Like other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has a belt and grading system that is used to signify the rank and level of each practitioner. Although there are only several promotions in BJJ (from white to black belt, and up to red belt for a select few), there are also mini promotions within each belt. Typically, each belt can earn up to four stripes before the next color promotion.
Again, this differs with black belt where you can gain more than four stripes, and at black belt these are referred to as ‘dan’ like in Karate and other martial arts. With all of this said, we will discuss what stripes actually mean in BJJ and what they represent.
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BJJ Stripes are used to show experience within each rank
Some people view belts as an indicator of skill level. Whilst this is true, the more you progress through BJJ, the more it often means experience. In short, stripes can also represent this within each belt. For instance, a purple belt without any stripes could have been newly promoted. However, a four stripe purple belt is likely to be more experienced and maybe closer to brown belt in terms of skill. Because of this, the idea of stripes is to show level within each belt. For some people however, stripes don’t mean as much in terms of status compared to other people who see them as a big deal.
Stripes were originally designed to keep people on track
Back in the early days of BJJ, stripes weren’t really a thing. This is going back to the 90s in Brazil before the art went mainstream. Basically, stripes were introduced to keep people interested in training. For example, if it takes you 5 years to go from brown to black belt then that is a long while. For some, this may be too long and they may quit due to feeling a lack of progress or recognition.
However, if the same person is given stripes every now and then, it can keep them on track and remind them of their progress. As a result, some people are delighted to receive new stripes as it shows validation towards their progress. Some people simply do not care and see stripes as little more than a piece of tape.
Why some gyms do not give stripes out
Although most gyms will typically give stripes, others will not. This isn’t too common but it certainly goes on. With this said, you could have a zero stripe blue belt from one gym that is far more experienced than a four stripe blue belt at a different gym. This line of thinking goes back to the early days of BJJ where stripes weren’t a thing. This is completely up to the discretion of the instructor who may deem stripes pointless. Ultimately, the value of a stripe and what it means will differ per individual.
Stripes seem to matter the most to white belts…and black belts
It seems that in most gyms, it is white belts who care about their stripes compared to higher belts. In short, white belts are usually more insecure about their rank. This is understandable as they are the newbies of the gym and may desperately seek promotion to blue belt to be accepted. Although all belt colors should be welcomed, this is still how some white belts think and there’s a degree of insecurity about their rank.
Because of this, they may be eager to progress and prove their worth as quickly as possible. As a result, white belts often make a bigger deal about earning stripes compared to other belts. Although this is a stereotype and isn’t exclusive to all white belts, it is often true.
After white belt, a lot of blues, purples and browns worry about promotions as they may feel inadequate and unworthy of future promotions and the status each promotion brings. However, when black belt is achieved, the idea of stripes once again becomes more relevant again. As mentioned in the intro, each stripe at black belt is a ‘dan’. In other words, a black belt isn’t called a ‘two stripe black belt’, they should technically be called a ‘second dan black belt’.
As each dan takes three years to achieve, you can see how it may be important to some black belts as this is often a long time for a piece of tape than it is for an entire belt promotion compared to the other colored belts. Sometimes, black belts are more sentimental by then as well and appreciate the time spent in the game and how a promotion is symbolic more than anything else.
Final thoughts on BJJ stripes
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, stripes on the belt hold a different meaning to each individual. For some, they are literally just a piece of tape with nothing else of relevance. However, to others, they symbolize their journey and progression throughout each rank. Overall, stripes in BJJ are a bit ambiguous and although they should be embraced, they are also just a small part of the process which is undertaken by each practitioner as they journey through BJJ.
