The history of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt System

Professor Pedro Valente on the history of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt System and the method currently used at Valente Brothers.
Valente Brothers acknowledges and respects the fact that today, Jiu-Jitsu federations and many academies utilize different systems both for adult and youth students.

[@bjh13us]

This was amazing. We need a history of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu book written by Pedro Valente, his knowledge is unreal.

[@josealfonso7400]

Thanks Pedro, I was your student when you used to give class at the University of Miami and at the school in the 72 Ave Miami, Senator Miguel Diaz De La Portilla used to train with us. You are one of the greatest!!!!!!!!!!

[@Kimuramiami]

Very well spoken and knowledgeable. The Valente's are a class act.

[@LiveGrappling]

Very well spoken and even better explained

[@christopherlins1579]

Eu sei bastante sobre a história do Judô e do Jiu Jitsu, mas enriqueci meus conhecimentos com riqueza de detalhes. Parabéns Professor Pedro Valente.

[@zoltancaputo9562]

Oss ,i have 13 years practicing BJJ Gracie System. It's amazing. Tks for the all Gracie Family.

[@thiagodunadan]

I love the idea of fights with no point system. I see no problem with a fight ending in a draw.

[@propositionjohnston]

This fellow is more articulate than other Jiu Jitsu practitioners! Nicely explained!

[@barrettokarate]

They mostly likely came from Brazilian judo clubs. In Brazilian judo, the 3 highest belts (not including the “master” or “grandmaster” belts) are purple, brown, and black belt. In the video Valente 8:30 says that in Brazil, judo clubs added grey belt in the 1990’s and that the color was eventually also added to BJJ’s junior ranks. So, chances are that when the federation was formed the new belt system was probably inspired by the Brazilian judo belt system also.

[@chrischurch5755]

As a (more patient) American, I agree with that. Immediate gratification is a weakness for many.

[@bloodriotiori]

This is part of why i love GJJ, i have yet to run into any other style that requires you to put in the level of dedication and have the level of skill to advance each belt as GJJ does. So many schools are belt factories. At any legit GJJ school you have to work your ass off to get to advance! Unlike so many other schools, it doesn't even become about the belt anymore, it becomes about refining your skills, and that's why i love it!

[@tackyc117]

If your gonna talk about the history of jujitsu belts I think it’s important to mention Francisco Mansour. In pretty sure he was one of the people the helped shape the belt system that we use today

[@santannakarate]

um dos melhores professor de BJJ do mundo. Pedro valente. Com esse ate eu treinaria.

[@ChesterfieldSelfDefence]

Thank you Pedro and Gui Valente. This will help me a lot in studying Gjj with you both.

[@ronnieobregon]

very interesting and insightful, all my respect to the Valente Brothers. I would like to hear from another source, maybe the Japanese just or any other source that might corroborate the some of the info. Am not claiming that the Valente Brothers are unreliable source but am just curious to hear from the Japanese or any other third party that might not have a bias. I don't understand why the Japanese would want the Gracie's to change the name of the Art that they practiced. Technically speaking the Gracie's learned from a Japanese Judoka. Historical sources also indicate that Kano's Judo was known a Jujitsu at the time or Kano Jujitsu. It wasn't until later on that people began to call it Judo. Most of the Western world called it Jujitsu.

[@maxpaspirgilis3967]

+Ron o Well the name jiujitsu in japan was associated with ruffians and street fighters, the word jiujitsu had a bad image in japan in that time (similar to the image of mma back in the 2000s) so mabey thats why they wanted to call it judo...

[@andreelecktra]

Não se podia ganhar dinheiro com o Judô então as apresentações pra ganhar dinheiro chamavam de Jiu-jitsu

[@fbgeorgiew]

One of the coolest videos I've ever seen, I hope there will be more lectures about history of BJJ.

[@wowantonlavey]

the first black belt origin story is well documented from samurai history, where the gi originated from.

[@Thereisonlyonefrankdatank]

Very cool, thank you for shareing. I'm still working on my blue belt (1and 3/4 years) It's funny when I'm helping with the kids class I think to myself "a lot of these kids outrank me" (they have stripes) LoL a big respectful thank you

[@gsuavebjj3856]

Black belt yet?

[@SamKressin]

The belt system both the Student and the Black Belt Ranking came from the Japanese Board Game called GO a game created in the 17th century by Honinbo Dosaku there were 9 ranks in the game to identify a players ability / skill level. The Japanese Schools and athletic departments took the idea of giving different color ribbons ect based on skill from the game Go.

[@gustavogoulart501]

The ranking system came from Go, but the colored belts don´t. Honinbo Dosaku created the Kyu and Dan ranking to Go, but haven´t created Go. Go was created in China centuries before the 17th century.

[@myz32rocks]

Great history lesson!

[@6galaxy]

I like the way Helio considered the moral aspects of the person receiving a belt. Makes sense!

[@MrMZaccone]

Thanks for that. I had meant to research that but had forgotten some of the relevant names involved.

[@chicodecoster]

Thank you for sharing so much historical information.

[@Quach7]

I developed a belt system for my tennis club from the video game International Karate for the Commodore 64. Seriously.

[@BudoDave76]

Quach7 that’s awesome.

[@utubepunk]

Awesome history lesson. Very insightful. Would like to hear & understand how classes were organized & taught back then compared to today. It was hinted at here, but would love the deep dive. Thanks!

[@barrettokarate]

Only a very small handful of instructors still use the black belt with the white bar. Royce Gracie is one, and I think Crosley Gracie uses it or may have used it in the past, but I’m not sure about him. But Royce definitely still uses it.

[@turntablesrockmyworld9315]

Sorry Valente, you are wrong, it is has been shown now through historical documentation that Helio and Carlos wore black belts early on (some speculation that Helio was given his by someone) and the colored belt system appeared in the 1960s.

[@kingwilly8041]

"Helio Gracie had 20 criteria one had to meet in order to become an instructor, including Courage, Benevolence, Honesty, Sincerity, and Impartiality." If that's the case, how in the hell did Rorion manage to become an instructor? LOL

[@kingwilly8041]

+legba eshu It's fairly well-known that back in the day, many people who've done business and/or were taught by him, haven't had many good things to say about him, including his own family.

[@mrarturmeireles]

It was ALL about money and friendship influences

[@chrisscotti2084]

I think you should challenge him to a fight, see if he deserves his black belt....

[@BobBelson]

King Willy? .The prince of powder ? Don't listen to this post ,.Willy got his head chopped off in an L.A alleyway during a turf war with an illegal alien. . I saw it on a Tony Pope broadcast Him on the "other side now"

[@histrionyx]

I agree with Helio and Carlson's concept of academia in belt ranking

[@jujutsu9]

Great video

[@barrettokarate]

Most likely the BJJ belt system was inspired by the one used in Brazilian judo clubs. In Brazilian judo the belt system is white, grey, blue, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, and black. If you notice those are the exact same colors used in both BJJ’s adult belt system and original junior system. As for the red & black belt and red belt, that was also likely inspired by judo. In judo the 2 highest belts are red & white and red belt. BJJ tweaked the former a little to make it their own.

[@falmeida59]

Amazing. When Judo was broght to Brazil, it was called jiu jitsu by the japanese. And then suddenly, they changed the name do judo, not explaining why. Now I Know. So they wanted the Gracies to change the name to judo and accept the new rules from Kodokan....thank god they didn't accept. So the ancient judo is still alive....

[@sonofchcknorris]

Excellent video, very insightful. grand master Helio Gracie has the right idea. keep Jiu jitsu for self defense, no martial art should be a sport it detracts from the merit of the martial art and it eventually gets lost in the sport. Taekdondo is a perfect example.

[@MrMZaccone]

And I've heard Rorion Gracie say "Without Judo there would be no Gracie Jiu-jitsu." So it would appear that the Gracies acknowledge history as well.

[@orioninja]

Pessoal da Valente Brothers, poderia colocar pelo menos a legenda? Obrigado pelo video!

[@FargoBJJ]

Maeda actually taught "Kano Jiu-jitsu" to the Gracie's which was ground fighting based... the didnt start using the term 'Judo' and getting throw specific until well after he had left Japan... which is why its called brazilian jiu-jitsu with that spelling and not brazilian Judo

[@juanmacedo8005]

Falei do sistema da GB e não expliquei: Aqueles que fazem os cursos do PCI (programa de certificação de instrutores) recebem ponteira vermelha. Os cursos podem ser feitos por pessoas que tenham no mínimo o ranking de faixa azul. Thnx

[@MrMZaccone]

Yes, idiots do inevitably become extinct. What needs to be acknowledged regardless of history is the collective goals and approach to what we are studying. There's a recording out there of some of the Gracies working out with Hayward Nishioka and some of his students. Nishioka Sensei informs Rorion Gracie That if Rickson would only work on his Tachi-waza, (throws) he could do well at "nationals". Can you imagine Rickson's internal reaction to this or Nishioka Sensei's reaction to Vale Tudo?

[@HerreraCam]

Such insight. Thanks for this.

[@steve7309]

Thanks for this video...hope to meet you one day !

[@ismhmr]

Kimura was a pretty big dude. So who cares?

[@wsmaga]

very good info, thanks for the history lesson.

[@juanmacedo8005]

Obrigado, professor, gostei bastante do vídeo, esclarecedor. Desmistifica um bocado. E quanto ao sistema de ponteiras adotado pela Gracie Barra? Desculpa por postar em português, bateu preguiça mesmo. P.S. não há pronlema em responder em inglês.

[@lambosnicko]

great video, thanks for the education!

[@MarlinsPhinsHeat13]

Great video!

[@RicPhillips]

Very interesting video - thanks!

[@Alistergodfrey]

What a great video

[@MrMZaccone]

Does that mean Judo is as much to blame for not giving credit to earlier styles from which THEIR system was adapted? (I can't wait for this answer.)

[@39Hundred]

Very interesting. I wish I could find that book that explains the belt system.

[@VicodinES]

Very Interesting for sure.

[@1234manbad]

Judo focuses mostly on take downs and tackles when Jiu-Jitsu focuses on submissions. but all in all there pretty much the same thing they both do take downs and they both do submissions.

[@madseason5614]

Judo is the part of Jiu Jitsu that takes place standing up, Nawazi or jiu jitsu is when it hits the ground.

[@raymondlugo9960]

No. Both have a ground game and both have a standing game.

[@Mr4getable1]

Can some one please give the sources. Ive looked for any books in this regard and haven't found any. If anyone knows thank you.

[@sabakimsg]

Excellent!

[@MrMZaccone]

Yes certainly. Don't forget Boxing, Muay Thai, Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling etc. etc. etc. The problem arises when one attempts to take a catalog of techniques and define where it came from in it's entirety. To do so, one often has to take the search back to prehistory and the catalog of techniques is often not even the most relevant point. This is why I hate the argument that Judo and BJJ or GJJ are the same. The argument is usually based entirely on the catalog of techniques.

[@trigger4MMA]

Does anyone know what book they keep showing that shows the older belt ranking system?

[@ronnieangkahan5188]

Helio Gracie had 20 criteria for which he graded professors in training. Can anyone name all 20 for reference?

[@Malouco]

Ronnie Angkahan money, dinheiro, escudos, rubles, gold, silver, shekels, pounds, pesos, dollars, Frankensense, mur.

[@RudeSaiyan]

actually GSP has talked about how he believes there shouldn't be Rounds at all.

[@39Hundred]

Amazing that the Kodokan tried to absorb the Gracies and their system.

[@MrMZaccone]

I'd be very interested to see that video. Link?

[@aahr2034]

Essa estante é de verdade?

[@mistrlampshade]

good stuff

[@aschild07]

i dont get it....this video explains the old light/dark blue, but doesn't talk about how todays blue, purple, and brown came to be....nor does it talk about black/red or red. this is a good video, i mean no disrespect, but i think it was cut a bit short...

[@elosoloco1000]

Can black belts with a white still get the red belt if they continue to train?

[@tylermorris2984]

No they stay white

[@elosoloco1000]

thanks for the answer man.

[@RalphJacob]

elosoloco1000 We no longer award red bars on our black belts. We now award blue bars instead.

[@papalareis4389]

elosoloco1000 Only people who have or do instruct a class get a red bar

[@KKangg]

Amazing!

[@alfaronak1]

Awesome!

[@FabioAlves7]

So the Black belt with the white bar is not in use anymore? I can't even find it to buy it in any online store. You can only get black with red bar. Also the IBJJF do no mention anything about the black with white bar. Am I missing something or it's really not in use anymore?

[@stefanobio7045]

I have been a student of Ju-Jitsu for many years....belt colours differ from sensei to sensei and organisation.....some sensei from 1st Dan to 5th. Dan still wear a plain black belt without any Dan stripes at the end of the belt....then from 6th Dan and above they can wear the red and white striped belt....but i have known Ju-Jitsu Sensi who still just wear a plain black belt at those grades....

[@danielfurlong7365]

Very interesting, Belt system with age constraints , Every year they get a new belt regardless of skill (Don't like that part) Sorry . Can't wait to check your school out next time I'm in South Florida

[@Omega350ss]

+Daniel Furlong I believe they have to be at least that age to receive it. I don't believe they receive the belt regardless by age though. I'm fairly certain you have to meet other criteria to be promoted.

[@kalikaputra]

The age limit is just that. I have children in my class that compete and train against adults but due to their age they are limited to children's belt til they are 16. they don't automatically get the belt at a certain age it's just that they can't get certain belt unless they show the skill and are within a certain age band

[@jujutsu9]

Interesting why some people are so bothered by Professor Pedro's six degrees. I rather learn from someone who received his degrees based on merit directly from the Grandmaster then to get a belt automatically after some pre-established time period has passed. These idiots who criticize Professor Pedro's belt don't realize that by doing so they disrespect the co-founder of the art who decided to award him the degrees. What should professor Pedro have done? Refused the promotion? Give me a break!

[@nahualito]

He shouldn't, if he is under a gracie school he would be awarded a blue belt at least (unless you are under Cesar Gracie, then he will be a white belt no stripes) and based on his skills and tournaments he might get the purple fast.

[@jujutsu9]

Mark Hunt: If you don't like Valente Brothers go watch another video and stop hating.

[@Jwoo160]

Question I did bjj for a short time on and off so I never got my belt promotion but I was a 2x state champion in wrestling so I wasent really going with a lot of other white belts. I gave some high lvl black belts trouble but just didn't have the technique to really threaten them from top was a lot of scrambles and stuff. Will someone with my type of wrestling exp be able to advance faster threw the belt system assuming they have the basics and good attendance? I'm deff way more intrested and motivated than I was in the past and start back up Thursday and am excited.

[@danieldunn4769]

+J Woo depends most likely you will rank up much faster than the casual student who never did any wrestling

[@akginganinja]

They did NOT LEARN JIUJITSU. They learned Judo. Maeda was a judoka.

[@greatgibson0]

from a darker point of view, more colors allow more exams, and that's more fee charged. if they keep the Japanese judo system, you only take one qualification test after years of training and become black belt. That's much less money for some dude.

[@Malouco]

Boshen Gao yeah I went to an academy where u payed to get tested but they normally don't do that anymore. U pay one time a month that is it.

[@jancofive]

kinda but you put a bad spin on it. the amount of time and skill involved to reach a specific rank is not diminished. there are simply more ranks now in between the belts to appeal to more western cultures.

[@BobBelson]

Good fortune that they did not follow the edict from the Kodokan . The rest is history.

[@RicoSeattle]

What's the difference between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu?

[@stefanobio7045]

Judo is practiced primarily as a sport now but Ju-Jitsu is a complete self defence system.

[@benmurphygo1]

perfect.

[@MrMZaccone]

Yeah, cuz time machines are the answer to everything. Remind me again why we don't have one of those?

[@1234manbad]

Helio and Kimura had so much respect for each other that Helio named a submission after him called the Kimura.

[@MrMZaccone]

Judo is Jiu-jitsu, or if you prefer the more modern spelling, "Jujutsu".

[@sombojoe]

Hmm..I just realized my 16 year old son who wrestled since four, judo since five and bjj and the summers since six is now an adult white belt..

[@andymichels4525]

Sombojoe C must be a beast with 21

[@salv2013]

sounds about right.

[@TPX10]

Not true at all. Rules govern behavior so based off a new set of rules GSp would alter his fighting style. You cannot just assume that if points were taken out of the equation that GSP would fight the exact same way.

[@adanacbrah]

actually it would probably be good for gsp...

[@nmr20067]

wow. go info.

[@xxTricky]

you mean like how boxing and wrestling have no belt system? yea cause those totally arent american and european fighting systems

[@sonnych69]

not giving judo complete credit renaming judo to gjj which was taught to them by maeda and other judokas repackaging and taking credit for techniques that were already in use kano is the inventor of the colored rank system not the gracies The colored belt system,including the black belt, was originated solely by one man, Jigoro Kano founder of the Kodokan. belt system took hold in the universities where judo was taught, and spread to other university-based systems as well ie aikido and karate

[@1234manbad]

the GRACIE family invented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

[@Thiagowerneckribas23]

Em portugues , a historia do Jiu Jitsu

[@CariveProductions]

OSS!

[@MrMZaccone]

I'm of the opinion that ideas often have more than one, sometimes simultaneous origin. This can be demonstrated by any number of inventions, among them the telephone. Unless you wish to patent or trademark it ... who gives a shit?

[@Mahalkitatayo]

We shouldn't focus more on belts but our skills that's what is important blackbelt and the rest of the belts are nothing but ranks it doesn't make you a skillful martial arts by having those belts but your skills itself As a martial artist we need to focus our training that would be our skills you may have a blackbelt but you if you are keep on losing the tournament then what good is the belt anyway so it's not really the belt it's the skill 100percent

[@gogynight]

True, but I think he could still win fights if there wasn't a score. He'd have to fight a bit differently, but it's not like he sucks. He's just boring. lol

[@TheGooinureye]

Kimura already beat up on Helio..

[@kolsen1998]

8 years and i am a blue grade xD

[@mikehunt6675]

It's absolutely disrespectful; here is the problem you and your professor have:You can't run your mouths about being traditional and then run along and change the things you don't like (mainly the ones which affect your wallet). And you have some balls to imply that people who are respectful of the rules and waited for the appropriate time have only been promoted because of "a pre-established" time period. De la Riva waited, Romero Cavalcante waited, Royler waited, valentes didn't wait

[@MrMZaccone]

Sometimes it shows nothing but saccharine, sycophantic adoration to give recognition. I'll let you decide which is which.

[@John_17x]

well, gsp rarely wins by finishing a fight. lol if it was about just fighting then gsp would lose cos he goes in there to score points and avoid the fight.

[@MrMZaccone]

Yes, admittedly, a great many techniques from Gracie jiu-jitsu were inherited from Kano jiu-jitsu. Just as, many were inherited from freestyle wrestling through Rolls Gracie's study of that art. You have never known of judo people not acknowledging judo's roots? I have ... many. Good that we are not these people we would prefer not to be.