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Certified Beltchecker Black Belts?
4 year(s) ago • 14322 views • 75 replies
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
So, I've been jumping through the hoops of the IBJJF Black Belt Certification process (it's a business decision). In order to get fully certified as a black belt with those guys, you have to: take a CPR/First aid course, take the IBJJF rules course, pass a background check, pay a ridiculous amount of money, and take the "Safe Sport" course (an educational course on preventing abuse in sport). This is all after you are basically "vouched" for by someone who is a little higher up on the pyramid scheme.
Here's my personal take on each of these requirements:
1) CPR/FIrst Aid - affordable and helpful for my job as an instructor/gym owner.
2) IBJJF Rules Course - helpful but not necessary... especially since all we did was just watch the videos that they make free online anyway.
3) Background Check - I really like that they do this.
4) Paying a ridiculous amount of money - Why does this stupid shit cost $400, for real?
5) Safe Sport Course - most of this was common sense information, but I'm glad they're making other people take this course...
I was thinking, throughout this process, that maybe it would add a little value to the Beltchecker certificates that you can buy on here if we went through a similar process. What if beltchecker, maybe just for black belts, offered a certification option that made you jump through some hoops as well, and they could "manually verify" it, and charge a bit more money that would go to the maintenance of the site.
I'd be interested to hear what the community thought about this, and if y'all thought maybe it would be valuable? If so, what requirements would you feel would be the most important? Personally, I would include a background check, Safe Sport (or something similar) and... not sure how this would work, but something certifying that you're not sleeping with your students... ???
Anyway, what are your thoughts?
Here's my personal take on each of these requirements:
1) CPR/FIrst Aid - affordable and helpful for my job as an instructor/gym owner.
2) IBJJF Rules Course - helpful but not necessary... especially since all we did was just watch the videos that they make free online anyway.
3) Background Check - I really like that they do this.
4) Paying a ridiculous amount of money - Why does this stupid shit cost $400, for real?
5) Safe Sport Course - most of this was common sense information, but I'm glad they're making other people take this course...
I was thinking, throughout this process, that maybe it would add a little value to the Beltchecker certificates that you can buy on here if we went through a similar process. What if beltchecker, maybe just for black belts, offered a certification option that made you jump through some hoops as well, and they could "manually verify" it, and charge a bit more money that would go to the maintenance of the site.
I'd be interested to hear what the community thought about this, and if y'all thought maybe it would be valuable? If so, what requirements would you feel would be the most important? Personally, I would include a background check, Safe Sport (or something similar) and... not sure how this would work, but something certifying that you're not sleeping with your students... ???
Anyway, what are your thoughts?
DBBlack beltVerified
4 year(s) ago
Honestly it's shocking that they don't also have you do the Heads Up concussion training (https://www.cdc.gov/heads[...]index.html) since that's also required by USA Judo and USA Wrestling in addition to SafeSport.
Personally I'd suggest:
* CPR/AED and/or First Aid
* Background check
* SafeSport (for USA) or equivalent
* Heads Up (for USA)
* Pedagogy course of some kind
USA Wrestling and USA Judo both provide pretty decent pedagogy courses around how to structure a class, develop micro/meso/macro training cycles, etc. It feels weird that we don't have an equivalent for BJJ, especially with so many of the Globetrotters black belts being interested in pedagogy.
Personally I'd suggest:
* CPR/AED and/or First Aid
* Background check
* SafeSport (for USA) or equivalent
* Heads Up (for USA)
* Pedagogy course of some kind
USA Wrestling and USA Judo both provide pretty decent pedagogy courses around how to structure a class, develop micro/meso/macro training cycles, etc. It feels weird that we don't have an equivalent for BJJ, especially with so many of the Globetrotters black belts being interested in pedagogy.
CBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
It's a money grab.
I've done multiple CPR/First Aid courses for my previous jobs (they need to be renewed every couple years in Finland). That I do agree with, but if I already had a valid certificate I shouldn't have to redo it.
IBJJF rules course makes sense since you want an IBJJF certificate.
Background check is awesome, if it's really done right. I've had mine done multiple times for school and work. It amazes me that most gyms in Finland don't require this. I know some sex offenders/criminals who are working in health & fitness and it makes me angry.
So, it's not all pointless, but it's still a money grab. Also... it's the IBJJF, I wouldn't pay them a cent.
I've done multiple CPR/First Aid courses for my previous jobs (they need to be renewed every couple years in Finland). That I do agree with, but if I already had a valid certificate I shouldn't have to redo it.
IBJJF rules course makes sense since you want an IBJJF certificate.
Background check is awesome, if it's really done right. I've had mine done multiple times for school and work. It amazes me that most gyms in Finland don't require this. I know some sex offenders/criminals who are working in health & fitness and it makes me angry.
So, it's not all pointless, but it's still a money grab. Also... it's the IBJJF, I wouldn't pay them a cent.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
What do you need that black belt certification for? /why is it worth the money and hassle for you?
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
What if beltchecker, maybe just for black belts, offered a certification option that made you jump through some hoops as well, and they could "manually verify" it, and charge a bit more money that would go to the maintenance of the site.
1) It's detrimental to the core idea of the site (community verification vs. central verification)
2) It would be a logistical nightmare to figure out staff, compensation, language barriers, criteria, etc.
2) It would be a logistical nightmare to figure out staff, compensation, language barriers, criteria, etc.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
What do you need that black belt certification for? /why is it worth the money and hassle for you?
Two major reasons:
1) It allows me to approve/decline all my students who are trying to sign up for IBJJF memberships myself, without having to go through a (very kind) third party. Furthermore, I can register my team and my students can compete for our gym.
2) We have a solid fundamentals program and we attract a number of beginners all the time to our gym, which is great and we want to keep it that way, but since there isn't a strong competition presence (especially gi competition) in the area, we want to try and gain better access and credibility with competition-oriented practitioners.
As an added bonus, being certified adds at least a small amount of "legitimacy" to my rank... in the eyes of some people. This is especially important to us since we're an unaffiliated gym (i.e. "scary and unknown") and since I'm just some no-name dude with no impressive competition wins.
Anyway, for us we're looking at this as an investment. We may decide not to continue jumping through the hoops if it's not financially paying off, obviously.
1) It allows me to approve/decline all my students who are trying to sign up for IBJJF memberships myself, without having to go through a (very kind) third party. Furthermore, I can register my team and my students can compete for our gym.
2) We have a solid fundamentals program and we attract a number of beginners all the time to our gym, which is great and we want to keep it that way, but since there isn't a strong competition presence (especially gi competition) in the area, we want to try and gain better access and credibility with competition-oriented practitioners.
As an added bonus, being certified adds at least a small amount of "legitimacy" to my rank... in the eyes of some people. This is especially important to us since we're an unaffiliated gym (i.e. "scary and unknown") and since I'm just some no-name dude with no impressive competition wins.
Anyway, for us we're looking at this as an investment. We may decide not to continue jumping through the hoops if it's not financially paying off, obviously.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
1) It's detrimental to the core idea of the site (community verification vs. central verification) 2) It would be a logistical nightmare to figure out staff, compensation, language barriers, criteria, etc.
1) What I'm referring to is something that would be offered in addition to the standard, community-based verification provided by beltchecker. Maybe you crowd source criteria for determining a "certified" belt to make it more democratic?
2) Totally understand and appreciate that this might be tough to pull off, logistically/practically speaking. But as this site grows, maybe it'll be something you revisit some years down the road.
2) Totally understand and appreciate that this might be tough to pull off, logistically/practically speaking. But as this site grows, maybe it'll be something you revisit some years down the road.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
1) It allows me to approve/decline all my students who are trying to sign up for IBJJF memberships myself, without having to go through a (very kind) third party. Furthermore, I can register my team and my students can compete for our gym.
No, this is not necessary. You just need a regular membership as a black belt in order to sign off for your students to compete. This cost $40 / year last time I checked. The black belt certification is literally just paying for a diploma. It has zero practical value otherwise.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
No, this is not necessary. You just need a regular membership as a black belt in order to sign off for your students to compete. This cost $40 / year last time I checked. The black belt certification is literally just paying for a diploma. It has zero practical value otherwise.
Oh shit, I think you might be right... this is different than what I had understood but I'm looking at their website right now. fuck, lol. Well, now in addition to people knowing that I can perform CPR, tell the difference between a reap and 50/50 guard, and I'm probably not a child molester, they also know that I might be a bit of a dumbass haha.
But I swear I tried registering the team before and wasn't able to... and now I can....
...damn...
Yeah, probably not worth it then...
But I swear I tried registering the team before and wasn't able to... and now I can....
...damn...
Yeah, probably not worth it then...
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
Oh shit, I think you might be right... this is different than what I had understood but I'm looking at their website right now. fuck, lol. Well, now in addition to people knowing that I can perform CPR, tell the difference between a reap and 50/50 guard, and I'm probably not a child molester, they also know that I might be a bit of a dumbass haha. But I swear I tried registering the team before and wasn't able to... and now I can.... ...damn... Yeah, probably not worth it then...
Yeah I'm fairly sure it's purposely a bit confusing if you need that "certification" or not. There's a lot of money to be made in people thinking they need it.
It's literally nothing but paying for a diploma you can post on social media and your wall. You don't need it for anything.
It's literally nothing but paying for a diploma you can post on social media and your wall. You don't need it for anything.
BBBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
I'm registered not certified. I'm not doing the certification.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
I'm registered not certified. I'm not doing the certification.
...and you're able to create a team, approve students and promote them and all that?
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
...and you're able to create a team, approve students and promote them and all that?
Correct.
BBBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
...and you're able to create a team, approve students and promote them and all that?
As far as I understand, yes.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
As far as I understand, yes.
Well guess who's the proud new owner of a really expensive, fancy diploma, lol? That's right. This guy.
Meh...
And I'm positive that there are some intentional mixed signals on their part regarding the functionality of certifications/registrations etc, but I'm usually a little more aware of these things.
In any case, I still think a beltchecker version of this might be awesome, considering that there is already more effort and certainty of actual belt rank when it comes to this site, when compared to how the IBJJF does it...
Meh...
And I'm positive that there are some intentional mixed signals on their part regarding the functionality of certifications/registrations etc, but I'm usually a little more aware of these things.
In any case, I still think a beltchecker version of this might be awesome, considering that there is already more effort and certainty of actual belt rank when it comes to this site, when compared to how the IBJJF does it...
BBBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
I’m registered with sjjif also.
BNPurple beltVerified
4 year(s) ago
Wow, I didn't know there was a difference between "regularly registering" and certification for black belts... However, it isn't exactly something I'm super worried about at the moment.
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
BBBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
What's the benefit of having this registration as well?
I figured it gives some credibility, same as Beltchecker.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
Wow, I didn't know there was a difference between 'regularly registering' and certification for black belts... However, it isn't exactly something I'm super worried about at the moment.
It’s probably very profitable for IBJJF that people are confused about this difference
RRBlack beltVerified
4 year(s) ago
No, this is not necessary. You just need a regular membership as a black belt in order to sign off for your students to compete. This cost $40 / year last time I checked. The black belt certification is literally just paying for a diploma. It has zero practical value otherwise.
You have to have a least a second degree on your IBJJF certificate to sign up Brown Belts and Blacks Belts under your name.... I got my "certified status" (all for the same reasons Robert said he got his), and a couple of brown belts in my gym and a black belt in my gym who wanted to compete in Masters and Pans were unable to register under me due to the fact that I wasn't high enough of a rank yet (and even though I did my two year probationary black belt, and have been a black belt going on 7 years now).
I agree, at the end of the day, the certificate means nothing truly, however I do like that it does publicly say that I passed a background check, and for all the students who want to do IBJJF events, it gives them the ability to do so... and the final thing is, for newer students to the area where my gym is located, who may have moved in from another area, or left a gym and no longer wants to represent their flag, I have become a tangible option. In the past, I've had guys come to our gym, (where my head coach and my teammates who are black belts are not IBJJF certified), and say that they would have signed up with us, but their goals were to achieve the highest level of success at IBJJF events (to each their own) and preferred to be at a gym with an IBJJF coach to represent the gym they were at, and not use some other coach as a affiliation..... I get it, so I got my cert.
I agree, at the end of the day, the certificate means nothing truly, however I do like that it does publicly say that I passed a background check, and for all the students who want to do IBJJF events, it gives them the ability to do so... and the final thing is, for newer students to the area where my gym is located, who may have moved in from another area, or left a gym and no longer wants to represent their flag, I have become a tangible option. In the past, I've had guys come to our gym, (where my head coach and my teammates who are black belts are not IBJJF certified), and say that they would have signed up with us, but their goals were to achieve the highest level of success at IBJJF events (to each their own) and preferred to be at a gym with an IBJJF coach to represent the gym they were at, and not use some other coach as a affiliation..... I get it, so I got my cert.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
and for all the students who want to do IBJJF events, it gives them the ability to do so
Why would you do the certification when it’s not necessary for your students to compete?
Edited 4 year(s) ago
AIBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
Thanks for claryfiing, I was on the edge to do the certification process etc. You saved me a lot of money.
RNBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
Newly promoted and just renewed my ibjjf membership, so I’m very interested in this topic, just from reading the above can those in the know clarify if the following points are right or wrong
In the ibjjf:
1. You can not register your own team until 3rd degree?
2. You can not promote someone to black belt until you are a 2nd degree?
3. Any time spent as a probationary black belt isn’t counted towards your ibjjf degrees (I’m guessing that Rays 7 years as a black belt is seen as 2 years probationary and 5 as a certified black belt( which might still be seen as 1st degree in the eyes of the ibjjf?) and that is why they don’t allow the black belts to go under your name?)
4. A black belt lower than 2nd degree can promote up to and including brown belt?
Please correct me on any of these, this is just my current understanding and may be totally wrong
I also feel the need to have an ibjjf cert (just for my own ego) but will order a belt checker one once eligible also because I’m greedy
In the ibjjf:
1. You can not register your own team until 3rd degree?
2. You can not promote someone to black belt until you are a 2nd degree?
3. Any time spent as a probationary black belt isn’t counted towards your ibjjf degrees (I’m guessing that Rays 7 years as a black belt is seen as 2 years probationary and 5 as a certified black belt( which might still be seen as 1st degree in the eyes of the ibjjf?) and that is why they don’t allow the black belts to go under your name?)
4. A black belt lower than 2nd degree can promote up to and including brown belt?
Please correct me on any of these, this is just my current understanding and may be totally wrong
I also feel the need to have an ibjjf cert (just for my own ego) but will order a belt checker one once eligible also because I’m greedy
RRBlack beltVerified
4 year(s) ago
Why would you do the certification when it’s not necessary for your students to compete?
Because some want to compete in the IBJJF events, some of the parents want their kids to compete in IBJJF events (I had 1 silver medalist and 3 bronze medalist in Kids Pans this year), and they can sign up under me and represent my academy, rather than use another academy name in the IBJJF (which I had my team do for the 2 years I had my probationary status).
As much as a pain in the ass as the IBJJF is, and as much as they really are cash grabby, it does mean a lot to some people..... I look at it like I look at Flograppling, absolutely overpriced, but I have a subscription with them.... Just a price of doing business
As much as a pain in the ass as the IBJJF is, and as much as they really are cash grabby, it does mean a lot to some people..... I look at it like I look at Flograppling, absolutely overpriced, but I have a subscription with them.... Just a price of doing business
RRBlack beltVerified
4 year(s) ago
Newly promoted and just renewed my ibjjf membership, so I’m very interested in this topic, just from reading the above can those in the know clarify if the following points are right or wrong In the ibjjf: 1. You can not register your own team until 3rd degree? 2. You can not promote someone to black belt until you are a 2nd degree? 3. Any time spent as a probationary black belt isn’t counted towards your ibjjf degrees (I’m guessing that Rays 7 years as a black belt is seen as 2 years probationary and 5 as a certified black belt( which might still be seen as 1st degree in the eyes of the ibjjf?) and that is why they don’t allow the black belts to go under your name?) 4. A black belt lower than 2nd degree can promote up to and including brown belt? Please correct me on any of these, this is just my current understanding and may be totally wrong I also feel the need to have an ibjjf cert (just for my own ego) but will order a belt checker one once eligible also because I’m greedy
1) As soon as I got my certified status, I was able to register my academy, so you don't need to be a 3rd degree.
2) Yes you cannot sign a black belt document for the IBJJF until you are at least a 2nd degree (which is 6 years of being a black belt according to their standards), however, you can promote someone to black belt at your gym I guess whenever you want.... I know guys who have been black belts for 2-3 years who have promoted people to black belt.
3) Absolutely correct on that your probationary status doesn't count towards your degrees, however, you only get that probationary status if you are registering under the IBJJF for the first time ever and you're a black belt (I believe the same as a brown belt)... I received my black belt in 2014, never signed up under the IBJJF anytime prior to that, in 2019 I registered for the first time (Royce signed my membership application) and I was on probation status until the beginning of this year, this is when my "clock towards my degrees" started..... Crazy thing is, my 1st degree eligibility year will be 2024, 10 years after I received my black belt... There are guys who have been black belts for 4 years that have degrees in the IBJJF over me already.... That part is ridiculous. Now all of this is a moot pontiff you've registered all your belts as you've earned them, if you have, the degree clock started as soon as you were promoted to black belt.
4) I defer to the higher ranked IBJJF belts here, but I believe that a new black belt in the IBJJF can sign a IBJJF form up to a purple belt (I have 3 signed up), 1st degree is up to brown belt, and 2nd degree you can sign black belts....... I guess we can look at the rules on the IBJJF website, but, I'm too lazy to go see LOL
2) Yes you cannot sign a black belt document for the IBJJF until you are at least a 2nd degree (which is 6 years of being a black belt according to their standards), however, you can promote someone to black belt at your gym I guess whenever you want.... I know guys who have been black belts for 2-3 years who have promoted people to black belt.
3) Absolutely correct on that your probationary status doesn't count towards your degrees, however, you only get that probationary status if you are registering under the IBJJF for the first time ever and you're a black belt (I believe the same as a brown belt)... I received my black belt in 2014, never signed up under the IBJJF anytime prior to that, in 2019 I registered for the first time (Royce signed my membership application) and I was on probation status until the beginning of this year, this is when my "clock towards my degrees" started..... Crazy thing is, my 1st degree eligibility year will be 2024, 10 years after I received my black belt... There are guys who have been black belts for 4 years that have degrees in the IBJJF over me already.... That part is ridiculous. Now all of this is a moot pontiff you've registered all your belts as you've earned them, if you have, the degree clock started as soon as you were promoted to black belt.
4) I defer to the higher ranked IBJJF belts here, but I believe that a new black belt in the IBJJF can sign a IBJJF form up to a purple belt (I have 3 signed up), 1st degree is up to brown belt, and 2nd degree you can sign black belts....... I guess we can look at the rules on the IBJJF website, but, I'm too lazy to go see LOL
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
Because some want to compete in the IBJJF events, some of the parents want their kids to compete in IBJJF events (I had 1 silver medalist and 3 bronze medalist in Kids Pans this year), and they can sign up under me and represent my academy, rather than use another academy name in the IBJJF (which I had my team do for the 2 years I had my probationary status).
Again; you DO NOT need to get a black belt certification with IBJJF for this. All you need is a regular membership, then you can register your academy and your students can sign up for IBJJF competitions under it. The certificate is JUST a certificate, it's completely separate from the ability to sign for your students etc.
RNBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
Newly promoted and just renewed my ibjjf membership, so I’m very interested in this topic, just from reading the above can those in the know clarify if the following points are right or wrong
In the ibjjf:
1. You can not register your own team until 3rd degree?
2. You can not promote someone to black belt until you are a 2nd degree?
3. Any time spent as a probationary black belt isn’t counted towards your ibjjf degrees (I’m guessing that Rays 7 years as a black belt is seen as 2 years probationary and 5 as a certified black belt( which might still be seen as 1st degree in the eyes of the ibjjf?) and that is why they don’t allow the black belts to go under your name?)
4. A black belt lower than 2nd degree can promote up to and including brown belt?
Please correct me on any of these, this is just my current understanding and may be totally wrong
I also feel the need to have an ibjjf cert (just for my own ego) but will order a belt checker one once eligible also because I’m greedy
In the ibjjf:
1. You can not register your own team until 3rd degree?
2. You can not promote someone to black belt until you are a 2nd degree?
3. Any time spent as a probationary black belt isn’t counted towards your ibjjf degrees (I’m guessing that Rays 7 years as a black belt is seen as 2 years probationary and 5 as a certified black belt( which might still be seen as 1st degree in the eyes of the ibjjf?) and that is why they don’t allow the black belts to go under your name?)
4. A black belt lower than 2nd degree can promote up to and including brown belt?
Please correct me on any of these, this is just my current understanding and may be totally wrong
I also feel the need to have an ibjjf cert (just for my own ego) but will order a belt checker one once eligible also because I’m greedy
AWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
4 year(s) ago
The questions Roy’s asking seem to come up from time to time on the forums.
Is it worth someone with the definitive answers making an IBJJF FAQ post and pinning it in the main forum?
Is it worth someone with the definitive answers making an IBJJF FAQ post and pinning it in the main forum?
CHBlack beltVerified
4 year(s) ago
The questions Roy’s asking seem to come up from time to time on the forums. Is it worth someone with the definitive answers making an IBJJF FAQ post and pinning it in the main forum?
IBJJF graduation system pdf and poster pdf downloadable here: https://ibjjf.com/graduation-system
I think a careful reading of the system document will answer most of everyone's questions. Maybe this link, pinned somewhere is a good idea.
I think a careful reading of the system document will answer most of everyone's questions. Maybe this link, pinned somewhere is a good idea.
Edited 4 year(s) ago
