How Do You Get a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu? The Real Story

If you're wondering how do you get a black belt in jiu jitsu, the short answer is that you basically have to become comfortable with being a human pretzel for about a decade. Unlike some martial arts where you can earn a top-tier rank in three or four years, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a notoriously long, slow burn. It's a journey that's less about "winning" and much more about not quitting when things get incredibly frustrating—which they will, often. ...

May 5, 2026 · 7 min · Greenberger Sheffman