Custom BJJ belts for your academy: colours, rank bars, embroidery and sizing

Grading day is coming, half the class is getting a new stripe or a new belt, and the box of blue belts in the office has two left, both the wrong size. Every academy owner has been there. Belts are the smallest item you order, but they sit at the centre of the most important moments for your students.

Custom BJJ belts fix most of that. You choose the colours and sizes you actually use, add your academy name, and keep enough stock to cover every grading. This guide walks through the decisions in the order you will meet them.

Why do academies order custom BJJ belts?

Plain belts from a shop do the job, but a custom order gives you more control:

• Your branding: the academy name embroidered on the belt end is seen every time a student ties it, in class and in photos.
• Student names: an embroidered name turns a promotion into a keepsake, and it stops belts going missing in the changing room.
• Consistent stock: every belt in the same colour matches, so a new blue belt looks the same as last year's.
• The sizes you need: you order the size mix of your own students instead of whatever is on the shelf.

Which belt colours and rank bars do we need?

Start with the ranking system your academy follows. Most adult programs use white, blue, purple, brown and black. Kids programs often add grey, yellow, orange and green, and some split each colour into versions with a white or black centre stripe. Check your federation's current rules before you finalise the list, especially if your students compete.

Next, decide on the rank bar. This is the sleeve of a different colour near one end of the belt, where coaches add stripe tape. It is usually black on coloured belts, and red or white on black belts. Some academies also use a coloured bar for instructors. Write the bar colour next to each belt colour on your order so nothing is left to guesswork.

How do we size BJJ belts for every student?

Belt sizes usually follow gi sizes, from children's sizes through adult A0 to A6, but makers do not all cut them the same length. A belt that is too short won't tie properly, and one that is too long leaves ends trailing on the mat. A simple routine avoids most problems:

1. 01Ask your maker for a belt size chart that lists the length for each size.
2. 02Order samples in your two or three most common sizes and tie them on real students.
3. 03Check that the belt wraps twice around the waist and that both ends hang at a similar length after the knot.
4. 04For kids, think about sizing up so the belt still fits as they grow between gradings.
5. 05Keep a few spare belts in each colour and size for new students and lost belts.

If you are ordering gis at the same time, read our guide on why BJJ gis shrink, since gi and belt sizes should be planned together.

What can be embroidered on a BJJ belt?

Embroidery is the most popular way to brand a belt. The usual places are:

• The end of the belt, outside the rank bar: the academy name, a short logo, or the student's name.
• Both ends: the academy name on one side and the student's name on the other.
• A small woven label, which suits academies that want a clean look on every colour.

Keep the text short so it fits the width of the belt, and pick a thread colour that stands out on every belt colour you order. Gold or white thread on darker belts and black on white belts is a common choice. If you also want patches for your gis, our guide to embroidered, woven and PVC patches explains the options.

How do we plan a belt order for a whole academy?

Belts get ordered in small batches, so a little planning saves a lot of reorders. Use one spreadsheet with a row per student, and columns for name as it should be embroidered, current belt, next belt, size and grading date. Then:

• Count how many students are likely to be promoted at the next one or two gradings.
• Add spare stock for new starters in white belts, which you will use most.
• Check every name for spelling against your class list before you approve the proof.
• Agree on one style for names, such as first name only or first name and surname, and use it for everyone.
• Order early enough that belts arrive before grading day, and keep the list for the next order.

What should we ask a belt manufacturer before ordering?

• What is the belt made from, and how is it stitched?
• What lengths do your sizes cover, and do you have a size chart?
• Can you make rank bars in the colours we need, including red or white bars for black belts?
• Can you embroider individual student names, and how should we send the list?
• Can we have a free sample with our academy name before the full order?
• Is there a minimum order per colour or size?
• Can you make the gis, rash guards and patches to match?

If you are buying from overseas for the first time, our guide to sourcing sportswear from Sialkot, Pakistan explains how to check a manufacturer and place a safe first order.

How UZAS Sports makes custom BJJ belts

UZAS Sports has made martial arts uniforms in our own factory in Sialkot, Pakistan since 2005, with showrooms in Sialkot and Melbourne. We make rank belts in every colour, with custom rank bars and embroidered academy or student names, alongside our BJJ gis, rash guards, fight shorts and custom patches. Our standard BJJ gi is a 450 gsm pearl weave, so your belts and gis can be ordered as one matching set.

There is no minimum order, so you can order only the colours and sizes you need for the next grading. Your sample is free and customised with your logo, and our team offers free design help with embroidery layouts. Orders of 25 pieces or more ship free. Samples and urgent orders travel by air freight, and bulk orders can go by sea.

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