Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Requirements

Brazilian jiu-jitsu was developed in the mid 20th century by the Gracie family, who combined judo techniques with jiu-jitsu grappling to create their own unique style. Brazilian jiu-jitsu teaches students to take opponents down to the ground and employ a variety of techniques to submit them and quickly end a fight. Though every school is different, in general it takes about three years to advance from a blue belt level and master the requirements to obtain a purple belt.

  1. Defense and Guard Positions

    • To achieve purple belt ranking, you must know a number of self-defense techniques, including at least two ways to defend against a guillotine (a choke) while standing and on the ground. You must also demonstrate proficiency in defending against a headlock in standing and rolling positions, and know how to defend against an opponent's wrist and shirt grabs. You are also required to know how to pass an opponent's guard. A guard occurs when you have your opponent on his back and his legs are wrapped around your waist. This is referred to as you being "In his guard." You must demonstrate several ways to extricate yourself from this position and establish a full-mount (straddling an opponent) or a side mount.

    Submissions

    • Submissions are the core of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, so you must demonstrate expertise in knowing how to submit from a mount position. You must also be capable of performing submissions from the side-mount position, in which you straddle and control an opponent from the side as opposed to straddling him in a full-mounted position. In addition, you must demonstrate at least two submissions with your knee in an opponent's belly, and show that you can perform submissions when you are on your back in a vulnerable position.

    Escapes

    • Though submissions are both defensive and offensive techniques, escapes give you the chance to regroup from an attack. Whereas self-defense counters an opponents move, escape removes you completely from a vulnerable position. Purple belt requirements for escapes include the ability to get out of a variety of arm locks, such as wrist locks, elbow locks, foot locks and heel hooks. You must also know how to escape when your opponent has you in full-mount, side-mount and rear-mount positions.

    Throws and Sweeps

    • Though Brazilian jiu-jitsu focuses on offensive and defensive techniques when you hit the ground, most fights begin standing. Therefore, especially at the advanced levels, you must know how to bring an opponent to the ground to put her in a disadvantageous position. As a purple belt, you must demonstrate expertise in multiple ways of throwing your opponent. Throws include one-legged throw, hip throws, double-leg throws and single-leg throws. Sweeps are movements that you use when your opponent has you on your back that allow you to gain a full-, side- or back-mount position. Purple belts are required to know at least three different ways to sweep an opponent, but depending on the school, that number could be as many as seven. Sweeps often allow you to transition smoothly into a submission attempt.