Rules for main forums
- Be nice
- No advertisement
- No events
- No fundraisers
- No topics asking for votes
- Only posts related to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
stripes on black belt
1 year(s) ago • 2475 views • 20 replies
KSBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Hey. I am a black belt, an active trainer and competitor. My experience in BJJ is about 20 years. However, depending on who you talk to, everyone has a different opinion about awarding so-called bars (dan) to black belts. It is generally known that according to the IBJJF rules, dans are awarded every 3 years until the 3rd dan. Thereafter, each subsequent one is every 5 years.
This is how it works in IBJJF. However, I often see that black belts give each other information contrary to the time set by the above-mentioned parameters.
Moreover, write who can give you a higher dan. Does it have to be a belt a few degrees higher than the one awarded to you, or are those in IBJJF automatically awarded after a period of time without nomination by a specific professor. What about the players who opened their academies as black belts and have no one above them with a belt higher than BB. Do they stay on BB for life without BB stripes?
Some instructors from the Gracie family from Helio accept a two-year system (instead of the three-year system above), although the legendary Helio himself valued the achievements and development of a given student on the mat more than a rigid time system.
If you have experience in this topic, let me know what it was like for you.
Hey. I am a black belt, an active trainer and competitor. My experience in BJJ is about 20 years. However, depending on who you talk to, everyone has a different opinion about awarding so-called bars (dan) to black belts. It is generally known that according to the IBJJF rules, dans are awarded every 3 years until the 3rd dan. Thereafter, each subsequent one is every 5 years.
This is how it works in IBJJF. However, I often see that black belts give each other information contrary to the time set by the above-mentioned parameters.
Moreover, write who can give you a higher dan. Does it have to be a belt a few degrees higher than the one awarded to you, or are those in IBJJF automatically awarded after a period of time without nomination by a specific professor. What about the players who opened their academies as black belts and have no one above them with a belt higher than BB. Do they stay on BB for life without BB stripes?
Some instructors from the Gracie family from Helio accept a two-year system (instead of the three-year system above), although the legendary Helio himself valued the achievements and development of a given student on the mat more than a rigid time system.
If you have experience in this topic, let me know what it was like for you.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I call them survival stripes .. I find them a little pointless..
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Regardless of time standards, it's a pretty cute idea to celebrate the birthday of your black belt 🥰🥰🥰
DEBrown beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I call them survival stripes .. I find them a little pointless..
Lowly purple belt perspective.
Disclaimers:
1. Realizing that it's "bad practice" to focus on belts/rank, in the end it's a real thing that most people take at least a little pride in achieving each level. All the while, personal skill advancement is the real benefit
2. Realizing that statistically once an individual reaches purple the chances of continuing to advance are higher based on individual commitment vs outside goals/factors.
...I find that stripes on the black belt are the most important/impressive. Coming up thru the ranks in BJJ from white to black there are clear motivators/markers/goals/steps, whatever you'd like to label them as, that help keep focus on training. Once black belt is achieved my impression is that is becomes more of a self discipline drive that keeps individuals coming back to train. Granted at that point it's more just part of someone vs something they do but still it takes self discipline to continue to return to something that, although being highly rewarding, is not an easy thing.
So my hat tips to all the BJJ black belts with stripes right up thru the coral and red belts that have it "in their DNA" to continue training. I hope to be there some day myself.
Disclaimers:
1. Realizing that it's "bad practice" to focus on belts/rank, in the end it's a real thing that most people take at least a little pride in achieving each level. All the while, personal skill advancement is the real benefit
2. Realizing that statistically once an individual reaches purple the chances of continuing to advance are higher based on individual commitment vs outside goals/factors.
...I find that stripes on the black belt are the most important/impressive. Coming up thru the ranks in BJJ from white to black there are clear motivators/markers/goals/steps, whatever you'd like to label them as, that help keep focus on training. Once black belt is achieved my impression is that is becomes more of a self discipline drive that keeps individuals coming back to train. Granted at that point it's more just part of someone vs something they do but still it takes self discipline to continue to return to something that, although being highly rewarding, is not an easy thing.
So my hat tips to all the BJJ black belts with stripes right up thru the coral and red belts that have it "in their DNA" to continue training. I hope to be there some day myself.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
FBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
"the stripes on your black belt show that you are getting older" ...
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
'the stripes on your black belt show that you are getting older' ...
I've got gray hairs and arthritis to do that for me, thank you very much.
PGBlue beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
It's a good way to gage a belt's true age when the time comes to replace it. My coach recently retired his venerable, well-worn black belt and now wears a fresh crispy one that has his name embroidered on it and three white stripes built in. Since he's my age (early/mid 30s), this prevents people from thinking he just got it or something.
Edited 1 year(s) ago
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I call them survival stripes .. I find them a little pointless..
Agreed, I dislike stripes on belts, I don't use them at my gym. I will have to bother with it on my own black belt, because the whole "need x number of degrees before you can promote someone else to black," but I'm not happy about it. ;)
FBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
CHBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Regardless of time standards, it's a pretty cute idea to celebrate the birthday of your black belt 🥰🥰🥰
I think this is the best reason/justification I've ever seen. I just might have to have a celebration for mine! :)
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I think this is the best reason/justification I've ever seen. I just might have to have a celebration for mine! :)
I vote for a tradition of throwing a cute little birthday party for the belts ❤️
CBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
I have seen this done in all ways. Phone conversations, face to face conversations, face to face exams, etc etc
Most traditional systems do not have new technique after what they consider third black anyway. Just time in rank or service to system awards.
How it is done I do not think matters. I do feel it is the initial black belt instructors responsibility though to keep up with “their” black belts. Falling outs (egos) and death make this difficult it seems. Ultimately it is suppose to be their responsibility though not the students to find someone to award their stripes.
Usually you see changing of gyms or opening of their own gym as the initial black belts ego excuse. This would be ridiculous and stagnate a system. A black belt should venture out on their own to learn new things, experiment and incorporate those things. This black belt is on what was once considered the warriors journey. Now ridiculed and called a traitor at times.
The newer black belt must remember to give credit and respect his initial teachers though. This is also forgotten.
Most traditional systems do not have new technique after what they consider third black anyway. Just time in rank or service to system awards.
How it is done I do not think matters. I do feel it is the initial black belt instructors responsibility though to keep up with “their” black belts. Falling outs (egos) and death make this difficult it seems. Ultimately it is suppose to be their responsibility though not the students to find someone to award their stripes.
Usually you see changing of gyms or opening of their own gym as the initial black belts ego excuse. This would be ridiculous and stagnate a system. A black belt should venture out on their own to learn new things, experiment and incorporate those things. This black belt is on what was once considered the warriors journey. Now ridiculed and called a traitor at times.
The newer black belt must remember to give credit and respect his initial teachers though. This is also forgotten.
ARBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
Only a 3rd degree black belt can award someone their black belt now if they are going by ibjjf standards. In the past a black belt with no degrees could give someone their black belt until IBJJF changed it so that only a 2nd degree black belt could do so. But recently they changed it to third degree now.
As far as giving stripes on a black belt, a black belt of any degree can give another black belt degrees up to their own ranking. So a 4th degree black belt can give someone their 4th degree. For it to be recognized by the ibjjf though the promoting black belt and the black belt being promoted must both be certified by the ibjjf.
There are lots of black belts out there that do not adhere to ibjjf’s standards on time in grade, so there are are presumably black belts out there that have received stripes on their belt without the requisite time. I understand that there’s lots of people that don’t want to feel beholden to what they feel is an arbitrary system set out by an origination that doesn’t have any official designation as thee authority in jiu-jitsu. But as of yet they are the only outfit to layout a guideline that I know of. It might be confusing to see a black belt with say three stripes on their black belt that’s only been a black belt for say 6 years instead of 9.
Lastly the criteria for what constitutes being deserving of a degree at black belt can and does very widely. The only absolute criteria set out by ibjjf is that you have been a black belt for a minimum of three years since your last promotion (for the first three stripes)…
but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you would automatically receive one at the three year mark. Again someone is co-signing that you deserve one, so a black belt could possibly not receive their next degree until say 4 or 5 years after their last promotion, whenever the overseeing black belt deems it’s the right time, though I think this rarely happens.
Black belt degrees are not based on improvement in your understanding or execution of jiu-jitsu, but more about a continuation of training past receiving your black belt in some form on a regular basis (if you train only sporadically then that would lead to your professor waiting longer to give you a degree.
More over, the emphasis on receiving your next degree is that you are giving back to the community at the very least by being on the mats to pass along knowledge to the up & coming belts but not necessarily teaching just being present and giving pointers and tips, or of course by actually teaching classes also.
This is what I’ve come to understand what the degrees on a black belt denote. For those that want to adhere to the IBJJF standards but do not have an overseeing instructor that is IBJJF certified and can approve their certification through the ibjjf, they would need to search for and find someone that is and would be willing to develop a relationship that would lead to that.
As far as giving stripes on a black belt, a black belt of any degree can give another black belt degrees up to their own ranking. So a 4th degree black belt can give someone their 4th degree. For it to be recognized by the ibjjf though the promoting black belt and the black belt being promoted must both be certified by the ibjjf.
There are lots of black belts out there that do not adhere to ibjjf’s standards on time in grade, so there are are presumably black belts out there that have received stripes on their belt without the requisite time. I understand that there’s lots of people that don’t want to feel beholden to what they feel is an arbitrary system set out by an origination that doesn’t have any official designation as thee authority in jiu-jitsu. But as of yet they are the only outfit to layout a guideline that I know of. It might be confusing to see a black belt with say three stripes on their black belt that’s only been a black belt for say 6 years instead of 9.
Lastly the criteria for what constitutes being deserving of a degree at black belt can and does very widely. The only absolute criteria set out by ibjjf is that you have been a black belt for a minimum of three years since your last promotion (for the first three stripes)…
but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you would automatically receive one at the three year mark. Again someone is co-signing that you deserve one, so a black belt could possibly not receive their next degree until say 4 or 5 years after their last promotion, whenever the overseeing black belt deems it’s the right time, though I think this rarely happens.
Black belt degrees are not based on improvement in your understanding or execution of jiu-jitsu, but more about a continuation of training past receiving your black belt in some form on a regular basis (if you train only sporadically then that would lead to your professor waiting longer to give you a degree.
More over, the emphasis on receiving your next degree is that you are giving back to the community at the very least by being on the mats to pass along knowledge to the up & coming belts but not necessarily teaching just being present and giving pointers and tips, or of course by actually teaching classes also.
This is what I’ve come to understand what the degrees on a black belt denote. For those that want to adhere to the IBJJF standards but do not have an overseeing instructor that is IBJJF certified and can approve their certification through the ibjjf, they would need to search for and find someone that is and would be willing to develop a relationship that would lead to that.
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Only a 3rd degree black belt can award someone their black belt now if they are going by ibjjf standards. In the past a black belt with no degrees could give someone their black belt until IBJJF changed it so that only a 2nd degree black belt could do so. But recently they changed it to third degree now. As far as giving stripes on a black belt, a black belt of any degree can give another black belt degrees up to their own ranking. So a 4th degree black belt can give someone their 4th degree. For it to be recognized by the ibjjf though the promoting black belt and the black belt being promoted must both be certified by the ibjjf. There are lots of black belts out there that do not adhere to ibjjf’s standards on time in grade, so there are are presumably black belts out there that have received stripes on their belt without the requisite time. I understand that there’s lots of people that don’t want to feel beholden to what they feel is an arbitrary system set out by an origination that doesn’t have any official designation as thee authority in jiu-jitsu. But as of yet they are the only outfit to layout a guideline that I know of. It might be confusing to see a black belt with say three stripes on their black belt that’s only been a black belt for say 6 years instead of 9. Lastly the criteria for what constitutes being deserving of a degree at black belt can and does very widely. The only absolute criteria set out by ibjjf is that you have been a black belt for a minimum of three years since your last promotion (for the first three stripes)… but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you would automatically receive one at the three year mark. Again someone is co-signing that you deserve one, so a black belt could possibly not receive their next degree until say 4 or 5 years after their last promotion, whenever the overseeing black belt deems it’s the right time, though I think this rarely happens. Black belt degrees are not based on improvement in your understanding or execution of jiu-jitsu, but more about a continuation of training past receiving your black belt in some form on a regular basis (if you train only sporadically then that would lead to your professor waiting longer to give you a degree. More over, the emphasis on receiving your next degree is that you are giving back to the community at the very least by being on the mats to pass along knowledge to the up & coming belts but not necessarily teaching just being present and giving pointers and tips, or of course by actually teaching classes also. This is what I’ve come to understand what the degrees on a black belt denote. For those that want to adhere to the IBJJF standards but do not have an overseeing instructor that is IBJJF certified and can approve their certification through the ibjjf, they would need to search for and find someone that is and would be willing to develop a relationship that would lead to that.
Anthony, what source do you have that a no degree BB could promote to BB in the past? When?
Mid 90:s, I rather recall only VERY senior BB:s promoting others to BB. With basically everyone promoted to BB mid 90:s or earlier was promoted by a BB who today would be considered more or less a legend. There could of course be some gringo bias, not having perceived everything going on in more peripheral academies, but how many lineages on Beltchecker do we actually have with <2:nd degree BB:s having promoted the next person in the lineage in the mid 90:s or earlier?
Late 90:s and early 00:s (at which time IBJJF was formed), I think there have been a few <2:nd degree BB:s (mostly gringos?) who have been a bit trigger happy on getting to promote BB:s of their own. So i think this is the only time span where it might be motivated to consider having oversight with the 2:nd degree promoter standard. Somewhere mid 00:s onwards, I really don't think there's much of an excuse left for that practice and I rather see the more standardized 2:nd degree threshold as a softened up standard compared to the standard of old with basically only the very senior team patriarchs promoting anyone to BB.
Would be interesting to hear the reflections of others who have been around since the mid 90:s or even earlier.
Mid 90:s, I rather recall only VERY senior BB:s promoting others to BB. With basically everyone promoted to BB mid 90:s or earlier was promoted by a BB who today would be considered more or less a legend. There could of course be some gringo bias, not having perceived everything going on in more peripheral academies, but how many lineages on Beltchecker do we actually have with <2:nd degree BB:s having promoted the next person in the lineage in the mid 90:s or earlier?
Late 90:s and early 00:s (at which time IBJJF was formed), I think there have been a few <2:nd degree BB:s (mostly gringos?) who have been a bit trigger happy on getting to promote BB:s of their own. So i think this is the only time span where it might be motivated to consider having oversight with the 2:nd degree promoter standard. Somewhere mid 00:s onwards, I really don't think there's much of an excuse left for that practice and I rather see the more standardized 2:nd degree threshold as a softened up standard compared to the standard of old with basically only the very senior team patriarchs promoting anyone to BB.
Would be interesting to hear the reflections of others who have been around since the mid 90:s or even earlier.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
Only a 3rd degree black belt can award someone their black belt now if they are going by ibjjf standards. In the past a black belt with no degrees could give someone their black belt until IBJJF changed it so that only a 2nd degree black belt could do so. But recently they changed it to third degree now. As far as giving stripes on a black belt, a black belt of any degree can give another black belt degrees up to their own ranking. So a 4th degree black belt can give someone their 4th degree. For it to be recognized by the ibjjf though the promoting black belt and the black belt being promoted must both be certified by the ibjjf. There are lots of black belts out there that do not adhere to ibjjf’s standards on time in grade, so there are are presumably black belts out there that have received stripes on their belt without the requisite time. I understand that there’s lots of people that don’t want to feel beholden to what they feel is an arbitrary system set out by an origination that doesn’t have any official designation as thee authority in jiu-jitsu. But as of yet they are the only outfit to layout a guideline that I know of. It might be confusing to see a black belt with say three stripes on their black belt that’s only been a black belt for say 6 years instead of 9. Lastly the criteria for what constitutes being deserving of a degree at black belt can and does very widely. The only absolute criteria set out by ibjjf is that you have been a black belt for a minimum of three years since your last promotion (for the first three stripes)… but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you would automatically receive one at the three year mark. Again someone is co-signing that you deserve one, so a black belt could possibly not receive their next degree until say 4 or 5 years after their last promotion, whenever the overseeing black belt deems it’s the right time, though I think this rarely happens. Black belt degrees are not based on improvement in your understanding or execution of jiu-jitsu, but more about a continuation of training past receiving your black belt in some form on a regular basis (if you train only sporadically then that would lead to your professor waiting longer to give you a degree. More over, the emphasis on receiving your next degree is that you are giving back to the community at the very least by being on the mats to pass along knowledge to the up & coming belts but not necessarily teaching just being present and giving pointers and tips, or of course by actually teaching classes also. This is what I’ve come to understand what the degrees on a black belt denote. For those that want to adhere to the IBJJF standards but do not have an overseeing instructor that is IBJJF certified and can approve their certification through the ibjjf, they would need to search for and find someone that is and would be willing to develop a relationship that would lead to that.
The current rule book states: "The graduation of an athlete to Black Belt can only be signed by a Black Belt Professor who has at
least 2 (two) Degrees certified by IBJJF". [6.2]
The exception to this rule, and maybe it's what you're thinking of, is when the black belt is registering with ibjjf for the first time (applying for provisons status), s/he needs a 3rd degree to sign off on it.
least 2 (two) Degrees certified by IBJJF". [6.2]
The exception to this rule, and maybe it's what you're thinking of, is when the black belt is registering with ibjjf for the first time (applying for provisons status), s/he needs a 3rd degree to sign off on it.
NWBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
have a question here. I competed last in the IBJJF in 2023 and I had a brown belt, I was just awarded my black belt two weeks ago and I would like to start the process for getting my IBJJF black belt membership. My trouble is that my professor is not signed up with the IBJJF. So I find myself maybe needing to find someone who could sign off on my Black belt membership. Is there a forum around here other than this forum perhaps where I could talk to people and find out if they might be interested in having a further conversation? Thank you!
ZBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
The current rule book states: "The graduation of an athlete to Black Belt can only be signed by a Black Belt Professor who has at least 2 (two) Degrees certified by IBJJF". [6.2] The exception to this rule, and maybe it's what you're thinking of, is when the black belt is registering with ibjjf for the first time (applying for provisons status), s/he needs a 3rd degree to sign off on it.
This is all very unclear.
Registering a competitor on the IBJJF website is a different thing than promoting a student to a black belt.
The IBJJF is a private organization with some standards, does every club or trainer have to refer to them?
BJJ does not have state sports associations such as JUDO, KARATE, etc.
We ourselves believe that the only correct standard is the one imposed by the IBJJF.
Maybe a black belt should be awarded by a committee, e.g. by 3 other black belts even without stripes
Registering a competitor on the IBJJF website is a different thing than promoting a student to a black belt.
The IBJJF is a private organization with some standards, does every club or trainer have to refer to them?
BJJ does not have state sports associations such as JUDO, KARATE, etc.
We ourselves believe that the only correct standard is the one imposed by the IBJJF.
Maybe a black belt should be awarded by a committee, e.g. by 3 other black belts even without stripes
JCPurple beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
So what makes IBJJF "correct"? They are the only game in town, but that doesn't mean their way is right. As I've mentioned multiple times before on this forum, it amazes me how this site is supposed to be an independent entity but every time I turn around IBJJF rules are used for rationalization of qualification or non-qualification.
ZBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
So what makes IBJJF "correct"? They are the only game in town, but that doesn't mean their way is right. As I've mentioned multiple times before on this forum, it amazes me how this site is supposed to be an independent entity but every time I turn around IBJJF rules are used for rationalization of qualification or non-qualification.
You are 100% right, but we can't do anything about it anyway.
IBJJF is considered the most important organization in our world and has the most important competitions.
We can only talk.
IBJJF is considered the most important organization in our world and has the most important competitions.
We can only talk.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
does every club or trainer have to refer to them?
No. I was just responding to Anthony's (possible) misunderstanding regarding IBJJF's ranking/registration criteria.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
1 year(s) ago
So what makes IBJJF "correct"? They are the only game in town, but that doesn't mean their way is right. As I've mentioned multiple times before on this forum, it amazes me how this site is supposed to be an independent entity but every time I turn around IBJJF rules are used for rationalization of qualification or non-qualification.
The IBJJF is "correct" I think, in the respect that they are taking something that is (and was) already common practice, and they're just making it "official" by charging you for it.
Of course you don't have to go through the IBJJF for anything, and I think most of us on this site would agree with this statement.
BUT... for the most part, their criteria/minimums/etc are just trying to reinforce what has already been common practice.
Of course you don't have to go through the IBJJF for anything, and I think most of us on this site would agree with this statement.
BUT... for the most part, their criteria/minimums/etc are just trying to reinforce what has already been common practice.
DUBlack beltVerified
1 year(s) ago
I've got gray hairs and arthritis to do that for me, thank you very much.
I read that as "I've got gray hairs on my arthritis" my brain was like wow even his arthritis is old!
