I get this question a lot, so I wanted to make a quick post about it:
What’s the difference between a Black Belt with a white bar for stripes and a Black Belt with a red bar for stripes?​
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1. Black Belt with a White Bar:
This is typically worn byBlack Belts who are primarily active competitors.
The white bar indicates that the black belt holder is focused on their competitive journey. They are still eligible for stripes to signify degrees of their Black Belt rank…
But their main role is as a practitioner rather than a head instructor.
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2. Black Belt with a Red Bar:
This is worn by Black Belts who are considered instructors or professors.
The red bar signifies that the individual is recognized as a teacher, guide, and leader within the gym or academy.
While they may still compete, their role as an instructor takes precedence, and they are responsible for teaching and passing on knowledge to students.
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Both Black Belts can accumulate degrees, or stripes, to show progression in the Black Belt ranks.
The white or red bar simply indicates whether the practitioner is more focused on competition or instruction.
I hope that makes this really clear.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Oss,
Andre
Andre Galvao
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Head Coach
Jiu-Jitsu Hall Of Fame Member​
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