I didn't even think this was possible by IBJJF standard.

Age is defined by IBJJF by the year born, not the date. So he probably turns 18 this year :)

Except IBJJF require you to be 19 to achieve Black Belt

Age is defined by IBJJF by the year born, not the date. So he probably turns 18 this year :)

I do feel that the IBJJF based on their standards will have to evaluate the promotion ages at some point.... when it was founded, they were trying to keep to the standards that the Gracies (all of them) adhered to in promotions (Black belt wasn't about just skill and knowledge, but also ability to teach and laughably merit of character that a younger kid wasn't really in possession of). Nowadays, you have kids who have been training longer than most adults, on top of it, also train and compete more than the adults (I've got guys turning 18 who have been training with me since they were 6 years old). If an adult trained for 12 years, they would for sure be promoted to black belt (and most will train 2-3 days a week, not the 5-6 days most kids/teens do). Mica's quality of record speaks volumes, as does Nicky Ryan, Grace Gundrum, hell the Ruotolo Brothers too, Cole Abate.... these young kids who are tapping adults regularly. My solution is that maybe (to the behest of probably a bunch of adults who complain about all things IBJJF/Gracie), they should make the black belt with the white patch a standard in the ranking system like they do in the Gracie Academy, and with Royce, Caique's and even (eye roll) the Valente's. The Black Belt fighter, with the Red Bar being the Black Belt Instructor, and the White Bars on the Red patch as a Black belt Professor (with the subsequent degrees). This was those younger guys with legit black belt skills can receive their rankings, but still have to grow into the instructor/professor role.... Just a thought.

...they should make the black belt with the white patch a standard in the ranking system like they do in the Gracie Academy, and with Royce, Caique's and even (eye roll) the Valente's. The Black Belt fighter, with the Red Bar being the Black Belt Instructor, and the White Bars on the Red patch as a Black belt Professor (with the subsequent degrees). This was those younger guys with legit black belt skills can receive their rankings, but still have to grow into the instructor/professor role.... Just a thought.

The standard is 19 years old.

Obviously not everyone is adhering to this standard. So... Would you vouch for him on beltchecker?

Not a good sign for the sport.

Obviously not everyone is adhering to this standard. So... Would you vouch for him on beltchecker?

Yeah my first coaches were blue belts and when they got their purples it was amazing. 19 isn't mature. If that was the reason for the age requirement, that's just bullsh!t. Hell, I can soon compete in master 2 and I still haven't matured. The year you turn 18 is a fine time to be promoted to black belt imo.

I’m curious to see if the IBJJF allows him to compete (if he hasn’t already). My guess is that they will because of his accomplishments. Personally, I look at Black Belt as Time Invested and Skill. According to Bjj Heroes, he has been doing Bjj since 4, and he has already proved his skill at the highest levels. He meets my personal litmus test.

Lots of people have been doing since they were 4.

That’s interesting because in NH, we have just started to see a very small group of high level teenagers and competitors in their early twenties, who started in kids programs. I have competed against one multiple times, and he was quite impressive. However, they are pretty rare. It isn’t normative in NH yet for people in the sport to start that young. Most of the community here started in their twenties or older. However, my kids both started officially at 4. But with the kids programs, we have seen a lot of kids stop unfortunately due to other hobbies or lack of interest.