Ok this question is about their university in San Diego. Now I believe I have heard that if you go to their school, even if you have a belt rank from a different school you start over as a white belt. Is that true?
I have a friend that is considering moving to San Diego just to train at their place but is a little curious about this situation. If the re-starting over as a white belt is true he said he would have to reconsider.
ex: if you have a purple already, then you get a white belt with a purple stripe... and the same goes for the other belts.
so it shows that another instructor has you at a blue, but you start there as a white.
If someone does not train with Saulo because of the belt color he or she is asked to wear, they are an idiot. If I had the chance to train with Saulo, I'd wear a freakin' pink belt if he asked me to.
Who gives a rat's ass what belt color someone has or wears? Every time I see a thread that discusses belt colors I cringe.
I believe the reason my friend is concerned about the belt color is because he enjoys competing a lot in the large tournaments like the Pan Ams, Mundials, etc. He is rather close to becoming a black belt and one of his goals is to compete in the above mentioned events as a black belt. If by joining Saulo's school and by being demoted (sort of), that would put him a step behind in attaining that goal, then I think thats a rather valid concern.
dcvillain,
I train there. Making people start over at white belt is not necessarily true. Saulo and Xande both will allow you to wear the belt that was earned by previous instructors. We have had several people come from other academy's that were, blue, purple and brown belts, and they ALL wore them and continue to do so. However, if your friend is expecting to get his black belt from Saulo, he can expect to wait a long time. We have a couple of people who are brown belts from other instructors, who have won the worlds on multiple occasions, that still have not been promoted to black (after a couple of years).
This thing about starting over at white belt is a bit blown out of proportion. This apparently started because Saulo started Diego Sanchez at white belt, when he clearly had already competed at high levels. Keep in mind that Diego had no "formal" BJJ training prior to his move to Saulo's academy. Additionally, after about a year and half, Diego is now at purple, which is probably closer to his true abilities and knowledge.
FYI, I am a blue belt and Saulo has been my only instructor. My personal opinion, Saulo is an amazing person and instructor. He offers an amazing environment to learn. The other day I showed up for the day class and there were 15 black belts. I get to practice my mount defense a lot on those days! But if you need more, there is no other place that I've heard of where, Jacare, Andre Galvao, Kron, Royler, or Rickson to name a few that will be at the academy randomly to teach a class. I think that is what is important.
I train there as well and I've never heard of Saulo ever demoting anyone. I know there have been people who demoted themselves because of various reasons, but it has always been there own choice to do so.
Supermatt, if you think Deigo's ability is only at Purple Belt, you must not know who's he's schooled in grappling competition. Pablo Popovich is one of them and you can research the rest
Diego has beaten great BJJ blackbelts in no gi tournaments.
I believe he did not train in the gi much before he moved to Saulo's, hence the white belt.
Then again, he got his purple within a year.
thanks for the replys I will pass the info along.
Great, you've hit on my other pet peeve; belt divisions in tournaments. Nothing personal of course.
I don't believe that you hand over some "belt certificate" when you compete in a tournament. Therefore, even if your friend were asked to wear a white belt at the school, he could just head out to the tournament and compete in the black belt division whenever he wanted. There. I've solved the problem. Your friend is now free to train at one of the top 2 academies (IMHO) in the US and can compete at whatever belt level (as stupid as that is) whenever he wants.
By the way, the fact that he can, if he chooses, train at Saulo's makes me hate the SOB. ;-)
Supermatt took the words out of my mouth. Everyone keeps their rank unless they decide on their own to start over. I go there when I visit family in SD and the place is great. Great instruction, great training partners, everyone is very cool and welcoming, and it is an overall good place to train.
I also echo Supermatt's sentiments that someone who starts training there, no matter what belt they are, can expect a long road to black belt. One of my friends and former training partners(Joe Van Brackle) was a brown belt when he moved to San Diego and was training at the Judo school that is now Saulo's school and actually set him up to make that happen. He's had a couple serious injuries but he's been a brown belt for a few years and has been training with Saulo for like 3 years now. He's been training for like 15 years, he's an awesome teacher and a sick grappler and would be a black belt at almost any other school. Leo Santos is a fucking monster and has also been a brown belt for years, before ever training with Saulo and has been winning his fair share of big tournaments. If those guys are still brown belts then everyone else has a long wait. If you start training with Saulo and Xande and hope to get a black belt, even if you are already a brown belt, you will definitely have to earn your black belt.
good info guys, i don't think my friend will mind waiting to get his black belt, because that is how it is and who is to argue with Saulo's opinion. I just think his concern from what I understand is he didn't want to take a step back, staying where he is, rank wise, would be fine though.
Thanks again for the info I will most certainly pass it on.
I spent some time with Saulo in London when we were at the ufc. What an experience! At dinner we all got talking about jiu jitsu (demian, saulo, wand, alejarra, another brown belt named ricardo and myself). To listen to saulo preach about jiu jitsu for about 3 hours was very inspiring. he has an incredible jiu jitsu mind, and is very passionate about teaching his knowledge.
If you ever get the chance to train with saulo---GO FOR IT. it wont matter what belt you are etc you will benefit from him. the man is a legend and no matter what belt you have around your waist, the mat doesnt lie. STOP WORRYING ABOUT BELTS!
girthvader, I'll be sure to research that
I dont see how Diego as a MMA fighter having Saulo as a head instructor is the best option out there.
How is gi training go to help him in MMA? What is Saulo teaching him that he doesnt already know? Deigo is proven in Sub grappling to beat the best already
Saulo was a failure in his MMA fight, Deigo should be his coach, teach him proper wrestling
your right HuntingtonPUNK Saulo doesn't know anything about MMA or no gi grappling..
HuntingtonPUNK - girthvader, I'll be sure to research that
I dont see how Diego as a MMA fighter having Saulo as a head instructor is the best option out there.
How is gi training go to help him in MMA? What is Saulo teaching him that he doesnt already know? Deigo is proven in Sub grappling to beat the best already
Saulo was a failure in his MMA fight, Deigo should be his coach, teach him proper wrestling
Are you kidding me? Saulo has won numerous no gi tournaments as well as gi world championships. His jiu jitsu knowledge exceeds alot of people out there and he KNOWS how to teach it. Anyone can go into a ring and get beat (Pe de Pano/Mir) and Pano's MMA game sucks. Explain that one. Maybe Mir should take lessons from him.
I'm surprised to hear its such a long road to black at Saulo's school?
I could have sworn I read or saw an interview with him where he said that 'this whole 10 years to blackbelt is crap. Give me someone 3 days a week for 6 years and I'll make him a blackbelt'.
Does anyone else remember that? Am I thinking of someone else?
AlliancePA...i agree with you about vanbrackle. he was my first serious jiu jitsu instructor when he was teaching at wilkie's. joe was already an amazing teacher and grappler, and training with saulo has def made him even more dangerous...if thats possible.
again i think some of you are worried that my friend is concerned about being promoted, thats not the case. He is only concerned withing be demoted, which is not the case according to some of the people on this thread. It is not about belts, it's about getting the chance to compete against the best and to be able to do so in the pan ams and the mundials you have to be a black belt for the most part.
My question was answered, thanks for the help
I have little doubt that Saulo could make someone a black belt in 6 years with 3 days a week. Keep in mind, his school is SD has only been there a year or so.