How Long Does it Take to Get a Black Belt in BJJ
The minimum time frame from white to black belt in BJJ is 5.5 years, the average time is between 8 to 12 years, and the maximum is 16 years. It all depends on your hard work, dedication, and time you spend on mate and much more. If you train more frequently, such as 5 to 6 times a week, or win an adult championship, you may earn your black belt before the mentioned time frame.
Let’s discuss in detail your queries, How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ? What is the average time, and what can you do to earn the black belt faster?
Average Time Periods to move to the Black Belt:
BJJ belt ranking journey starts with the white belt, where you spend at least 1 to 2 years. Then, in the next blue belt, you will spend 2 to 4 years, followed by 1.5 to 5 years in the purple belt. After that, you spend 1 to 5 years in the brown belt, and then you receive the BJJ black belt.
- White Belt (1-2 years)
- Blue Belt (2-4 years)
- Purple Belt (1.5-5 years)
- Brown Belt (1-5 years)
- Black Belt
Here is the Journey from White to Red Belt in the 8 Levels of the BJJ Ranking System:
Based on this information, if you dedicate proper time and effort to your training, it will take approximately 8 to 12 years to earn a black belt in BJJ. If you want to know more about these 8 belts, then click on the link above. Let’s discuss how to earn your black belt faster than the average person.
8 Tips to Speed Up Your BJJ Journey to the Black Belt:
1. Personal Dedication:
The first step in your journey to achieving a black belt is having a great mindset. You will find that this journey is hard and not easy, so you must dedicate proper time to consistently learning techniques, applying them, and not being afraid to face any challenges.
2. Train 5-6 Days a Week:
Many practitioners train 3 times a week, and some only 1 or 2 a week. If you dedicate more time to practice, training 5-6 times a week, you will progress faster than the average person.
3. Tournament Participation:
Promotion to the next belt isn’t based solely on time or practice. To progress faster, participate in competitions. Winning tournaments can accelerate your progress up to 10 times faster than the average person.
Here are the famous BJJ tournaments:
- IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Worlds)
- ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
- IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Pans)
- UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro
- European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
4. Helping New Students in the Academy
When you study the BJJ ranking system, starting from the 3rd purple belt, you will not just be practicing to earn a new belt; you will also guide new white and blue belt students. This is an important rule of the BJJ ranking system. If you do not follow this rule, it will be difficult for you to earn your next belt.
By giving more time and proper guidance to your juniors, you will not only earn your black belt more quickly but also develop leadership qualities and become a role model for them. One of the best BJJ fighters, Rickson Gracie, is known for helping students, which is why today he is a 9th-degree red belt athlete.
5. Other Martial Arts Background:
Many of the BJJ athletes who earn their BJJ black belt quickly come from another martial arts background, such as judo, wrestling, or sambo. So, if you have spent time practicing other martial arts or even other types of jiu-jitsu, you may progress to a BJJ black belt more quickly than the average person.
6. Before Choosing an Academy, Ask About Black Belt Duration:
Not all academies follow the same rules, each academy has its own unique system for promotion. When joining an academy, make sure to ask the trainer about the BJJ black belt progression duration. Check a few academies and inquire about their belt timelines.
Additionally, review their Google and social media feedback. This will help you select the best academy that can guide you efficiently toward your black belt.
7. Expert BJJ Fundamentals as a White Belt:
Your BJJ journey starts at the white belt, where you learn the basics. Make sure to give proper time to mastering the fundamentals, as building a strong foundation will make it easier for you to progress to the black belt.
8. Learn from Multiple Sources:
To get your black belt faster, don’t just follow your academy’s guidelines. Learn from BJJ heroes, read different BJJ blogs and books, watch videos, and attend seminars to learn new techniques. Practice these techniques consistently to improve yourself and shorten the journey to your BJJ black belt.
Short Overview of the Article:
At the beginning of the article, we provided a quick answer to the question, for your query ‘How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ?’ We then explained that for an average person training 2 to 3 days a week without participating in tournaments, it typically takes around 8 to 12 years to earn a black belt.
After that, we shared 8 tips to help you earn your black belt faster. These tips include
- Putting in hard work.
- Consistent training of 5-6 times a week.
- Participating in tournaments like the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and ADCC Championship.
- Helping new students.
- Learning other martial arts like judo and wrestling.
- Joining the best academy.
- When you are a white belt, focus on learning the basics completely and becoming an expert in them.
- Learn from different sources like following BJJ fighters, reading BJJ blogs and books, watching videos, and attending BJJ seminars.
Conclusion
Finally, don’t create unrealistic goals. If you are a normal person, give yourself 8 to 12 years to earn your black belt in BJJ. If you set a goal to earn a black belt in 1 or 2 years and focus only on earning a belt. So after a few months, you may realize it’s impossible, which can be frustrating.
So, the best way is to give yourself proper time at least 8 years. If you earn your black belt before the mentioned time, your motivation level will fly up. There are many other benefits to BJJ, such as self-defense, weight loss, improved fitness, increased confidence, making new friends, and much more.
So, keep these benefits in mind, focus on improving yourself, do hard work and don’t just ask yourself, How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ? This will help you stay motivated on your journey to earning a black belt in BJJ!
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FAQs
1. How Quickly Can You Become a Black Belt in BJJ?
On average, it takes 8 to 12 years to earn a black belt in BJJ. Consistent training, competing in tournaments, learning other martial arts like judo or wrestling, and studying from various sources can speed up the process. Focus on mastering the basics and learning from experts to progress more quickly.
2. What Factors Will Make You Wait Longer to Get a Black Belt in BJJ?
Several factors can make you wait longer to earn your black belt in BJJ, such as how often you train, your consistency, your instructor’s standards, technical skills, competition experience, fitness level, age, injuries, dedication, and your academy’s environment. The maximum time to earn your black belt can be 16 years or more.
3. Who was the fastest black belt in BJJ?
Travis Stevens is the fastest black belt in BJJ, earning it in 18 months under John Danaher. The second and third fastest black belts in BJJ are BJ Penn, who earned his black belt under Andre Pederneiras, and Caio Terra, who earned his black belt under Paulo Strauch and Reyson Gracie, both achieving it in under three years. However, these are very rare cases.
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