Why Are There Bars on Jiu-Jitsu Belts? - Kama Vlog

*Correction* direct from KJJ Prof Jack Taufer:
“...two things are incorrect. They let me wear my belt given to me by Dave except the first time I went there because they didnt know me. 2nd the visitor belts has a white strip through the middle of the belt that ran the whole length of the belt.”
So what's really up with those bars on the end of our belt?
Want a good belt yourself? Try these Kaataro belts!
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[@theItalianshamrock]

Im an invisible belt. Got it from watching over 500 BJJ videos on KZbin

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

You’re pretty badass!

[@harrisoncourtneyfilm00]

@ham and cheese it's a joke

[@toptensviewerschoice5204]

I think you are ready.... Black belt from amazon

[@spensatron]

Take my money!!

[@AskTheKid]

Bad news, that's still a white belt

[@Yourmomma568]

"belts don't matter, but ill make you wear a different one.

[@art-tb3um]

i think kron gracies gym does the same

[@ericparis224]

All this guy talks about is belts. Then he says they don’t matter. Hilarious! He’s the hypocrite not anyone else here... what a clown

[@SlyRyFry]

@@ericparis224 he's just sharing some knowledge, i can't stand some of this dudes stances, but on belts he's spot on, and yeah belts don't matter but if you go to another school people should know you're not that rank under their standards, although you might be, if you stick around and have the skills to match im sure you'll be able to wear your original belt in no time, you definitely care too much about belts if you have a problem with wearing a belt with a white bar

[@markuslepisto7824]

🥱

[@irockz281982]

I have my blue from Gracie Barra Jiujitsu and also have trained with other blue belts from other Jiujitsu academies and we see each other as fellow blue belts and help one another with different input on moves and techniques. Oss! Let the good times roll!

[@ericparis224]

thats because you dont have your head up your own ass

[@theoriginalmikaveli]

Imagine you get your undergraduate degree from Cambridge, then you want to study for your Master's at Oxford, but they don't recognize your qualifications because their syllabus for a given subject is different (and it is)... What they do, like any reputable institution, is just ensure they only give out new qualifications to people that have earned them against their criteria.

[@ericparis224]

Oh and you charge the teachers a fee to teach!!!!! What a scam!!!!

[@TheWhatthe1]

White belt for life

[@psychosquad5502]

Well, I guess this narrows down my choices of schools to train with when I move to the Dallas area. If a professor is going to ask me to give up the belt that I have bled for...they will not be my professor.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Makes things easier, huh? Right on for you. Plenty of good schools in the area to choose from. Good luck!👍

[@ericparis224]

yeah man stear clear

[@redstarthunder12]

when you say, you're blue belt isn't good 'nuf here, you're not saying they aren't up to your standards but that the professor who promoted them isn't. being an instructor, i can't think of anything more egotistical than this. the first thing you want from a transferring student is to show dominance over both them and their previous professor. to erase the students previous lineage and put them under you. "no ego in JiuJitsu" "belts don't matter" biggest myths ever told.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Then teach your student better, so there’s no question as to their skill level.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

See the video with our two purple belts. See Zack’s story of his journey so far, and then tell me what you think. If you still wanna judge at that point, then that’s your kuleana.

[@redstarthunder12]

thanks for the reply, OP. but in MY OPINION that's a moot point, what if Professor Alpha focuses on BJJ for MMA but in another academy Professor Bravo focuses on pure GI. A purple belt under P Alpha may tap to a blue belt under P Bravo. But what happens when the Gi comes off and/or we add strikes? Then one punch to the face from the Purple under P Alpha to a Brown belt under P Bravo, maybe even a black belt (I seen it), then the practitioner under P Bravo becomes a blue belt, second punch then they're a white belt. so i don't think there is any such thing as "no question". another example, up here in the pacific NW, wrestling is huge. what if a collegiate wrestler with golden gloves from here goes to your school with a white belt and not one of your purple belts could hang with him in a mma scenario? maybe even just NOGi rolling? do you skip him straight to purple? what color bar would you give him? and on more point, up here most academies focus on leg takedowns. so what if i were to go to an academy that does more judo throws ? and i couldn't hip throw to save my life, and that's their academies blue belt test standard. But not once am i taken down in sparring?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

If you don’t meet the qualifications at your new school, humble yourself of your old school’s rank and take the rank you’re given. Or, don’t join the new school if your old belt means so much.

[@knyghtkrawlr]

Is that what you think jujitsu is about? Being able to beat someone? Seems like you need check your ego and humble yourself to truly learn

[@sandmanquinton8845]

Demoting a student to a lower rank after receiving this rank from a legit Black Belt instructor doesn't make any sense. Pick up the phone and confirm the rank of this new student; and from that point just drill them on the things that they need to be sufficient at the next level. No need to strip rank especially when jiu-jitsu is a small community and we should be able to find out right away if the rank has been rightfully earned. All ranks are not created equal; some purple belts are not world champions and might get tapped by world class blue belts, but that doesn't mean they're not purple if they put in the mat hours to reach that level.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

How long have you run your own school? No one is demoting anyone. Legit black belt or not, if the student doesn’t have the basic knowledge his new school requires, the new (and current) instructor determines his rank, not the old instructor. I once had Roger Machado demote my Rickson-awarded purple belt to his blue belt because I didn’t know what he required his purple belts to know. At that time, I thought I wanted to learn from him, so no big deal. When I was no longer his student, Rickson’s purple belt went right back on.

[@ericparis224]

Sandman Quinton he doesn’t respect other professors. Simple

[@tjl4688]

Some schools have defined curriculums, where it's not a matter of simply drilling things - when a sport BJJ dude comes into my current school, they HAVE to start at white, because they've learned exactly zero self-defense. They can probably tap the instructor, but they still don't know basic takedowns or wall defense, etc. We still allow people with prior ranks to free roll, but there are major gaps in their knowledge that take time to fill. They tend to progress quickly through the ranks anyway.

[@chriswaugh264]

"Belts dont matter to me its the experience that counts"

[@Papa91echo]

If you got your brazilian jiu jitsu belt you earned that BJJ belt. Schools don't have belts, the martial art does.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

If you’ve been around long enough to see the differences in what each school teaches these days, you’d think differently.

[@ssssaintmarcus]

@@KamaJiuJitsuyou are acting like most modern schools blue belts don’t know as much as old school black belts. I’ve walked into plenty of gyms and beat up on the black belt there as a purple

[@anthonyderosa7730]

I kinda like the bar idea bc it stops anybody from complaining. about anything.

[@pablosales3322]

Such a good idea these colored bars in order to make people more comfortable that their previous effort ( going through a different system ) has not been in vain and that they will earn the proper belt eventually. And it must be a great privilege to get to teach others and help the professors and instructors even as a blue belt. congratulations!

[@JONNY_RICO69]

*belts don't matter........makes new belts

[@bigmodaco]

that damn piece of thread on his sleeve is bothering me

[@Iamfr0ggy]

Got my blue last week 😬😬

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Time to get a Kataaro blue belt!

[@jaygannon1095]

This is close to being the best, most sensible belt system I've ever seen. The only thing I'd change is that I'm a fan of the idea of using yellow, orange and green after white for adults and not just kids, as a replacement for getting stripes on the white belt. But that white, black and red bar system is logical, elegant and easy to tell at a glance who's who, what's what and which role they're looking to fill at the school.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Feel free to take our system and tweak it with your adjustments, as well! Btw, your adding the yellow, orange, green belts - while different from the GJJ belt system, is the same as the judo belt system originally used, so it’s a good system.

[@notme3686]

My son is training pure no gi. If he started training in gi I'd fully expect him to drop his belt at the door and whenever his instructor felt he earned something, that's when he would get it. Same as if a gi grappler went to a no gi school. Many different concepts being taught by many different systems. Personally i think this different color scheme is pretty good. It doesn't say that someone else is bad or that they didn't put in work to earn their rank or that they don't know anything, only that you jumped into a different system and may not know what needs to be known for that system. As long as the professor is fair in judging the new student, it's all good. If my son started a new school and they told him he wasn't up to speed and they needed to place him in either a lower grade or a special class that's more demanding to get him caught up to where he should be, I'd appreciate that rather than throwing him into a grade and curriculum for which he's not ready and watching him suffer and pound his head against the wall and making him doubt what he knows or should know about himself. At the same time it would absolutely be fair to allow the "white bar" student to share some ideas, techniques, and philosophies learned from the other schools and instructors, especially once he gets settled into the school. It would validate what he's been working at for some time, even if it's different than the current system being taught. My son can absolutely wreck a gi grappler if leg locks and twisters are allowed and can comfortably go inverted much more than the average gi grappler at his age and time in training. By the same token, he doesn't even know how to handle a basic collar choke once a gi is added nor does he know anything about any grips, super basic stuff in gi grappling.

[@BurkeTrue2]

I would be happy to review the curriculum of any new school. I would even look forward to learning any new little details that this school might show me but ain't no body gettin my belt off me. That shit is earned and no way would I accept another teacher insult my previous teacher by implying that his standards and my efforts to meet those standards are not legit for this club. Fuuuuck that! You wanna tell me that I won't receive any stripe or belt promotions until you're satisfied that I'm up to speed with your curriculum, absolutely zero problem. I'll work extra hard to cover it all but you stay the fuck away from me with that white tipped thing.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

so let me ask you this. if there are no standards in something like today's BJJ (i.e. no standard curriculum) like there are in judo, there's the possibility that what you know is completely different vs the school you're trying to join, does it make sense to "fight" for a belt that is of the same color, but not the same meaning? the belt means nothing in the long run. A professor at a school you want to join can always change your belt at his discretion. of course, if the belt you wear means that much to you, you can always choose another school.

[@andrejpetrovic8240]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu The only team for which I would degrade myself from purple to blue belt is AOJ, only them!! I watched some Rickson Gracies black belts fight on internet and all I can say is nuttela. That does not mean that they are bad just IBJJF fighters are more active(99% of them). There are people in GJJF and IBJJF who stall that does not mean that all of the fighters stall. Its not nice to slow down growth of the sport just because there is no defence classes in IBJJF rule teams around the globe.

[@andrew3692]

Hes not saying that blue belts from other academies aren't true blue belts. Hes only saying that they're blue belts in that OTHER academies system, in THAT instructors opinion. But when you're in HIS academy you are learning HIS system and your belt is a reflection of your progress in HIS system. you still earned the rank in the other system, but you might be missing key components of his system that are required for you to be the same rank at his academy.

[@dilligafTV1]

I agree BurkeTrue2. At our Academy, we had a guy that came in who was a 4 stripe purple belt from another school. But he didn't know all of our curriculum. Our instructor has never, to my knowledge, stripped anyone of their belt from another school. But this guy stayed a purple belt for about 3 years or so under us before he got a brown. Our instructor just made sure he was where he wanted him to be at his current belt level before he let him advance. The guy spent 6 years or so earning that purple where he was. To me, that's a fairer way to do it. But our instructor also makes sure that the previous instructor was "legit". But like you say, its your school and you can do things the way you want and people have the choice to go elsewhere if their belt means so much to them. I know mine does. it was a lot of blood, sweat, and some tears put into the thing. Not to mention money. Saying a belt means nothing is total BS. Of course it doesn't mean anything in regards to skill... but at the very least it represents LIFE FORCE a person put into something which is finite for all of us and more precious than gold or anything else. You can't get more of it.

[@kcdavies9251]

BurkeTrue2 the nature of martial arts is respect, if your not to the standard of that dojo then why would they risk their reputation and let you train and represent their school if your below their standards? It would Diminish there business/school, so I guess they’d be telling you to train elsewhere, especially with that attitude.

[@stevepriest7341]

This is exactly why Helio Gracie started wearing a Blue Belt.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

No it’s not. It’s the color belt (Navy Blue) he wore all the way up to 1967, when he and a carlos, Sr created the colored belt system. He just liked wearing the blue belt and would wear the red belt for pics.

[@andrejpetrovic8240]

For example in Serbia we dont have to many black belts as you have in America or Brazil. The point is to spread jiu jitsu. The purple belt has the knowlege to pass it to white belts. About purple belt giving blue belts that I dont agree.

[@jacktaufer6461]

Couple of small corrections. This is Jack Taufer, one of Dave Kama's black belts, Kron's academy does let me wear my belt given to me by Kama and not one with a visitor stripe. Also, the visitor belts at Kron's bad previously at Rickson's Academy has a white stripe in the middle of the belt thst runs the whole length of the belt.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Jack Taufer thanks, Professor!

[@momentum8640]

I like that. You have a very fair system. Great stuff.

[@Wrahns]

I actually like this idea. It is just a “system bridge” belt. It doesnt make anyone feel bad by demotion and gives the new student all the time they need to adjust. I really like the idea. Its a really great “its not wrong, its not right, its just different”. Have you had anyone come in with a blue (white bar) know more than what your own system had?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Not yet.

[@georgep9993]

I don't agree with having to make blue belts wear a white bar. It assumes they know less than what is expected of them as blue belts. If anything, leave it as a regular blue belt, with black bar, and let them test out to see if the degrees they earned while on that belt is warranted or not. I think that is a more fair comparison. Most schools go through so many changes that the last thing they consider is promoting and advancing their students. Any taking away of what they feel is justified warrants animosity. Also, I like the red bar for junior instructor. Makes sense, and distinguishes them.

[@realitywithmj4334]

is that eddie bravos grandfather?

[@Inconsistent-Dogwash]

Michael James I was told I looked like eddie in my no gi gear last week, I don't think this is a good thing.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

my grandkids will be better lookin'.

[@enderbykarate]

the white belt frame of mind is rarely taught to students nowadays. This is to help students understand that no matter what belt you have there is always something new to learn and to consider yourself a white belt at all times, with the frame of mind that you always have more to learn, will help if you visit other schools, even ones that teach the same system, but different curriculum. This will also help you with your humility and respect for all systems, no matter JuJitsu, Karate. Judo, TaeeKwonDo..they all a have something to offer. I have trained for over 41 years now in Karate systems and some Japanese Jujitsu, some kickboxing, every time i visit a new school i wear the white belt unless the instructor offers otherwise, and even then i try not to wear my black belt. Keep your cup half empty.

[@enderbykarate]

this is a very good video and informative, also gives me ideas for belt adjustments for visiting students, cheers

[@paulares292]

I'm not doing well today purely because Ryan didn't hope I was in the intro.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

What was I thinking?!

[@MoooseBlood]

Respectfully, I would find it extremely unlikely that a brown belt anywhere is only a blue belt under your Curriculum. There's no hiding your real rank w then you're rolling, you can feel it.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

you'd be surprised. but yes, there's no hiding your real rank for long. just rolling? maybe, maybe not. can punches be thrown? just checking.

[@tjl4688]

@@KamaJiuJitsu Gracie Academy does the same thing. If you come from another school, you'll be tested on your self-defense before your old rank is recognised.

[@Jurr]

Belts and stripes are a mental thing I think. No, it's doesn't actually make you better at BJJ, but mentally it might give you that small boost knowing you've made progress training. It might help keep the new guys around because they feel like they're actually progressing. Other than that, your belt just keeps your jacket closed.

[@joeschmoe9154]

Another great video!! I think that the bar system you came up with is a great compromise. It keeps your standards, yet it respects the new student plus the instructor from their old academy's judgement. Keeping in line with this thought, how does Kama JJ handle students that come from other gyms? I know you just covered how you deal with belts. Im wondering about if you go as far to call their old gyms and vet them? Unfortunately ,There are some shady people that practice BJJ. What is to prevent them from leaving their gym as a white belt and claiming they were a Blue belt when they sign up with Kama? Also do you require them to get a KJJ Gi or remove patches from the school they left to train?.

[@jiujitsuguy74]

I’d guess it’s like most places I’ve trained at or visited- the mats don’t lie. If some one claims a rank but then gets on the mat and doesn’t even demonstrate any aptitude, you can tell. Like, even if you came from a sport academy and know zero self defense, you should still know basic transitions and controls, or at least it one would think so.

[@zakzac1]

I myself have a 2nd degree black belt in one art. But gracie jiu-jitsu I'm honored to admit I'm a white belt. Not even a stripe yet. It's silly for people to assume that one belt under one teacher is equivalent to another under a different teacher. And I've seen over the years people work to black belt and then just quit right after. Honestly martial arts aren't like riding a bike. There are many details lost over time. In fact I was purple belt as a kid in my art. I later joined back up a decade later and my instructor started me back over at white belt, respectively.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

If Prof Dave Kama were to tell me (Ryan) today that things have changed and I’m now a white belt, I’d be totally ok with it. I still have my knowledge, but if things were to be different, I would now have a new adventure to look forward to!

[@DomSum7]

Love that instructor program at blue for your system! At some point in my journey I want to instruct before brow or black. I tend to learn better by instructing too.

[@TheStudeo74]

Learn what you can and have fun with it.

[@sailorm79]

Never give up a belt you earned... It means more than his ego.

[@cabalofdemons]

I would never open a school and teach BJJ until I was a black belt. I want to be official before I start teaching, plus I want to belt people.

[@andretullier3469]

My coach was a 2 stripe brown when I started. I just got my blue belt and he's a 3 stripe brown. I don't care where I go, that is my coach and will always be my coach. If he says I'm a blue belt, I'm a blue belt. What Ryan young at kama jiu jitsu says is irrelevant. I refuse to surrender the belt my coach gave me. If Mr young doesn't feel I'm up to his standards then he can hold me where I'm at until he sees fit. But he's not taking my belt from me

[@Yourmomma568]

dude, just wear a different belt. you still have your old one. if someone asks say you are brown belt under so and so, or a blue under whoever. i have a blue belt that i got "technically" from a black belt 8 years ago. but the guy who coached me was a purple belt who gave the nod. if i go to another gym i'll happily take a white belt. i can roll at whatever level i can. its not like it is a set schedule. like its going to take me an extra 2 years because i have to start over. once you get in good with your teacher and show dedication and understanding you'll get promoted. so who cares. not like the belt police are going to nab you for calling yourself a blue belt.

[@ivandrago1133]

This is what happens when there are 6 billion bjj schools. Everyone wants to say “your last school isn’t good enough.”

[@AirborneAnt]

Good idea with the white bar system

[@peeelco.4202]

What happens if someone that doesn't meet the standards comes in and smokes everyone?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

then he's very good at what he knows. still may not know what is required here. once he does, he'll "smoke" multiples more.

[@wuzillah]

@@KamaJiuJitsu If said person is smoking those who know what they should know, who actually know what should be known?

[@ericparis224]

@@wuzillah CHECK MATE

[@hamzamohammed864]

I would expect that being a blue belt would mean you are able to roll with other blue belts at the same level

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Yep, totally. But all blue belts (even of similar age and size) are not created equal.

[@bordo8707]

Actually you can call them degrees only on black belts! From white to brown are stripes, according to Master Helio Gracie.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

okay.

[@cdaniele8712]

Have you thought of doing let them keep the belt but make the promotions time a little bit longer than usual

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thought about it.

[@bananapatch9118]

Are the purple and brown belts that are teaching a lot, getting paid ? Paid well ? Thx !

[@NB_W]

If his point here is about the self defense aspects of BJJ (or GJJ)...then i actually get it. No issue for me to switch to a white patch because i was never trained in the original GJJ system. But if its the same (for mma or BJJ Sports), then i think it is not necessary to take away the belt or belt patch...simply withhold promotion of stripes until you reckon he/she is up to your school standards (which should always be high) or just get them to train extra time. Just my humble 2 cents.

[@aaronfraley2179]

How close is your ranking system to Gracie University ran by Rener and Ryron?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Not sure, really.

[@cyko4]

I have a black belt in Judo ,Aikido and, Taekwondo, I just started Kenpo two weeks ago , and I refuse to wear my old belt. I don't feel that I should wear my rank from other Martial arts when I am completely "new " to kenpo . Also I have found that when you start a new system and are wearing a higher rank some people forget to teach you certain things mostly the small techniques that are assumed that you already know.... Great video!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

that's a great mindset and mentality.

[@cyko4]

@@KamaJiuJitsuthank you I think so too. they do allow cross training and even condone it. most of the blackbelts have multiple disciplines I just don't feel I know the primary discipline enough to wear my old belt ,maybe after I earn one in Kenpo I'll wear my yodan Judo stripes.

[@lifesameme8739]

I Like the idea of the belts with white bar for onboarding belts from a different system. haven't noticed anything like that in my school yet. Only been going for 2 months haven't seen anyone new come in with a higher belt yet. I wonder how they handle it

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+LifesAMeme I’m interested in hearing, as well.

[@MikeyMinimo]

Pretentious

[@ericparis224]

BIG TIME

[@CodyHinson-pm6hu]

Absolutely not giving up any rank that I’m wearing, no matter the school. If a student walks in with a purple belt on and he’s not up to your schools purple belt standards, then keep him at that same rank until he is up to the standards, then proceed forward from there.

[@jasonhowe1697]

my question how old is the bjj text book is it still available or has it been updated since original issue???

[@dorjedriftwood2731]

The last school I attended the professor clearly didn't want to be there and spent most of his time complaining about how bjj was not giving credit to it's origin and that all the bjj names had Classical Japanese names in old school judo manuals. None of this in my estimation had anything to do with being a better grappler. It was extra sad because I had been in instructor in other institutions and I recognized the stalling tactics I remember using on my bad days and when I realized I didn't want to do it anymore. It would be unfair to say that it prompted me to give up looking for a school but it didn't help.

[@golden_bjj]

The white bar seems super petty.. One of my training partners had a purple belt when he came to the academy, and he wasn't to my instructors standards for purple. So he was told to put his blue belt back on (with all his stripes) and stayed there until he truly earned his purple.. tbh the white bar would feel so dumb, I'd feel like an idiot. I would much rather put on my old belt and work from there, rather than have ppl goofing on my illegitimate belt.. just my 2 cents

[@golden_bjj]

Love the channel btw 😁

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

People feel strongly about belts. Well, some do, at least. People react differently every time.

[@thedust850]

Great vid as usual. I have an idea. How about you make the person do tournaments. If that person can beat another person on that rank in a tournament then they deserve that belt. The tournament can even be an in house one.

[@krisoliveira9756]

as long as I'm still learning and getting better, I don't care about what I'm wearing. Just apreciate the art and be open minded to learn from everyone that you're rolling with.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

That’s a good mentality to have.

[@kellyokamoto1604]

Is chasing belts more important than passion for a new student?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+G&K Ol' School i guess for some, it is?

[@ayurvology3334]

blue belt with red stripe.. excellent way to cash in

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

you would think...

[@ericparis224]

he charges them extra for that

[@markymarco2570]

Great info. And the stripes, how do they work?

[@voodoorecon8070]

I'm happy to never pass white belt. Even if I beat blue frequently and purple on a rare occasion. Belts are symbolic of skill.

[@brendanyoung5826]

Hey man , As you know there can be great difference at each belt in terms of skill, given that, how would you deal with say a brown belt that comes to your academy, seems to be ahead in the rolling when againsf your brown belt students and even a lot of the black belts too , but didn’t go through your system ? Would you treat them the same even though they have a seemingly higher skill level ?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

If he’s legit, he’s legit.

[@brucebousquet1431]

hello and thanks for the great content , can we speak about history of the blue bar on the black belt , thanks

[@jeefsquaa]

Its royce gracie schools and their affiliates that grant a blue bar instead of the red bar to distinguish themselves

[@jrnyc24]

This is wild. Very cult like system

[@benmurphygo1]

Nobody should ever be giving out a belt or promotions that is not a black belt

[@Yourmomma568]

that happened a lot back in the day. in canada, 10 years ago, we probably had less than 10 black belts in the country. guy's with purple or even blue belts who would move or travel to train, would start schools in their hometown. i trained with a purple belt for a couple years because the nearest black belt was 4 hours away.

[@Yourmomma568]

how youd get promoted ussually involved your prof giving you the belt and then latter going on a trip for his prof to test you out.

[@chicodecoster]

Thanks for sharing another great video. Your belt system is fantastic.

[@Weatherthestorm82]

So I wonder what happens if that transferred student finally gets the actual belt of the system and then they have leave and join another school and that school thinks they aren’t up to par to be that particular rank according to their system. Then what? It could be a vicious circle in my opinion.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

that's what you have to expect to happen if 1) you keep switching school, and 2) there are so many different offshoots of jiu-jitsu that don't keep with a certain standard curriculum.

[@seasonedsurfer23]

Hmm... I'd like to think that the mark of having earned a belt rank is being able to hang at that rank when rolling. Like if a brown belt comes to a new gym and gets smashed by a blue belt, maybe he shouldn't have been promoted. But what if a blue belt comes into your gym and is smashing all your blues or even purple belts? You're going to strip his rank because he maybe doesn't know a couple of specific moves? That seems like a hard pill to swallow. No disrespect intended as it's hard to convey tone through written communication.

[@Yourmomma568]

i don't think "smashing" is the important part. some people will be naturally stronger or more athletic. but somebody may have a way better understanding and implementatation of technique. if a black belt gets subbed by a blue belt there could be a bunch of factors. wrestling, strength, speed, flexibility, age, size, gender. but the winner may have no odea what a peruvian necktie is. who is a better ambassador and potential teacher?

[@seasonedsurfer23]

@@Yourmomma568 man I agree with what you're saying. There's many factors that could play into that. Smashing might not have been a good word choice on my part. What I'm trying to say is that if a blue belt can hang with other blue belts while rolling, then that blue belt is at the right rank for his skill level. I just think that if that blue belt was to be demoted at a new gym for not knowing a specific move then that's a disservice to him. Part of advancing in bjj is finding your own go too game and style and developing those skills and techniques to a highly refined level. For instance, I'm a purple belt that moved across country and found a new gym. I like to play a lot of guard (insert guard pullers meme here lol). I tend to use a lot of inversion for guard retention. This is absolutely not my coach's style in most cases, but regardless he helps me to develop my own unique A game. I wasn't demoted for not knowing his style of drills or certain setups, but rather embraced for my particular strengths and energy that I brought to the gym. As for who is the better ambassador or teacher... I think that question is a whole different conversation, but here goes. I don't think I could ask for a better coach. The qualities I spoke of above are what makes someone a great coach and mentor. We may be stylistically different but he still strives to elevate my game, and even seeks to nurture my individual approach to BJJ, rather than having me struggle to conform to a set list of teachings. I hope that better clarifies the point I was trying to make.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

"finding your own 'go to' game?" then it's not jiu-jitsu. it's "jeremy-jitsu" a good teacher teaches you the art he's teaching, not letting you figure it out for yourself. if you're my student and you're not doing what you need to do, either start doing it, or do your own thing. if you "just wanna roll" you can do that in any garage or open mat. if you wanna learn from a particular instructor and go to his academy to do so, strap on whatever belt he tells to strap on and go with it.

[@ianacorn5207]

Does this school produce consistent world champions? I mean if the program is so good to the point where blue belts know more than brown belts, are they winning all the tournaments? Or is that daisy fresh

[@KubaAirs]

Fair would be to roll with the students of your gym and get my rank based on that. If I am purple and unable to tap your blue belts, there's nothing to talk about, if I am purple and tapping your black belts than there's obviously sth wrong

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

That would be logical. However, Jordan Burroughs walks into my studio and DESTROYS everyone. Do I give him a black belt even though he’s never done a Jiu-Jitsu class in his life?

[@Roy__Batty]

@@KamaJiuJitsu haha this is a very good point

[@SkepticalAaron]

All I heard was "anyone that comes here from another school is automatically inferior". What if a blue belt comes to your academy from another school and they already meet your requirements and then they also meet your requirements for purple belt? Would you promote them to purple right away just as easily, or do you only demote people?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

You hear what you want to hear, even though what you “heard” was not said? That shuts off everything you said/wrote after that to me. C-ya.

[@SkepticalAaron]

@@KamaJiuJitsu That's a lazy reply. You can say things with literally speaking them. My point was you said you give a person from another school a belt with a white bar when they come to your school. You only gave the perspective of someone from an outside school not knowing all your required curriculum. My question was does the opposite ever happen? Could a blue belt from another school come to your school and meet all your requirements for blue belt as well as for purple and receive a purple belt?

[@grappler185lb2]

SkepticalAaron Good question

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

so just ask that, instead of seeing/accusing me of saying what i didn't say. so in answer to your legit question... of course it could happen. but, it hasn't happened yet.

[@Ingeniousleo85]

I’d have no issue getting demoted in a new school! It’s great being the white belt tapping all the colored belts! Then they call you a ringer 😂

[@ikiosan1]

What color do you use for stripes on the white bar..?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

For black belt, only professor rank gets stripes.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Black belt degrees (stripes) represent continuous years as a teacher.

[@ikiosan1]

@@KamaJiuJitsu I'm sorry English is not my first language, what I want to know is what color "tejp" you use on those belts that have a white "strip-bar", I believe that you had visitor wear that type of bar (you have a blue belt in the vdo) and that some other schools use for black belts that are only competing and doesn't teach. The bar that is normally black (or in the case of black belt it is normally red) and that you put stripes on, because on the black bar people usually use white tape to indicate how many stripes one got, but since the bar in that case is white you can't very well put white tape on the white bar then you can't see how many stripes someone got? Not a super important question since me personally are really not that into stripes anyway, just thought it would be good to know since the white bar had become something of a trend recently and I'm thinking of getting one myself but I don't want to show up with my brown belt/white bar and then two pink tejp stripes on it.. lol. That became a lot of text and might just have confused the whole thing 😕 I'm sorry 😞... but thank you for the swift reply 🙏🏽. Regards Fernando 🤙🏽

[@vladdarb3506]

so if a blue belt comes in is not as good your blue belts you want them to wear a kiddie blue belt , so if a blue belt come in and is better than your purple belts, would you give them a brown belt with or without white bar?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

It is what it is.

[@vladdarb3506]

@@KamaJiuJitsu why didn't you say so? and wasted so many minutes using your best mental gymnastics skills, desperately trying to make your decision sound reasonable? but i guess your dojo your rules , right?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

“best mental gymnastics...?” C’mon, that’s white belt level mental stuff. I’ve discussed this in detail in several other videos.

[@francoisparker9159]

Thanks Much.

[@nickk1456]

Ryan, would blue to brown belts also get the white instructor marks on their belt once training is complete? I thought only black belts could get those marks. I actually enjoy helping to teach the young kids, even wih my limited experience. I don't know that I'll ever open my own school buy I would certainly assist. I enjoy teaching the kids but I wish our system did the same with training new instructors. I'd volunteer immediately.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

not every school has it's own system of recognizing their student-teachers. i've actually seen one school issue navy blue belts to their junior instructors. at Kama Jiu-Jitsu, whatever belt color the student-teacher is, he/she will have a red bar instead of a black bar at the end of the belt. the white "marks" you mention are "professor bars" and are only placed on the belts of black belts who have earned the rank of "Professor."

[@nickk1456]

That makes sense. My professor said our system doesn't have any formal training and I'm assuming he meant there is none until students get their black belt. I know there is a formal certification after that. I'm still early on so I don't want to do too much until I'm a higher rank buy I hope I can teach soon enough.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

99% of BJJ schools don’t have a formal training/apprenticeship program for their instructors. Bummer to say, but it’s true.

[@nickk1456]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu I appreciate it. I do hope I can eventually teach. Thank you again for the help.

[@Drwcorner]

So where's the white belt with the white bar!!! ??? They can assist with teaching how to tie the belt

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Shawn Williams. Lol. No, that would be my OCD re-tying their belts for them.

[@musacpuerto]

Would you give up your black belt to train at another school just because you didn't know everything they knew?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

if i wanted to learn what they're teaching, and that was the sole hurdle, sure, why not? you wouldn't?

[@TheBeardedApe]

This is just my interpretation but what belt you wear wont change what you know or dont know right?

[@onetimefortheonetime]

What does a black belt with blue bar mean

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

A black belt in the Royce Gracie association.

[@Docinaplane]

I saw a BJJ video not that long ago where the instructor wore a black belt with a blue bar. I tried to find out what that meant but was unable to. Do you know what that signifies? Thank you!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Docinaplane that’s the professor bar for the Royce Gracie association (instead of traditional Red bar).

[@Docinaplane]

Thank you very much!

[@rayanthonyrobles5162]

Yeah they do it to honor Helio (and when he wore the blue belt) and his lineage

[@Docinaplane]

He is worthy of the honor, and I'm glad they do that. Thanks!

[@2eatspam]

Docinaplane knight jiujitsu

[@eesh_alladin3494]

Where could I purchase a blue belt like this?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Blue belt like what?

[@eesh_alladin3494]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu Where can I purchase a blue belt with white bar?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

ah! sorry. we have them made for us. we can sell you one, if we have one in stock in the size you need. email me at [e-mail]

[@bananapatch9118]

Do white belts get stripes ?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

In most places, these days.

[@thegnjdk]

What are your thoughts on yoga and strength training to supplement your BJJ?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

i like yoga a lot. used to do a higher intensity hot yoga before class when i was still training at our Laguna school (now, i just have no time). as far as strength training, i've seen it help and i've seen it hurt. i've seen yoked up guys beating up on weaker guys, and i've seen weak guys beat the crap out of the same yoked up fellas. we pretty much do all bodyweight exercises here, which is what we've always done in jiu-jitsu class.

[@2eatspam]

It has helped me a lot

[@mikebowser48]

Great video Ryan! Love the background music, makes the production level of your videos go way up. You are very knowledgeable and insightful. I love that you continue to cover simple questions that I have had for a long time about our martial art. Please keep the videos coming and as always thank you for all the hard work you do. I personally have heard a lot of rumors about the Gracie's never liked to play legs and that is why so many leg attacks are illegal for lower belts and heel hooks for any belt level. There was another rumor that the Oswaldo Fadda academy beat the Gracie academy years ago just from leg attacks. Of course so much time has past it is difficult to get any clear information any more about the history of these stories. Any insight you have would be wonderful to have. I hate spreading rumors when people ask me and I would much rather share accurate information than my own bias.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

+Mike Bowser losing to Fadda played a big role in us using footlocks today.

[@nickfry7839]

If I switched schools, I would easily trade my belt for a white belt. I get what you are saying. The benefit of a belt is the teacher knows what to work with you on and where you are at. The bad side is people's ego gets connected to them colors! I would still say I was a blue belt with the other school and a white belt with yours. I wouldnt erase any credentials from my mind. But some people using them colors for clout chasing.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

You’re exactly right on all counts! You’ll go far, fast, I’m betting!

[@jojote3618]

Tell me the best brand for stripes please ???

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Haha! Medical tape 😉

[@jojote3618]

Thank you ,

[@stevepriest7341]

Belt mean no near rope to hold gi together.

[@stevepriest7341]

White belt. Light blue belt. Navy blue belt. Easier

[@davidtatelo]

I feel this is overcomplicated AF. When you move to a new martial art, substancially different, you start with a white belt. If its the same thing and you got your belt from a legit dojo/academy, you keep your rank. Im now a BJJ white belt, and i also started as a white belt when i changed from Shotokan to Kyokushinkai... different enough stuff in my book. But lets say, one Judo dojo to another and questioning for example, green belt nobody really cares about? Is it necessary? Does it even happen? Students must check their egos, but academies too. Too much branding, and "logo ego". BJJ community has to learn from other martial arts in this regard, or people will only see more business than sport or martial art in it. PD.- Telling students "belts doesnt matter", an then lawyering so hard to mess with theirs... i dunno, looks like they matter A LOT...

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

It matters more to the student than the instructor.

[@tinoslaponi8514]

Khabib is a white belt. Let that sink in.

[@A10Jedi]

If we visit and OUR purple belt is better than your brown belt, an we give HIM our candy cane stripes belt? Just saying.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

You don’t get the point of the video? It’s not who’s “better,” per se. it’s all about knowing the curriculum. How effective different people are, given the same curriculum, is an individual thing. But the important thing, is that everyone is taught the same thing. If your purple bet goes into another school and beats a brown belt, that school’s brown belt is still a brown belt there if he met all the curriculum qualifications.

[@gknudson]

I want a rainbow belt!!!!

[@Leuthen57]

Whenever I go to another dojo to stay I restart. New curriculum, new training and new Sensei equals new belt to me.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

That’s a great way to think about it. If what you already know overlaps with the new school, you’ll progress through ranks much faster than if you are a newbie.

[@JoeHeine]

What if a “blue belt from another system” is clearly better than all your blue-belts?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Then he would likely not be just a blue belt here. Everywhere is different these days.

[@JoeHeine]

I agree. I remember when a BJJ blue belt was a fearsome thing. Now there are alot of blue belts out there that really aren't. Your school has a good system. *there are also (legit) black belts out there with the red bar, who aren't instructors. Non-Instructors should have a white bar on their black belts, or black bar on their colored belt.

[@claredin]

You and your school are so cool, Professor Young!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

wow! you're a pretty bad ass yogi!

[@duc696monster6]

So , question, do you take off your black belt if you go to another academyl?..also what if a let's say blue belt no stripes, comes in,and he is able to beat most of your blue belts?.. surely that means he is worthy his blue belt..why not give people that come from other academies, a "trial" period..having one to instantly give up his rank, is pretty selfish, it's kinda saying you , or your academy is much better than others..you don't need to take another driving test before you can drive a car if you would come to Europe..also,once those who want to teach, start teaching in your academy, do you pay them? Do they then still need to pay extra to be in the teaching program?.surely when they teach, you don't have to , so that frees up some time for you to do other things, (like paperwork, customer service and all the other stuff),?.. just wondering, not judging or assuming, just curious..

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

If I moved, didn’t have an academy of my own, and joined another academy, would I “take off my black belt?” Sure, why not? What do I care, if I want to be part of that academy. Did you watch the entire video? Wait, everything thing you ask, I already answered.

[@duc696monster6]

@@KamaJiuJitsu yes I did watch the whole vid..I will watch it again, if the answers are in it .dont/didn't want to offend you in any way with the questions..

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

not offended. just wish i had more time to answer everyone with more detailed answers.

[@Quodge]

Gotta hand it to JuiJitsu.. their belts are the fukken coolest.

[@bobbydabutcha]

I wouldn't care if I was a blue and asked to wear a white belt in a new place. The gig is up if/once I start plowing through other white or blue belts there lol. The skillset speaks for itself lol

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Exactly

[@Planetside55]

Demoting someone is ridiculous and disrespectful to me. If you roll then they will already have to deal with the shame of being under the desired skill level for their rank as well as having a target on their back. they should still have to reach your standards to reach the next belt level regardless .

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

And what if they weren’t actually prepared correctly by their previous “instructor” for the belt they’re currently wearing? Don’t you think that being overbelted (and it obviously so) is something that will embarrass and mentally break down the student in question? I know of several instances where over belted individuals outright quit soon after they got their most recent promotion.

[@clarencesheets3163]

Rank belts are the worst thing to happen to the Martial Arts.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Sad, but true. What’s the greater tragedy, the deleting of the rank belts, but only few stay in the art past a year or two, or use the rank belts and have more people stay with the art, at the cost of those who “chase rank?”

[@cw5312]

Im a brown belt... Not anymore son....

[@bordo8707]

Why going to a purple belt instructor in the very first place then? Respect the tradition of our art. Only black belt can teach and give belts

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

yep.

[@theblackshadowdragon]

My coach is a purple belt and he can strip but our professor comes to our academy every quarter.

[@toughfff712]

Because there isn't a black belt around and you want to learn.

[@Robert-pz4wg]

Your mistake is letting non black belts promote students. That’s like letting the high school seniors teach the classes for the freshman.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

When did I let non black belts promote students?

[@randyc750]

All due respect, but cutting a line between people that earned their belt at other schools and your school is not a good thing. If you have clear cut criteria to be a blue, publish them to new students with rank. Making them retire their belt and put a target on their back doesn't make your school look strong. It shows weakness.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Target on their back? That’s a stupid thing to think/assume. Keep your belt. You’ve worked hard for it.

[@Biggitybaked]

Yah i agree. Im a purple belt and roll at alot of places around san diego. Basically they give me one of their purple belts and we roll. If i suck then i tap alot till i get better. Or vice versa. Pretty simple.