G-FORCE GRADUATION SYSTEM IN LINE WITH THE IBJJF 

Age requirements

WHITE – Beginner, any age
GREY – 8+
YELLOW – 10+
ORANGE – 12+
GREEN – 14+
BLUE – 16+
PURPLE – 17+
BROWN – 18+
BLACK – 19+

The following age requirements must be calculated starting from the athlete’s year of birth. Therefore, the athlete’s age is the one he/she is going to have at the end of the current year:

- In order to be graded to purple belt at 16 years of age it is required that the athlete has spent at least 2 years as a green belt

- In order to be graded purple belt at 17 years of age it is required that the athlete has spent at least 1 year as a green belt and 1 year as blue belt

- In case an athlete is graded from green belt straight to purple belt, then the minimum time required before he can be awarded the brown belt is 2 years

- In order to be graded black belt at 19 years of age it is required that the athlete has spent at least 1 year as a brown belt

Minimum timeframes

GYM MASTER APP will invite you to your next grading based on attendance check-ins. Kids must complete at least 30 classes and adults at least 50 classes to be eligable.

BLUE TO PURPLE – 2 YEARS
PURPLE TO BROWN – 1 AND A HALF YEARS
BROWN TO BLACK – 1 YEAR

The minimum required times shown above are to be considered starting from the day the athlete is registered at the AFBJJ in each belt.

It is up to each instructor to decide how long it takes for a student to be graded, as long as the minimum times required for each belt are fulfilled.  

Degrees & stripes

White, grey, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple and brown belts have 5 levels each: clear belt plus 4 degrees/stripes. It is up to each instructor to award the stripes in each of these belts.

The black belt is divided in seven different levels: clear black belt plus 6 degrees/stripes that can only be awarded by the AFBJJ or IBJJF according to the following criteria:

1. Only athletes who are 19 years of age or older can be awarded a black belt.

2. In order to request the black belt certificate it is necessary to be currently affiliated to the AFBJJ, have gone through a first aid course and be approved in the referee course over the previous 12 months.

3. You may request your 1st degree after 3 years as a black belt. In order to do so it is required that you have renewed your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card every year during the period, have gone through a first aid course and be approved in the referee course over the previous 12 months.

4. You may request your 2nd or 3rd degrees 3 years after being awarded the previous degree. It is required that you have renewed your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card every year during the period, have gone through a first aid course and be approved in the referee course over the previous 12 months.

5. You may request your 4th, 5th or 6th degrees 5 years after being awarded the previous degree. In order to do so you need to:

- renew your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card every year during the 5-year period.

- be approved in the AFBJJ or IBJJF official referee course over the previous 12 months.

- be listed as the main instructor or assistant instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 5 years OR provide the degree form signed by a certified black belt no lower than 2nd degree who is the main instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 5 years.

6. You may request the red and black belt 7th degree 7 years after being awarded the 6th degree. In order to do so you need to:

- renew your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card every year during the 7-year period.

- be approved in the AFBJJ or IBJJF official referee course over the previous 12 months.

- be listed as the main instructor or assistant instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 7 years OR provide the degree form signed by a certified black belt no lower than 2nd degree who is the main instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 7 years.

7. You may request the 8th degree in your red and black belt 7 years after being awarded the 7th degree. In order to do so you need to:

- renew your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card every year during the 7-year period.

- be approved in the AFBJJ or IBJJF official referee course over the previous 12 months.

- be listed as the main instructor or assistant instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 7 years OR provide the degree form signed by a certified black belt no lower than 2nd degree who is the main instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 7 years.

8.You may request the red belt 9th degree 10 years after being awarded the 8th degree. In order to do so you need to:

- renew your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card every year during the 10-year period.

- be approved in the AFBJJ or IBJJF official referee course over the previous 12 months.

- be listed as the main instructor or assistant instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 10 years OR provide the degree form signed by a certified black belt no lower than 2nd degree who is the main instructor in a school that has renewed its membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF over the previous 10 years.

9. In case you do not renew your AFBJJ or IBJJF membership card and/or your school’s membership to the AFBJJ or IBJJF in a specific year, that year will not count in the minimum time required to obtain a new degree.

10. The 10th degree red belt is limited to the pioneers of Brasilian Jiu-Jitsu: Carlos, Oswaldo, George, Gastão and Hélio Gracie, also known as the Gracie Brothers.

Click to view our White to Black Curriculum