It depends on the style of martial art. First Kyu, the rank right before Black Belt is identified differently by different schools and styles.
Originally it was a brown belt
My style uses a brown belt with black ends.
Some use a brown belt with a black stripe running the length
Some use a red belt (which can mean 9th or 10th Dan in other styles!)
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In most Asian regions there are 10 levels of the black belt. There are between 7 to 12 levels before the black belt, this varies from school to school.
The term black belt refers to a martial artist who has achieved a certain level of expertise in his chosen art. Many believe that a black belt is an expert, but its more accurate to think of a black belt as a graduate: like a high school graduate. A black belt might best be described as competent in his martial art.
The first belt you earn is your Red belt, the next is gold, then blue, then brown, then black. After you have reached your black belt you can then earn Dans
The belt itself is pretty strong, made of silk layered over a cotton core, with eight or ten rows of stitching. A black belt student might also be very strong; although there is no particular strength requirement for the black belt test, training toward a black belt results in increased strength. It should also be remembered that although you may have earned a black belt, you will not maintain your strength unless you maintain your training.
St-Pierre earned a black belt in BJJ under Bruno Fernandes.