Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system

The Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system is the particular method of signifying competency and moral character of a jiu-jitsu practitioner, developed by founders Carlos and Hélio Gracie, and utilized by members of the Gracie family.

Similar to the IBJJF Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system, the Gracie system has a number of key differences. Most notable is the half-color ranks included in the junior level, making for a much larger series of ranks for practitioners under the age of 16 years old.

Having its roots in Japanese martial arts of jujutsu and judo, Gracie/Brazilian jiu-jitsu adopted a similar colored belt system to signify a practitioner's progression within the art. However, to differentiate jiu-jitsu from the other disciplines, a solid bar was included on the belt.

As a practitioner advances, stripes are awarded and placed at equidistant intervals on the solid bar as intermediate signifiers between belt ranks. Generally a student will receive four stripes before advancing to the next full rank, but it is not uncommon for a practitioner to be promoted to a new belt without being awarded all four stripes of the previous rank.

For most belt ranks, and most Gracie schools, each stripe is awarded at the discretion of the instructor, without any specific curriculum or qualification requirements. However, with adult ranks, (particularly the lower colors of blue and purple), proficiency in a set series of techniques may be required prior to consideration for stripe promotion. At the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy of Torrance, California (founded by Rorion and his brothers Rickson, Royler, and Royce, and now run by Rorion's sons Rener and Ryron), not only is there a defined set of techniques, but a student is required to test their skills and be graded by their instructor for a minimum level of competency before being awarded a particular stripe. The academy also requires a minimum amount of class hours attended, as well as overall time as a student before qualifying to test for a stripe.

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