Rules for main forums
- Be nice
- No advertisement
- No events
- No fundraisers
- No topics asking for votes
- Only posts related to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
IBJJF vs SJJIF and why I am here.
3 year(s) ago • 6177 views • 17 replies
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I became disgusted with the IBJJF right around ten years ago when they made Belt Registration mandatory. I thought OK fine there needs to be some accountability. However I would come to learn that they would not recognize degree's that your Professor gave you and would only issue degrees AFTER you had registered with the IBJJF. This meant that if you were already a such and such degree and had not previously registered with them they would not recognize it until it fit the timeline after your registration. It was an obvious power play and money grab. They eventually backed off a little bit and would recognize your previous black belt degree's however you would have to pay several hundred dollars per degree. Although this did not effect me back then as I was only a Black Belt, I decided I would never give the IBJJF another cent. I was very happy when the SJJIF was created. They claimed to be a true non-profit and wanted to get BJJ into the Olympics (That's another subject altogether). I signed up with them immediately and jumped through all the hoops they required to become a registered black belt in their organization. I began to bring my Team to their events both the NABJJF and SJJIF. Fast forward to July of 2022. I had recently received my Third Degree from my Professor Tim Cartmell and decided to purchase another rank certificate from the SJJIF. They are $300 dollars and I didn't mind paying for it again as they are pretty nice looking. They took my money and updated me on their registration list as a 3rd Degree Black Belt after confirming my promotion with Tim Cartmell. So far so good. I never received the damn thing and have sent countless emails asking why. Frustrated I asked for a refund and now they are ignoring my emails. I will continue to maintain my membership with the SJJIF so that my students have the opportunity to compete in international tournaments. However I am highly displeased with them and now believe them to be no different from the IBJJF. Hence why I am here and have completed my profile. Anyone here have a similar experience with the SJJIF???
DBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I paid IBJJF once when I got my black belt just to get time stamped. Haven't payed them since, complete money grab. SJJIF taking your money sounds like next level bullshit. Good luck.
And also Ed Beneville and Tim Cartmell's Passing the Guard book was my favourite when I was a blue belt, excellent book.
And also Ed Beneville and Tim Cartmell's Passing the Guard book was my favourite when I was a blue belt, excellent book.
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Tim is the MAN. You should get his book Effortless Combat Throws. It's very good.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Anyone here have a similar experience with the SJJIF???
I got the standard membership for the first time as a newly minted black belt, as I didn't feel the certification was necessary.
The sjjif isn't really a thing in my area, but I felt that contributing to a bjj non-profit would be good.
They took my money, but I never got a response, nor the special ID thing I paid a little extra for. From what i hear, this is not a unique experience.
Probably no reason to keep up with this organization, imo.
The sjjif isn't really a thing in my area, but I felt that contributing to a bjj non-profit would be good.
They took my money, but I never got a response, nor the special ID thing I paid a little extra for. From what i hear, this is not a unique experience.
Probably no reason to keep up with this organization, imo.
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I'll probably cancel my membership with them. They never really got much traction in the U.S. anyway. Sucks they did that to you too.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Sucks they did that to you too.
Meh. Not a huge deal, I suppose. At least now I know. Hope you have better luck with beltchecker. I've always had no problem with customer service, and my certs/Id came super fast. I bought a couple patches to support the cause.
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
If you paid with credit card, you can demand a refund through the card issuer if you didn't get what you ordered (the certificate).
We had some SBJJF drama here on Beltchecker with a fake Carlson Gracie black belt who apparantly had managed to get certified through SBJJF (and approved his own BB student for a still valid SBJJF certificate) but was later removed from their systems and SBJJF now refuse to answer any questions on the issue. So they act just as non-transparent as IBJJF and the 300USD for a certificate seems like just another moneygrab, as they obviously did nothing to verify the claims of the fake Carlson Gracie black belt.
We had some SBJJF drama here on Beltchecker with a fake Carlson Gracie black belt who apparantly had managed to get certified through SBJJF (and approved his own BB student for a still valid SBJJF certificate) but was later removed from their systems and SBJJF now refuse to answer any questions on the issue. So they act just as non-transparent as IBJJF and the 300USD for a certificate seems like just another moneygrab, as they obviously did nothing to verify the claims of the fake Carlson Gracie black belt.
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Thanks for the advice on the CC.
The SJJIF contacted my Professor to verify me and they did update my info on their "Registered Black Belt List" they just have not delivered on the certificate. If it was a timing issue with them (my second degree was issued very late) they never explained that to me. That would be an acceptable reason. However ignoring my emails is not professional in my opinion. I'll wait till July 2023 (3 years after the SJJIF issued my 2nd). If it hasn't been fixed by then I'll take your advice on the CC.
The SJJIF contacted my Professor to verify me and they did update my info on their "Registered Black Belt List" they just have not delivered on the certificate. If it was a timing issue with them (my second degree was issued very late) they never explained that to me. That would be an acceptable reason. However ignoring my emails is not professional in my opinion. I'll wait till July 2023 (3 years after the SJJIF issued my 2nd). If it hasn't been fixed by then I'll take your advice on the CC.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I had spent 10 years in the Vegas area and the SJJIF is big on the West Coast and I had much preferred them to the IBJJF. The run great tournaments and treat Black Belts really well you compete for free
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I did too. Have you ever tried to purchase a $300 piece of paper from them? If so how did it go?
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Honestly I would never by a certificate for any reason
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
After nine months of not getting a return on my emails, the SJJIF is now communicating with me on this matter. I don't think that this is a coincidence. I'll keep the thread updated.
BLBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Update.
It's been a year now since I ordered the Certificate. The SJJIF sent me an email stating that they had already sent all the Certificates and ID's weeks ago. (3 weeks now) The email did not state that MY specific Certificate was ever sent. I sent them another email stating that it's been a year and I still have not received the cert and have no confidence that it was ever sent. I asked for a refund of my $300.00. It's been over a week and they are back to ignoring my email. To sum it all up, they took my money a year ago, never delivered, and are now going to ignore my emails and keep my money. I have no one to speak to directly as it is a faceless nameless process. This is completely unethical. In contrast the Cert I got from Belt Checker was more than reasonably priced, delivered in a timely manner (from overseas by the way), and looks good to boot.
It's been a year now since I ordered the Certificate. The SJJIF sent me an email stating that they had already sent all the Certificates and ID's weeks ago. (3 weeks now) The email did not state that MY specific Certificate was ever sent. I sent them another email stating that it's been a year and I still have not received the cert and have no confidence that it was ever sent. I asked for a refund of my $300.00. It's been over a week and they are back to ignoring my email. To sum it all up, they took my money a year ago, never delivered, and are now going to ignore my emails and keep my money. I have no one to speak to directly as it is a faceless nameless process. This is completely unethical. In contrast the Cert I got from Belt Checker was more than reasonably priced, delivered in a timely manner (from overseas by the way), and looks good to boot.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Update. It's been a year now since I ordered the Certificate. The SJJIF sent me an email stating that they had already sent all the Certificates and ID's weeks ago. (3 weeks now) The email did not state that MY specific Certificate was ever sent. I sent them another email stating that it's been a year and I still have not received the cert and have no confidence that it was ever sent. I asked for a refund of my $300.00. It's been over a week and they are back to ignoring my email. To sum it all up, they took my money a year ago, never delivered, and are now going to ignore my emails and keep my money. I have no one to speak to directly as it is a faceless nameless process. This is completely unethical. In contrast the Cert I got from Belt Checker was more than reasonably priced, delivered in a timely manner (from overseas by the way), and looks good to boot.
That sucks I have always loved their events but they should have just sent out the certificate..
I just can't justify paying like 300 to have an organization "certify" my belt ranking
I just can't justify paying like 300 to have an organization "certify" my belt ranking
MCBlack belt 1st degreeVerifiedOrange
3 year(s) ago
I have been waiting since March for my 🆔 card when I contacted them they asked me to be patient. My grandsons were entered in their World Championships in Dallas that they canceled because of lack of interest. She is still trying to get a refund. I think they are losing traction to AGF and JJWL. IBJJF and the ADCC events are still going strong.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I have been waiting since March for my 🆔 card when I contacted them they asked me to be patient. My grandsons were entered in their World Championships in Dallas that they canceled because of lack of interest. She is still trying to get a refund. I think they are losing traction to AGF and JJWL. IBJJF and the ADCC events are still going strong.
They seemed to have gotten derailed with Covid and have yet to bounce back
MCBlack belt 1st degreeVerifiedOrange
3 year(s) ago
It seems like a lot of the Jiujitsu community got derailed by Covid. The ones that moved to Texas seemed to weather the storm better
SBBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Everybody is going to just gloss over the fact the guy has grandkids competing in BJJ. I'm guessing that most of us that started all those years ago never expected to be doing this wonderfully brutal arte sauve sport long enough to watch grandkids compete. Man has this sport changed over the last 20 years.
