The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is similar to the "kyu" and "dan" ranking system of Judo, and while it retains numeric ranking for "dan" or black belt ranks, it does not assign a numeric system to its "kyu" or lower ranks. Instead, below the level of a black belt, students are assigned a certain belt color, with different color sequences for children and adults. Additionally, adult belts are assigned white "stripes" on a black (or red) rank bar on the belt to denote progress within the belt, due to the large amount of time it typically takes to progress to the next belt color. Belts for children may either use a stripe system like the adult belts, or more recently, use a length-wise stripe in either white, unstriped, or black to signify progress within a given belt color.  

Regardless, the first such belt color in either sequence, adult or child, is a white belt. A white belt can carry both positive and negative connotations, in that it signifies the student is just beginning their journey, for better or worse. It can be positively implied to mean an open mind and beginner mindset, or sometimes conveyed negatively has someone who has yet to become initiated and disciplined in a given martial art. Beyond Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the white belt is the common starting belt color in many Japanese martial arts, including Judo and others.

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