Do you want a participation trophy? Well, if you answered yes to that question it is probably best to turn around because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not for you. BJJ Belts are not something that are easily given out, through hard work and dedication to the sport you can reach a point that only 1% of humans will ever achieve. Here is everything you need to know about BJJ Belts!
BJJ Belts
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu there are five levels that someone can receive. Those five levels are:
White Belt
Blue Belt
Purple Belt
Brown Belt
Black Belt
Within each belt ranking, you will receive stripes that indicate progress within that respective rank you find yourself in. Four stripes on a belt mean you have effectively “maxed out” your belt and are on your way to a promotion! Congratulations!
How to Achieve Belts Faster
There are no shortcuts in jiu-jitsu on progressing faster. You get better at this sport by spending more time on the mats. “How much time though?” Well, you can find the answer to that question here.
The beauty of this sport is that it teaches you many lessons along the way. Two of the lessons we think that many people will benefit from by practicing jiu-jitsu are patience and becoming process driven. Being able to stay patient with yourself and focus on the longevity of your career in the sport is a key mindset shift that will benefit every aspect of your life. Most short-sighted decisions are never good ones.
When you become process driven vs outcome-dependent, you learn to focus on getting better at jiu-jitsu. Day by day you decide to show up and put yourself out there to give yourself a fighting chance at improvement.
Gracie System
The Gracie System is a little bit different than some other schools. You can find a breakdown of that belt ranking system here or here.
Coach Philosophy
Everyone’s journey through jiu-jitsu is going to be different, it’s one of the beautiful things about the sport. With every student being unique, you will also run into very different coaching styles and philosophies for promotions. When you start jiu-jitsu it is important to not focus on the belts at first but as you get closer to the goal of hitting black your coach’s philosophy on what he expects from someone at that level will vary.
What Does Your Belt Say About You?
“Your belt is something that just holds up your pants.” This is a statement that gets thrown around in the community a lot but we would argue that your belt represents some real and tangible things. Although it is something that we do not think you should focus on, your belt is a representation of your level of commitment and dedication to yourself and the sport. It is not easy to rank up and you will not get a participation trophy for being in the crowd. Time and effort are necessary things you have to put in to get to the highest levels.
Why Does It Matter?
BJJ belt ranks are extremely important to the health of the ecosystem of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Because ranking up is not an easy task, a hierarchy of respect is formed within the community. Getting to the highest levels is not given, it is earned and people exude immense amounts of respect for those that can achieve this feat in their lifetime.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a sport that we are extremely passionate about and want to spread the wonderful benefits that the sport can have on people’s lives. That is why we created the Grappler’s Graveyard. We want to help people reach their fullest potential through the sport of jiu-jitsu. Making martial artists exceptional human beings is our sole mission here and we could not be happier that we are moving in that direction!
Happy Rolling!