How Belt Ranks Work in Kids' Martial Arts

Belts are one of the things kids love most about martial arts. Each new color is a visible reward for hard work. But belt systems can be confusing for parents, and they vary from school to school. Here's how they usually work.

Belts show a student's rank and skill level. For kids, they also break a big goal, black belt, into smaller steps that feel achievable. That makes belts a great motivator, as long as they're earned.

Every style and school is a little different, but here are typical examples:

• Karate and taekwondo: often white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, red, then black, with variations between schools
• Brazilian jiu-jitsu (kids): white, then gray, yellow, orange and green belts (often with white or black stripes) before moving to the adult system
• Judo: varies by country and organization, often white through brown before black

Ask your school for its belt chart.

Many schools add stripes (tape on the belt) between belts, especially for younger kids, so progress feels more frequent. Some schools also have special junior or "poom" black belts for children who earn black belt before a certain age.

Most karate and taekwondo schools hold scheduled tests where students demonstrate forms, techniques and sometimes board breaking or sparring. Many BJJ gyms promote students during class instead of holding formal tests. Ask:

• How often are tests held?
• How does the instructor decide a child is ready?
• Is there a testing fee, and how much?

It depends on the style, the school, how often your child trains and their age. In many karate and taekwondo schools it takes several years of regular training. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the adult black belt typically takes many years longer. Be cautious of any school that guarantees a black belt by a certain date. That usually means belts are being sold, not earned.

• Tests every month or two with expensive fees
• Every child passes every test, no matter what
• Pressure to join a costly "black belt program" right away

See more in Red Flags: How to Spot a Bad Martial Arts School.

Ready to start looking? Browse kids' martial arts schools by city in Colorado, Nebraska and Texas, then book a trial class at two or three schools near you.