What Is a Brown Belt in Jiu Jitsu?

If you're like most of us, the moment you step on a jiu jitsu mat and learn to tie your jiu jitsu belt your world becomes consumed with BJJ and this seemingly endless array of cool submissions and other techniques. You will think about them while you are working, driving, and pretty much every waking hour. 

What This Article Covers:

• Getting to the Brown Belt in BJJ
• Is a Brown Belt Good in BJJ?
• Brown Belt MMA
• How High is a Brown Belt in Jiu Jitsu?
• How Do You Know You're a Brown Belt In BJJ?

Getting to the Brown Belt In BJJ

Navigating the road to black belt can be daunting as, unlike other martial arts, most experts would agree that the average BJJ practitioner has at least a decade of consistent training ahead of themselves before they earn that black belt.

Along the way, the student will pass through what are known as the "color belts", namely the white belt, blue belt to purple belt and finally brown belt. Each belt will signify the progression of the student in skill and mastery of the techniques.

Get Roy Dean's Brown Belt Requirements for more guidance from BJJ Fanatics!

At the very minimum, one should expect to remain at each belt level for at least a year and usually longer. There are a handful of instances where you will hear that an athlete achieves his/her black belt in about 5 years. These are extremely rare and most likely the product of someone training just about every day and most likely multiple sessions per day. Gordon Ryan, arguably the best submission grappler in history, is known to have received his black belt after approximately 5 years of training.

What people fail to realize is that Gordon and his teammates would travel into NYC to train for several hours each and every day and then return back to New Jersey to teach and to train for several more hours each evening. Whereas, the average practitioner might train 3-4 hours a week, athletes like Gordon Ryan are training over 30 hours a week. Mat time is a huge determining factor in one's development in the sport, so it goes without saying that he's going to progress faster than the over 30 professional with a job and family who trains 3 days a week on a good week.

The average practitioner of jiu jitsu will spend about a year to 18 months at white belt, another year to 24 months at blue belt before they transition to purple belt.  At purple belt things begin to slow down as the student begins to develop his own particular game and approach to the art. After anywhere from a year to 36 months usually, the student will be conferred the brown belt.

How do you know you're a Brown Belt in BJJ?

By this time you've passed so many little important milestones, like how to tie your jiu jitsu belt, how to wash the jiu jitsu belt, you've set your BJJ white belt goals and you have a decent understanding of what the BJJ belt meanings are and how they apply to you. Now as a fourth stripe purple you're wondering if you're ready for your brown belt in BJJ.

The Brown Belt in BJJ Knows a lot

The Brown Belt In Jiu Jitsu is very seasoned. They've been around at least 5-7 years. The jiu jitsu brown belt is often times able to display all of the skill and execution of a black belt. Xande Ribeiro once said that when someone achieves the brown belt in BJJ, in his mind, they could be awarded the black belt as early as the very next day if the instructor was so inclined.

Is a Brown Belt Good in BJJ?

It's not just good, it's outstanding! Earning a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is no small feat. After all, you've successfully navigated the turbulent white, blue, and purple belt waters and you're now one step away from the prestigious black belt.

A brown belt in BJJ is akin to a seasoned sailor - you've weathered many storms and are well-versed in the art of sailing, or in this case, the art of submissions, escapes, and transitions. The jiu jitsu brown belt is often seen as a mini black belt, capable of executing high-level techniques with skill and precision. Xande Ribeiro once said that a brown belt could be awarded a black belt the very next day if the instructor felt so inclined. So yes, a brown belt is not just good, it's extraordinary!

How High is a Brown Belt in Jiu Jitsu?

In the grand hierarchy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the brown belt stands tall, occupying the penultimate rank before the pinnacle – the black belt. After several years of blood, sweat, and tears on the mats, you've finally reached a stage that's often seen as the final preparatory phase before donning the black belt.

The journey to a brown belt typically takes 5-7 years of consistent training, though this timeline can vary depending on the individual's dedication, mat time, and natural talent. Once you've earned your brown belt, it's clear you've moved past the basics and delved deep into the complex and nuanced aspects of the art. You're no longer a student learning the ropes;you've become a seasoned practitioner, a leader in the academy, often coaching others while refining your own skills. Indeed, the brown belt is high up in the ranks of BJJ, a testament to your perseverance and mastery of this beautiful art.

The Brown Belt in Jiu Jitsu Helps Others

It is usually at the point of brown belt that many people begin to help out and coach at their academies. Some even begin teaching classes if the opportunities are there. In my experience, after purple belt the majority of people start looking to others to help them in their journey which further develops the brown belt as a leader and coach.

The brown belt in jiu jitsu has a firm understanding of the foundations of BJJ.  They have a deep understanding of the key positions and underlying principles.  They are able to secure submissions on lesser experienced students fairly easily. If the brown belt has a good mindset, they will usually spend a lot of their time letting lesser experienced students work their games, while they defend and sharpen their escape skills.

Roy Dean has put together a resource to help you understand the Brown Belt in BJJ better!

The Brown Belt Competition Scene is One of the Toughest Out There

If you are a competitor, the brown belt brackets will be filled with some extremely tough and seasoned competitors. On the world's stage, the brown belt events can be even more exciting than the black belt events, simply because there's seemingly less at stake, but the athletes are still doing everything they can to achieve their goals.

The brown belt in jiu jitsu is someone who understands their own training and goals. If they are a casual hobbyist, they focus on things like attending class as consistently as their busy schedule allows, helping out newer, less experienced students when they can, and training smart.

The Brown Belt in BJJ is Smart With Their Training

The brown belt, having been around for anywhere from 5-7 years, is someone who is naturally getting older and begins to understand that their training must be efficient and smart.  At the lower belts, because we don't know enough, we tend to rely on physicality and strength, whereas by the time you are a brown belt, you will be training much more efficiently, relying on technique and conserving strength for those times when you really need it.

In terms of the training schedule, the brown belt is someone who is smart with their training. They may not train with everyone, carefully selecting training partners who challenge them, but don't put them at risk for injury. It is at brown belt when I first began to really think about training jiu jitsu forever and how I can go about that in my late forties and beyond.

Brown Belt in MMA

A brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a significant asset in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The grappling and submission techniques that form the core of BJJ are essential components of any MMA fighter's arsenal.

Holding a brown belt in BJJ signifies a high level of proficiency in ground fighting, making it an invaluable tool in MMA bouts. It showcases your ability to control opponents on the ground, transition smoothly, and apply devastating submissions. Athletes like Demian Maia and Jacare Souza, both high-level BJJ practitioners, have leveraged their superior grappling skills to great success in the MMA cage.

Onward to Black Belt in BJJ

As outwardly focused and altruistic one can become as a brown belt in BJJ, we can never escape that part of us that is chasing for that coveted black belt in BJJ. While we strive for it, often times at brown belt, we almost want things to slow down. As a brown belt, I found myself wanting to pump the breaks on the road to black. I had begun to recognize the huge responsibility and expectations that came alone with the black belt. I wanted to stop a bit and smell the roses along the way for a little bit longer, knowing that the black belt would be my final belt and that I would be sharpening the skills it represented for the remainder of my life.

So regardless of what belt you find yourself at, enjoy the process and try not to reach and obsess too much on when the next belt will arrive. Trust the process and your instructor and take your time, as your black belt will probably be your final belt.

If you enjoyed this piece, consider checking:

• Everything You Need to Know About BJJ Belts
• You Are a Purple Belt: But What Does That Mean?
• How Long Does It Take to Get a Black Belt In BJJ?
• How Long Does It Take to Get a Blue Belt in BJJ
• Blue Belt BJJ Requirements
• How Long Does It Take to Get a Purple Belt In BJJ?
• White to Blue Belt BJJ
• Jiu Jitsu White Belt Moves
• BJJ White Belt Tips
• How to Become a Black Belt in BJJ
• Purple To Brown Belt BJJ
• BJJ Stripes
• How Long to Get First Stripe BJJ?
• Kids Jiu-Jitsu Belts
• Youth Jiu-Jitsu Belt Ranking