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2000 black belts in the world
6 year(s) ago • 2585 views • 35 replies
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
GJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Yeah, whole lot more out there these days.
CHBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Haha, yep considering the IBJJF lists almost 4400 of certified BB’s just on their site alone
HBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Still a very few considering how many start out.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
There are currently 4,396 black belts, no degrees, with active certificates on the IBJJF.
There are 814 first degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 715 second degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 712 third degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 293 fourth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 113 fifth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 66 sixth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 27 seventh degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 22 eighth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 15 ninth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
Now, if I would speculate, that for every IBJJF certified black belt with no degrees, there are five to ten black belts or higher rank that just have IBJJF membership black belt competitor cards, but without IBJJF certificates.
And then I would speculate that there are 2 to 3 BJJ black belts without an IBJJF black belt competitor card for every BJJ black belt with an IBJJF competitor black belt or above card.
There are 814 first degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 715 second degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 712 third degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 293 fourth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 113 fifth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 66 sixth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 27 seventh degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 22 eighth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
There are 15 ninth degree black belts with active certificates with the IBJJF.
Now, if I would speculate, that for every IBJJF certified black belt with no degrees, there are five to ten black belts or higher rank that just have IBJJF membership black belt competitor cards, but without IBJJF certificates.
And then I would speculate that there are 2 to 3 BJJ black belts without an IBJJF black belt competitor card for every BJJ black belt with an IBJJF competitor black belt or above card.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
HBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Sounds about right
CHBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
William I couldn’t agree more, some don’t care anything about the IBJJF, I only certify so my students don’t have anything to worry about in the future!!!
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I've got zero interest in ever certifying anything with IBJJF, they will never get any of my money. Annoys me that a company selling tournaments masquerades as a governing body and charges an arm and a leg for the privilege. Fortunately as I'm in the UK and I don't compete, I can pretty much ignore them completely. And for those of my students who want to compete in IBJJF events, there's always BJJ Globetrotters to sign up under. ;)
DBBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I hadn't thought that much about it, but this site might be one of the only ways to get legitimate statistics on things like this. If enough folks sign up we can theoretically see how long they stay around for (at least updating their profiles) and end up with a distribution of how many users are given ranks. It has problems for extrapolating to statements about the general public since this is likely to be the more engaged subset of folks, but it would give more insight into how many folks hit what ranks over a number of years.
ALBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
So just for nice even round numbers:
Let's say that by the time we reach 20000 black belts in BJJ, worldwide, the world population is 8 billion people.
That would mean 0.0000025% of the world are BJJ black belts.
Pretty exclusive club!!
Let's say that by the time we reach 20000 black belts in BJJ, worldwide, the world population is 8 billion people.
That would mean 0.0000025% of the world are BJJ black belts.
Pretty exclusive club!!
Edited 6 year(s) ago
BBPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I don't agree with IBJJF on a lot of things but the pricing isn't terrible. I pay almost the same amount for two divisions at a local tournament. The only difference is I don't have to have a membership locally. But being an annual it's not terrible. I've only had two IBJJF tournaments -- Dallas and Nashville, all 10+ hours from me... that is where the cost is!
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Here is the thing Brandon,
anybody with access to mats and a space,
or who can talk their way into access to mats and a space,
can hold a free tournament.
I have helped my students or myself and my training partners start many commercial clubs in my day,
but also several university, or community center non-profit clubs.
Nobody is locked into commercial tournament providers of any brand.
Nor do tournament providers have to run a commercial model.
Nor do Jiu-Jitsu teachers have to charge money to teach.
Those tournament providers or teachers that do charge commercial fees all have one thing in common:
they wish to make money for their efforts and investments.
So, I see no difference between the IBJJF's profit model, or any other for profit tournament profit model, or for profit school owner profit model.
Similarly there was a lot of jealously about the Gracie University, in reality, because there was jealousy that Ryron and Rener's offering looked life it was making money.
Don't say it was about the online blue belt, because here we all are, voting and verifying people's ranks online...
People really get their panties in a wad when the "other guy", not themselves, appears to make money.
As for myself, I don't care if other people make money, so long as I or my students get their money's worth when they enter a tournament or buy an online service etc.
anybody with access to mats and a space,
or who can talk their way into access to mats and a space,
can hold a free tournament.
I have helped my students or myself and my training partners start many commercial clubs in my day,
but also several university, or community center non-profit clubs.
Nobody is locked into commercial tournament providers of any brand.
Nor do tournament providers have to run a commercial model.
Nor do Jiu-Jitsu teachers have to charge money to teach.
Those tournament providers or teachers that do charge commercial fees all have one thing in common:
they wish to make money for their efforts and investments.
So, I see no difference between the IBJJF's profit model, or any other for profit tournament profit model, or for profit school owner profit model.
Similarly there was a lot of jealously about the Gracie University, in reality, because there was jealousy that Ryron and Rener's offering looked life it was making money.
Don't say it was about the online blue belt, because here we all are, voting and verifying people's ranks online...
People really get their panties in a wad when the "other guy", not themselves, appears to make money.
As for myself, I don't care if other people make money, so long as I or my students get their money's worth when they enter a tournament or buy an online service etc.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
BBPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
We don't do local free tournaments really, we do have in-house tournaments from time to time. In my area -- Southeast Kansas -- we don't have a whole lot of people who train, our academy is the only one for 30 miles.
We have started a rotating open mat every sunday with four total academies under four differnet affiliations, within an hour radius of each other, in the last year that has been going over quite well.
We have started a rotating open mat every sunday with four total academies under four differnet affiliations, within an hour radius of each other, in the last year that has been going over quite well.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
@Brandon, that is good.
However, 30 miles is not a great distance when it comes to tournaments.
When I was a blue belt, except for the tournaments we ran / threw ourselves,
We had to buy a plane ticket to Southern California, or Rio de Janeiro, or settle for competing in Judo tournaments, or shoot fighting matches, or NHB, etc.
Just saying.
However, 30 miles is not a great distance when it comes to tournaments.
When I was a blue belt, except for the tournaments we ran / threw ourselves,
We had to buy a plane ticket to Southern California, or Rio de Janeiro, or settle for competing in Judo tournaments, or shoot fighting matches, or NHB, etc.
Just saying.
BBPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Two of the academies within 30-50 miles of me are owners of a Fuji franchise so they don't typically throw local non-fuji branded tournaments :D
To compete at Fuji or AGF it's always either Wichita Kansas, Kansas City Kansas/Missouri, Tulsa Oklahoma, Springdale Arkansas, or Springfield Missouri. All roughly 2 hours away. We have quite a few opportunities throughout the year, not as many as some areas -- but enough.
To be honest though i'm glad we don't have local tournaments. I can roll with those guys any time -- i'd rather face people from academies I don't see often.
To compete at Fuji or AGF it's always either Wichita Kansas, Kansas City Kansas/Missouri, Tulsa Oklahoma, Springdale Arkansas, or Springfield Missouri. All roughly 2 hours away. We have quite a few opportunities throughout the year, not as many as some areas -- but enough.
To be honest though i'm glad we don't have local tournaments. I can roll with those guys any time -- i'd rather face people from academies I don't see often.
WMBlack belt 5th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
If you are happy, I am happy.
ALBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
As for myself, I don't care if other people make money, so long as I or my students get their money's worth when they enter a tournament or buy an online service etc.
Well said!!
JWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
The issue with the IBJJF 'registration' isn't the cost, it's the value. They changed LITERALLY NOTHING in the period where they went from only requiring black belts to register to the period where they require EVERYONE to register. There is no added value for that money being charged at all. The IBJJF doesn't provide insurance for the competitors, doesn't pay out prize money, does NOTHING that any other tournament organizer doesn't also do. But the IBJJF thinks you should pay them an extra $30 a year or whatever for the privilege of being allowed to pay them $130+ per event to compete. Ludicrous.
HBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Just wait til you try to certify your black belt.....
AKPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
IBJJF doesn't count for anything in my opinion. It's primarily a guard pullers tournament that used to be the proving ground for UFC-calibre fighters, but has long since lost that claim to ADCC. My black belt isn't registered with them, i had to go back 4 steps in my lineage to find someone who was - despite the fact that at least the 2 closest to me have competed in IBJJF as black belts. Personally i wouldn't compete under their ruleset for all the honey in Winnie the Pooh.
SMBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
the 12 year path does line up exactly with the emerging stats here, tho
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
The issue with the IBJJF 'registration' isn't the cost, it's the value. They changed LITERALLY NOTHING in the period where they went from only requiring black belts to register to the period where they require EVERYONE to register. There is no added value for that money being charged at all. The IBJJF doesn't provide insurance for the competitors, doesn't pay out prize money, does NOTHING that any other tournament organizer doesn't also do. But the IBJJF thinks you should pay them an extra $30 a year or whatever for the privilege of being allowed to pay them $130+ per event to compete. Ludicrous.
Well there is one thing though. People still come in hordes through the doors to their business and are apparently more than willing to pay what they charge. Doesn’t seem like they are slowing down due to customer complaints any time soon. They are a for-profit company and they are completely free to charge whatever their costumes want to pay with zero obligations to deliver anything more than what they do. Capitalism at its finest :)
AKPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Well there is one thing though. People still come in hordes through the doors to their business and are apparently more than willing to pay what they charge. Doesn’t seem like they are slowing down due to customer complaints any time soon. They are a for-profit company and they are completely free to charge whatever their costumes want to pay with zero obligations to deliver anything more than what they do. Capitalism at its finest :)
Being a white belt, I talk to a lot of other white belts. My impression is that most white belts are funneled to IBJJF by their gym. The average white belt IBJJF competitor seems unaware there are better competitions or even any alternatives. That's why many white belts come out with bizzare statements like "wrist locks are banned in competition". So I wouldn't say they are happy customers, mainly people doing the competition they were funneled into, by the first gym they walked into when they started BJJ.
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I also think it is much easier to ignore the IBJJF in the UK than it is elsewhere. There are loads of comps run by other organisations here: the only IBJJF one I can think of is the London Open, which is a buttload of money so plenty of people rule it out for that reason. Plus we've got the UKBJJA in the UK, which is a proper governing body (non-profit, for a start).
In the US, the IBJJF appears to have much more of a stranglehold.
In the US, the IBJJF appears to have much more of a stranglehold.
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
ALBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I also think it is much easier to ignore the IBJJF in the UK than it is elsewhere. There are loads of comps run by other organisations here: the only IBJJF one I can think of is the London Open, which is a buttload of money so plenty of people rule it out for that reason. Plus we've got the UKBJJA in the UK, which is a proper governing body (non-profit, for a start). In the US, the IBJJF appears to have much more of a stranglehold.
In the New England and New York Region, IBJJF isn't that big a deal. Many more other competition opportunties!
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
That's good to hear. I don't know much about US tournament companies, except for US Grappling because my awesome friends Chrissy and Brian run that one, along with Andrew Smith. I've only ever competed once and hated it, but I would be tempted to try US Grappling some time, almost purely because the Linzys are involved. :D
AKPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Well there is one thing though. People still come in hordes through the doors to their business and are apparently more than willing to pay what they charge. Doesn’t seem like they are slowing down due to customer complaints any time soon. They are a for-profit company and they are completely free to charge whatever their costumes want to pay with zero obligations to deliver anything more than what they do. Capitalism at its finest :)
Being a white belt, I talk to a lot of other white belts. My impression is that most white belts are funneled to IBJJF by their gym. The average white belt IBJJF competitor seems unaware there are better competitions or even any alternatives. That's why many white belts come out with bizzare statements like "wrist locks are banned in competition". So I wouldn't say they are happy customers, mainly people doing the competition they were funneled into, by the first gym they walked into when they started BJJ.
SCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
According to IBJJF there are 5.3k black belts registered! I guess the webinars (provided during the Covid pandemic) made many black belts oficialize their situation with the institution. The number increased significantly this year.
I was honestly always surprised by the fact that they'd never offered an online rules seminar option because it would drastically open up the amount of people who could take the class (as illustrated).
VBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Two of the academies within 30-50 miles of me are owners of a Fuji franchise so they don't typically throw local non-fuji branded tournaments :D To compete at Fuji or AGF it's always either Wichita Kansas, Kansas City Kansas/Missouri, Tulsa Oklahoma, Springdale Arkansas, or Springfield Missouri. All roughly 2 hours away. We have quite a few opportunities throughout the year, not as many as some areas -- but enough. To be honest though i'm glad we don't have local tournaments. I can roll with those guys any time -- i'd rather face people from academies I don't see often.
That's not bad, I have never completed in a tournament that wasn't on average 2 hour drive. It is what it is. If you want to complete those are the things that come with competing.
