other martial artist doesn’t have any grappling experience the odds that the BJJ practitioner will be able to take them down, control, and submit them if very high.
Zack is an avid jiu jitsu practitioner and martial arts nerd. He currently holds a brown belt in BJJ. When not on the mats or in the gym, he can be found going for walks with his wife, attempting (and often failing) to train his dog, and frequently obsessing over a specific hobby only to forget about it a week later.
