How Long Does It Take to Learn Jujitsu?

Jujitsu was developed in medieval Japan as a way for combatants to defend themselves without using weapons. It has since become a popular international sport. As with any martial art, the basics of jujitsu can be learned fairly quickly, but achieving the master's black belt requires years of study and practice.

  1. White and Red Belts

    • The white and red belts are the first two belts a jujitsu student earns. Once you have gained proficiency in the beginners' techniques of the white belt, it should take an additional three months, on average, to learn the red belt techniques. The white belt techniques include escape moves if an attacker grabs your wrist or throat and a technique for rolling sideways so you are not injured in a fall. Red belt techniques include the leg block and the reverse twist punch.

    Yellow and Orange Belts

    • To go from a red to a yellow belt should take approximately three months of regular training in a dojo, with another three months to attain the orange belt. Missing a week of training will result in delays for most students. To attain the yellow belt, a student must learn to defend himself against kicks to the head while he is lying on the ground, among other techniques. An orange belt wearer will be able to perform a front scissors throw and a hopping roundhouse kick.

    Green and Blue Belts

    • At the green belt level, each belt should take longer than three months to attain. The exact length depends on the student, the amount of practice time devoted to the sport, and the jujitsu school. A student who attains a green belt will be able to escape from bear hugs and perform a crescent kick, in which the foot moves in a circular motion. The blue belt student can escape from a full nelson and execute an Indian death lock, holding their opponent's feet while kicking them in the throat.

    Purple, Brown and Black Belts

    • The final three belts take the longest to attain. To progress from a brown belt to a black belt can take two years or more, depending on the school. The full shoulder throw is one of the requirements for a purple belt. The brown belt student can perform five different types of shoulder dislocations. The black belt master can fight using a cane, can perform 20 different throws and is fully qualified to spar competitively in jujitsu tournaments.