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Having to pay a fee in order to receive a belt promotion?
5 year(s) ago • 4188 views • 53 replies
VLBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Your thoughts? And, go...
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Ridiculous.
RBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Never liked this concept. To me, this is a small part of what separates BJJ from a lot of other McDojo styles. You earn your belts through sweat, blood, and tears. You are validated by your peers and instructor based on proficiency and performance.
VLBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Never liked this concept. To me, this is a small part of what separates BJJ from a lot of other McDojo styles. You earn your belts through sweat, blood, and tears. You are validated by your peers and instructor based on proficiency and performance.
100% agree!
BBBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I Always had to go to seminars and pay to get promoted. I will never make my students pay for, or go to a seminar to get promoted. It can become a cash grab. Cant stand it.
VLBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I Always had to go to seminars and pay to get promoted. I will never make my students pay for, or go to a seminar to get promoted. It can become a cash grab. Cant stand it.
I never had a problem with paying for a seminar, since I do learn a lot and they are loads of fun. My academy never makes them mandatory, but some schools can charge up to 500$ to receive a promotion... ugh, for me that's just not right.
BJBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I train at a gym that is 1.7 miles from my house (5 min drive). There is another gym that is 1.9 miles from my house (6 min drive). I will never train there though, even if my gym ever goes under, because they charge for promotions and (I think) stripes.
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
You should never have to pay for a promotion. It's bullshit.
You already spend out the nose for tuition, uniform and whatever else nickel and diming you get hit with.
I don't own and academy so I don't care. Alot of these guys would charge you for breathing the air at their academies.
I'm sure these aren't the types registered here.
You already spend out the nose for tuition, uniform and whatever else nickel and diming you get hit with.
I don't own and academy so I don't care. Alot of these guys would charge you for breathing the air at their academies.
I'm sure these aren't the types registered here.
JMPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
You should never have to pay for a promotion. It's bullshit. You already spend out the nose for tuition, uniform and whatever else nickel and diming you get hit with. I don't own and academy so I don't care. Alot of these guys would charge you for breathing the air at their academies. I'm sure these aren't the types registered here.
I agree 100% We have 2-3 graduations a year here and they are during Seminars which are also free through our affiliation. Although Stripes and Belt promotions can be given out at any time.
JPBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I've never paid for a stripe or a belt, and I've never charged for a stripe or a belt. If someone wants a special brand of belt or a personalized one, they can buy whatever they want if they want to spend money. Other than that, they are welcome to a free Combat Corner belt if they get promoted. No one has ever complained about my stripe tape brand, so that's a non issue....
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
HAVING TO PAY A FEE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A BELT PROMOTION?
Nope. I've never paid for promotions, belts, stripes, etc. so I also never charge for awarding belts, stripes, promotion, nor impose any prerequisite private training before being eligible for promotion, rank certificate, rank registration, etc. It's a very "money grab" business practice that I don't agree with.
<PT Barnum quote> I know of some people who practice charging for all of the above but each to their own </PT Barnum quote>
Nope. I've never paid for promotions, belts, stripes, etc. so I also never charge for awarding belts, stripes, promotion, nor impose any prerequisite private training before being eligible for promotion, rank certificate, rank registration, etc. It's a very "money grab" business practice that I don't agree with.
<PT Barnum quote> I know of some people who practice charging for all of the above but each to their own </PT Barnum quote>
SCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Here's a great one:
Guy trains at an affiliate of a well known instructor. Let's call him Slickson Macey.
Slickson comes into town.
Guy is up for promotion.
Slickson's dude makes it clear Guy needs to pay for a mandatory seminar AND a belt test.
Both fees are quite substantial, because it's Slickson himself, and not some no name Pedro Carioca.
Guy pays and attends both.
Slickson fails him at the test.
No belt for Guy.
Slickson says Good try my fren.
Guy trains at an affiliate of a well known instructor. Let's call him Slickson Macey.
Slickson comes into town.
Guy is up for promotion.
Slickson's dude makes it clear Guy needs to pay for a mandatory seminar AND a belt test.
Both fees are quite substantial, because it's Slickson himself, and not some no name Pedro Carioca.
Guy pays and attends both.
Slickson fails him at the test.
No belt for Guy.
Slickson says Good try my fren.
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
My experience with traditional martial arts (Japanese) grading systems
1. pay for regular classes - ok this is the normal market rates usually
2. travel to regional/national seminars for 1 to 2 days, the 2nd day being grading day involving training and grading
3. pay for grading en masse
4. grading candidates thin out the higher you go based on eligibility and time served in the current grade, eg. 1st dan testing for 2nd dan, at least 2 years as 1st dan, 2nd dan to 3rd dan, at least 3 years in 2nd dan, etc.
5. the higher the rank the more expensive the testing fee with no guarantees of passing
6. additional fee for new belt, certified rank sticker in rank record /membership book, additional fee for certificate and rank registration in HQ
7. at these regional/national events there are usually merchandising for new gi/books/video tapes (back in the day) t-shirts, etc.
8. 'masterclasses' at extra $ where only people above a certain rank are eligible to join with organization master teaching - usually either very basic with a lot of pseudo sport science, propaganda about why 'we' are better than 'them' and/or 'out there' concepts in make believe world of people still attacking with sticks, swords, defending yourself in a canoe, or against horse riding assailants, sometimes ninjas - so usually a photo op moment more than anything else
Sad to see BJJ rapidly adopting many of these practices :(
#itstartedwithOss
1. pay for regular classes - ok this is the normal market rates usually
2. travel to regional/national seminars for 1 to 2 days, the 2nd day being grading day involving training and grading
3. pay for grading en masse
4. grading candidates thin out the higher you go based on eligibility and time served in the current grade, eg. 1st dan testing for 2nd dan, at least 2 years as 1st dan, 2nd dan to 3rd dan, at least 3 years in 2nd dan, etc.
5. the higher the rank the more expensive the testing fee with no guarantees of passing
6. additional fee for new belt, certified rank sticker in rank record /membership book, additional fee for certificate and rank registration in HQ
7. at these regional/national events there are usually merchandising for new gi/books/video tapes (back in the day) t-shirts, etc.
8. 'masterclasses' at extra $ where only people above a certain rank are eligible to join with organization master teaching - usually either very basic with a lot of pseudo sport science, propaganda about why 'we' are better than 'them' and/or 'out there' concepts in make believe world of people still attacking with sticks, swords, defending yourself in a canoe, or against horse riding assailants, sometimes ninjas - so usually a photo op moment more than anything else
Sad to see BJJ rapidly adopting many of these practices :(
#itstartedwithOss
BBBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I never had a problem with paying for a seminar, since I do learn a lot and they are loads of fun. My academy never makes them mandatory, but some schools can charge up to 500$ to receive a promotion... ugh, for me that's just not right.
I don't have an issue with paying for a seminar, but that was the only way to get promoted/stripe. No seminar no promotion. I think that is trash.
Hated the money grab.
Hated the money grab.
ARBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Here's a great one: Guy trains at an affiliate of a well known instructor. Let's call him Slickson Macey. Slickson comes into town. Guy is up for promotion. Slickson's dude makes it clear Guy needs to pay for a mandatory seminar AND a belt test. Both fees are quite substantial, because it's Slickson himself, and not some no name Pedro Carioca. Guy pays and attends both. Slickson fails him at the test. No belt for Guy. Slickson says Good try my fren.
Friggin' Slickson!
RMBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I never had a problem with paying for a seminar, since I do learn a lot and they are loads of fun. My academy never makes them mandatory, but some schools can charge up to 500$ to receive a promotion... ugh, for me that's just not right.
$500 for a promotion? I'd be a forever learning white belt
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Here's a great one: Guy trains at an affiliate of a well known instructor. Let's call him Slickson Macey. Slickson comes into town. Guy is up for promotion. Slickson's dude makes it clear Guy needs to pay for a mandatory seminar AND a belt test. Both fees are quite substantial, because it's Slickson himself, and not some no name Pedro Carioca. Guy pays and attends both. Slickson fails him at the test. No belt for Guy. Slickson says Good try my fren.
Was it an issue with his aura? Lol
NKBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
If the academy is run properly the monthly fees should more than cover operating costs. As well as affording the teachers we love the ability to make a living. Going after "belt fees" seems disingenuous when the instructors main goal should be the growth of the student. Personally I'm not for it, but to each their own I suppose.
RBPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
There should never be a cost to get promoted, your monthly training fee should cover it. It's nice to show support (and of course educational) to attend a seminar, but it shouldn't be the only time/way to get promoted. Just my opinion...
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
When I was a white belt I was "invited" to attend a belt test for my blue belt (at a cost). I told my instructor that I didn't think it was worth the money. The instructor made it a point to give a speech in front of the class about how you can't choose your belt color lol. He wound up just giving me my blue belt a couple weeks later. What was he going to do? I suppose he could have kicked me out of the gym, but I think he also enjoyed the monthly fees coming to him from my bank account more.
Since then I've made it a point to not pay for any sort of ranking and just stay whatever color belt I happened to be at the time and I don't regret it at all.
Since then I've made it a point to not pay for any sort of ranking and just stay whatever color belt I happened to be at the time and I don't regret it at all.
TPBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Easy to say that wouldn't do it, because I don't have to in my current situation.
Some of the smaller schools I'm familiar with are affiliated with a team that brings in a black belt to give belt tests & gradings (the small teams don't have a BB their own). And the belt tests involve a fee for the promotee to pay. While I personally think that the school should cover these fees so that the practitioners can get belted without charge, I also know that these gyms have extremely low membership fees (they're non-profit entities operating on volunteer workforce) , so compensating the visiting black belt for his/her time makes sense.
Thus I don't think charging for a promotion is necessarily an evil or a greedy action. It very much depends on the situation, like everything else.
Some of the smaller schools I'm familiar with are affiliated with a team that brings in a black belt to give belt tests & gradings (the small teams don't have a BB their own). And the belt tests involve a fee for the promotee to pay. While I personally think that the school should cover these fees so that the practitioners can get belted without charge, I also know that these gyms have extremely low membership fees (they're non-profit entities operating on volunteer workforce) , so compensating the visiting black belt for his/her time makes sense.
Thus I don't think charging for a promotion is necessarily an evil or a greedy action. It very much depends on the situation, like everything else.
TPBlack beltVerified
OHBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
That's why i left my "team".
Get the purple and brown...next they changed the standards of the team...monthly fee for the club and annual fees For each members (no insurance..only to be a member) buying stuff with a minimum amount 1200€ year, seminars and pay for promotions.
I understand that the team upgraded professionaly, like gracie barra and others...but my little team cannot afford that...i explained....they say "pay or you will have to leave, you are so close to the black belt do not be silly"..
I'm Brown belt for life now
Get the purple and brown...next they changed the standards of the team...monthly fee for the club and annual fees For each members (no insurance..only to be a member) buying stuff with a minimum amount 1200€ year, seminars and pay for promotions.
I understand that the team upgraded professionaly, like gracie barra and others...but my little team cannot afford that...i explained....they say "pay or you will have to leave, you are so close to the black belt do not be silly"..
I'm Brown belt for life now
Edited 5 year(s) ago
BJBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I'm Brown belt for life now
My instructor has been a brown belt for 4 years now as he had a falling out with his former instructor. We (his students) all think he's black-belt level but it took a while to get a new instructor to take him on.
There really needs to be some kind of adopt-an-orphaned brown belt program or something.
There really needs to be some kind of adopt-an-orphaned brown belt program or something.
AHBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
My instructor has been a brown belt for 4 years now as he had a falling out with his former instructor. We (his students) all think he's black-belt level but it took a while to get a new instructor to take him on. There really needs to be some kind of adopt-an-orphaned brown belt program or something.
Globetrotters is an option... just sayin
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
There really needs to be some kind of adopt-an-orphaned brown belt program or something.
BJJ Globetrotters is a great resource for folks in his circumstance.
But... don't you train at a Gracie Barra school? It seems like the largest affiliation in the world should be able to provide another qualified BB to rank your instructor if he feels he needs to be ranked up?
But... don't you train at a Gracie Barra school? It seems like the largest affiliation in the world should be able to provide another qualified BB to rank your instructor if he feels he needs to be ranked up?
SFBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
1. Never pay the fee
2. Stay a whitebelt forever
3. Win whitebelt worlds every year
4. ???
5. Profit
2. Stay a whitebelt forever
3. Win whitebelt worlds every year
4. ???
5. Profit
FFBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Never pay for your promotion. And never pay for "blue belt courses" and such.
If your instructor would like you to attend a seminar with the super mestre because promotion there looks cooler, it's fine, but if you don't want or you can't because whatever reason, then you should just get the belt like, the day after the seminar, in regular class. Anything else will always have some weird feeling attached, for me.
If your instructor would like you to attend a seminar with the super mestre because promotion there looks cooler, it's fine, but if you don't want or you can't because whatever reason, then you should just get the belt like, the day after the seminar, in regular class. Anything else will always have some weird feeling attached, for me.
