Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system

For most belt ranks, and most Gracie schools, each stripe is awarded at the discretion of the instructor, without any specific curriculum or qualification requirements.

However, with adult ranks, (particularly the lower colors of blue and purple), proficiency in a set series of techniques may be required prior to consideration for stripe promotion.

The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Torrance, California (founded by Rorion and his brothers Rickson, Royler, and Royce, and now run by Rorion's sons Rener and Ryron), features an online program called Gracie University (GU) for satellite students who cannot attend live classes.

Hélio Gracie, president of the Federation, felt that children could not be tested on the adult-level moral qualifications he held for normal rank advancement.

In the same interest of providing children with more frequent rank promotion within Gracie jiu-jitsu, Pedro Valente Sr. and his sons proposed an adaptation to the youth belt system.

[3][4] This change provides a full ten belts (as opposed to the previous system of only four), allowing instructors to award children more frequently, and increase motivation among young students.

Under this schedule of promotion, a junior student would receive a stripe roughly every three months, and a new belt after each year of training until the age of 13.

[7] After turning 16 years old, a student is eligible to advance to the adult ranks, beginning with blue belt.

[10] Practitioners from the Hélio Gracie lineage however, maintain the red and black coral belt and simply add an additional stripe.

Noted practitioners Renzo & Royler Gracie have stated that the red belt in Gracie/Brazilian jiu-jitsu is reserved "for those whose influence and fame takes them to the pinnacle of the art".

[15] In some instances, practitioners within the Gracie system will wear belts not recognized or utilized within the greater jiu-jitsu community.

[23] For individuals who begin training as adults (automatically bypassing junior grade levels), the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and its Certified Training Centers around the world award a white belt with a navy blue center to students who are promoted from the solid white (beginner) rank.

[24][25] The Academy also introduced a pink belt for graduates of their Women Empowered self-defense program, a curriculum featuring a limited set of jiu-jitsu techniques specifically curated to defend against common sexual assault scenarios.