Paty Lage and Yvone Duarte have been recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation as the two most senior female jiu-jitsu black belts in the world.

They are the only sixth-degree black belts on the IBJJF's list of certified black belts. And as far as we are able to verify, they are the only legitimate female jiu-jitsu practitioners to hold such senior ranks. 

Both women began their jiu-jitsu careers in the 1980s, and both come from jiu-jitsu families. 

Yvone Duarte (top right) is considered by recording-keeping website BJJ Heroes to be the first female jiu-jitsu black belt in history. She was born in 1963 in Rio de Janeiro and earned her black belt in 1990 at the hands of Osvaldo Alves. She played an important role in the development of regional and state jiu-jitsu federations in Brazil, and taught both sport jiu-jitsu and self-defense. Her older brother Pascoal Duarte is also a senior rank, being a coral belt. 

Duarte was eligible to receive her sixth-degree black belt in 2014, but did not contact the federation for the certificate. Unprompted, they sent her a diploma recognizing her rank earlier this year. 

Patricia Lage (top left), whose father Roberto is an esteemed figure in the jiu-jitsu scene of their home city of Sao Paulo, was promoted to black belt in 1995 when she was only 18 years of age. She was and always has been an active competitor. Representing the powerful Sao Paulo Barbosa team, she won the World Masters black belt masters 3 lightweight division in 2019. 

WATCH: Patricia Lage competes at the 2019 World Masters

In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, degrees are recognized by time served. The first three degrees are awarded every three years. The fourth through sixth degrees are awarded every five years. To become a sixth-degree black belt, you must have been a black belt for a total of 24 years. 

Duarte is likely to become the first-ever woman to hold a coral belt (red and black seventh degree). Based on the criteria, she will be eligible to receive the rank in 2021. 

Here is a timeline of when the women were promoted.