review of brazilian jiu jitsu

[ps1]

I think I understand what you're saying, still, I'm not 100% sure I do, and that's not your fault, it's mine for being a dunderhead at times, in that, I'm reading some ambiguity nonetheless.

What he's saying, Sensei8, is that the black belt you happen to hold is not a typical black belt. For one, you're a very high dan. Additionally, you have taken time to ensure you are not average...which is exactly why you have reached the level you hold. His original post speaks mostly toward a first dan...though that is not explicitly stated.

The second point is that, at an alarming rate, people are often promoted based on meeting a minimum criteria. Rather than training to exceed the standard, they are training just to meet the standard. For example: when i tested for nidan, there were two "black belt" forms required. I made sure I was skilled in 4, just in case. I made sure I had an excellent grasp on the bunkai, which was not a requirement. I trained to exceed the standard. Many do not, sadly. I suspect you NEVER trained just to meet the MINIMUM standard. I also suspect you expect the same quality from your students. So it's no surprise that you weren't entirely sure what JusticeZero was saying; the very idea is foreign to you.

His original point was not to point out the lack of skill in Karate. Rather to highlight the high level of skill and knowledge required to earn a BJJ black belt. In many arts, the black belt is where training starts. It means you have a good grasp of the fundamentals. This rank, in many cases, can be attained in 3 to 5 years. In BJJ, that same level (where the learning really begins) lies somewhere between blue and purple belt. In both arts that 3 to 5 year time frame is when the student tends to become familiar enough with combining the necessary components of techniques with their own body movements that they can begin to internalize components of the art. The tend to stop just mimicking techniques of others and come up with movement and combinations that work for them.

In many arts, the required time from 1st to 2nd degree is 2 years and 3 years for 2nd to 3rd. If it took 5 years to earn shodan, you could be sandan in about 10 years time. That's about the time it takes to earn black belt in bjj. So, while there is still much to learn after earning black belt, you're not "just beginning" your training, as is common in many other arts. You are very skilled in and have a strong understanding of application, mechanics, and variations of techniques required to make the art work. The same is generally true of a sandan (3rd degree) or yandan (4th degree) in other arts. At 3rd degree in BJJ, the instructor generally earns the title of professor and are allowed to promote black belts of their own. Each degree in BJJ (up to 6th) represents 3 years of consistent training. That means, at a minimum, a 3rd degree black belt in Bjj has about 20 years of training. Notice that amount of time would often put other arts right around 5th degree. That's the level usually given the title of shihan and often required to promote to 3rd degree without outside supervision.

So to sum up (based solely on time frames):

BJJ Purple belt (~5yrs of training)= 1st dan in other arts (~5yrs of training)

BJJ Black belt = 3rd dan in other arts

BJJ professor (3rd degree)= Shihan (some arts use master, 5th dan)

Shihan can usually promote somone up to 3rd degree alone

Professor can promote up to Black belt

********************NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE******************

This post is full of broad generalities and is based solely on my experience and observations (27 years of consistent training). For both BJJ and Karate there are certainly exceptions to these rules. The purpose of the post was an attempt to draw some very basic paralells that assist in illuminating where the ranks for BJJ stand in comparison to others (Shotokan Karate, specifically).

It should also be noted that for me to say a purple belt in bjj is = to a black belt in karate is not meant to be an insult or judgement on effectiveness. It is an observation of how well internalized a practitioner's skill set tends to be at that given level.

[sensei8]

ps1,

I thank you for taking the time to post such a thoughtful and through response, and in that, your explanation has erased any ambiguity I might have perceived from JZ post.

I now, thanks to your precise explanation, understand what JZ was speaking about.

You're absolutely correct in your assumption about myself...I've never trained to just meet the minimum standards, I've no idea what that means or looks like, and in that, I do demand and expect the same quality from my students. Our Dai-Soke never once allowed any of us to meet only the minimum standards; no way and no how!! His standards were extremely high, and in that, I echo his exact same standards, if not more, with my students as well, and this goes for any Shindokanist, including myself.