Colored belt promotion times

Shortest time from brown to black

Sebastian Ellinghaus

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

599 forum posts34785/1000

I do not teally understand what Your question is.
How long it takes (average) from brown to BB?

There is no minimum time, the promoting professor decides it all.
Maybe there are some recommondations from different schools existing.
But that is nothing reliable.🤷‍♂️

Christian Graugart

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4323 forum posts39315/1000

1/5 for effort 😂

Black beltVerified

15 forum posts2005/1000

I do not teally understand what Your question is. How long it takes (average) from brown to BB? There is no minimum time, the promoting professor decides it all. Maybe there are some recommondations from different schools existing. But that is nothing reliable.🤷‍♂️

Your right I should have asked more clearly. I am fully aware of and understand the IBJJF time in rank "requirements". And that belt checker is not the ibjjf. I understand and agree with the requirement/time for BB degrees. But was not sure if Belt checker would recognize rank up to black belt if the so called "minimum" time suggested was not met. Examp. 2 years in blue, 1.5 years in purple and 1 years in brown. Also I have 18+ years training bjj, 30+ in Judo black belt as well. WIth a handful of years benched due to multiple surgeries and lots of hardware, total ankle replacement. I am asking, due to my particular circumstances it sounds like a potential for me to be put up for black belt promotion before the 1 year mark with my brown belt. Hopefully it would be obvious that this potential promotion ans said timing was obviously not my suggestion.

Edited 1 year(s) ago

Black beltVerified

15 forum posts2005/1000

1/5 for effort 😂

I agree, little effort. Your a funny guy🤙🏽

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1272 forum posts12800/1000

I am fully aware of and understand the IBJJF time in rank 'requirements'. And that belt checker is not the ibjjf. I understand and agree with the requirement/time for BB degrees. But was not sure if Belt checker would recognize rank up to black belt if the so called 'minimum' time suggested was not met.

A couple of questions come to mind:

1) If you understand/ agree with the BB TIG minimums, why would you disagree with those of other belt colors?

2) What's the rush? Why not just wait the relatively short period of time to hit minimum TIG?

Personally, I feel like the only reason you might want to rush, would be if you're cleaning out all your divisions in competition.

Otherwise, you don't need to advance rank in order to run a school, teach, or otherwise just train bjj the way you've been training.

I can tell you from personal experience, both as someone who advanced rank slowly, and as a coach who has awarded dozens of belts over the years, that is usually better to take your time, for a number of different reasons.

However, I think you were asking as to whether the users here on beltchecker would still verify your profile if you didn't hit ibjjf's minimums.

The short answer is nobody knows how people will vote, but my guess is you'll still get verified.

Black beltVerified

15 forum posts2005/1000

A couple of questions come to mind: 1) If you understand/ agree with the BB TIG minimums, why would you disagree with those of other belt colors? 2) What's the rush? Why not just wait the relatively short period of time to hit minimum TIG? Personally, I feel like the only reason you might want to rush, would be if you're cleaning out all your divisions in competition. Otherwise, you don't need to advance rank in order to run a school, teach, or otherwise just train bjj the way you've been training. I can tell you from personal experience, both as someone who advanced rank slowly, and as a coach who has awarded dozens of belts over the years, that is usually better to take your time, for a number of different reasons. However, I think you were asking as to whether the users here on beltchecker would still verify your profile if you didn't hit ibjjf's minimums. The short answer is nobody knows how people will vote, but my guess is you'll still get verified.

There is no rush on my end. I cannot even compete anymore due to surgeries and joint replacement. I will be attending our association seminar 2 states away with our head coach. If you didn't read my prior post I started training 18 + years ago. Definitely not on the fast tract especially with all of my surgeries.

I do not disagree with the tig requirements. As I previously stated the suggestion for the potential at the seminar did not come from me.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1272 forum posts12800/1000

If you didn't read my prior post I started training 18 + years ago. Definitely not on the fast tract especially with all of my surgeries. I do not disagree with the tig requirements. As I previously stated the suggestion for the potential at the seminar did not come from me.

I did read your last post :).

I also checked out your profile and noticed you had no competition matches listed.

If you're looking to maintain verification after you get your next promotion, especially if you happen to get promoted faster than what is generally accepted, it would help to have some supporting evidence, in addition to your existing evidence, so that the casual voter can more accurately vote on your profile, according to their standards.

It seems like you're anticipating another promotion at your upcoming seminar. Maybe if you're experiencing some trepidation, or other feelings of uncertainty, you could communicate those to your promoting instructor?

Black beltVerified

15 forum posts2005/1000

Just questions of curiosity. I have not been able to compete since 2010-2011.
Unfortunately with 5 ankle, and one knee surgery there is no competition record to post. I did not even have social media until after I got married. At that my wife and myself have that so called joint account which I wouldn't even have of it was not for ministry as I Pastor a church a is a useful tool for outreach.

Please do not be mistaken, I do appreciate the insight. I ask these questions because I do want whatever happens whether in grappling or elsewhere to be right and done with integrity.

John Vold

Black belt 1st degreeVerified95 forum posts1420/1000

I think to answer the original question, the shortest time anyone has gone from white to black is Travis Stevens in 18months. With that being said, he was high level in Judo (Olympic medalist I believe?). Other than that, Ciao Terra and BJ Penn come to mind as they both got to BB in 3 years, and most of us know about them. For the rest of us mortals it’s usually 8 years or more. It took me 13. Hope that answers your question.

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

976 forum posts9215/1000

Shortest time from brown to black

Don't ask. if I ever ask my professor when I was brown, he would have added a year. Your ready for the next belt when you meet his credentials to be a blackbelt. Don't rush it. It will come in time!

Ibjjf minimum is 1 year.

Black beltVerified

15 forum posts2005/1000

Don't ask. if I ever ask my professor when I was brown, he would have added a year. Your ready for the next belt when you meet his credentials to be a blackbelt. Don't rush it. It will come in time! Ibjjf minimum is 1 year.

Absolutely agree, I would never fathom asking about promotions.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1272 forum posts12800/1000

Absolutely agree, I would never fathom asking about promotions.

Lol why not?

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

976 forum posts9215/1000

Lol why not?

Because it questioning the instructors judgement. If the instructor hasn't promoted the student isn't ready. In my opinion if the student is asking they are not ready. If the student disagrees maybe it's time to move on.

It's OK to ask what they need to work on, which is fine gives the instructor a chance to let you know where they think you are? That my opinion!

Edited 1 year(s) ago

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1272 forum posts12800/1000

Because it questioning the instructors judgement. If the instructor hasn't promoted the student isn't ready. In my opinion if the student is asking they are not ready. If the student disagrees maybe it's time to move on. It's OK to ask what they need to work on, which is fine gives the instructor a chance to let you know where they think you are? That my opinion!

Ok. I gotcha. I encourage my students to ask about what they need to do to get promoted, should that be a concern of theirs.

Most don't.

But to be punished for asking, and then held back as a punishment?

Y'all, we are adults.

Imagine asking your boss about what you need to do to advance at your job, and they decide to hold you back from a promotion for that reason. Gtfo lmao.

Peter Gibbs

Blue beltVerified

80 forum posts920/200

There's a big difference between asking what you need to work on to improve enough for the promotion vs. asking why you haven't been promoted yet. One is respectful and shows both initiative and desire for growth, the other is accusatory and comes from a place of entitlement.

Megaton

Black beltVerified556 forum posts6875/1000

Don't ask. if I ever ask my professor when I was brown, he would have added a year. Your ready for the next belt when you meet his credentials to be a blackbelt. Don't rush it. It will come in time! Ibjjf minimum is 1 year.

Gabe would have added a year no doubt. It is ok, to ask what you need to work on, where the holes in your game are... NVR ask!

Michael Currier

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

7 forum posts4815/1000

Don't ask. if I ever ask my professor when I was brown, he would have added a year. Your ready for the next belt when you meet his credentials to be a blackbelt. Don't rush it. It will come in time! Ibjjf minimum is 1 year.

Easily the most toxic opinion in Jiu Jitsu. 😕

Joe Cavett

Purple beltVerified

434 forum posts4005/400

But to be punished for asking, and then held back as a punishment? Y'all, we are adults.

You have an extremely optimistic view of the BJJ community and the collective capacity for adulting.

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

1272 forum posts12800/1000

You have an extremely optimistic view of the BJJ community and the collective capacity for adulting.

Maybe.

But if you were to ask someone outside the bjj/ martial arts world what the difference is between the following questions, I'm not sure they would see much of a difference, other than the fact that there's just a different set of words being used:

"Hey coach, what should I do to get to the next level?"

And...

"Hey coach, why haven't I been promoted yet?"

Both of these questions are asking the exact same thing. Any of my students, at any time, could ask me either one of these questions, and In neither case would my response be to banish them to their current belt level for another year. I think this is a childish and unreasonable reaction.

These people are paying me to get them to a certain level of competency in grappling, which is reflected in the color of their belt. My job isn't to wait for folks to use the correct magic words so I don't sandbag them in retaliation.

This is, of course, my personal opinion based on my personal experiences.

Megaton

Black beltVerified556 forum posts6875/1000

Easily the most toxic opinion in Jiu Jitsu. 😕

Please explain. I originally came from the same gym and professor as VoVo and the gym is 100% not toxic. So I would like to hear why instead of a blanket statement.

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

976 forum posts9215/1000

Easily the most toxic opinion in Jiu Jitsu. 😕

Explain, why is it toxic?

People need to just shut it and train, when the professor thinks your ready you will get promoted.

People need to shop comparing themselves to others with belt rank. Each has their own journey. Enjoy the journey.

To me what's toxic is asking in the first place, because this creates a student having a false value of where they are, in their own opinion.

Peter Gibbs

Blue beltVerified

80 forum posts920/200

Was your post meant to be self-demonstrating? If not, I can say your second paragraph pretty well sums up why people think this is a toxic behavior.

As I said upthread, asking about promotions (if done wrong) can come across as entitled and an implicit challenge to the coach's authority. This understandably rubs some people the wrong way.

However, the toxic attitude is that it's OK to punish a person asking a simple question by deliberately withholding the thing that he's asking about just for asking.

Black belt 2nd degreeVerified

976 forum posts9215/1000

It's only toxic if you let your presious feelings get hurt.

Kinda like toxic masculinity. 🤦‍♂️

Time to pull up you bigboy pant and work for it, truly earn it! Don't give anyone the belief you professor gave you gift. This is my last comment on this subject.

Michael Currier

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

7 forum posts4815/1000

It's only toxic if you let your presious feelings get hurt. Kinda like toxic masculinity. 🤦‍♂️ Time to pull up you bigboy pant and work for it, truly earn it! Don't give anyone the belief you professor gave you gift. This is my last comment on this subject.

You proved my point for me. This is silly. We expect newcomers to know all of our etiquette? If they ask just tell them it’s not appropriate, but they are welcome to ask what they need to work on. It’s really pretty simple. Just be a decent human and realize these are adults paying for a membership at a gym. They don’t need to be punished for asking an innocent question. “One more year” give me a break.

I personally don’t want students to “shut up and train”. But you are more than welcome to run your cult as you see fit.

Megaton

Black beltVerified556 forum posts6875/1000

You proved my point for me. This is silly. We expect newcomers to know all of our etiquette? If they ask just tell them it’s not appropriate, but they are welcome to ask what they need to work on. It’s really pretty simple. Just be a decent human and realize these are adults paying for a membership at a gym. They don’t need to be punished for asking an innocent question. “One more year” give me a break. I personally don’t want students to “shut up and train”. But you are more than welcome to run your cult as you see fit.

You really never answered my question, instead try to attack Vovis and his opinion and throwing around insults to the gym where he trains. Which I think is not appropriate.

Also the chain NEVER stated to not ask questions, so there is no “Shut up and train” like you also insinuate. The statement was actually “It's OK to ask what they need to work on, which is fine gives the instructor a chance to let you know where they think you are”. It appears that you didn’t read that far because you basically repeated it in this last post. “If they ask just tell them it’s not appropriate, but they are welcome to ask what they need to work on.”

I don’t know maybe I am lost here but seems like the thinking isn’t so far apart. Lets get back to the #1 forum rule and Be Nice!

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” — Sir Winston Churchill

Michael Currier

Black belt 1st degreeVerified

7 forum posts4815/1000

You really never answered my question, instead try to attack Vovis and his opinion and throwing around insults to the gym where he trains. Which I think is not appropriate. Also the chain NEVER stated to not ask questions, so there is no “Shut up and train” like you also insinuate. The statement was actually “It's OK to ask what they need to work on, which is fine gives the instructor a chance to let you know where they think you are”. It appears that you didn’t read that far because you basically repeated it in this last post. “If they ask just tell them it’s not appropriate, but they are welcome to ask what they need to work on.” I don’t know maybe I am lost here but seems like the thinking isn’t so far apart. Lets get back to the #1 forum rule and Be Nice! “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” — Sir Winston Churchill

Had no intention of being rude. And “shut up and train” is literally in the post. The thinking is definitely close, but I simply can’t agree with someone who treats others like this. If someone wants to punish people for asking questions then I’m always going to stand up for the students. The beauty of Jiu Jitsu is we can all run our gyms exactly how we want. If students don’t like it they can train at a new academy. Pretty straightforward.

R. David Gonzalez

Black belt 4th degreeVerified

4764 forum posts34325/1000

I am as old school as anyone else (started in 95) but I take exception to this area of conversation.

Frankly, I don't mind if they ask me what they need to do to level up. They can ask me anything as long as we remain respectful towards each other.

Never had anyone ask me to promote them but maybe its the culture in our academy for students to put their trust in the instructors ability to assess them.

We usually remind everyone that there is literally no pressure on them to excel and that the pressure is on us, the instructors, to instruct them well.

We also tell them that consistency is super important and that noone can fake it on the mat. Most take that to heart.

These people pay the academy for instruction. I don't own them and I have no authority over them other than when we are in class, and only because someone has to be the instructor.

Never liked the BJJ community power trip some old school black belts have.

Personally I hate being called Professor. I like my name and I don't need titles to validate me.

For the record, I used to think the same as most old schoolers. That's changed over the years.

Edited 1 year(s) ago

Alexander King-Zhang

Purple beltVerified

661 forum posts2020/400