The brown belt is the final stage before the coveted black belt<\/a>, representing a high level of BJJ skill, knowledge, and experience. But how long does it take to achieve this rank, and what are the requirements and expectations for a brown belt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The honest answer is that for each person, the journey is different and depends on several factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to the time and intensity of training, this is an ever-changing variable determined by even more factors like work and family engagements, injuries, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why the number of years it takes to reach brown belt can be between 6 and 10 years, which is not exactly a narrow window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jiu-jitsu is highly complex and known for its harsh belt system<\/a>, which keeps you at one rank for years. This might be frustrating, but it’s also greatly rewarding once you finally reach the designation. And for many, the brown belt isn’t even in the plans. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because it takes a considerable amount of time and dedication, which few people have. Only about 3% of the people who start BJJ make it to brown belt, which is not bad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes the belts so much more precious and gives the people who take the time and dedicate themselves enough the reward they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some, this could happen in 3\u20135 years. Some have even gotten their black belt in less time, like BJ Penn, Vitor Ribeiro, Gunnar Nelson, Geo Martinez, and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But these are people born with a gift for BJJ<\/a> who have also realized they have a knack for it, dedicated themselves, and found the right instructors at the right time in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading and watching such stories is amazing, but this is not achievable for most people. Even quick learners must train six times a week, often twice a day, to reach a high level as quickly as they do, and what about the rest of us who did not win the biology lottery?<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the average person training 2-3 times per week and eventually moving to 4 or even 5 in preparation for competitions, the time to reach brown belt is more like 7-8 years. Add a year or two if he had more serious injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brown belt in BJJ means<\/a> you have reached a high level of skill and expertise. It means you have spent years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance learning and improving your skills to a level few get to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To do this, you have had to overcome many challenges, failures, frustrations, and setbacks. If you have reached the brown belt level, you have undoubtedly developed passion and appreciation for BJJ, not only as a sport but as a lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brown belt also means you have more responsibilities and expectations as a senior student and as a role model for the lower belts<\/a>. It means you must train hard, learn new things, refine your techniques, and challenge yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But now is also the time to pass this knowledge on to your teammates. Many brown belts start to teach classes; some even open their own academies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You are also an important member of your academy and will be expected to represent it with honor and integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A brown belt is not the end of your BJJ journey but rather the beginning of a new chapter. Most people who have endured this far want to become black belts, and eventually, they do. After all, there is just one more step to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Competitive brown belts are often at the level of black belts, and the difference in skills is certainly indistinguishable for the average white and blue belt<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There have been more than a few brown belts winning major titles against black belts, so the gap, in many cases, is slim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BJJ rank progressions do not have a strong set of rules or uniformity. Each instructor and each academy have their own criteria and requirements for what it takes to reach each new step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the IBJJF and other governing bodies have a minimum time competitors must spend at each belt, but this is only for competitors under their banner, meaning it only applies to some people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why I can’t give you a specific list of requirements, but I can tell you the overall expectations for someone to be promoted and be considered a brown belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A BJJ brown belt has well-rounded skills in all positions and can handle his own everywhere. At this level, it’s more about polishing the skills and creating a personal game around your strong sides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You are no longer learning new moves; you already know hundreds of them. This is the time to improve them and implement existing knowledge more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Long Does It Take To Get A BJJ Brown Belt?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Does The Brown Belt Represent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBJJ Brown Belt Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSkills and Technical Knowledge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n