Stripes are incremental markers of progress within a belt rank. In BJJ, each colored belt (white through brown) typically has up to 4 white tape stripes awarded by instructors. Each stripe represents approximately 20-50 hours of dedicated training and signals readiness for the next stripe. Collecting all 4 stripes indicates the student is approaching readiness for the next belt promotion. The stripe system helps break down the long journey between belts into manageable milestones.

On average: White to Blue belt takes 100-200 hours (1-2 years). Blue to Purple requires 300-500 additional hours (2-3 years). Purple to Brown needs 400-600 more hours (2-3 years). Brown to Black typically demands 500-800+ hours (2-4 years). These are estimates; individual progress varies based on training frequency, natural aptitude, competition experience, and instructor standards. Consistent training 3-4 times per week accelerates progress significantly.

BJJ: White → Blue → Purple → Brown → Black → Red-Black → Red.
Karate: White → Yellow → Orange → Green → Blue → Purple → Brown → Red → Black.
Taekwondo: White → Yellow → Green → Blue → Red → Black.
Judo: White → Yellow → Orange → Green → Blue → Brown → Black. Each school may have slight variations, and some include intermediate belts or half-colors.

Training 3-4 times per week (6-10 hours weekly) is considered optimal for steady progress in most martial arts. Training 2 times per week will still yield results but at a slower pace. Less than twice weekly may significantly extend the time between promotions. Consistency matters more than intensity — regular, focused training sessions build muscle memory and technical understanding more effectively than sporadic marathon sessions. Use this tracker to monitor your weekly average and adjust accordingly.

This tracker supports one discipline at a time per browser. Your data is saved locally using browser storage (localStorage). To track multiple martial arts simultaneously, you can use different browsers, browser profiles, or export your data before switching disciplines. Switching the martial art type will reset your belt progress but preserve your training log for reference.

The hour estimates provided are based on typical averages across many practitioners and schools, but they are guidelines only. Actual promotion depends on instructor evaluation, technical proficiency, competition performance, attitude, and attendance consistency. Some students may require more or less time. Use these estimates as motivational benchmarks rather than strict requirements. The true measure of progress is your skill development and understanding of the art.

When you have earned all 4 stripes on your current belt, the tool will highlight the "Promote to Next Belt" button. In reality, earning 4 stripes means your instructor believes you are approaching readiness for the next belt. The actual belt promotion ceremony may happen at a seminar, grading event, or when your instructor determines the time is right. Continue training consistently and the promotion will come. This tracker helps you visualize how close you are based on your cumulative training hours.