Belt Promotions

I know every academy varies in how they handle belt promotions. I was just curious on what your guys' thoughts on how they should work. I'm asking because we have a black belt come in to our academy every 6 months to promote stripes and give out belts. Me and another white belt of the same we're there and the black belt asked out instructor(who seems always very short and rude with me.. Hes a purp belt btw) how long we've been doing it for. Him about 6 months longer than me. I've been subbed by him one time in about 30 rolls together and I've subbed him around 20 with the remaining being draws. He got a belt promotion while I was left without one... I thought it was based off of skill and technique not just when you've started. I'm trying not to sound like a whiny bitch but it just left me kind of confused. I have a great attitude toward jiu Jitsu and put a lot of work in improving even at home when I'm not on the mats. What does anyone else think? Should it be just when you've started and if you've been w/o a promotion for awhile it's about time for one. just skill/technique no matter when youve started if you gain progress fast or both? Or should it be the other option of a paid test of techniques. Let me know what everyone thinks on this. I personally think it should just be skill and dedication... You can have been doing jiu Jitsu for 10 years but a guy with 5 years has more mat time then you.

Me and the other white belt are both 175 btw

What I tell everyone is enjoy the ride and don't get hung up on the belt thing. Bruce lee said belt are used to hold up your pants. Enjoy the journey and your time will come. When i was at HQ nick lentz from the ufc was there and he had no belt rank at the time. His skill was on par with black belts but he was a white belt.

Theres a million ways of promoting grapplers, it just varies depending on the coaches. Some coaches are out to get $$ by keeping thier students interested in the sport by handing out belts as time goes on, while others will base it on their own standard of ability. For example, a karate sensei running an academy will often promote by years/classes attended, whereas Coach Zog (youll see him on the forum as time goes on.. hes kinda a big deal XD) Will promote on overall ability. Also keep in mind that many new recruits to submission grappling have experience in other grappling standards (judo, wrestling, etc.) And will have say.. blue belt ability in one area and be clueless in another. The best thing you can do is to learn as much as you can, roll with technique and calm, and hope you earn respect to gain your next belt. Just keep at it. It will come with time.

What Josh and Kyle said are key!
One thing to know is that the belt will come just give it time. But you have to want to learn jiu jitsu and be on the mat often. A rule of thumb I use is:
blue) 1000 - 5min matches and you can consider yourself a blue belt.
purple) 3000 - 5min matches and you can consider yourself a purple belt.
brown) 5000 - 5min matches and you can consider yourself a brown belt.
black) 7500+ - 5min matches and you can consider yourself a black belt.

Of course, these matches have to be no pansie matches. Train to learn. Your knowledge will be apparent at this point.
And finally, this is a rule of thumb. When I ask people how long they've trained for I'll quickly do the math to figure where they are at without even knowing whether or not they have a belt.

For instance if someone says I've been training for 2 years. I think to myself they have probably been training maybe 3 times a week, maybe 5 matches a session.
3*5*104=1560(5 min matches)... That puts them just over a blue belt.

Only you, the grappler, know how many 5 minute matches you've been in, so use this formula to see where you are sort of at.

Hope this helps man,
Slick Rick

Keep putting in the hard work and youll get promoted when the time is right. It sounds like your better than your buddy , you don need a belt to prove it. I'd rather work my ass off and get a well deserved promotion than be a whiny bitch as you said and ask for one. Belt color doesn't mean much of it isn't earned the old fashioned way: hard work

Yeah, you're all making great points that seem to have the same theme. It is nice to see your hard work paying off with unbiased promotions but you're all right it's about the ride not the end result. Thanks guys I was pretty bummed out and confused after yesterday's class. Youre all awesome and very helpful!

+1 to Josh's comment. I have been a white belt for more than 10 years! According to Slick Rick's formula, 2 times per week for say 7 years(I had some slacker periods, so I'll be conservative and say 7), but I roll more like 8 matches per session. 2*8*364=5824. That would put me into brown. When I travel and roll against other belted people from other gyms I try and guage how I compare. I don't feel I am a Brown, more like purple. If I was still at the gym I started with, I might have been a Brown or even a black by now, but I don't feel i would be any better than where I am at right now skill wise. Besides, it is way better to be a white belt every where I go, so I have no standard to live up to. If I feel like going cruse control to work on my technical escapes at another gym, I can. If I feel like only working newer parts of my game and leave out my "bread and butter" stuff just to see how the new stuff works on others outside my gym, I can. White belt has some advantages. Don't fret the belt thing, have fun, learn always and never give up. A guy trying to beat you up on the street doesn't give a rats ass what belt color you have.

You will see many people get promoted that you dont agree with the promotion. Just enjoy your journey :) Itll go by quick. Then once you get that black you can really begin to learn

I agree it should be based on skill and dedication, but at the same time if your instructor isn't just out for money, he'll promote you when he feels the time is right.

For example, I'm a blue belt. I was promoted back in December after about nine months of training. I started off relatively slow since I was a beginner, and there were only so many classes I could attend. However, once I reached two stripes I went as often as possible and despite always getting my ass beat, I stuck to it. My instructor promoted me based on my dedication I feel, not necessarily my skill.

There are blue belts who got promoted with me AND after me who beat my ass whenever we roll. It's just a matter of waiting until the time is right for you to get promoted. There happens to be a kid I train with who is UNBELIEVABLE and beats up on higher ranked belts often in class. He's so dedicated and talented, it's ridiculous, he lives and breathes BJJ. However, as far as rank goes, he's still a blue belt. He also competes often, and I'd imagine my instructor holds his standards high for this kid because of how good he is; he knows when to promote him and he will when the time is right.

Don't get too caught up on belts and rankings. It's like Royce Gracie once said, "A black belt only covers two inches of your ass. It's up to you to cover the rest." You'll get there!

In 1993 I started out in Jiu-Jitsu at the Gracie Academy as a white belt. 19 years later I train, when I have the time, at 10th HQ, and I am still a white belt. :) Hang in there bro.
By the way, in all that time I've had numerous "street and bar fights" haven't lost one yet, white belt and all.

.......Ok I have to put my 2 cents in. It sounds like you are being a whiny bitch....... This is what I got out of your post and the reason why I said that (in my whiny voice) This guy has only been training 6 months longer than me.... I sub him all the time... My instructor doesn't like me..... he is only a purple belt what does he know about who should be promoted and who shouldn't.....

Ok on any other forum I would leave it at that. This forum has a nice and gentle tone. So I will keep this nice. :)

- Don't compare your self with others just do you.
- Never stop moving in practice You will get noticed for your hard work.
- Ask your PB instructor for advice after every roll with him. It shows the willingness to learn. Chances are he knows what he is doing or he wouldn't be teaching the class.
- Enjoy yourself

Oh and if this post you created was sent to your instructor what do you think his reaction would be??? I look forward to hearing from you.

i had a few guys get promoted last week at my gym 2 of them to blue which the night before i ran through like i have many times before i asked my coach why and he explained to me why he did (super nice guys who's game has advanced heaps ) and where i stood end of the day for my juijitsu is a life long obsession try not to stress to much and just enjoy it

Also worth noting, IMO, with some instructors if you compete it is a much harder/longer way to get your belts. Guys that don't and never will compete tend to get promotions simply for their attendance, losing some weight etc etc. When you compete your instructors always have to make sure you are 100% ready as it is their reputation/name on the line as well.
No point in getting hung up on it. TBH the fact that you are so hung up on it could be perceived to show you are not quite ready for the next step. It is not all about belts. Fuck i don't even want my blue until my instructor is 100% sure i can protect it from all the gnarly white belts coming up LOL.
Moral of the story, be patient and it will come. :-)

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Originally Posted by Sam Sales

Also worth noting, IMO, with some instructors if you compete it is a much harder/longer way to get your belts. Guys that don't and never will compete tend to get promotions simply for their attendance, losing some weight etc etc. When you compete your instructors always have to make sure you are 100% ready as it is their reputation/name on the line as well.
No point in getting hung up on it. TBH the fact that you are so hung up on it could be perceived to show you are not quite ready for the next step. It is not all about belts. Fuck i don't even want my blue until my instructor is 100% sure i can protect it from all the gnarly white belts coming up LOL.
Moral of the story, be patient and it will come. :-)

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Sam, I feel that when one competes, it's the fast track to getting promoted.. Not because of the medals one gets, but from the leaps and bounds that are made in that person's performance. If one doesn't compete, s/he will get promoted eventually... But competition shows where one is as versus others of the same belt, and just preparing for that competition hones the attention on winning, or learning. Just my experience tho. I guess I like competing just to learn more about my own technique.

But, there's no question that prepping for war, gets a person bulletproof.

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Originally Posted by Slick Rick

Sam, I feel that when one competes, it's the fast track to getting promoted.. Not because of the medals one gets, but from the leaps and bounds that are made in that person's performance. If one doesn't compete, s/he will get promoted eventually... But competition shows where one is as versus others of the same belt, and just preparing for that competition hones the attention on winning, or learning. Just my experience tho. I guess I like competing just to learn more about my own technique.

But, there's no question that prepping for war, gets a person bulletproof.

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For sure, i was just saying, for guys that don't compete, they kinda get graded for other things. Not saying they are less competent on the mats than the guys that compete or anything like that. But it is a different mentality for sure.
I guess its a case of different instructors/teams and there varying methods etc.

Plus i think in my case, i will take a little longer to belt up anyway, as i am pretty much the only guy with a 10p style game at my school. :-)

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Originally Posted by Sam Sales

For sure, i was just saying, for guys that don't compete, they kinda get graded for other things. Not saying they are less competent on the mats than the guys that compete or anything like that. But it is a different mentality for sure.
I guess its a case of different instructors/teams and there varying methods etc.

Plus i think in my case, i will take a little longer to belt up anyway, as i am pretty much the only guy with a 10p style game at my school. :-)

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Ahhh true. Yes, when there's no competition, there's the other things like attendance, ability to teach, ability to execute the technique(especially during sparring)... These are definitely factors that get looked at.
Man just impose your style on your sparring partners, and as long as you can do that, you'll be in good shape for advancement.

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Originally Posted by Slick Rick

Ahhh true. Yes, when there's no competition, there's the other things like attendance, ability to teach, ability to execute the technique(especially during sparring)... These are definitely factors that get looked at.
Man just impose your style on your sparring partners, and as long as you can do that, you'll be in good shape for advancement.

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haha yes first post wasn't as clear as it should have been. By harder i meant the added pressures of competition and all that comes with it, the stress, pressure you put on yourself, nerves, cutting weight etc. The not so fun parts of jiu jitsu LOL. :-)

Thanks for the advice mate. Yes i am sticking with it and playing/developing my own game. Started working on my strength etc lately too. Just working hard as possible. Just trying not to get too hung up on belts. They will come eventually. :-)

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Originally Posted by Sam Sales

haha yes first post wasn't as clear as it should have been. By harder i meant the added pressures of competition and all that comes with it, the stress, pressure you put on yourself, nerves, cutting weight etc. The not so fun parts of jiu jitsu LOL. :-)

Thanks for the advice mate. Yes i am sticking with it and playing/developing my own game. Started working on my strength etc lately too. Just working hard as possible. Just trying not to get too hung up on belts. They will come eventually. :-)

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This is true Sam. Good post brotha. Man, the beginning portion is so crucial. The more disciplined you are up front goes a long way. Better to not have to worry about belts early on, rather have trust in the instructor to prepare you for what's to come.

I do ask questions after every class and when rolling with the hands on instructor, I love BJJ and am always looking to learn something every training session and attempt it if I can when we roll and it's always successful. I was just left confused... I acted respectful and congratulated person who got his promotion, I was genuinely glad he got it. I wanted your guys' take on belt promotions because if I went up to the instructor after and asked why I didn't get one that would be very unprofessional. So I'm asking you guys and have got a lot of good advice.

And to Art, what I meant from he's only a purple belt is he cannot give out belt promotions, we can only get them at seminars from black belts. I know nothing compared to them and I'm always looking to learn. And I know I sound like a whiny bitch, it was just after it happened and I was somewhat venting... A lot better to do it on here then in front of my instructor or the person who got the belt promotion right? :)

"The belt only covers 2 inches of your butt, the rest you have to back up on your own."

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Originally Posted by Ryan Brick

"The belt only covers 2 inches of your butt, the rest you have to back up on your own."

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I like that one, going to have to remember it.

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Originally Posted by gatorrrrrrrrr

I do ask questions after every class and when rolling with the hands on instructor, I love BJJ and am always looking to learn something every training session and attempt it if I can when we roll and it's always successful. I was just left confused... I acted respectful and congratulated person who got his promotion, I was genuinely glad he got it. I wanted your guys' take on belt promotions because if I went up to the instructor after and asked why I didn't get one that would be very unprofessional. So I'm asking you guys and have got a lot of good advice.

And to Art, what I meant from he's only a purple belt is he cannot give out belt promotions, we can only get them at seminars from black belts. I know nothing compared to them and I'm always looking to learn. And I know I sound like a whiny bitch, it was just after it happened and I was somewhat venting... A lot better to do it on here then in front of my instructor or the person who got the belt promotion right? :)

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You are right a black belts need to do the promotions in that kind of situation. Maybe you shouldn't ask why I didn't get promoted and more what are the things I lack? So I can improve. If you already did that what did he say?

Well the seminar was white belts only and I thought I was doing very well because I was hardly ever corrected, and seemed to get the hang of the techniques fairly quickly, when a lot of the other white belts weren't getting it as fast as me and I was used as the someone demonstrated on most of the time. I asked myself that after the seminar went home and worked on some of the solo drills on my grass that I thought I could improve on. It's not that I'm mad I didn't get a promotion, I was just confused with the situation on how the promotions are done. If I don't get promoted next seminar I definitely will ask that to him after class, I just didn't want to bother him or come off as someone who was upset he didn't get it. For now ill just work with the purple belts on getting as good as possible for the next seminar.

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Originally Posted by gatorrrrrrrrr

Well the seminar was white belts only and I thought I was doing very well because I was hardly ever corrected, and seemed to get the hang of the techniques fairly quickly, when a lot of the other white belts weren't getting it as fast as me and I was used as the someone demonstrated on most of the time. I asked myself that after the seminar went home and worked on some of the solo drills on my grass that I thought I could improve on. It's not that I'm mad I didn't get a promotion, I was just confused with the situation on how the promotions are done. If I don't get promoted next seminar I definitely will ask that to him after class, I just didn't want to bother him or come off as someone who was upset he didn't get it. For now ill just work with the purple belts on getting as good as possible for the next seminar.

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Good deal. It sounds like you have the right attitude. Good luck and keep us posted.

Just enjoy the journey and don't get hung up on the belt rank man. Just keep repping. Keep rolling. Keep just enjoying jiu jitsu. Just cuz you tap everyone doesn't make your knowledge deeper.