attn:grappler the black belt on here

[Jay Chow]

You can wear what you want. When you train hard and receive your belt its pride and honor and in our system the t shirt represents a belt. If you were training with a gi on would you wear a different belt because you like the color.

Drexler's right, you can wear any shirt you want but if you're wearing a ranked shirt whilst rolling you're giving off the impression you're that rank. Why not just wear the white one or the grey one? You're still repping then and there's no problems!

[David Rosado]

You guys actually wear the color shirt you are when you roll? What if it's dirty? lol Who cares, the mats show what belt you are regardless what color shirt/socks/shorts you have on. The system is no gi, no uniformity, some people even roll shirtless. This whole thing is crazy. The higher the belt, the less of them there are. Now no one will want to buy the 10th Planet shirts if they think someone is going to question their credentials based on the color they are wearing. You're just hurting sales now, which means less exposure for 10th Planet. Thanks.

Agree with the bolded. I'm not part of a 10th yet, so I may be speaking out of turn...but rolling is one thing. I would say though, I think it's cool to wear your color for competition. As a sign of pride. But like Frank said, the mats will show what color you really are regardless.

[Jonathan Wylie]

I see you guys point on the respect thing especially if that is the way Eddie wants it but it does seem kind of silly. I will personally keep my dollars rather than where something I don't like. There is no dress code at HQ and Eddie gives out belts when he promotes not shirts. The person in question is not misrepresenting him self. His rank indicates white and im sure he didn't know he was doing anything wrong. They don't restrict the sale of the shirt on the melee website. It seems like if its that important they should only sell the shirts at official moons and come up with a different design to sell online. But, I would personally respect Eddies wishes.

[LeeCunningham]

I see you guys point on the respect thing especially if that is the way Eddie wants it but it does seem kind of silly. I will personally keep my dollars rather than where something I don't like. There is no dress code at HQ and Eddie gives out belts when he promotes not shirts. The person in question is not misrepresenting him self. His rank indicates white and im sure he didn't know he was doing anything wrong. They don't restrict the sale of the shirt on the melee website. It seems like if its that important they should only sell the shirts at official moons and come up with a different design to sell online. But, I would personally respect Eddies wishes.

Right, but there is at least a caveat that follows:

"Traditionally, Eddie Bravo would use T-shirts to show belt rank....

if you are a fan, wear whatever color you'd like; but if you train Jiu-Jitsu, you better sport your color!"

[bobby rivers]

Exactly.

[Chris Herzog]

The shirts are designed to represent your 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu (or non black belt BJJ )rank. It's ironic that the people arguing that it doesn't matter are not ranked. Try telling that to someone who has busted their ass to earn their rank that it doesn’t matter, my guys pride their rank shirts.

There is no filtering system on the Melee website, because it’s not run by Eddie, and I’m sure he wouldn't have the time to read a questionnaire every time someone ordered a shirt. There is a reason you can't buy a black shirt from Melee, those are special ordered through Eddie.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

i gotta be honest: i don't pay any attention at all to what color shirt/rashie that i or anybody i ever train with is wearing. i didn't know we were supposed to be abiding by this.

i wouldn't get too worked up about it. i haven't ever seen anything official from Eddie about it, at least not that i recall.

i have been wrong before, though....

[Chris Herzog]

I see you guys point on the respect thing especially if that is the way Eddie wants it but it does seem kind of silly. I will personally keep my dollars rather than where something I don't like. There is no dress code at HQ and Eddie gives out belts when he promotes not shirts. The person in question is not misrepresenting him self. His rank indicates white and im sure he didn't know he was doing anything wrong. They don't restrict the sale of the shirt on the melee website. It seems like if its that important they should only sell the shirts at official moons and come up with a different design to sell online. But, I would personally respect Eddies wishes.

Thats not 100% accurate. Eddie has promoted with rank shirts. My promotion was to brown belt was done with a rank shirt.

And I wouldn't show up to HQ or any other affialte with a purple belt rank rashguard or shorts if your not that rank, your likely to get smashed by people rolling with your at that (purple) level.

[Brandon Mccaghren]

^^^^ Herzog must've posted as i was typing.

Coach, is there an official stance on what color shirt/rashie to wear when you train?

[Chris Herzog]

^^^^ Herzog must've posted as i was typing.

Coach, is there an official stance on what color shirt/rashie to wear when you train?

Its the law of being on the mat, If you wear a brown 10th planet shirt, you better be able to roll like your a brown belt that day

Someone may mistake you for being a brown belt and twist your ass up.

I wouldn't walk in to a gi BJJ class as a white belt and decide I like the color purple better and wear a purple belt instead.