This is one way to map some arbitrary skill level by belt level. These are overlapping distributions, not absolute skill levels. Directional only, not scientific, and of course it does not account for variables such as age, weight-class, or prior experience in other arts, which further muddies the distinction.
ℹ Context & Notes
Skill Overlap Between Belts
While higher belts generally indicate greater skill, there's significant overlap between levels. An experienced blue belt may outperform a newer purple belt.
* "other things being equal" (which they rarely are) — The "average" belt will typically best the "average" belt below, but ymmv.
Belt as Ability Proxy
Belt color is a decent proxy for ability, but there are wide discrepancies within belt colors.
「能力の概算」として帯色が悪くないですが、同じ帯色でも幅広く分布されています。
Belt Distribution
There are typically lots of white belts, fewest brown belts — they either go to black or quit before brown.
Not All Training Hours Are Equal
One hour of half-assed shrimping and resistance-less armbar drills vs. the same one hour with a great mentor giving tailor-made pointers and increasingly challenging drills — keeping you in the flow zone.
Outliers & Edge Cases
— Ex-wrestling champ or trained since age 5: Blue Belt レスリング背景や5歳から練習している青帯
— Out-of-prime hobbyist Brown / Black Belt with a bad knee 「最近練習不足の茶黒帯、膝も痛いし」
— Elite "colored belt" competitors 「色帯の一流選手」
— Always some outliers: freaks of nature, phenoms, full-time pros, PED users
⚙ Simulation Settings
Avg years to reach each belt
"From previous" = time spent at that belt level. "Total" = cumulative from white belt.
Target Belt
From Previous
Total (calculated)
Attrition & skill spread per belt
"% Quit at Belt" = total fraction who drop out over their entire time at that belt — not per year. Converted to an annual rate internally using the avg-years period. Skill σ = spread within belt (wider = more overlap between belts).