Brian McLaughlin - Many in my area have been pumping out belts at speeds previously unimagined. Brown belts in 3 years, black belts in 4 years, belts to guys who never get on the mats, ect. I've seen some guys leave my gym and instantly get a darker belt, almost as if it was a 'gift with purchase'.
Took me 11 years to get my black belt and I was living on the mats. So many guys from my region have been fast tracked that I think its caused me to become MORE strict with my belt promotions in order to uphold a real standard.
Jessy30 - Is this a huge problem on the west coast? Other Areas? I feel like it is going to be a problem in my area. (Im not going to give any detail) I just wonder if promotions to BB elsewhere that are looked at with a raised eyebrow. (i.e...legit bb "selling" belts)
Also, how do you handle the situation if so?
slap them in the face wtih a glove and challenge match them to the death.
jjmarine1 - I HAVE BEEN DOING BJJ 3-5 DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS, HAD PRIOR WRESTLING AND MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE....I HAVE BEEN A BROWN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I WAS A PURPLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. I HAVE WON NAGA EXPERT NOGI DIVISION TWICE AND WON PURPLE BELT DIVISION, SO I CAN AT LEAST SAY I PUT IN THE TIME AND PROVED MYSELF COMPETITION WISE TO PROMOTE TO BROWN. I WOULD RATHER BE OVER QUALIFIED FOR A RANK THAN TO BE PROMOTED EXACTLY WHEN READY. ONE THING PEOPLE FORGET TO REALIZE, THOUGH, IS THAT SKILL LEVELS IN A GEOGRAPHIC REGION IS REFLECTIVE OF THE REGION AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF DECIDING WHAT IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY. A PURPLE IN OKLAHOMA MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS GOOD COMPARATIVELY AS ONE IN MIAMI, CALIFORNIA OR BRAZIL. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE COMPETITION IN REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS OF A DECENT SIZE IS IMPORTANT WHEN PROMOTING TO BROWN AND BLACK FOR SURE.
Dude stop typing all in caps, it's very annoying (unless your caps key is locked or something).
jjmarine1 - I HAVE BEEN DOING BJJ 3-5 DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS, HAD PRIOR WRESTLING AND MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE....I HAVE BEEN A BROWN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I WAS A PURPLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. I HAVE WON NAGA EXPERT NOGI DIVISION TWICE AND WON PURPLE BELT DIVISION, SO I CAN AT LEAST SAY I PUT IN THE TIME AND PROVED MYSELF COMPETITION WISE TO PROMOTE TO BROWN. I WOULD RATHER BE OVER QUALIFIED FOR A RANK THAN TO BE PROMOTED EXACTLY WHEN READY. ONE THING PEOPLE FORGET TO REALIZE, THOUGH, IS THAT SKILL LEVELS IN A GEOGRAPHIC REGION IS REFLECTIVE OF THE REGION AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF DECIDING WHAT IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY. A PURPLE IN OKLAHOMA MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS GOOD COMPARATIVELY AS ONE IN MIAMI, CALIFORNIA OR BRAZIL. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE COMPETITION IN REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS OF A DECENT SIZE IS IMPORTANT WHEN PROMOTING TO BROWN AND BLACK FOR SURE.
Dude stop typing all in caps, it's very annoying (unless your caps key is locked or something).
jjmarine1 - I HAVE BEEN DOING BJJ 3-5 DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS, HAD PRIOR WRESTLING AND MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE....I HAVE BEEN A BROWN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I WAS A PURPLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. I HAVE WON NAGA EXPERT NOGI DIVISION TWICE AND WON PURPLE BELT DIVISION, SO I CAN AT LEAST SAY I PUT IN THE TIME AND PROVED MYSELF COMPETITION WISE TO PROMOTE TO BROWN. I WOULD RATHER BE OVER QUALIFIED FOR A RANK THAN TO BE PROMOTED EXACTLY WHEN READY. ONE THING PEOPLE FORGET TO REALIZE, THOUGH, IS THAT SKILL LEVELS IN A GEOGRAPHIC REGION IS REFLECTIVE OF THE REGION AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF DECIDING WHAT IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY. A PURPLE IN OKLAHOMA MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS GOOD COMPARATIVELY AS ONE IN MIAMI, CALIFORNIA OR BRAZIL. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE COMPETITION IN REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS OF A DECENT SIZE IS IMPORTANT WHEN PROMOTING TO BROWN AND BLACK FOR SURE.
What about people who lack the athleticism to do well in tournaments? Do they actually have to win a medal in a regional or national tournament to get promoted? or should they be purple belt lifers?
HMMM....PRETTY SURE THE ESSENCE OF BJJ IS ABOUT TECHNIQUE AND LEVERAGE....NOT ATHLETICISM.
jjmarine1 - I HAVE BEEN DOING BJJ 3-5 DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS, HAD PRIOR WRESTLING AND MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE....I HAVE BEEN A BROWN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I WAS A PURPLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. I HAVE WON NAGA EXPERT NOGI DIVISION TWICE AND WON PURPLE BELT DIVISION, SO I CAN AT LEAST SAY I PUT IN THE TIME AND PROVED MYSELF COMPETITION WISE TO PROMOTE TO BROWN. I WOULD RATHER BE OVER QUALIFIED FOR A RANK THAN TO BE PROMOTED EXACTLY WHEN READY. ONE THING PEOPLE FORGET TO REALIZE, THOUGH, IS THAT SKILL LEVELS IN A GEOGRAPHIC REGION IS REFLECTIVE OF THE REGION AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF DECIDING WHAT IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY. A PURPLE IN OKLAHOMA MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS GOOD COMPARATIVELY AS ONE IN MIAMI, CALIFORNIA OR BRAZIL. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE COMPETITION IN REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS OF A DECENT SIZE IS IMPORTANT WHEN PROMOTING TO BROWN AND BLACK FOR SURE.
Dude stop typing all in caps, it's very annoying (unless your caps key is locked or something).
THIS IS HOW I TYPE, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT TOUGH SHIT.
Matthieu Battle - it's such a stupid plan, too. i don't mean the TKD guy that's never even gonna be a decent blue buying a black - that shit's expected.
it's the solid purple belts that for whatever reason just can't keep training. there's no shame in being a purple belt, even as an instructor. it's certainly not ideal, but a good purple belt should be able to offer a lot the majority of the population. if you're desperate to open a school then just do it. start small, keep training with a legit instructor, even if you have to haul ass down the road a coupla hours every week.
build your school a bit and a time and in a few years you'll be a legit black belt with a group of students that grew up with you and the awesome relationships that come with that. you won't have to act like a little bitch around that child prodigy kid or random visitors. you won't worry about getting dojo stormed by a gang of shendokan neenjas. you won't wonder why everyone shuts up when you walk by at the local naga.
just do fucking jiu jitsu because it's awesome.
That's the route John Fain took at Triumph bjj in NH.... The good route I'm talking. Now he's a BB with a lot of tough guys up there and a well rounded program with quality guys like Rick Hawn teaching the judo portion. We both started together as whites, so I'm a big fan of what he's been able to accomplish with his school.
jjmarine1 - I HAVE BEEN DOING BJJ 3-5 DAYS A WEEK FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS, HAD PRIOR WRESTLING AND MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE....I HAVE BEEN A BROWN FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I WAS A PURPLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. I HAVE WON NAGA EXPERT NOGI DIVISION TWICE AND WON PURPLE BELT DIVISION, SO I CAN AT LEAST SAY I PUT IN THE TIME AND PROVED MYSELF COMPETITION WISE TO PROMOTE TO BROWN. I WOULD RATHER BE OVER QUALIFIED FOR A RANK THAN TO BE PROMOTED EXACTLY WHEN READY. ONE THING PEOPLE FORGET TO REALIZE, THOUGH, IS THAT SKILL LEVELS IN A GEOGRAPHIC REGION IS REFLECTIVE OF THE REGION AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF DECIDING WHAT IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY. A PURPLE IN OKLAHOMA MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS GOOD COMPARATIVELY AS ONE IN MIAMI, CALIFORNIA OR BRAZIL. THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE COMPETITION IN REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TOURNAMENTS OF A DECENT SIZE IS IMPORTANT WHEN PROMOTING TO BROWN AND BLACK FOR SURE.
What about people who lack the athleticism to do well in tournaments? Do they actually have to win a medal in a regional or national tournament to get promoted? or should they be purple belt lifers?
HMMM....PRETTY SURE THE ESSENCE OF BJJ IS ABOUT TECHNIQUE AND LEVERAGE....NOT ATHLETICISM.
Brian McLaughlin - Many in my area have been pumping out belts at speeds previously unimagined. Brown belts in 3 years, black belts in 4 years, belts to guys who never get on the mats, ect. I've seen some guys leave my gym and instantly get a darker belt, almost as if it was a 'gift with purchase'.
Took me 11 years to get my black belt and I was living on the mats. So many guys from my region have been fast tracked that I think its caused me to become MORE strict with my belt promotions in order to uphold a real standard.
So a 50 year old business man in Whatever, Oklahoma who is brown belt can never be a blackbelt because he can't or doesn't want to compete with young, strong, fast and technical proficient brown belts from California or Brazil?
nowaydo, I think you mean the 57 year old Brown from Ohio, that just had his 3rd surgery and is full of arthritis but loves it so much he refuses to quit. :)
nowaydo - So a 50 year old business man in Whatever, Oklahoma who is brown belt can never be a blackbelt because he can't or doesn't want to compete with young, strong, fast and technical proficient brown belts from California or Brazil?
Yes, he should never be a blackbelt. I don't know why Americans have this bizarre sense of entitlement that everyone who does something should reach the highest levels as long as they "stick with it long enough".
nowaydo - So a 50 year old business man in Whatever, Oklahoma who is brown belt can never be a blackbelt because he can't or doesn't want to compete with young, strong, fast and technical proficient brown belts from California or Brazil?
IDIOT...THEY HAVE DIVISIONS FOR THAT AGE. AND THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT ATHLETICISM...NOT AGE.
Lol guy can be a coach and a blackbelt at 50 for sure. Anyone who says no has lost scope of what Bjj is.
Let me ask you this, is Bjj to help the weak?
Who needs it most? The weak or the strong? (Marcos avellan has a great speech about this)
Bjj is not Just for the strong, Olympic sports like Judo and wrestling aim to weed out the weak and identify the strong which is why they are never going to be for the general public. Kano would be horrified if someone said a 50 yr old that loves the art, does randori and keeps on learning couldn't be a blackbelt coz he can't fight competitively.
Sadly this is true. Marcello is a legit Black belt under De La Riva. He got caught selling BB's and De La Riva kicked him out of his Association.
De La Riva kicked him out...? I didn't know that. GOOD!
Any details as to when this happened and who might have been involved? I have a buddy that rocks a black under Marcelo <img src="/images/phone/droid.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
I'm sure I can find out more detals, but I wouldn't worry about it too much unless your friend is getting trounced by brown, purple and possibly blue belts.
nowaydo - So a 50 year old business man in Whatever, Oklahoma who is brown belt can never be a blackbelt because he can't or doesn't want to compete with young, strong, fast and technical proficient brown belts from California or Brazil?
Yes, he should never be a blackbelt. I don't know why Americans have this bizarre sense of entitlement that everyone who does something should reach the highest levels as long as they "stick with it long enough".
This argument only makes sense if black belt is the highest level.
Interesting question. In many martial arts, the black belt has become something of the lifetime acheivement award that Koga references, which is fine. But BJJ is so different then most martial arts when it comes to rank and competition; I wonder what the majority of Professors leading teams feel about this?
Even the remark "guess we should have taken away Helios rank once he was unable to submit athletic blue belts" from checkuroil doesn't really apply, since we all know that Helio was a successful competitor in his youth. Nobody expects you to be young forever, but is it necessary to have at least been a destroyer on the mats at some point to get your BB? I tend to say 'yes', but again, I'd love to hear what the masters think about this.
