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IBJJF Provisional Black Belt Renewal Limbo – Need Advice (Atos Re-affiliation / 3rd Degree Requirement)
1 week(s) ago • 290 views • 17 replies
PRBlack beltVerifiedPanama
1 week(s) ago
Hey everyone,
Looking for advice or insight on an IBJJF provisional registration administrative issue.
Background:
Registered my Provisional Black Belt with IBJJF under Prof. André Galvão on Nov 3, 2025.
Situation: Earlier this year, my local gym in Panama parted ways with Atos. However I proudly display my black belt diploma signed by Prof. Galvão on my wall at home.
The Problem: My Year 2 provisional renewal is now stuck pending in the portal. Under IBJJF rules, a Black Belt application or transfer requires a 3rd-Degree Black Belt sign-off when in provisional status. However, there are currently no active IBJJF-certified 3rd degrees in Panama.
The Dilemma: If I transfer to my local professor (who qualifies for his 3rd degree in Feb 2028), my 2-year provisional clock resets to zero, delaying my 1st degree eligibility to 2031 instead of Nov 2028.
Steps Already Taken:
Reached out to Professors André and Angélica Galvão via Instagram DMs and submitted a inquiry through the Atos online contact page.
Local professor reached out via WhatsApp to follow up, but no response yet (understandably, given their message volume).
Questions for the Community:
1. Has anyone successfully had a Year 2 provisional renewal approved through Atos HQ / Master Account after a local affiliate detached? Is there a specific administrative contact or email at HQ who handles IBJJF portal approvals?
2. Does IBJJF HQ offer any manual overrides or direct options when no certified 3rd-degree black belts exist in a country?
Appreciate any advice or experiences from anyone who has navigated this!
Looking for advice or insight on an IBJJF provisional registration administrative issue.
Background:
Registered my Provisional Black Belt with IBJJF under Prof. André Galvão on Nov 3, 2025.
Situation: Earlier this year, my local gym in Panama parted ways with Atos. However I proudly display my black belt diploma signed by Prof. Galvão on my wall at home.
The Problem: My Year 2 provisional renewal is now stuck pending in the portal. Under IBJJF rules, a Black Belt application or transfer requires a 3rd-Degree Black Belt sign-off when in provisional status. However, there are currently no active IBJJF-certified 3rd degrees in Panama.
The Dilemma: If I transfer to my local professor (who qualifies for his 3rd degree in Feb 2028), my 2-year provisional clock resets to zero, delaying my 1st degree eligibility to 2031 instead of Nov 2028.
Steps Already Taken:
Reached out to Professors André and Angélica Galvão via Instagram DMs and submitted a inquiry through the Atos online contact page.
Local professor reached out via WhatsApp to follow up, but no response yet (understandably, given their message volume).
Questions for the Community:
1. Has anyone successfully had a Year 2 provisional renewal approved through Atos HQ / Master Account after a local affiliate detached? Is there a specific administrative contact or email at HQ who handles IBJJF portal approvals?
2. Does IBJJF HQ offer any manual overrides or direct options when no certified 3rd-degree black belts exist in a country?
Appreciate any advice or experiences from anyone who has navigated this!
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
1 week(s) ago
Why did your gym part ways with Atos?
TPBlack beltVerified
1 week(s) ago
Why did your gym part ways with Atos?
Whoa, do you not follow the jiujitsu world news at all...
IBlack beltVerified
1 week(s) ago
If you can't get ATOS to sign off, you're probably gonna just have to accept that your provisional period will be reset. Even if your coach earns their third degree in 2028, they still have to go through the certification process. You're in a shitty situation.
TPBlack beltVerified
1 week(s) ago
The Dilemma: If I transfer to my local professor (who qualifies for his 3rd degree in Feb 2028), my 2-year provisional clock resets to zero, delaying my 1st degree eligibility to 2031 instead of Nov 2028.
Are you sure it delays the 1st degree eligibilty though? I have understood that all the years that you have been registered as a black belt member and paying the $45 annual fee are counted towards the degrees, provisional or not, certified or basic membership.
Of course you need to get a 3rd degree to sign you off to eventually get certified and thus be eligble to apply for the IBJJF degrees, but even if the provisional 2-year period starts over, the black belt years are not "lost" as long as the annual membership fee is paid. (As a provisional black belt you will need somebody to sign off the basic mambership every year too though.)
Of course you need to get a 3rd degree to sign you off to eventually get certified and thus be eligble to apply for the IBJJF degrees, but even if the provisional 2-year period starts over, the black belt years are not "lost" as long as the annual membership fee is paid. (As a provisional black belt you will need somebody to sign off the basic mambership every year too though.)
TPBlack beltVerified
1 week(s) ago
2. Does IBJJF HQ offer any manual overrides or direct options when no certified 3rd-degree black belts exist in a country?
No.
The whole scheme is about having to affiliate with some old school Brazilian dude in order to get officially acknowledged...
The whole scheme is about having to affiliate with some old school Brazilian dude in order to get officially acknowledged...
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
1 week(s) ago
Whoa, do you not follow the jiujitsu world news at all...
I do. That's why I'm asking if he knows as he himself seems to be very much on board with them...
PRBlack beltVerifiedPanama
1 week(s) ago
Thanks for the answers guys. The reason why the head coach separated from ATOS was the common one back in February 2026. I would rather not delve into the topic as it has been heavily discussed everywhere. Suffices to say the separation of my gym was done in a friendly manner and there were in talks since 2025 according to the coach.
My Gym is now registered in IBJJF and both 2 degree coaches are able to promote people already registered as brown belts. However I joined the organization after I got my black belt (hence the provisional status) and thus I need a 3rd degree black belt sign off just to renew my membership. This is the reason why I cannot even transfer to my gym until feb 2028 when my coaches get the 3rd degree and would then be easy. However without anyone in Panama able to support my renewal, it would not get into a hold but it would be reset in february 2028 and I will be able to get my non provisional belt in February 2030... my first degree from IBJJF until Febraury 2031 instead of November 2028...
Of course, I would get promoted in 2028 at the gym, it just beats the purpose of joining IBJFF in 2025...
My Gym is now registered in IBJJF and both 2 degree coaches are able to promote people already registered as brown belts. However I joined the organization after I got my black belt (hence the provisional status) and thus I need a 3rd degree black belt sign off just to renew my membership. This is the reason why I cannot even transfer to my gym until feb 2028 when my coaches get the 3rd degree and would then be easy. However without anyone in Panama able to support my renewal, it would not get into a hold but it would be reset in february 2028 and I will be able to get my non provisional belt in February 2030... my first degree from IBJJF until Febraury 2031 instead of November 2028...
Of course, I would get promoted in 2028 at the gym, it just beats the purpose of joining IBJFF in 2025...
IBlack beltVerified
1 week(s) ago
As mentioned by Tatu, are you sure that you would actually lose black belt time if you wait till 2028? As long as you are registered as a black belt and paying then it should count towards your time in belt, right? But you would be adding several provisional years.
TPBlack beltVerified
1 week(s) ago
Got it. So a 3. degree sign-off is needed just to renew your membership, and if you don’t get that you will lose the year towards the IBJJF degrees. (Provisional status reset doesn’t do that, but not getting the membership activated will.)
Basically two options: use your contacts to find a new friendly black belt with enough degrees in the system willing to sign you off just to get your membership activated for another year, then use that time to try find somebody to affiliate with for long enough to get past the provisional status. Or continue trying to contact Galvao and see if he wants to continue supporting you despite what happened with your gym.
Basically two options: use your contacts to find a new friendly black belt with enough degrees in the system willing to sign you off just to get your membership activated for another year, then use that time to try find somebody to affiliate with for long enough to get past the provisional status. Or continue trying to contact Galvao and see if he wants to continue supporting you despite what happened with your gym.
HBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
1 week(s) ago
I believe it will need to reset if not acknowledged by ATOS and you'd have to find another third to be under for two more years. I'm unsure however on the "clock" with your previous time in as a provisional.
JCPurple beltVerified
6 day(s) ago
Your gym was not the only one that left ATOS. Surely your coaches know another former affiliate that could help you out with this?
AXBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 day(s) ago
Hi Pablo,
I had a look at the official IBJJF membership rules, and there is something worth checking before assuming your provisional period will reset.
According to the IBJJF, the two-year provisional period restarts if you change both your professor and your academy before completing it. If either the original professor or the original registered academy remains the same, the provisional period should not restart. Since your original academy is now independently registered with IBJJF, I would also contact IBJJF support and ask whether it still counts as the same academy for provisional-registration purposes, despite leaving Atos.
That distinction could be important in your situation. I would get written confirmation from IBJJF before making any changes to your registration. Good luck 🤙🏻
I had a look at the official IBJJF membership rules, and there is something worth checking before assuming your provisional period will reset.
According to the IBJJF, the two-year provisional period restarts if you change both your professor and your academy before completing it. If either the original professor or the original registered academy remains the same, the provisional period should not restart. Since your original academy is now independently registered with IBJJF, I would also contact IBJJF support and ask whether it still counts as the same academy for provisional-registration purposes, despite leaving Atos.
That distinction could be important in your situation. I would get written confirmation from IBJJF before making any changes to your registration. Good luck 🤙🏻
RGBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 day(s) ago
IBJJF Purgatory is ridiculous. I hope your situation works out.
PRBlack beltVerifiedPanama
6 day(s) ago
Thank you again guys! Appreciate the time and effort.
Will reply to your comments
1. I cannot pay if my provisional is not approved by my 3rd degree professor . Hence i lose continuity and time resets
2. My coach wrote today to IBJJF… basically they say, get your student a 3rd degree professor, nothing else to do.
3. Will ask my coach about a friendly still associate that could help! Thanks for the idea
4. No other registered 3rd degree or higher in the country. Already asked and checked.
5. As my coach was not affiliated directly when I got promoted , we used to registered under Atos international and André himself. Hence I need to switch both school and professor…
Will reply to your comments
1. I cannot pay if my provisional is not approved by my 3rd degree professor . Hence i lose continuity and time resets
2. My coach wrote today to IBJJF… basically they say, get your student a 3rd degree professor, nothing else to do.
3. Will ask my coach about a friendly still associate that could help! Thanks for the idea
4. No other registered 3rd degree or higher in the country. Already asked and checked.
5. As my coach was not affiliated directly when I got promoted , we used to registered under Atos international and André himself. Hence I need to switch both school and professor…
JCPurple beltVerified
6 day(s) ago
Thank you again guys! Appreciate the time and effort. Will reply to your comments 1. I cannot pay if my provisional is not approved by my 3rd degree professor . Hence i lose continuity and time resets 2. My coach wrote today to IBJJF… basically they say, get your student a 3rd degree professor, nothing else to do. 3. Will ask my coach about a friendly still associate that could help! Thanks for the idea 4. No other registered 3rd degree or higher in the country. Already asked and checked. 5. As my coach was not affiliated directly when I got promoted , we used to registered under Atos international and André himself. Hence I need to switch both school and professor…
So this leads me to other questions. Do you actually NEED IBJJF registration? Do you compete or have students that compete? If not, why bother?
HBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
6 day(s) ago
So this leads me to other questions. Do you actually NEED IBJJF registration? Do you compete or have students that compete? If not, why bother?
I do it just so my students can compete and have that option available to them.
PRBlack beltVerifiedPanama
6 day(s) ago
Exactly! And also because I want to be a referee.
