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USA JIU-JITSU (USAJJ) ®  
National Minimum Age & Time in Grade Requirements
​for Black Belt Grades -

​The USJJF National Technical Committee has instituted Minimum Time In Grade and Minimum Age requirements for all Black Belt ranks for promotion to USJJF Rank. The Time in Grade requirements are the generally accepted International standards.

Note: "Minimum" Time-In-Grade is only considered for exceptionally active USJJF-USAJJ Leaders working at the Regional, National or International Level to further the development of Jiu-Jitsu.

Rank - Minimum Age - Min. Time In Grade, Previous Rank - Normal Time in Grade, Previous Rank

Black Belt
Minimum Age = 19 Years Old
Mininum Time In Grade = 2 Years
Normal Time in Grade = 2 - 4 Years

1st Degree, Black Belt
Minimum Age = 22 Years Old
Mininum Time In Grade = 3 Years
Normal Time in Grade = 3 - 5 Years

2nd Degree, Black Belt
Minimum Age = 25 Years Old
Minimum Time In Grade = 3 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 3 - 6 Years

3rd Degree, Black Belt
Minimum Age = 28 Years Old
Minimum Time In Grade = 3 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 3 - 6 Years

4th Degree, Black Belt
Minimum Age = 30 Years Old
Minimum Time In Grade = 4 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 4 - 7 Years

5th Degree, Black Belt
Minimum Age = 35 Years Old
Minimum Time In Grade = 5 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 5 - 8 Years

6th Degree, Black Belt  (Regional Leader)
Minimum Age = 40 Years Old
Minimum Time In Grade = 5 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 5 - 8 Years

7th Degree, Black Belt   (Regional Leader)
Minimum Age = 50 years old
Minimum Time In Grade = 6 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 6 - 10 Years

8th Degree, Black Belt  (National Leader)
Minimum Age = 55 years old
Minimum Time In Grade = 7 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 9 - 11 Years

9th Degree  Black Belt  (International Leader)
Minimum Age = 60 years old
Minimum Time In Grade = 8 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 12 - 14 Years

10th Degree, Black Belt  (International Leader)
Minimum Age = 70 years old
Minimum Time In Grade = 9 Years
Normal Time In Grade = 13 - 16 Years

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