In 1997, Chuck Norris reached another milestone: he was the first man in the western hemisphere awarded an 8th degree Black Belt Grand Master recognition in the Tae Kwon Do martial arts system. The name “Taekwondo” was suggested by General Hong Hi Choi, considered the father of Taekwondo.
The Palette of Ranks in Different Martial Arts
Purple belt is the intermediate adult ranking in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The IBJJF requires students be at least 16 years old and have spent a minimum of two years ranked as a blue belt to be eligible for a purple belt.
Great Grandmaster Villari is a 15th-degree black belt, the highest rank one can attain in a martial art. He is the founder of the Shaolin Kempo Karate system.
The black belts are divided into ranks called dan (degrees). They start with 1st dan (first degree black belt) and reach 10th dan (tenth degree black belt) associated with grandmaster.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s Prestigious Red Belt
For BJJ, the 9th degree red belt with gold and white bars is reserved for exemplary masters who have influenced thousands and dedicated lives to the art. Receiving it requires at least 10 years from your previous graduation.
Black Belt Significance Across Martial Arts
When most think martial arts, the black belt comes to mind. In Taekwondo, there are many belt colors without universal order. Each color has meaning. Time commitments to reach black belt vary, but generally take years of dedicated training.
Ascending the Degrees in Taekwondo
An 8th Degree Black Belt is referred to as a Grandmaster. At least 53 years old and 40 years of practice is required.
A 4th Degree is a Junior or Associate Master, leading Black Belts and promoting color belts. The title is “Sa Bum Nim” with the ability to open one’s own school. The candidate needs to be at least 25 years old.
In Songahm taekwondo, traditionally one 9th Degree Black Belt Grand Master led the organization.
Excellence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the red belt is for Grand Masters with fame and influence. It replaces 9th and 10th degree black belts. The earliest to receive a 9th degree red belt is at the age of 67.
What degree black belt is considered a master? The 10th-degree black belt is one of the highest ranks in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, representing Grand Masters.
In Karate, there are ten dan degrees represented by a black belt, starting with first degree and ending with tenth degree. The tenth degree is usually reserved for style founders.
Elvis Presley was awarded a 7th degree black belt in 1973.
It takes adults training karate twice a week about five years to earn a black belt. The belt ranking system continues with colored belts before reaching 1st degree black belt.
There is no universally recognized 15th degree black belt. The highest verifiable level is 10th degree.