| Belt levels are important for several reasons beyond | | | | moves; they are the first moves you will try in a |
| the traditionally obvious; they allow us to place | | | | sequence and the moves that all others grow from. |
| techniques in order of importance and build in a logical | | | | Learning these techniques first will help develop the |
| order. Just as anything you build, the foundation must | | | | required coordination needed to perform later |
| be solid first and will determine the limits of our | | | | techniques with greater ease, making advanced |
| structure. The belt ranks help us to award students | | | | development faster and more efficient. |
| for their achievements, time in and aid in goal-setting. | | | | Blue Belt and Above |
| Before listing the requirements for each belt, I would | | | | After a student reaches blue belt level, the |
| like students to know that there are several | | | | foundation has been built and it is time for adding |
| associations (federations, etc ...) of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu | | | | moves to set up and sequence. It is also time to look |
| and each has their own set of expectations for | | | | at some variations and different situations like |
| pupils. Within those associations, individual instructors | | | | different guard types and ways to pass those leg |
| will often have their own different requirements. This | | | | positions. Instead of coming up with specific moves |
| is (one of the reasons) why in doing research for my | | | | that each student should definitely be learning, it is |
| books, I sought instruction from many different | | | | best to present problems for a student to solve |
| places; you wouldn't write a book on a subject | | | | along with a number of different solutions that may |
| without interviewing more than one person. The only | | | | fit individual body types and aptitudes accordingly. For |
| common or similar requirements held by most schools | | | | example: instead of saying that in order to reach |
| were for blue belt level. Beyond that, there were | | | | purple belt, you must learn two specific butterfly |
| almost no common requirements for Purple, Brown | | | | guard passes, I will show three or four and through |
| and Black Belt. In fact, even in the schools where | | | | teaching experience, have noticed that different |
| teachers had instructional products, such as books | | | | people prefer different passes, regardless of level; it's |
| and DVDs outlining specific requirements, their actual | | | | about body type and how some connect better to |
| students were not held to those exact criteria. | | | | certain movements than others. Of course, I will |
| It seems as though the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Belt | | | | arrange certain techniques, including guard passes in |
| requirements are somewhat of a mystery that has | | | | sequence for students so that they can remember it |
| been further deepened by the release of popular | | | | more easily and set moves up on advanced |
| works which erroneously outline techniques into | | | | opponents, suggesting a certain linking of techniques, |
| specific belt levels. By training with so many different | | | | but I allow room for growth and variation, caring |
| instructors, I have noticed where there are common | | | | more that the student was able to solve the problem |
| requirements and where there are not. I have also | | | | than simply learning 'my' move. There will always be |
| been able to develop a curriculum that will realistically | | | | more than one way to solve a problem and a good |
| and efficiently prepare a student for each level, | | | | teacher should recognize that what works for him |
| meeting the expectations of any instructor you might | | | | may not work for someone else; therefore, he |
| be training under. | | | | should be able to present his students with different |
| The First Belt: Common Requirements | | | | options that will suit certain body types or physical |
| The techniques required from white to blue belt are | | | | attributes and/or limitations differently. |
| usually very similar from one association to another. | | | | With all this being said, I will list the requirements for |
| If you look at Jiu-jitsu as a housing development, you | | | | Blue Belt that are pretty common between all |
| will notice that all of the foundations are made form | | | | associations. For Purple, Brown and Black, you will see |
| the same block and are of similar dimension. It is | | | | some required techniques, but you will notice how I |
| important that these foundations are strong because | | | | present the problems that must be solved from each |
| they will be the moves that all the rest are built on. | | | | position. |
| Once a foundation is built, people may choose what | | | | You can find all of the solutions for belts blue and |
| color they want to paint their homes and the details | | | | above in my Mastering BJJ DVD set or in my |
| within, but the fundamentals must be the same. I like | | | | eTraining section. |
| to call these fundamental techniques "A" group | | | | |