What are coral and red belts in BJJ?

The belt system beyond black belt reflects a lifetime of contribution to BJJ. Black belt degrees from 1st to 6th are marked by the traditional black belt with increasing degrees of red on the bar. The 7th degree black belt, which becomes the coral belt of red and black, requires a minimum of seven years at each preceding degree, meaning decades of time at black belt. The 8th degree coral belt of red and white is even rarer. The 9th degree red belt represents approximately 50 years of dedication to the art from the time of receiving the black belt. The 10th degree red belt is reserved exclusively for the pioneers of BJJ, specifically the Gracie brothers who developed the art. Only a handful of living people hold the 9th degree, and no new 10th degrees have been awarded since the original founders. These ranks represent the preservation and transmission of BJJ knowledge across generations rather than competitive ability.