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Rank certificate.

3 year(s) ago • 4222 views • 72 replies

Shannon Albracht
Shannon Albracht
Black belt 2nd degreeVerified41 forum posts1915/1000
3 year(s) ago
I have only trained formally with my instructor, Master Charles Gracie. Not including seminars, camps, open mats, etc. And my only experience we receive a certificate for each belt grade. I’ve noticed that many of the people here trying to get verified do not post photos of their certificates. Is it uncommon to receive a certificate from your teacher/academy? How many of you received certificates and how many don’t? Just wondering what the average is. I myself look for certificates first for validation here. I also go by a well documented profile, but a good paper trail helps.
Post what your academy certificates look like here if you like.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
Benoit Zenthner
Benoit Zenthner
Black belt 4th degreeVerified518 forum posts12245/1000
3 year(s) ago
I have a new trained formally with my instructor, Master Charles Gracie. Not including seminars, camps, open mats, etc. And my only experience we receive a certificate for each belt grade. I’ve noticed that many of the people here trying to get verified do not post photos of their certificates. Is it uncommon to receive a certificate from your teacher/academy? How many of you received certificates and how many don’t? Just wondering what the average is. I myself look for certificates first for validation here. I also go by a well documented profile, but a good paper trail helps. Post what your academy certificates look like here if you like.
Usualy in Brasil, it wasn't commun to receive diploma for colors belts. Some professors are much about it but some of the Best places i've been just gives you the belt in a short ceremony often with a corridor.
But Gracie's are the Best to sale so they gives papers to the customer😉
Jim
Jim
Black belt 2nd degreeVerified346 forum posts3905/1000
3 year(s) ago
Shannon, I was also curious about this a little while ago (https://www.beltchecker.c[...]e283b78533). My school gives certificates for rank for every belt, blue through black. It seemed in the previous thread that most people didn’t get certificates, particularly for belts prior to black belt. Here’s what my black belt certificate from Burton Richardson looks like…
Christian Graugart
Christian Graugart
Black belt 4th degreeVerified4323 forum posts39315/1000
3 year(s) ago
If the purpose of a certificate truly was to prove a belt promotion, then it’s a pretty bad system for that as it is extremely easy to fake one. (Beltchecker of course solved this by making certificates with QR codes that point to a community verified profile 🥳🥳). How many times in history have someone said “hey you, prove to me that you are x belt” and then a piece of paper is being pulled out. Never?

IMO the true purpose of certificates is to show status. You can display it to feel more respected by your peers. Like a medal or a belt. Or like I’m doing right now by sounding all clever without actually answering the question of the topic 🤷🏼‍♂️
Edited 3 year(s) ago
Johan
Johan
Black belt 3rd degreeVerified1401 forum posts11370/1000
3 year(s) ago
I recently noticed a profile with pictures of the diplomas that were so blurry that important info such as dates couldn't be read (and what could be read with some magnification didn't match the claimed dates in the promotion history). It still got verified without anyone asking for sharper images. I would really like to encourage everyone to at least ask for readable scans before verifying.

As there has been an instance with diploma forgery on Beltchecker, I am personally very hesitant to verify based on only diplomas.
Jim
Jim
Black belt 2nd degreeVerified346 forum posts3905/1000
3 year(s) ago
The diploma is just one piece of evidence. Photos are important, too, along with a clear lineage so that an instructor can be contacted if there is any doubt about the rank. I agree that certificates are easy to fake. It’s not like we get them notarized or anything. :)
Tatu Piispanen
Tatu Piispanen
Black beltVerified1355 forum posts10295/1000
3 year(s) ago
Never seen or heard of anybody getting a rank/belt certification in BJJ in Finland. (Probably some gym produces them, I just don't remember.)

The BJJ community is small enough to be self-governing. Every new black belt is still news within the scene. Our federation lists all the Finnish black belts on their site.

I know of one single fake BJJ belt in the history of Finland. This was a traditional martial arts instructor in a tiny city in the early 2000s, who fraudulently claimed to be a BJJ black belt, and also to be a kickboxing and MMA champion and what else, clearly not right in the head.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
Matt Guyer
Matt Guyer
Purple beltVerified1134 forum posts23250/400
3 year(s) ago
How many times in history have someone said “hey you, prove to me that you are x belt” and then a piece of paper is being pulled out. Never?
I was in the army with a guy who was maybe not all there. He would tell people he was a black belt in karate. No one believed him until on day he whipped out every belt certificate he had ever received since he was like 3. So there’s that.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
Matt Guyer
Matt Guyer
Purple beltVerified1134 forum posts23250/400
3 year(s) ago
This is my argument both for and against promotion certificates. I did this in less than three minutes so why not take a few minutes to commemorate a student you’re promoting. Also, you can make your own for basically anything so they don’t really hold much weight.
Jim
Jim
Black belt 2nd degreeVerified346 forum posts3905/1000
3 year(s) ago
Matt, that’s brilliant! However, you left off the signatures of God and the sister-wives. Without those, no Tearion Scott certificate is legit. :)

I agree that a certificate can be faked, so it should never be the only piece of evidence in a person’s profile. If someone does upload a certificate, it should be a high-resolution scan of a physical certificate with the signature(s) in ink so that it can be scrutinized by experts. I have seen people with graphic design training on Bullshido expose fake certificates that were assembled in Photoshop.

Of course, the real purpose of a certificate is to give you something nice to hang on the wall of your gym. Colleges give diplomas, but nobody takes those as definitive evidence of an academic degree; you need official transcripts from the registrar’s office. My instructor lists all of his black belts on his website (https://jkdunlimited.com/[...]lack-belts), which is something I wish everyone did, since it would make factchecking easier when verifying a profile.
R. David Gonzalez
R. David Gonzalez
Black belt 4th degreeVerified4764 forum posts34325/1000
3 year(s) ago
This is my argument both for and against promotion certificates. I did this in less than three minutes so why not take a few minutes to commemorate a student you’re promoting. Also, you can make your own for basically anything so they don’t really hold much weight.
Best entry yet!
Anthony Nelson
Anthony Nelson
Black belt 1st degreeVerified489 forum posts10580/1000
3 year(s) ago
I give certificates because I feel that it makes it easier on them if they ever get questioned. Maybe I should add my QR code for beltchecker on my promotion certificates for students 🤔
Tatu Piispanen
Tatu Piispanen
Black beltVerified1355 forum posts10295/1000
3 year(s) ago
If you have a well-known instructor personally sing off a certificate I believe it does hold value.

Forging somebody's signature (even though very easy to do digitally) is a criminal felony and I hope not too many people will go that far.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
Jon Waddle
Jon Waddle
Black belt 1st degreeVerified81 forum posts1895/1000
3 year(s) ago
I have received them from my current instructor but not for my blue belt or purple belt. If anyone questions me about mine, I give them my instructor's phone number, or I just call him on the spot. Video chat fixes a great many things.
Vince Choo
Vince Choo
Black belt 3rd degreeVerified1126 forum posts21045/1000
3 year(s) ago
This is my argument both for and against promotion certificates. I did this in less than three minutes so why not take a few minutes to commemorate a student you’re promoting. Also, you can make your own for basically anything so they don’t really hold much weight.
outstanding and congrats on the self award and auto recognition. impressive achievement and thank you for being the beacon of hope and international role model that life and mat experience has shaped you to become!
Vince Choo
Vince Choo
Black belt 3rd degreeVerified1126 forum posts21045/1000
3 year(s) ago
If you have a well-known instructor personally sing off a certificate I believe it does hold value. Forging somebody's signature (even though very easy to do digitally) is a criminal felony and I hope not too many people will go that far.
There is this guy https://www.celebrityspea[...]k_Rao.html

"In Martial Arts, He is India’s senior most blackbelt Grandmaster (9th deg). He is India's first BJJ Blackbelt from legendary Rickson Gracie. He is the world’s highest Instructor in Bruce Lee's art JKD, and studied under Bruce Lee's student Grand Master Richard Bustillo RIP."

who still claims to be a black belt under Rickson Gracie so even well known instructors, will be used. To people with such predilections the use of stolen valor is part and parcel of their make up. The narcissists will especially use well known institutions, people of influence to bolster their claims and possess skin more resilient than the heat shields used on space crafts for re-entry into earth's atmosphere.

[edit] His website has removed this BJJ reference after he was outed/doxxed
https://www.majordeepakrao.com/

His award claim from World Peace Congress conferred to him in Malaysia in 2008 based on the picture

https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]e_Congress

The first Congress was held in Salt Lake City, the United States from August 24 to 26, 2007.
The Second Congress was held in Bangalore, India from February 27 to March 1, 2009.
The Third Congress was held in Thailand from July 9 to 11, 2010.

Claims like this are inconsistent and smells very much like over-ripe Hákarl
 Dr. Major Deepak Rao
Dr. Major Deepak Rao

Leading Celebrity Motivational Speakers Bureau India

Edited 3 year(s) ago
Jim
Jim
Black belt 2nd degreeVerified346 forum posts3905/1000
3 year(s) ago
I’m sure Dan Inosanto will be pleased to know that Deepak Rao is the “world’s highest Instructor in Bruce Lee's art JKD.” :).

It’s funny to me that Rickson Gracie has declined to wear his officially-awarded red belt until he meets the minimum time in grade as an 8th-degree coral belt, yet Deepak Rao falsely claims to be a 9th-degree “Grandmaster” under Rickson. Maybe Rickson gave Deepak his red belt since he wasn’t using it? ;)
Philip Dunlap
Philip Dunlap
Black belt 3rd degreeVerified1043 forum posts59560/1000
3 year(s) ago
Deepak returns. I love these guys it's not enough to make a false claim but you have to come up with a whole fantasy life
Jim
Jim
Black belt 2nd degreeVerified346 forum posts3905/1000
3 year(s) ago
I don't know why anybody questions this guy's fighting prowess or military experience. Just look at his photo...
Tatu Piispanen
Tatu Piispanen
Black beltVerified1355 forum posts10295/1000
3 year(s) ago
I don't know why anybody questions this guy's fighting prowess or military experience. Just look at his photo...
How did you miss his Tactical Watch!

(I love these chunky G-Shocks... currently wearing Rangeman GW-9400 as I type this.)
Edited 3 year(s) ago
John A. Byrne
John A. Byrne
Black beltVerified1013 forum posts6370/1000
3 year(s) ago
How did you miss his Tactical Watch! (I love these chunky G-Shocks... currently wearing Rangeman GW-9400 as I type this.)
Can survive a hockey slapshot and crack infidels in the skull who question Super Grand Master Deepak's fighting ability.

I bet he can grapple us and knock us out with just chi...
John A. Byrne
John A. Byrne
Black beltVerified1013 forum posts6370/1000
3 year(s) ago
also, in regards to OP - I have never received a rank certificate but I only have earned 2 belts in Jiu-Jitsu. In Kenpo and Judo yes, always got them.
Christian Graugart
Christian Graugart
Black belt 4th degreeVerified4323 forum posts39315/1000
3 year(s) ago
How did you miss his Tactical Watch! (I love these chunky G-Shocks... currently wearing Rangeman GW-9400 as I type this.)
Never been much of a fan, but some of the Japanese (?) mods are pretty cool. Birthday wish for Deepak ❤️
Jose Soto
Jose Soto
Black belt 1st degreeVerified8 forum posts2500/1000
3 year(s) ago
My teacher never issued certificates and it was something I changed in my school. Coming from a military background I try to have a proper paper trail for my students so they don't struggle in their journey
Tatu Piispanen
Tatu Piispanen
Black beltVerified1355 forum posts10295/1000
3 year(s) ago
Never been much of a fan, but some of the Japanese (?) mods are pretty cool. Birthday wish for Deepak ❤️
Good enough for special ops tough guys in movies, good enough for me. Tactical as shit! 😎

But of course the ultimate flex is now that Grandmaster Major Dr. Deepak Rao, India's highest black belt, has the same type of watch! (Even though I think his is not a Rangeman, the image is too blurry to tell...)

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