Taking Away YOUR BELTS? What is MORE Important?! - Kama Vlog

[@faizmahd8069]

Bringing someone from a brown belt to BLUE belt because he switched school is just over the tops. I can’t believe a coach would do that to a student from a legit black belt or a well known legit academy. I can understand saying perhaps wear a purple belt but blue... That’s pure arrogance in my opinion.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Opinions are good.

[@faizmahd8069]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu And I cant believe someone made you wear blue when you are a legitimate black belt!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

it wasn't a big deal to me. still isn't. but thank you for feeling bad for me. i actually appreciate that!

[@aircombatmaneuvers]

@@faizmahd8069 well if you go rolling and you submit all brown belts with your blue belt at new school i bet the instructor will put you brown or black as soon as possible as his other students will start thinking that something is wrong with your belt grade, even more if you go into tournaments and being a black belt now you have a blue belt and you end up being the champion. So who cares as long as you feel in good level with the new academy you look for to level you up. Age and weight also plays a role , you can be black belt but the academy has purple belts 20 years younger and 30 kilos heavier and you are at your 40s so like Rener says each 10 kilos and 10 years equals a belt .

[@infidel9810]

I agree with you 100%

[@redstarthunder12]

really couldn't disagree more. still respect the opinion and will continue to watch your vids.

[@Mysticbladegod]

Yeah, same here.

[@phuckfumassters]

Your wrong. The problem is BJJ doesn't have a universal standard. A black belt in one school would be a purple somewhere else. A blue in one school could be a brown at another school. It's not like in college where you have academic accreditation and the state granting professional licensure. This accountability doesn't exist in jiu jitsu. You know politics also influence belt ranking.

[@guilhermenunes7439]

The white bar in the belt is a fantastic idea. You get to keep your belt and it shows that you are only adapting to a new instructor/style. Good video!

[@PotentialEn3rgy]

After spending years training, hundreds of dollars, sacrifices of time, and many days an nights in pain, wondering if my body will ever recover from some injuries I come to your school and you'll say you won't honor my rank?? Really nothing could be more disrespectful in my opinion. I cannot get behind this.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

I get it. But what if all those years I toiled and worked were for what turned out to be a different art, altogether, even though it shares the same name? As an example, if your BJJ School trained you wrestling, Muay Thai, and boxing only, gave you a brown belt. Then you went to Gracie Barra down the street and your knowledge base is completely different from what they even teach in their fundamentals (beginner) class. Are you a GB Brown belt?

[@zp3495]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu Respect the belt and don’t promote until they have achieved whatever level you feel they need to advance. Some people sacrifice a whole lot just to train and everyday they’ve earned it.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

we've thought of that. however, we once had a guy who enrolled for a month who was awarded his brown belt from a VERY prominent school after placing silver in the 2013 pan ams. He was belted by a multiple time world champion. He knew absolutely no basics, was lost in class, and during training over the course of the month, was dismantled by everyone, including a 6 month white belt. if he ended up staying, there was no way Prof Dave was going to "respect the belt." doing so cheats him because he will have too many expectations laid upon him as a brown belt. at the same time, it sends a message to his lower belts he doesn't want to send. btw, the guy (who will still show up from time to time) is now a black belt. he's welcome to visit and wear his belt, but i suspect he won't join because he will need to wear a different color.

[@aircombatmaneuvers]

@@KamaJiuJitsu so a 6 month white belt under dave dismantled a brown belt which was 2013 pan am silver and trained under a world bjj champion? Wow that white belt should go to the panams or both teachers the world champion and Dave should get together to see how that could happen, working as a team. Industry has iso quality standards, bjj should have to.

[@itscork]

I understand the sentiment behind your comment but I think the overriding principle is that the art of jujitsu must be protected. An across the board standard must be met. No easy path man. Jujitsu isn’t easy nor should it be.

[@johnlieu]

As a BJJ practitioner returning from an 8 year hiatus and having moved across a few states during that time, this was a very insightful perspective. Thanks Ryan! Looking forward to watch more of your videos. Keep it up!

[@drRomantico89]

i've been a whitebelt for 2 yrs and im able to tap blue belts i still haven't received my blue belt ..

[@kellyokamoto1604]

In my opinion, if you're SO hung up on belts and stripes to the detriment of your learning, not only is your ego suspect, so is your self-esteem. I suppose there will ALWAYS be folks that get into Jiu-Jitsu or any MA for that matter, to bolster their fragile self-esteem, to make them feel accomplished as they ascend the belt-ladder. When you base your entire self-worth on what an outside person thinks of you vs what your internal dialogue says. that, my friends, is sad. Don't be "that guy".

[@-phantastictin-665]

I love your insight on jiu jitsu. Great video! 😁

[@ronin6327]

Superman doesn't need his cape to fly. Awesome story and thanks for sharing!

[@spaceace41]

I started training at a Relson Gracie school. I love learning and I trust my instructor and i'll wear whatever belt he sees fit. I read the Gracies originally only had 3 belts (White, light blue, dark blue) so I just try to have fun and learn. Great channel!

[@andrewmontgomery5266]

I know this is an older video but I’d like to add a few points I don’t see covered often. First, I think an “early” belt can be both good and bad, namely that it forces you to step up your game if you are getting stomped by lower belts (and I’ve personally had this experience at purple belt- and my coach told me, “nobody takes it easy on a purple belt” as justification for promoting me) but it can cause your competition experience to suffer if that’s what you are into. Second, on the topic of competition, I don’t think it is fair for someone who was promoted to purple, brown, black and at the new school was bumped down a belt or two to compete at the lower belt. If you don’t compete, it’s not an issue, but just because they don’t know a set school’s curriculum doesn’t mean they can’t perform in competition at the level of a higher belt. This would particularly be an issue at white and blue belts as they should be able to easily clean out the division. I think the white bar is a good way around both problems but I don’t think someone should be able to take off an upper belt once it has been awarded by a legitimate BJJ professor. I personally don’t care about rank, so it’s not a personal ego thing at all in my case just trying to keep a fair competition for those involved.

[@shanenewell8503]

I was lucky to learn this lesson twice at young age. i gaind a jouner black belt in hapkido at 15, my teacher moved away, i started kempo karate, back to white belt, got up to green ( early mid 90s) . then i stopped training for a few years, and i got back into training in bjj back to white belt . ben training off and on for almost 9 years. it relay comes down to respecting the professors /art/school and challenging your self. I can always remember my hapkido instructor saying to me the black belt is only the begging, you can now start your journey. i know bjj is different, but in spitriual its the same. focus on learning, and respecting your school,professors and class mates. the belts will come.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

and also keep in mind, you don't lose the knowledge you gained from your earlier years. people like to think that a white belt means you're starting back at zero. maybe for the new art, you are, but your knowledge and experience is richer just from experiencing other things from the past and present. a lot of people don't get that. they work so hard "for the belt" that they forget that the journey is the important part, and the belts are simply "stamps on your passport of where you've already been." but there are many pages that haven't been stamped yet, that have yet to be stamped.

[@CBK_JJ]

Here is another analogy to it. If you take classes at one university and switch to another that university might not accept some of the credits or all the credits might not transfer. Same thing applies if you switch majors or going for second major you have to start over or have a different starting place. But for me I don’t see an issue this kind of thing happens a lot in the military. So for those who don’t like the answers that were given its your choice to stay in that school or leave.

[@jeremyhanson9646]

An Obi is whatever you make of it. My favorite belt is my old tattered beaten white belt. Still wear it. Matches my old tattered beaten up kimono.

[@alecrisdan]

thanks for your insight Coach . here in South africa many different Gyms tend to give out belts way too easily . thanks for the content . shout out from Cape Town South Africa

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Hey, now! Hopefully one day, we can go there to visit!

[@ppawtallywacker9982]

what if he wants me to where a pink belt?

[@ChristianWarrior76]

Great video as always!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Thank you!

[@jgarganoiii]

Professor, what are your thoughts on the Boyd belts? Regarding size, age, athleticism etc. 42 years old 5 year blue belt 5'7 200lbs vs 25 265 lbs 6'1 brown.

[@kelseymiller4114]

Thank you for the explanation OSS!!!!

[@thelurker9472]

I love the white bar idea.

[@mikebowser48]

Great video! I'd love to see a video on the taboo of playing legs in some schools.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Don’t know that one, Mike. We do it here, but I don’t introduce it until high blue (straight footlocks) or purple belt heel hooks, knee bars, etc).

[@graciestonewall9102]

Great explanation! Can't imagine why there's any issue with this.

[@robbelliii]

I think the blue belt with the white bar is a good middle ground. In my opinion it could be misleading for a student to tie on white, while clearly his skill level would be higher, regardless of whether there might be a curriculum gap.

[@salami7992]

Ryan nailed it! 100% .. for me, I research the school. The moment I step in and decide to sign up it’s “House Rules” as far as I’m concerned.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Seems easy, doesn’t it. I don’t get all the hubbub...

[@chunksrodriquez7198]

I love your attitude and philosophy on BJJ.Your knowledge on BJJ is so valuable to me. Thank you! I hope some day to meet you.

[@furiousfellow1583]

On training color belt its kind of irrelevant, but doesn't this lead to some sandbagging on competitions?

[@bobbydabutcha]

Focus on your Jiu Jitsu and you'll be an absolute savage regardless of your rank. Be OBSESSED with your learning and the process no matter how small it may seem. You learned how to cut the angle better on your triangle? Your pressure increased 30% in side control by simply tripoding at a certain degree? Mastered timing the arm drag to back take from closed guard when it was currently being caught? etc. Celebrate your small victories as well as the bigger ones. Don't sell yourself short and don't chase the belt, focus on improving YOUR Jiu Jitsu and you'll go further much happier.

[@Leonlevy1]

Thank you.I have been out of Jiu Jitsu for a long time.I hope the enlightenment I received at the present may motivate me to go back into it. Hare Krishna

[@bigd301321]

I agree with a lot of what your saying. I like the idea of the bars to signify a experience gained from another school, that might not meet your requirements, but do know something. Just wondering why not just offer transferring students a opportunity to test according to your curriculum shortly after arrival?????I kind of look at transferring BJJ schools a little like transferring colleges. A college evaluates your transcript and you get told where you stand based on the new schools criteria. Its also like taking a CLEP exam. You show what you know and the instructor gives the credit or does not based on evaluation. If a new student comes in with some experience give them the option to display there skills based on your criteria. This is a win-win for the instructor and student. The instructor finds out what the student can do, the student finds out where they are at within the new curriculum.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Not saying they wouldn’t know stuff. But unless they came from particular individual Rickson black belt schools, they won’t do what they know, our way.

[@bigd301321]

Point taken, untrained and on the surface a arm bar is a arm bar, the rear naked is a rear naked etc. Reality is there are infinite ways to get to that end result, which is what is important. KZbin Lesson taken. Thanks for the reply and time you spend making these vids.

[@joeschmoe9154]

It's all a matter of choice. People either want to learn your style of BJJ (with your evaluation of their belt level coming in the door) or they don't. You aren't the only school that does this by far.

[@OffYourBackBJJ]

thoughts on green belts for adults?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

In our jiu-jitsu, green belt is for teenagers.

[@CHopper1154]

So if your a blue or purple belt and you go to white belt but you want to compete at what belt do you compete at?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

I guess that would depend if you’re registered at blue belt or purple belt with the Federation you want to compete under. Here’s a funny story, the IBJJF will not recognize Professor Dave Kama as anything higher than a non- degree black belt. Therefore, according to the IBJJF he cannot promote anyone to black belt. The reason, is because he was not registered with them and has not paid the fees they require until last year. So if they had some tournament for 4th Degree black belts, he could only compete against black belts with no degrees. So would that make him a sandbagger?

[@CHopper1154]

Honestly i have no idea. Most the time when i register for competitions it either ask for my rank or years of experience.

[@daysofourxiong6954]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu oh my. IBJJF requires someone to PAY in order for them to recognize that person's belt level?! that sounds crazy!

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Not really. *Everyone* who is anyone in BJJ knows Dave Kama is GM’s contribution to the Dirty Dozen. Black belt 23 yrs. We asked them what we needed to do to get him his due rank recognized. Nothing. How much do we need to pay? Sorry. Since he only registered with IBJJF in 2017, they’ll accept the fact he’s a B.B. under GM Rickson, but that’s it. Whatever. Their organization, their rules. Life goes on.

[@swan6807]

While I get the Journey in bjj CAN BE ROUGH and I know it’s humbling trust me I know. I just started to be able to submit others a lot more. I won’t give up my belt nor will I go to KAMA because of it. also I won’t where a white tip

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

That’s cool. We won’t be seeing you, I guess.

[@realninjutsurodriguez660]

Professor you’re right and I couldn’t agree with you more, I would rather be a 5 year white belt and be able to protect myself and do what’s expected of me then get caught up with belts. As always thank you for your information and god bless 🤘🏼😊

[@TheDe3th]

I really have decided belt color is just bling

[@Rhardebeck]

I remember Royce just tossing me my blue belt with no testing an no drama. I am no fan of belts and we all know the skill level of are team members.

[@Kikibrat2]

Robert Hardebeck if he gave you a blue, he must of really thought you earned it. I trust him and his instructors grading. He knows what is required.

[@r.c.5137]

butt scooting in PJs and arguing over belts that now seems as retractable as a dennys coupon. truly the most devasting form of fighting ever made... at my job i remember two "ninjas" literally arguing this same thing. but ya know in boxing or wrestling there are no belts. if you move towns, you just go to another gym and hit the bags. sparring doesnt lie. your technique doesnt lie. not that im great at any of these, i just find this ironic.

[@jacksonmay4061]

Wait did you actually get demoted from black to blue or were you just stating an example?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Purple to blue

[@jacksonmay4061]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu I just got sidetracked when you talked about Rickson taking you from black belt to 3 stripe blue, even though he promoted you up to a 2 stripe purple. I was like what? 😂I mean if he did or didn’t, it’s none of my business, I just got all confused 😄

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

I got demoted by Roger Machado. Since for that brief moment in time, he was my professor, I didn’t care one bit. In fact, it was my subsequent professor Brad Jackson, who told me to put the purple belt back on. In reality, if Dave Kama told me to wear a white belt, I would do so and not care one bit. It’s just a belt. 🤷‍♂️ My knowledge is still here.

[@jacksonmay4061]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu I respect that attitude. Thank you for the content professor!

[@samweller2099]

FFS I thought people were joking, but they literally are getting weird over this, why is it so difficult to understand? Maybe if they complain about it you could give them a 'stupid' belt. So people know they are being stupid.

[@sliderx1897]

samweller2099 i always said i was gonna get a white belt and dye it pink literally with red wine. So when i have a whiner they get the whine belt promotion

[@Ullish1989]

I don't see any problem with this. I think the way you guys view the belts and the white bar system is exactly how it should be done

[@msoaevents2298]

It seems like this could be analogous to switching martial arts. For example if you decided to pick up judo, you wouldn't insist on keeping your blue belt. It's a whole new martial art.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

You’re exactly correct.

[@juanpedroperezperez1420]

is not a new art is jujitsu if every school have a new art why they compite togethers

[@Being_Joe]

Jiu Jitsu is humbling.

[@daysofourxiong6954]

would love to see a day in your life video. lol just to see what a day is like through your lens. ;)

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Hmmm... it’s boring. I’d lose all of our subscribers...

[@daysofourxiong6954]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu aww man! I love watching and following people in their life. lol

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

I’d love to but Ryan is a little right. I know his schedule and its not the most engaging. Although I like the idea still.... - Rusty

[@phx4closureman]

I'm SOOOO glad I'm a white belt. You know why? Cuz I don't have to deal with ANY of this *what belt am I* BULLSHEEEET !!! :)

[@nodnalneyugn8753]

omg! professor Young, the houses in the background are huge! they're McMansions.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

I guess so, huh?

[@americanakimura4813]

Common core Jiu Jitsu with "curriculums" is more often the result of an instructor's ego than it is actually being better at grappling.

[@ReasonKnocks]

This means there is no such thing as BJJ, but several styles under one umbrella system. To the question “what is your belt color in BJJ?”, if you are black belt, the answer should be black belt, not “ehh, well, under x I am black, but under y I am blue…” It doesn’t work like that, or at least it shouldn’t. Each person should know their degree in a specific MA, even if switched schools or relocated to another country. You know, there is a language called Frisian, spoken in some parts of Germany and the Netherlands. The thing is that West Frisian is different from Northern Frisian (they are not cross-intelligible for the most part), but if you ask any of them, they would just say they speak Frisian. BJJ seems to be the same. I can understand there are different teaching methods and curriculums, but when each school has the right to demote a person to a much lower degree, this reminds me of the old MA schools in Japan or China, where each had its own system (different name), but when a Wing Chun master would make an appearance in a Chang Quan school, no one would say he is not a master because he doesn’t control the Chang techniques, all the contrary - they would respect his degree. This should also be the case for BJJ, unless you say: look, I am not a BJJ school, I am a KamaJJ school, so you may have a black belt in Karate, Judo or GracieJJ, but not in KamaJJ. Then it’s alright. Same as in Karate, when people claim to have black belt in Karate, what they actually have is a black belt in either Kyokushin, Shotokan, or any other style, not in all of them. In a centralized system, like Taekwondo, your belt is seconded by Kukiwon and registered on their website. In Ninjutsu, many schools teach different styles, although based on Bujinkan, but most of them give you at the end a Bujinkan certificate. So even if you go to an Akban school, or NJ styles like Hamburg, where they reinforce the 9 ways of Hatsumi with a lot of Jiujitsu and other techniques (tell the truth, they are really badass, Renzo Gracie can testify to that), still the degree is a Bujinkan, so a black belt in NY is black belt in Hamburg. Actually, I liked the old Bujinkan system - only one color between white and black, so the whole color pressure was not present. Anyway, I think that demoting from black belt to blue, or from purple to white, is outrageous. It means that either the original school was a total sham, or they were not teaching the same MA. Because even if the curriculums are different, you just can’t say that 80% of the techniques for black belt are missing, this is ridiculous.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

All great points. Thank you.

[@0nlyBigT]

Our school has 3 Royce Gracie black belts. How much difference is there between Rickson and Royce schools, In your opinion?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

In concept, not all that much. In execution, it’s hard to say, but I would say there are many significant differences.

[@johnlammons9352]

At Royce's schools, we prepare beginners for the street ,sticking to Helio's curriculum. then on to sport once you get past blue .I'm sure Rickson does the same.The fight starts standing, and we learn over 100 standing techniques for being attacked from the front, or behind, and weapons disarming. Then we prepare you for the attacker that has jiu jitsu skills on the street, finally, on to competition jiu jitsu, or sport. So, we know what most know, and then some.

[@alextownsend6662]

The other side of this coin that's never discussed - What if a student had been sandbagging at another school, comes in and as a purple belt is submitting your brown belts left and right? Are you going to instantly promote him to brown in the same way you would demote that same purple belt for losing to all your blues? I can't imagine that ever happens.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Need to evaluate.

[@jmx318]

This guy takes a long time to get to the point

[@0TheMihn0]

I really like your lack of a time requirement for promotion. You base promotion on actual progress...exactly how it should be. Respectfully playing devils advocate and using you analogy of 20 technique curriculum to black belt. If student ‘A,’ a blue belt from another school didn’t know techniques 1-5 which are necessary for a blue belt at you school but did know techniques 6-10. They would be offered to wear a white bar blue belt until they learnt 1-5...Therefore, if the criterial for purple belt is technique 6-10, once student A has learnt technique 1-5, would they go from white bar blue belt straight to black bar purple belt? Also, has this ever happened at your school?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

It could happen. Zack’s situation was close to your hypothetical.

[@lachlandupuis2824]

if the belt is so unimportant and not a big deal as ive seen you hammer on about in this and other videos, why does it matter if they DO wear there previous belt? how come they have to be okay with you taking it away but you arnt okay with others putting it there to begin with? i do agree that the belts arnt important and shouldnt be the focus but this is why i dont think its a big deal for someone to wear a belt they earnt at another club to mine, because it doesnt really matter, the students will learn soon enough where they fit on the hiearchy soon enough and srt it from there, you can alway keep them at that belt for a long time if you feel they were over promoted anyway.

[@michaellevin92]

Your main principle is that the belt isn't really that important, it's the overall lessons you learn throughout. Also, someone did say that "a black belt is a white belt for a long amount of time." Totally make sense to me. No problem. The only question is this: how do you develop the mentality/commitment of "I'm willing to spend long amount of years, 10-15 lets say, to get to my black belt?" In addition, I've heard that even if you get black belt, you still don't know all the techniques. After all, a black belt is a very long white belt. Still, how can we create such a never-ending commitment in our heads?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Someone made a comment in response to what I say in this video that answers what you’re wondering. Jiu-Jitsu Without Self-Defense? Your BJJ is Missing Game - Kama Vlog kzbin.info/www/bejne/nITGlXasfL-dl9U

[@John-bq9bj]

Skill acquisition over wearing a belt around your waist.

[@ivanhannel]

Ryan, don't bother with the crazies. There are always a few online. Very strong from keyboard, never a sound in person...

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

lol, you're right. mahalo, bruddah!

[@tristanclaxton9329]

Builds and stripes Are just mile markers on your jujitsu journey Jujitsuia to as a Art in part of your life forever

[@wesdowty79]

What you learning from it and how its makes you better person is more import than a colored beltch.

[@alextownsend6662]

Given different schools can teach widely varying techniques, belts should be more about overall ability and knowledge / use of concepts. You can escape side mount in many different ways, but what is really important is that you CAN escape side mount. Let's say someone's competing at purple belt, maybe even winning quite often. How fair would it be to other competitors to then have them go back to competing wearing a lower belt? I can't see how the IBJJF would even allow such a thing. Would a black belt be immune to such a demotion? Clearly all black belts aren't equal.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

We don’t typically demote anyone who earns rank.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

i believe the sandbagger is penalized by stunting his own development by not getting put up against more talented opponents. like a big, powerful guy choosing only to fight elementary age school kids...how can he know if he's any good unless he fights other big, powerful guys?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

me, personally, "sandbagging" doesn't bother me. people gonna do what they're gonna do. to me, a sandbagger in competition has a situation where he's got issues; but more likely, his instructor has them. after all, it's his instructor who doesn't rank him correctly in an effort to have the school tied to a bunch of medals. because without all those medals and "championships," he has nothing to differentiate his school from other schools. at the end of the day, most schools are businesses that put food on someone's table.

[@eltonblack9421]

Bjj needs standardized criteria. There's just too much subjectivity with awarding belts. Too many ego driven Sensei's

[@Katsumotouchija123]

The problem i see with this is that every teacher like you say have a different way of evaluation and style. There should be a standar for the way people are promoted, but what i saw when i practiced was that every teacher, coach, instructor want is to pull to his side and like you say the ego in some people is the problem. There should be a standar curriculum that al the teachers follow in my honest opinion

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

You’re absolutely right! But until we get to that point where everyone can agree to follow standard curriculum, we’re going to have the system we have.

[@Katsumotouchija123]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu i have a question for you why did you got demoted be rickson if dave promoted you to black? Like i dont get why if dave is a direct student you shoud have been doing the same curriculum has rickson? I m just curious not disrespect intended

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

i didn't get demoted by GM Rickson. that was hypothetical. all i was meaning was that i do not care what belt i wear if my chosen professor/master chooses a different belt for me.

[@highsoflyify]

@Katsumotouchija123 I think it´s not possible to create an objective and reasonable standard. Grappling styles can have (even on the same level) EXTREME differences due to your body type and tactic. Examples: Very short legs? Sorry no triangles for you. Very long arms? Better use a modified arm-in guillotine istead of regular no-arm. Very flexible? Congratuliation you can use rubber guard techniques. Very stiff? Better use closed guard or better try to be on top. Very long legs? Better use Judo trips. Short legs and strong neckt? Shoot for the double and single legs. And besides all the techniques, how can we measure very important fighting skills like pressure, blance, timing and instinct in an objective way?

[@Eli_skips]

I choose a white belt saying, FOREVER WHITE BELT!! That’s always been my mentality of learning. Belts don’t make the person.

[@tonyrodney9610]

A belt only represents your level of knowledge of a particular system. Even in the same martial art, there are sub-systems of how it's taught. So if you go to a different school, that utilizes a completely different system, guess what, your belt means squat. It's not like GJJ and the GU where it's all standardized and every school learns the exact same curriculum. I always but on a white when I enter a new school, whether it's the same martial art or not. It's based on knowledge, and I'll let the head instructor determine where they feel that level is. If you vehemently insist on stated what your own knowledge level is at someone else's school, that's just ego.

[@juanpedroperezperez1420]

if is ego why a black belt still black and do not go to purple when is nevel start to fall due to age or not training has much and for what to get a belt promotion if any other school can put in you a white belt ? jujitsu is grappling there is no systems or subsystems is one art you can focus more in one aspect this do no mean is a system is just a choice on what to work more ,you can be a specialiste in ambar and another in chockes ,so what it mean one is a black belt in armbar but purple in chockes and the reverse i think is just a way of keeping the client in one school and get money from them from white to black and do not change school because you will have to start every promotion again that is just money promotion.

[@mannyvega5032]

Wouldn't a better way to " demote " someone is to let him keep his/her belt color, but give zero stripes until they get brought up to speed learning your curriculum ? If it takes 4 years for them to get brought up to speed then so be it, but in all honesty to remove someones belt given to them by another black belt just seems disrespectful. Like saying their lineage is no good, or their black belt coach doesn't know enough to give you a specific belt color, even if you show the skills on the mat during live sparring ? Also if a Kama Jiu Jitsu student moved to another city and joined, say American Top Team , and the black belt instructor removed your former students brown belt and demoted him to white belt despite knowing what you know in regards to the time it took to earn that brown belt, would that seem disrespectful to you? Why remove and demote when removing and demoting belt colors only leads to frustration and possibly to leave BJJ altogether? Not everyone who trains shares your enthusiasm for belt demotion IJS , BTW i love watching your videos

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

lately, we haven't been taking away belt color. we've been giving them a new belt (same color) with a white bar instead of the traditional black bar. instructors are free to belt their students as they feel fit. doesn't matter if it's KJJ doing it, or ATT doing it. is what it is. instructors have different criteria and different reasons for awarding rank. simple as that. not sure how people don't see that and always see something through the lens of respect/disrespect.

[@mannyvega5032]

@@KamaJiuJitsu IMO the only reason for the argument between respect/disrespect is the amount of time+sacrifice+knowledge gained+ dues paid to learn this sport is a high price to pay for someone to just remove the belt rank altogether without giving it a second thought. Imagine if you went to a reputable ( in your mind ) university to study anesthesiology , and you become certified in said discipline only to work in a place that says what you know is null and void ? You just like any other person would feel as though all of that effort was in vain because you are now reduced to literally a person who has zero knowledge. While i understand that this is usually the case when it comes from different disciplines that have been proven to not work like Kung Fu or Karate vs Jiu Jitsu, it is unfair to say that what you learned in a credible Jiu Jitsu school has no merit in YOUR BJJ school . Why even give your student the option? Just verify that his claims are legit and go from there? With the internet, verifying a claim is so much easier than in years before

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Did I tell you Roger Machado took my purple belt away (that Rickson gave me) the brief time I trained under him? In reality, the jiu-jitsu Roger did didn’t remotely look like Rickson’s jiu-jitsu. I just went home and found my old blue belt. It’s just a belt. Stop crying victim and just train under the teacher of your choice. If YOU CHOOSE him and he makes you wear another belt, wear the belt he gives you and get back on the mat.

[@mannyvega5032]

@@KamaJiuJitsu Yes i understand your argument, but would that argument not fall under the sandbagging rule in BJJ? If you were in fact a black belt in skill and by definition removed of your belt and rewarded a blue belt and then cleaned up the blue , purple and brown belt divisions in competition would you be considered sandbagging? See exhibition A kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWbEdIV4lLOheMk

[@mannyvega5032]

@@KamaJiuJitsu yeah i heard the part about Roger taking away your purple, but in the grand scheme of things using this logic of removing belt colors could potentially cause black belt level grapplers to sandbag as white belts in BJJ tourneys, there just seems way too much confusion as to belt levels and profesor decisions that in order to clear the air why not just recognize their belt color and let the mat decide their skill/rank?

[@Ullish1989]

The belt only covers 2 inches. You're responsible for the rest

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

~ Royce Gracie

[@efficiencyjiujitsu417bjj2]

The belt is cloth. It does not give you power, protect you, or give you skills. Consistent, life long progression is the goal.

[@Algebrodadio]

There are no magic black belt powers. EDIT: With that said, there are days when I *wish* I could put my blue belt back on.

[@00023]

"Don't worry about the belt"........but it sounds like you're the one most worried about the belt.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

how so?

[@msoaevents2298]

You are projecting on Ryan. That is not at all what he expressed in the video.

[@r.c.5137]

i got that vibe too

[@r.c.5137]

after going through the videos, this channel has multiple videos on the subject of belts. that's how so. don't think i ever met anyone who cares so much about a belt.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

It’s a popular topic.

[@jstray83]

I haven't yet started jiu-jitsu, so maybe my opinion won't matter to some. However, from the outside looking in, I can see both sides. I think the Kama Jiu-jitsu "white bar" compromise is the best route for every school. Unless Gjj is going to completely disrespect Bjj going forward and not recognize it as the same art, it seems only right to acknowledge a person's previous hard work in achieving milestones in the art. However, since Gjj is a different system, the white bar in essence is still your "white belt" in the new system. You can explain to people that you are blue belt in sport jiu-jitsu or another self defense system, but since you started a new curriculum the white bar symbolizes you starting over while not leading others to believe that you're completely inexperienced. I don't plan on focusing on the belts, but I would say it is a bit pretentious to take someone else's achievement away assuming yours (not directed at Kama Jiu-jitsu) is the standard when there is none; unless it's obvious that this person couldn't go to any gym and be considered their current belt.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Exactly right!

[@jstray83]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu Thanks for the reply. I was just thinking why don't Kama Jiu-jitsu lead the way for a standard. Have professor Dave pressure (respectfully of course) Grand Master Rickson to get to get with his brothers and come up with a standard GJJ curriculum for belt progression for the self defense art. Get all the Grand Masters together and finally set a standard for the Gracie legacy before it is left to the grandchildren. Surely the brothers and cousins that still hold self defense as the standard would agree that it's better to put differences aside, and come together to create some type of standard branded with the Gracie name, than to allow some random person down the road unify it.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Unfortunately, GM Rickson tries just that with the JJGF. I was told by an insider there that since Carlos Gracie, Jr has already fully developed the IBJJF and is on top of the jiu-Jitsu world, so to speak, he has no interest whatsoever in working with GM Rickson.

[@vlogmoor]

The fact of the matter is, if you earned a belt in a reputable school, you earned it. If the belt doesn't matter Ryan, then why would the instructor give you an ultimatum in changing it in the first place? It would make more sense to attend to that particular student to make sure they know what they should. After all they are PAYING you with their hard earned money. End of story.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Yes, and no. But if it bothers you, don’t train there. Payer money to someone else. On my mat, it’s my way. Why is that even an issue with you?

[@vlogmoor]

I'm glad you answered the question honestly. That's what the situation always is. "My way or the highway." well I'm here to tell you this Ryan. To answer your question, The Gracie's and other Brazilians brought Jiu Jitsu to the US for self defense. Not to get touchy about switching schools, or telling you to take off a belt that you not only paid for, but bled for. That's an insult to you Ryan, and I get that you're a humble person, but that's seriously disrespectful no matter how you look at it. You realize that for every other discipline, the only justification for demotion is misconduct? Him demoting you was sheer arrogance.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

What if they’re blue belt is in a completely different curriculum. Sure, a blue belt is a blue belt, but if it was earned in School A under one set of criteria, why should it be valid at School B under a different curriculum? We already know they just because two schools teach “jiu-jitsu.” It doesn’t mean it’s the same thing. What if one school’s “jiu-jitsu” spends 95% of their time doing no gi, one 95% gi-only, and one 95% gracie combatives? How is a blue belt at one School the equivalent to the other two? You think just because you earned (and paid for) a blue belt in “jiu-jitsu,” that every school has to honor it? Some will, some won’t. We may, we may not. Have to see what you know.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

And if you actually trained under one of Helios sons, you’ll know that NO OTHER BELT was worn in the academy than the one they GAVE you to wear. THAT was Gracie JiuJitsu. What do you train?

[@vlogmoor]

Kama Jiu-Jitsu I train BJJ as well. I started my journey with a David Sider of Travis BJJ and Scott Lacer who earned his blue from Royce. From there we went to Cesars in Concord to train with Cao Terra and Kim Terra. The same school the Diaz Brothers came from. Now I train with ufc black belt Cole Miller. To answer your question though, if the curriculum is different, then it needs to be standardized across the board. That’s not asking too much, wouldn’t you agree? Just like how in competitions you can only wear standardized color gis, make nation wide curriculum the same thing as well. You have to remember this is a business. Regardless of the respect we both have for the sport, when it comes to serving the public while getting paid for it, there is no room for stubbornness.

[@twalker2048]

What about competition? IBJJF won't let that happen. I ask this humbly. :-)

[@KSWSG]

How is this an argument? Schools have different standards. If you go to the school, you represent them. If you switch schools, you represent the new school. If you don't meet their standard for your existing belt, either go back to the old school or wear what they tell you to wear...not rocket science.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

we couldn't have said it better ourselves! have a fun day!

[@williecooper6165]

i would not go to your school show them

[@LauraMalle]

You bring people down from a certain belt. You don't let people who come from another school to wear their normal belt. Yet you say "don't worry about belt" or "does it mean so much to you?". It very much sounds like you are the one who worries about other people's belts, not the person who is wearing it. I don't understand how you can ever tell your student that belts -in the end- doesn't matter or to focus on their technique, not the belt, if you are making such a fuzz about the belts and who is allowed to wear what. So. Yes. Huge amount of ego right there.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Soooo... I guess I won’t be seeing you in our studio?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Some people who come to our studio feels the same as you. Most who come to us, already know the deal ahead of time, and are cool with it. Both are perfectly fine with us. Much MUCH easier to teach someone with the latter attitude, vs the former. Can’t please everyone every time.

[@LauraMalle]

No thanks :) I prefer more relaxed enviroment. I don't want to focus on what kind of belt I wear - which is something that is clearly very important for you.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Aw, really? I’m heartbroken. Oh, well. So is life. I’ll try to survive without you or your approval. It’ll be difficult, but I’ll give it the ole college try. Merry Christmas!

[@LauraMalle]

@@KamaJiuJitsu and that answer tells me everything I need to know about your school :)

[@APGJuggernaut]

What happens when these demoted guys what to compete? Do they let these former colored belts go and destroy white belts or do they get to compete at their previously earned rank?

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

If they are registered , I’m thinking they need to compete at their previous highest rank. But I’m the wrong person to ask.

[@johndavis8813]

Folks should remove themselves from their high horse. No matter if it's a belt demotion, or white stripe (de facto belt demotion), it's disrespectful to the practitioners time and effort elsewhere, as well as his/her previous instructor's time, effort, and opinion.

[@KamaJiuJitsu]

Then don’t go to that school.

[@jcarrigan3274]

No disrespect intended, but I can see it the other way. Seems to me that Kama Jiu-Jitsu is actually being very respectful. By allowing a student to keep the color of belt their former Professor gave them, they are respecting that Professor and the hard work the student put in. The white bar just indicates that a little time will be needed to bring that student up to speed on Kama's curriculum. I can't find any disrespect in that. A lot of other places would just tell you to wear a white belt and if you don't like it hit the bricks.

[@Afterlife413]

I am a blue belt if I have to start over to White and I am in a different School and they have a new criteria I'll be really upset once you make progress getting your belt you shouldn't start over hard work go to waste