I opened up a small BJJ academy a few months back. Most of my students are beginners, and they have begun to wonder about belt promotions.
I joke with them when they ask and tell them:
1) I'm the wrong person to ask how long it takes to get a belt (took me 10 years to get purple)
2) If they tell me they think they are ready for their next belt, I will make them wait longer.
I'm in a fortunate position that the academy is basically a place where I can train and teach without worrying about student retention, marketing, and sales (I have a full time job that pays the bills). As long as I can cover all my costs (which I can by next month), I'm not too concerned about enticing students to stay by giving them "easy" belts, etc.
(cont)
However, their questions have made me think more about how I will promote them.
As consistency and mat time are the most important qualities in my opinion, I'm actually leaning towards a belt timeframe.
I think in this way, it is the "fairest"- as you reward the hardest workers, and you discount natural talent, strength, flexibility, favoritism, etc.
Additionally, there is no mystery or anxiety about when you will get a belt- simply show up, train, and you will get it.
I understand this idea will be frowned upon by the bjj community as a whole, but what if I make long timeframes, where the students should be ready by that time (unless I am a crappy teacher)?
Here's Gracie Barra's recommended timeframe:
I made the column on the right in the image, for total time training for each belt.
I understand these are GB's minimums, but imo, for only training 2 times a week, this timeframe is way way too quick.
(cont)
However, what if I told my students something like:
Beginner to Blue belt = 2 years (training 3 times a week)
Blue to Purple = 6 years total (3x a week)
(I havent thought about brown or black, as it'll be awhile until I am able to promote to that level, or have students ready for it).
I'm thinking:
Purple to Brown: 10 years total (3x)
Brown to Black: 14 years total (3x)
Sure, this may seem extreme, but this is factoring in that you are "only" training 3x a week...if you train 6 times a week, then your time will be halved.
7 years for a black belt doesnt seem all that crazy to me.
Thought? Is my timeline way too nutty? Will I lose all 10 of my students? Haha
Honestly, the GB guidelines are a pretty good "absolute minimum" time frame. Nobody should ever be promoted any sooner than those guidelines, no matter what.
Are you suggesting giving someone a blue (or purple) belt based solely on attendance? If that's the case, I'd vote strongly against it. I have guys who have attended probably 1000 classes before they're ready for blue belt, simply because they don't perform the fundamental concepts well enough after that time frame. I make them wait as many years as it takes to meet the standard.
I think that's a hard thing to guaruntee. I've been teaching since I was a blue belt, Brown now and always left it to higher ups to rank my students.
How is it fair to a naturally talented guy who works hard to wait 2 years to get his blue belt if he is blue belt skill at one year?
Also there are some guys who are just slow learners. If someone is consistent, I think anyone could be blue belt by 2 years, but its hard to guaruntee that no matter how good a teacher you have. Some students are dense to be blunt. I've had guys who I taught for a year straight, they had to review all their basic holds every practice. Then we get to a tournament and they couldn't remember what a key lock was. Some people may never be a blue or purple belt. 
judogoat -
Honestly, the GB guidelines are a pretty good "absolute minimum" time frame. Nobody should ever be promoted any sooner than those guidelines, no matter what.
Are you suggesting giving someone a blue (or purple) belt based solely on attendance? If that's the case, I'd vote strongly against it. I have guys who have attended probably 1000 classes before they're ready for blue belt, simply because they don't perform the fundamental concepts well enough after that time frame. I make them wait as many years as it takes to meet the standard.
I suppose every teacher will get a student here or there that simply spazzes and doesnt get the basic concepts.
I will defer to you on this point- since you have taught way more than me (and have considerably more bjj knowledge than me).
But, I was thinking that if I couldnt get a student to have blue belt skills in 2 years, and purple belt skills in 6 years, then I'm partly to blame for that.
In terms of the GB minimums, not to be a hater, but do we know for sure these are simply minimums, and not the actual time frame that GB schools abide by?
For every GB school that swears they dont follow this timeframe (and it is only a minimum), I have also heard that other GB schools use this as guideline- for ex, students know when they will be getting their stripes, belts, etc.
"How is it fair to a naturally talented guy who works hard to wait 2 years to get his blue belt if he is blue belt skill at one year?"
Good point- but I can also tell them that belts aren't simply how much of an ass kicker you are- but it is based on dedication and consistency.
If people can't wait 2 years to get a blue belt ("only" training 3 times a week), maybe their egos aren't suited to train bjj for the long term?
Or, they can be more dedicated, train 5-6 times a week, and cut the time in half.
kying418 -judogoat -
Honestly, the GB guidelines are a pretty good "absolute minimum" time frame. Nobody should ever be promoted any sooner than those guidelines, no matter what.
Are you suggesting giving someone a blue (or purple) belt based solely on attendance? If that's the case, I'd vote strongly against it. I have guys who have attended probably 1000 classes before they're ready for blue belt, simply because they don't perform the fundamental concepts well enough after that time frame. I make them wait as many years as it takes to meet the standard.
I suppose every teacher will get a student here or there that simply spazzes and doesnt get the basic concepts.
I will defer to you on this point- since you have taught way more than me (and have considerably more bjj knowledge than me).
But, I was thinking that if I couldnt get a student to have blue belt skills in 2 years, and purple belt skills in 6 years, then I'm partly to blame for that.
In terms of the GB minimums, not to be a hater, but do we know for sure these are simply minimums, and not the actual time frame that GB schools abide by?
For every GB school that swears they dont follow this timeframe (and it is only a minimum), I have also heard that other GB schools use this as guideline- for ex, students know when they will be getting their stripes, belts, etc.
Well... I know that the chart is loosely derived from IBJJF's belt MINIMUMS:
http://www.ibjjf.org/graduation.htm
If some schools are using this as a standard (meaning many folks are getting belts even faster than this time table suggests), that's deplorable, but to each his own.
One other thing- the whole "it's partly my fault as their instructor" mentality is going to beat you up pretty bad if you have more than 20 students or so. You can set standards, have great procedures in place, and teach an incredible class, but if the student isn't putting in the effort and is merely following the dotted lines, they are never going to excel.
judogoat- do you see the students you mentioned, train consistently for a long period of time?
I would assume these knuckleheads would have quit after a couple of years, and would not put in consistent mat time.
I know I am living in a "fantasy world" right now with so few students, so it is good to hear from (much) more experienced teachers out there.
Thanks!
To put the gb belt timeframe argument to rest. I will just say that from what I have seen with all the gb gyms around me is that the timeframe is simply a guide for the students to chart their progression
That's why they have attendance cards for the gb staff to follow. When there are over 100, 200, 300 students these attendance cards are an invaluable tool to maintain where a student is within the timeframe.
The instructors then evaluate the students who are due for a promotion by both visually watching how they perform and then training with them
I've been at gb for over 10 years and I know for sure that I never got my belts within the timeframe. In fact it took me double the time to get my black belt according to the gb timeframe
It's just a guide for all the haters who will swear that gb use it as gospel.
Also I've observed that in general it takes about 6-12 months to get to blue belt but after that all other belts were up to the instructors
These are observations for the gb gyms in Australia
Just to add something to the thread you might find interesting (no offense), but I was recently training with red and black belt Fabio Santos (who is normally the coolest guy youll ever meet. For reference hes trained under rickson/rolls and alongside royce and many other gracies) and he got PISSED when he heard about brown belts promoting. Its his opinion (and a lot of old school guys) that its disrespectful and downright wrong for anyone other than a black to promote. Just my .02.
Just realized I may have misread your post, I thought you were a purple. Are you a bb? Either way it was an interesting thing he talked about (and something a lot of people are doing now).
brixx139 -Just realized I may have misread your post, I thought you were a purple. Are you a bb? Either way it was an interesting thing he talked about (and something a lot of people are doing now).
Still a purple, and I appreciate your words. I have mad respect for Fabio Santos (and all red/black belts for that matter), so his words are invaluable.
In my situation, my teacher is ok with me promoting up to blue belt. Of course, ideally it would be great to have him promote my students, but he charges a premium for his seminars, and I wouldnt want to ask him to visit my school (as a favor), unless I could pay for a seminar to host him (which I wont be able to unless I have many more students).
Maybe they should stop worrying about being promoted to that next belt level and instead focus on acquiring the skills of that belt level. I'd rather have black belt skill and be a purple belt rank instead having a black belt rank but with purple belt skill.
And I train 4x week. Week in week out.
People who train less then that generally don't get promoted within the timeframe
Also I've noticed a lot of people who get their blue belts stop coming
TheBulgarianAssassin - Maybe they should stop worrying about being promoted to that next belt level and instead focus on acquiring the skills of that belt level. I'd rather have black belt skill and be a purple belt rank instead having a black belt rank but with purple belt skill.
I totally agree- but since they are beginners,I dont mind them asking me (once) about belts and promotions- since it is a common question for people to ask when they start martial arts.
After they know how long it took me to get my belts, they stop asking.
brixx139 -Just to add something to the thread you might find interesting (no offense), but I was recently training with red and black belt Fabio Santos (who is normally the coolest guy youll ever meet. For reference hes trained under rickson/rolls and alongside royce and many other gracies) and he got PISSED when he heard about brown belts promoting. Its his opinion (and a lot of old school guys) that its disrespectful and downright wrong for anyone other than a black to promote. Just my .02.
Well, definitely don't let him know a blue belt acquaintance of mine --just today-- asked me where to purchase a blue belt for "one of his guys" he's teaching in his garage or wherever.
A little later I said to him, "So, you're giving someone a Blue Belt...???'
He said, kind of defensive, "--Well under me, he's just gonna be under me."
Although talented, he's one of these guys that has gone off the deep end a little --like a lot of guys who start teaching too soon and change their identity from "BJJ student" to "BJJ teacher". Suddenly it's all about where they are teaching and their students, when they themselves are not all that experienced and really should just be training.
There are definitely people way more qualified than me to answer you but for the sake of discussion my opinion is that you need to balance time with technical knowledge. Also I feel like your measurement in time should be in MAT TIME not regular time.
Example: 100 mat hours to blue belt PLUS memorization and implementation of X number of techniques.
Pedro Sauer has like 88 techniques to purple belt. Honestly I admire you for trying to put out a fair and clear path for your students to follow. My only real wish for my own school is that our instructor was more clear about his own personal opinion for what defines each belt. He just sort of tosses you a belt when he feels you are ready but those expectations are ambiguous and it can lead to frustration when trying to use an external source to measure your own personal progress.
Sorry for the FRAT
kying418 - However, what if I told my students something like:
Beginner to Blue belt = 2 years (training 3 times a week)
Blue to Purple = 6 years total (3x a week)
(I havent thought about brown or black, as it'll be awhile until I am able to promote to that level, or have students ready for it).
I'm thinking:
Purple to Brown: 10 years total (3x)
Brown to Black: 14 years total (3x)
Sure, this may seem extreme, but this is factoring in that you are "only" training 3x a week...if you train 6 times a week, then your time will be halved.
7 years for a black belt doesnt seem all that crazy to me.
Thought? Is my timeline way too nutty? Will I lose all 10 of my students? Haha
I'd consider sticking with the GB format. it's a good guideline. Also charge for stripes and have organized promotions. I doubt you'll have people asking about when they'll be promoted if there is a $50 fee attached to it. 
"i think i'm a ready for a blue belt."
I would teach white belts for life if i had to, before i answer this guy's question to HIS satisfaction.
fuck
out
of
here