Grading times for Bjj

HammerHeadGym

Hey all,
a quick question about bjj grading. I read somewhere that grading up the different belts takes a certain number of years, ( think it averaged at two and a half years per belt).
My question is, is that based on, say three classes a week sort of thing or are the instructors looking for a certain level of maturity from a fighter.
For example if someone were to train bjj twice a day, five days a week could they signifigantly reduce their overall black belt time, or what?
Thanks in advance, as I wont be back in front of a computer till sunday.

BobbyOLeary

Not that I'm an authority on this or anything but I assumed the bjj grading process was purely based on ability. As in if you could perform all you submissions on a resisting opponent you progressed. I could be wrong but I reckoned that if you could out-jitz all the white belts and were beginning to catch some of the blues you might be given your blue?

I don't think time ever comes in to it, some people may never get to the technical and sparring ability of a BB while some people like BJ Penn could do it in a few years. I'm sure jk will be on to clear this up anyhow.

dlofnep

Depends on the person. Training more times per week will help, but some people learn quicker than others.

john kavanagh

spot on bobby

wikipedia entry

Millionaire

this is a bit of topic, but I recently read all of Geoff Thompson books on mindset, and going for your goals in life, like Shapeshifter, and Elephant and Twig.

Geoff fancied as a personal goal, to go for this black belt in judo. he was about 35 ish at the time, and already a high ranking dan in karate. he researched that someone training a few times a week and giving it the all in Judo takes about 4 years to get to black. so he worked back, and decided if he trained full time 6 days a week, and then went under personal instruction from Neil Adams and other Olympic players, and said it was the hardest training he did. anyway, with his dedication and time, he got this BB in just over 1 year.

My kickboxing club, the way it worked, if you trained and sparred hard long enough, and after a few years could hold your own sparring with a black belt, you got your black belt. same for 2nd dan. 3rd dan came later, same thing, a few full contact sparring bouts with a few ex world and european champs. and 4th dan was for dedication and putting in the years... there was no tests for that. The colour belts were scrapped years before, so if you stuck around and trained hard, you got a crack at black belt. so there was only 1 belt.... Black!!! I got to 4th dan, after many years, but I would not even year a belt now. how can you , when some MAs (mcdojo) give the things away to people who could not punch their way out of a wet paper bag.

Taiwan-Evo

First don't get into the mindset of belts too much. They are appreciated when you get them but at the end of the day, as one of the Gracies said. " The blackbelt will only cover 3 inches of your ass i a fight the rest you have to do yourself. "

BJ Penn got his BB very quickly (3 yrs). But he also is from a wealthy family and could afford to train full time under the best instructors in the world. Plus he had talent.
Usually grading will be given when you can perform certain subs/sweeps etc with a resisting opponents. Usually competition is the place where most instructors will decide if your worthy of promotion.

Again just train to do your moves. Whats the point of being a purple if your getting tapped by blues and whites anyway. Your sklls will determine your level not the belt.

Nothingcompares

BJJ gradings are completely different to other gradings including Judo.

Judo gradings differ slightly from organisation to organisation but the main criteria for 1st Dan grading is a demonstration of the syllabus, a demonstration of the Kata, proof of performance in competition or at the grading itself.

You can go to the Kodokan in Japan and do a black belt course that lasts one year and you train every day. A lot of this time is spent "perfecting" technique and kata so when asked to demonstrate you've got it spot on, rather than, doesn't look too pretty but it works to a certain extent.

BJJ belts are based on a principle of performance and not on demonstration with compliant partner of perfect technique. This is the biggest difference between BJJ and Judo/Karate gradings. I've never done a BJJ grading so a lot of what I'm saying comes from being on the outside looking in but that's the basic story.

I'd imagine the basic 2.5 years per grading basically comes down to statistics. If you take 100 people and train them 3/4 times a week with a good coach 90 of them will probably be blue belts in 2.5 years. 5 of them might be purple belts in 2.5 years and 5 of them might be still white belts.

HammerHeadGym

Thanks guys,
Pretty much as I thought. I've just trained in some styles that also require a minimum amount of time between belts as well as a certain level of competence. Actually, I seem to remember someone saying something like that to me in the Kodokan. Although it was in reference to senior black belts levels, exactly which ones I can't remember.

Anyway, thanks again.

HammerHeadGym

Actually, I have another question about this;

Could someone just get lucky and put away a purple belt (for example) and get awarded that belt or would it have to be at a more formal event? A grading, for instance.

Also, and I may have asked this before but can't remember; is there a set syllabus of techniques on each belt? Or is it more organic and students pick up moves, styles etc, based on their own natural attributes?

Once again, thanks to everyone for the help.

Clive

It depends on who is doing the awarding of the grade.

Roy Harris for instance has a set criteria for blue belt (below) and I think he has "mat time" requirements for other grades.

The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt Examination


This blue belt examination you are about to read was designed for those students who do not train with me or with one of my certified Grappling or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructors.

Please keep the following in mind as you read the examination:

1. This IS the examination you will be given. Please prepare for it accordingly.

2. If you do not know the techniques required for this examintion, I recommend you seek out private instruction.

3. Please pay for your examination at least two weeks in advance of your test date.

4. Please show up on time for your examination. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will need to reschedule your test for another time.

5. Please plan on spending two to three hours for testing.

6. Please bring a training partner with you.

For those of you WHO DO train with me, or with one of my instructors, please contact me by e-mail to view YOUR VERSION of this examination.


I. History and background (I want written answers for this section)

A. Helio Gracie

1. Who is he? What is his significance to Jiu Jitsu?
2. Name two (2) of his brothers.
3. Name five (5) of his sons.

B. Jiu Jitsu

1. Where did it come from?
2. How did it arrive in Brazil?
3. Explain the difference between JJJ and BJJ?

C. Roy Harris

1. What rank is he in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
2. Who were Roy’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructors?
3. What other ranks does Roy hold?

D. Please list your martial arts background and reasons for study:

1. Who have you trained with, and for how long?
2. What’s your reason for studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
3. What do you like most about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
4. What do you dislike?
5. What is your favorite area of training? Least favorite?
6. What is your strongest area in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Weakest?


II. Positional Escapes

A. Mount

1. Upa and two variations
2. Elbow/knee and two variations

B. Side mount

1. Place into the guard from hold downs 1-4
2. Go to your knees from hold downs 1-4

C. Closed guard

1. Pass under the legs and two variations
2. Pass over the legs and two variations

D. Head lock

1. Frame the arms and one variation
2. Hook the leg and one variation
3. Go to your knees and one variation
4. Bridge and roll and one variation

E. Wrestler’s cradle

1. Push on the knees
2. Roll over your shoulder

F. Kesa gatame

1. Bridge and roll
2. Free your head


III. Positional Dominance

A. Mount position

1. Position #1
2. Position #2
3. Position #3
4. Position #4

B. Side mount position

1. Hold down #1
2. Hold down #2
3. Hold down #3
4. Hold down #4
5. Kesa gatame

C. Closed guard position

1. Low guard
2. High guard
3. Hip movement
4. Head and arm control


IV. Submissions (mechanics and entries)

A. Arm locks from the guard

1. Spinning arm lock
2. Kimura

B. Arm locks from the mount

1. Spinning arm lock from push on chest
2. Paintbrush
3. Spinning arm lock from position #3

C. Chokes from the guard

1. Guillotine choke
2. Collar choke (palm up, palm up)
3. Collar coke (palm up, palm down)
4. Collar choke (palm down, palm up)
5. Triangle choke with legs
6. Triangle choke with arms

D. Chokes from the mount

1. Triangle choke with arms
2. Fist on the front of the throat
3. Fist on the side of the throat
4. Rear choke

E. Leg locks from the guard

1. Straight foot lock
2. Achilles tendon press with near arm
3. Achilles tendon press with far arm
4. Heel hook

F. Leg locks from the bottom of the mount

1. Straight foot lock
2. Heel hook



V. Self-defense

A. Defense against bear hugs (Standing)

1. Front bear hug (under the arms)
2. Front bear hug (over the arms)
3. Front bear hug (assailant picks you up)
4. Rear bear hug (under the arms)
5. Rear bear hug (over the arms)
6. Rear bear hug (assailant picks you up)

B. Defense against head locks (Standing)

1. Front headlock
2. Front head lock with head down

C. Defense against grabs (Standing)

1. One arm wrist grab
2. Two arm wrist grab
3. Upper arm grab
4. Shirt grab

D. Chokes (Standing)

1. One hand choke
2. Two hand choke
3. One hand choke against the wall
4. Two hand choke against the wall


VI. Physical conditioning

A. Push-ups

1. Three sets of 20

B. Sit-ups

1. Three sets of 30

C. Jump squats

1. Three sets of 20

D. Burpees

1. Three sets of 20



VII. Grappling

A. Grappling with other students

1. Two rounds of five minutes

B. Grappling with me

1. Two rounds of five minutes



VIII. Overall awareness of the entire Jiu Jitsu game

A. Familiarity with sweeps

1. Hip bump from the guard
2. Scissors sweep from the guard
3. Foot lift sweep from the guard
4. Standing foot sweep

B. How to fall

1. Back fall
2. Side fall
3. Front fall

C. Familiarity with throws

1. Hip throw
2. Neck throw
3. Arm throw
4. Inner reap
5. Outer reap

D. Standing takedowns

1. Double leg
2. Double leg variation (change angles)
3. Single leg
4. Single leg variation (change angles)

E. Take downs from the knees

1. Fall back series (four techniques)
2. Drive forward series (four techniques)

F. Familiarity with the open guard

1. With the gi
2. Without the gi


IX. Character (I would like to see letter of recommendation from your community)

A. Integrity

1. You make and keep promises. You are trustworthy and accountable.

B. Loyalty

1. You are committed (and responsible) to your family, close friends and instructors.

C. Honesty

1. You are forthright (and tactful) with your family, close friends and instructors.


X. Your continued training

A. Private training

1. Long distance students, one hour every two years ($100 paid in advance)
2. Local students, one hour of private training plus group training

B. Group training

1. Long distance students, find group instruction and a good training partner.
2. Local students must have at least 60 hours of group instruction per year.



WHAT TO BRING:

Bring a training partner, a clean gi, wrestling head gear (optional), wrestling shoes (optional) and a great attitude.


COST:

The total cost of the blue belt examination is $150, pass or fail. This price includes a single private lesson that can be taken within two years of taking the exam.

If by chance you fail your examination, you can set up another time to retake the examination. However, you will still have to pay for the first examination. The second examination will cost just $25, plus the cost of your required private training.


TIME INVOLVED:

The length of the examination will range anywhere from two to four hours. Please be on time and be prepared. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your examination, you will need to reschedule your examination.


EMPHASIS:

During your blue belt examination, heavy emphasis will be placed upon escapes; especially escapes from the side mount position!!!! I will be somewhat flexible and lenient with your submissions, positional dominance and overall awareness to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu game. However, if you do not know your escapes thoroughly, you will not pass this examination! Take an adequate amount of time to practice your basics!

If you have questions about anything, please e-mail me before you take the examination! Once the examination begins, your training will speak for itself!

Other people award based on tournaments, or performance at training, or a combination. Of course catching a few purples in training doesn't make you a purple belt - it's training, so they could be putting themselves in bad positions, working on a weakness etc. Of course if someone can hang with purples consistantly they're probably at that level - unless of course they're some monstrous wrestler (just as an example).

Nothingcompares

what do you think of roy harris clive? is curriculum seems a bit dodgy to me.

HammerHeadGym

Good lord Clive,
thats a lot of knowledge. Is he serious about letters of recommendation from your community to testify to your good character? Do all Bjj schools have written sections for the blue belt and (I assume) higher grades? I have never heard of that before. Except in Japan, but lots of stuff in Japan has that. Pay raise, promotion in work etc.

Thanks again

Clive

I've never heard of written parts apart from Roy Harris, but to be honest, it's pretty simple information that most people would well have picked up by the time they're thinking of going for blue belt.

As for the letter of recommendation - you can kind of understand it, based on the line:

"This blue belt examination you are about to read was designed for those students who do not train with me or with one of my certified Grappling or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructors."

These could be complete randomers, so he just wants to make sure that they're halfway decent people before he has his name permanently attached to them. Normally if people were grading under their own instructor, their instructor's instructor, association head etc. this information would be known.

I've never trained with, met or corresponded with Roy Harris, so all I know of him is his reputation (which is very good) and the stuff he's written. the articles on his site http://royharris.com/ make a lot of sense to me, and he goes out of his way to answer questions on his Q&A section on the underground.

Millionaire

Nothingcompares wrote:

what do you think of roy harris clive? is curriculum seems a bit dodgy to me.

What specific parts seem "dodgy" to you?


It looks very comprehensive to me, and he has even included standing self defence parts.

I've seen some of Roy Harris Seminar DVDs, where he adapted BJJ to self defence, and it looked very useful and functional, and he explained it very well, watching his dvd was like being in a live class.

astfgl

i once read an article written by roy harris about what you should train at which belt and he basically thought that only position should be taught at white blet, with escapes at blue, and submissions from purple belt onwards (with at least a year on each belt). now if you know someone who is willing to do a years training on just positioning (thats positioning for submissioning but not even considering escapes) then you know some one with no personality cause there is nothing more boring than positioning drills (i remember once at a seminar the coach had us do 2 hours of forehead on forehead clinch control).
i dont care who roy harris is
i dont care who royce gracie (or his family) is
saying you need to know this is like saying you need to know about mike tysons life to be good boxer. (this is not the same as having to know the skills /techniques they came up with)
i have to go now , i'll be back in while to rant some more on this

john kavanagh

astfgl wrote:

there is nothing more boring than positioning drills (i remember once at a seminar the coach had us do 2 hours of forehead on forehead clinch control)

really? 2 hrs of just forehead 2 forehead movement? or was it more like it included handfighting, underhook, bodylock, single and double neck tie etc etc as well as 'head position' ie the ENTIRE clinch fighting delivery system?

Millionaire

Those who can do the basics millions of time without getting bored (regardless of what MA, or any other subject under the sun), are more than likely those, who are on their way to mastery.

astfgl

Millionaire wrote:

Those who can do the basics millions of time without getting bored (regardless of what MA, or any other subject under the sun), are more than likely those, who are on their way to mastery.

or those with nothing going on in their head.
i'm not saying that being able to do the basics repeatedly and still get them perfect on the 100th attempt is bad, but most people just get bored doing one move for more than 20 mins. but back to roy:

he reminds me of the type of TMA coach that would laughed right off this thread: imagine some-one came on here and started posting about in his martial art you need to know its history and founders and the lineage from the founders to your own coach. its sounds like a guy talking about jeet kun do and how his coach trained with the last guy to train with bruce lee before he died so therefore hes a good coach.

theres plenty of stuff on the curriculum thats good (knowledge of takedowns), but the set up (at least the set up as its written) sounds like that of a kata.
instead of roll with these people (most of who are of the belt you are going for) and seeing if you are of the same skill as those people (ie you can hold your own against them, so getting a few taps and being able to defend effectively, ie not just lock down and hold off anything the blue belt half your size tries to do just because you're stronger than him), his requirements are categorised: be able to do such and such takedowns, and such and such sweeps.
while being able to sweep/takedown/submit from a myriad of positions is a good thing, you should show that your rolling is more natural and situation based. for instance, i'm <60 kgs, so to try and armbar a +90 bodybuilder isn't really worth my while energywise, i'd probably be better off going for a choke.
and sure, all i might be able to get is chokes on the guy, but if i can consistently get chokes whats wrong with that?
another thing is that i do some moves totally different from how most people do them eg i've never seen any-one do the rubber guard the way i do it (i do it with no presssure on your knees or hips at all)
i've also come up with moves that few or no other people have done (bicep slicer from guard, armless triangle, half butterfly gogo kimura (working title))

astfgl

here is how i think belts should be awarded (in anything):
all belts up to black (but not including black) should be awarded like belts are in BJJ ie if you can hold your own against a blue/purple/brown/etc belt (multiple spars against different opponents so you dont get a guy on a bad day) you get the belt, otherwise you are told what you need to improve and you improve it (eg great defense, but crap at subs, or great punching but terrible takedown defense etc). do this and you will have definite skill levels at each belt and this will stop belts being given out to anybody who just pays for them. Now on to the black belt:
there should only be a certain number of blackbelts (in each weight category) in the world at any time and if you want one, you should challenge one and you only get it if you can win 2 out of 3 fights ( so no lucky knockouts)
i think doing this (especially in TMA's) will make blackbelts cool again (instead of tubby old men who buy them online)

Millionaire

astfgl wrote:

. its sounds like a guy talking about jeet kun do and how his coach trained with the last guy to train with bruce lee before he died so therefore hes a good coach.

)

Yes, thats me that your referring to when you say that, I posted that on here.

Lineage is important, it is a way of proving you learned your skills from a source of reputation, and is an endorsement of the instructor you trained under.

Right now I am training in the Muay Thai camp which has had the most Thai champions ever...24... which is Sityodtong..before that I was in the camp which is No. 2 after that in all of thailand with 10 champions, one of which was undefeated MT world champ for 6 years. (one of the longest reigns as a world champ ever in MT). Now my point is, that called it Lineage, Track Record or History, is a testimony to the level of training on offer in these camps. Other may argue different, but I believe the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the better coach (in combat sports) will have more champs... simple as that.


If your getting bored doing 1 technique for 20 mins, there is a strong chance that you will drop out of MA within 2 years time.

You have a strong view on black belt grades... when did you pass your black belt test?

john kavanagh

astfgl wrote:

i've also come up with moves that few or no other people have done (bicep slicer from guard, armless triangle, half butterfly gogo kimura (working title))

this is from part of an article i wrote a while ago

The Belt Contract

White belt – enjoy this time. You have the right to ‘spaz out’ all the time and nobody can get pissed with you coz you’re a white belt. Nothing expected of you except you get tapped out by everyone. its in your contract that you must ignore all advice to 'relax' when rolling, you must instead contract all your muscle groups 100% and then flip out.

Blue belt – start getting used to expectation. You are expected to be able to control and tap every white belt you go with or else you’re a ‘weak blue’. This is in your contract, read it carefully. Blue belt is also known as the ‘accumulation belt’. According to your contract you must accumulate any and all techniques from any and all sources; you may even believe you are coming up with your own stuff – until you see it in some old judo book of course. It’s also in your contract that when rolling with higher belts you must time your roll and then discuss with other blue belters how long you lasted and attempt to compare them with other higher belts. You must also practice certain phrases now, such as when that judo BB grinds you into the mat you can comfort yourself he was just ‘using attributes’. According to your contract you must also begin working on your ‘contradiction skillz’ (perfected at purple belt). So when you see a technique demonstrated you immediately scan through your database of stored moves and come up with the counter (its important to ignore the fact that EVERY move has a counter). When it comes to practice time you must show your white belt partner the counter or better yet the variation on that same technique you were shown by a BJJ-celebrity (this theme is concentrated on at purple belt but important to introduce it now).

ah the wheel never stops...:D

Tim_Murphy

I did a seminar with Roy Harris a few years back in Limerick. He struck me as someone you could learn a lot from but I just would be bored doing it. I can't exactly pin point why, but I watched one of his DVDs, which he gave away at the seminar, and I got the same feeling.

ah the wheel never stops...

I was full sure I'd invented a variation of the old school sweep, until of course I got around to reading the next few days of Eddie Bravos book!

Nothingcompares

That belt contract thing is very good. I read the rest of it on an Estonian message board. John's fan base stretches wide and far.

john kavanagh

Nothingcompares wrote:

That belt contract thing is very good. I read the rest of it on an Estonian message board. John's fan base stretches wide and far.

lol you read many Estonian message boards?

dlofnep

I must say, it's a relief to suck and still bear a white belt. I've no expectations to upkeep. But at the same time, I'm going nowhere fast

Clive

john kavanagh wrote:

White belt – enjoy this time. You have the right to ‘spaz out’ all the time and nobody can get pissed with you

Sweet...

Nothingcompares

john kavanagh wrote:

lol you read many Estonian message boards?

only the interesting ones

BobbyOLeary

astfgl wrote:

here is how i think belts should be awarded (in anything):
all belts up to black (but not including black) should be awarded like belts are in BJJ ie if you can hold your own against a blue/purple/brown/etc belt (multiple spars against different opponents so you dont get a guy on a bad day) you get the belt, otherwise you are told what you need to improve and you improve it (eg great defense, but crap at subs, or great punching but terrible takedown defense etc). do this and you will have definite skill levels at each belt and this will stop belts being given out to anybody who just pays for them. Now on to the black belt:
there should only be a certain number of blackbelts (in each weight category) in the world at any time and if you want one, you should challenge one and you only get it if you can win 2 out of 3 fights ( so no lucky knockouts)
i think doing this (especially in TMA's) will make blackbelts cool again (instead of tubby old men who buy them online)

How many in the world? What about older men like Helio Gracie? He'd probably get tapped by at least one of his sons, so he doesn't deserve his belt?

I understand your frustration at seeing people get BB for nothing and how its watering down what a BB once meant. The way I see it though is that the only people who you want to respect your BB can see if you got it for nothing. So what if some people buy their belts? That doesn't diminish my ability, it will just highlight their lack of it.

Nothingcompares

BobbyOLeary wrote:

I understand your frustration at seeing people get BB for nothing and how its watering down what a BB once meant.

What did the blackbelt once mean? It never meant anything more than proficiency in the systems it was first used in.

BobbyOLeary

Nothingcompares wrote:

What did the blackbelt once mean? It never meant anything more than proficiency in the systems it was first used in.

Exactly. It just seems nowadays that more and more people are getting BBs and that level of proficiency is dropping. I really don't care too much about the whole thing. Without a BB myself this whole thing doesn't affect me too much.

Colm_OReilly

Can you post the rest of that article John?

astfgl

john kavanagh wrote:

you may even believe you are coming up with your own stuff – until you see it in some old judo book of course.

i realise that, my point was just that the way i do a lot of moves is not the way that roy harris wants you to do them in order to get blue belt.

Millionaire wrote:

Yes, thats me that your referring to when you say that, I posted that on here.

Lineage is important, it is a way of proving you learned your skills from a source of reputation, and is an endorsement of the instructor you trained under.

Right now I am training in the Muay Thai camp which has had the most Thai champions ever...24... which is Sityodtong..before that I was in the camp which is No. 2 after that in all of thailand with 10 champions, one of which was undefeated MT world champ for 6 years. (one of the longest reigns as a world champ ever in MT). Now my point is, that called it Lineage, Track Record or History, is a testimony to the level of training on offer in these camps. Other may argue different, but I believe the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the better coach (in combat sports) will have more champs... simple as that.


If your getting bored doing 1 technique for 20 mins, there is a strong chance that you will drop out of MA within 2 years time.

You have a strong view on black belt grades... when did you pass your black belt test?.

just because your coach trained with the best in your martial art doesn't make him a good coach. now, saying that he trained the (24) best in your martial art is different, this shows directly that he is a good coach.
i trained with John Kavanagh for over a year ( i even trained with Jeff Monson, Matt Thornton and Karl Tanswell on a number of occasions (once each)) does this mean i can set up a BJJ club advertising that i'm a good coach because i've trained with these people?
no cause i'm a crap coach (just ask anyone about my cornering at the last sub wrestling competition)
did i train with john cause he trained with these people(and more)?
no, i trained with him cause i knew he was the best
was he the best because he trained with them?
maybe but do i need to take a written test on who john trained with and what other ranks he has to get a blue belt?
not really, no

astfgl

BobbyOLeary wrote:

I understand your frustration at seeing people get BB for nothing and how its watering down what a BB once meant. The way I see it though is that the only people who you want to respect your BB can see if you got it for nothing. So what if some people buy their belts? That doesn't diminish my ability, it will just highlight their lack of it.

I know that, the problem is the people who dont have MA experience (and even those who do) who think a club has to be taught by a blackbelt for it to be any good.
once in college, while trying to get people to join the BJJ club last year, a guy comes up to me says with a smirk "there are no BJJ blackbelts in Ireland, are there?" as if thats the thing that should clinch it for you when choosing what MA to do.
I'm not a blackbelt purist, but i hate hearing uneducated peoples bullsh!t about martial arts

Millionaire

astfgl wrote:

just because your coach trained with the best in your martial art doesn't make him a good coach. now, saying that he trained the (24) best in your martial art is different, this shows directly that he is a good coach.

Now, do you not think, that after 20 + year in MA, that I would be sticking around if someone was a crap instructor, regardless of who they trained with????

I take my own training very serious, and I do not suffer bad teachers nor uncommitted training partners.

BobbyOLeary

astfgl wrote:

I know that, the problem is the people who dont have MA experience (and even those who do) who think a club has to be taught by a blackbelt for it to be any good.

And so reducing the amount of BBs in the world would help this? I don't think this is a bad assumption to make for a uneducated person. How else would they know?

astfgl wrote:

once in college, while trying to get people to join the BJJ club last year, a guy comes up to me says with a smirk "there are no BJJ blackbelts in Ireland, are there?" as if thats the thing that should clinch it for you when choosing what MA to do.

I'm probably talking to the wall here but couldn't you have explained the situation to him? Considering all the media hype the BB has gotten over the years I don't think it would be an unexpected move on the beginner's part to stay away from a club without a BB in it.

astfgl wrote:

I'm not a blackbelt purist, but i hate hearing uneducated peoples bullsh!t about martial arts

Why?

judomick

just my2 cents, i think a good coach will improve your game more than the best in whatever MA your interested in , sometimes the best are extremely good coaches and sometimes there not!

JK is the best grappler in Ireland , hes also the best coach the record of SBG in tournaments is all you have to look at, he brought me to purple belt level in a year and a half!

as for belts, not sure who said it but your a blue belt when you can see the difference between a blue belt when can see the difference between a purple and a brown belt, your a purple belt when you can see the difference between a brown and a black belt, and your a brown belt when your told you are!
i roll with some awesome blue belts who give me a hardtime, partly because they have extremely good technique and partly because there strong and determined, but this is not enough to be given purple belts the same goes for purple to brown, and white to blue, every brown or black belt ive ever rolled with has deserved it 100% so i think the grading system seems to be doing just fine

astfgl

BobbyOLeary wrote:

I'm probably talking to the wall here but couldn't you have explained the situation to him? Considering all the media hype the BB has gotten over the years I don't think it would be an unexpected move on the beginner's part to stay away from a club without a BB in it.

i did, but i dont think he really believed me ( to be honest, i think he was from one of the other MAs in college trying to start an argument or something)
why would it be talking to the wall?

FiannaGym.com

john kavanagh wrote:

White belt – enjoy this time

... long may it last...

john kavanagh

Colm_OReilly wrote:

Can you post the rest of that article John?

as requested

Purple belt – as with all belts you must be able to control and submit, regardless of weight etc, any and all belts below you or you’re a ‘weak purple’. According to your contract you must develop a slight Brazilian accent when teaching or talking at white belts (purple belts should never talk ‘to’ a white belt). Its important to know the name of every technique and every mundial champ, work on having some anecdotes that place you and said mundial champ in funny situations together – “haha then he turns to me and says ‘that’s not my camel’ oh we laughed for hours”.

Brown belt – read the fine print of this contract. By signing this you are agreeing to remain in a certain physical condition for the rest of your training life. The excuse ‘oh I’m way out of shape’ just will not fly anymore. Regardless of injury/sickness etc you MUST be able to control and submit all lower belts, even that mundial blue belt stud gunning for yah after you’ve been on the beer the night before. So before you sign that contract, think about it!

Black belt contract – are you really sure you want to sign this? Seriously have your lawyer check it with you, you may decide against it! Here are just a couple of things in it

1- You must develop this magical quality that when you roll with a blue/purple and they inevitably ask you ‘so what should I do to improve’ you must be able to dramatically improve their game by showing them an exact certain technique. Any response like ‘you just need more mat time’, or ‘relax more when rolling’ i.e. ‘real answers’ just will not do!
2- You must have a stunt speech at the ready for ‘black belt’ questions like “gi or no-gi?”, “could rickson beat sakuraba”, “attributes or technique”, “leglocks?” and so on.
3- According to your contract you must also remain in physical shape to be able to beat all lower belts plus any belt from any other system

So before agreeing to your next promotion read that contract carefully and ask yourself is it really worth the hassle?

HammerHeadGym

HA HA HA HA!!

Nice John. Loved it.