In the penultimate sentence of my discussion of how to change BJJ schools I wrote:
…as the rest of GJJ Victor did when entering the Gracie University system, I too will put on a white belt and work my way through the GJJ belt system
My story was picked up by BJJ Eastern Europe with that sentence as the main takeaway. As I blithely wrote my post about this particular twist in my personal journey, I didn’t really think about the controversy it might court or how that decision might be perceived. Naive! I think it is important to elaborate on my choice, to help diffuse any misunderstandings.
Was I Asked to Take Off My Purple Belt?
No. The decision to wear a white belt at GJJ Victor was purely my own. The instructor, John Ingallina, himself a Gracie University blue belt and Gracie Academy Certified Instructor*, respects my purple belt. He was perfectly happy for me to wear my purple belt while training in his classes and working through the Gracie University belt system.
You Demoted Yourself?!
Not in my view. The Gracie University system of Certified Training Centres (CTCs) follows its own grading scale. From a Gracie University point of view, my purple belt is respected, and it is between me and Dave Birkett, who awarded me that belt. If, however, I want to grade at a CTC, I need to do so via the set curriculum and testing measures. Sure, I could wear a purple belt in class while working through the GU curriculum. To me, that seemed disrespectful to my new instructor and training partners. So, while I level up via the Gracie University system, I’ll wear the appropriate GU belt in Gracie Combatives classes. To my mind, the GU belt is an additional belt, rather than a demotion. It does not override or overrule my purple belt under Dave Birkett. It is in addition to, rather than a replacement of.
Isn’t Demoting Yourself Disrespectful to the Instructor Who Gave You that Belt?!
Again, to my mind I have not been demoted. I have chosen to follow an additional path of promotion under the Gracie University system based on the Gracie Combatives material. That said, I have been in regular communication with Dave Birkett, my instructor back in the UK. I count Dave among my greatest friends and as an amazing martial arts mentor. I didn’t leave the UK and shut the door on the people I love and respect on the other side of the ocean! Indeed, Dave and I have been back and forth about how to continue my training here in Rochester, and he supports my decision to train at GJJ Victor, totally. He also fully supports my choice to work the GU Blue Belt programme and to wear a white belt in my Combatives classes.
Dave knows better than anyone how hard I worked for that purple belt. He was there with me, every heartbreaking step! For years I was dominated session after session, never getting a glimpse of offensive success on the bigger, stronger men I trained with. He supported me tirelessly. He supported my efforts to develop confidence in my defence, first. Then, and only then, we worked on dismantling opponents for the submissions. It took 7 years to get to that point. I could ‘play’ with whites and blues of any size and escape, reverse and claim a sub. Being able to hold my own and to get submissions on big, strong, skilful white and blue belt men, was a BIG DEAL for me. At the end of those 7 years of training every day, I had a knee op, a pregnancy and a baby. I lost a lot of skill and timing during my ‘BJJ maternity leave’ and am grateful for the 18 months I had back with Dave before moving to the USA. I have struggled immensely – as we all do on the mats – to overcome demons in order to progress physically and mentally in this art. Dave stood with me throughout and will always be by my side. Wearing a different belt to work through a specific curriculum at a different school doesn’t take away my blood sweat and tears or the bond of love and respect we forged as friends and as teacher-student.
Your Belt Should be Transferrable! ‘BJJ’ and ‘GJJ’ are the SAME!
I hear you. The distinction some draw between ‘BJJ’ and ‘GJJ’ can be divisive. For the purposes of this discussion I’ll assert that in context of the Gracie University system, ‘BJJ’ and ‘GJJ’ are not the same. CTC’s follow a very specific grading criteria as defined by the Gracie Academy. If one chooses to train at a CTC, and wishes to be promoted, one can reasonably expect to do so via the Gracie University process. Practitioners outside the Gracie University system may well have encountered the Gracie Combatives material. I know I did! The material covered in the Gracie Combatives programme is the material I learned with Dave Birkett. The belt Dave awarded me is, in fact, a ‘GJJ’ belt. As Dave wrote to me this week:
I teach Gracie Jiu Jitsu. You are a purple belt in that. You know the self defence, striking, takedowns, grappling and philosophies, but to be recognized at Gracie HQ, gotta go through their programme.
Exactly! There are a number of ‘lineages’ in our community that focus on GJJ. Likewise, there are a number of lineages and schools that marginalise or wholly dismiss the sort of material covered in Gracie Combatives. Agree or disagree, if one chooses to train at a CTC, one is following a defined curriculum and grading system rooted in a definable body of techniques and philosophies. The Gracie University system seeks to ensure accountability and consistency across CTCs through a particular system of learning and promotion. If one signs up for it, one accepts that one’s belt isn’t transferrable – respected, yes, transferrable, no – and one will need to level-up through the prescribed channels. I fully appreciate why this upsets some folk! Me? I’m cool with it.
I’m looking forward to the challenge of the Gracie Combatives tests. It is a good chance for me to refine, consolidate and build upon my previous learning. My first instructor, Dave, is proud of me for working on the Blue Belt programme and supports my journey fully. Indeed, he discovered the existence of GJJ Victor and suggested I check it out when seeking a new ‘home’. My new instructor, John, is very welcoming and keen to support my progress. I see the Gracie Combatives belts tests as new opportunities to improve and I’m down with having an additional belt to represent my progress in this particular curriculum of techniques and abilities.
The race is long, and in the end, it is only with yourself. ~Mary Schmich
In sum, for me, right here, right now, based on my options and goals for my training, changing schools means changing belts. A Gracie CTC isn’t for everybody! I am game to train at a CTC, that means I am willing to play by their rules. In solidarity with my new instructor and training partners, I want to wear the appropriate GU belt as I work through the Gracie University grading system. That works for me. My ego is cool with that. I know how far I’ve come, what I am capable of, what I know, and where I can improve. At this point in my life and training I don’t need people to know that I’ve attained a purple belt. I’ll just let my skills (or lack thereof) do the talking. The belt doesn’t make me, I make the belt.
*In addition to his GU blue belt John holds a host of martial arts/grappling credentials:
- 4th Degree Black Belt Shingitai Jujitsu (John Saylor)
- 3rd Degree Black Belt Tatsu Do (Soke William Cavalier)
- 2nd Degree Black Belt Aiki Kenpo Jujustu (Hanshi Patrick McCarthy)
- Blue Belt Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Ryron & Rener Gracie)
- Certified Instructor, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie Academy, Torrance, CA)
- Level 1 Kapap Instructor (Major Avi Nardia)
14 May 2015 @ 6:33 pm
I recently joined the Gracie Academy, and train directly with Ryron and Rener. I’m a brown belt. They have never asked me to go down in rank. If they aren’t doing so, I don’t see why it’s necessary.
14 May 2015 @ 6:53 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience, Lance. Exactly, no one asked me to wear a different belt. It was purely my choice. It isn’t necessary nor was it required of me, simply my choice. I can have two belts if I wish – one that represents my progress through the GU grading process at GJJ Victor and one that represents my GJJ progress in my former school under Dave Birkett. This is just what I’ve articulated in the post above. What works for you, works for you – that’s excellent and as it should be! My call, is my call and not really anyone else’s to question or debate. In other words, if it is right for me and my journey and a choice made of my free will, anyone else’s free choices aren’t salient to how I proceed along my path.
14 May 2015 @ 8:41 pm
Couldn’t agree more with you Meg.
In the end surely it’s just about learning the art we all love!? Why would it matter to anyone else?
Its a personal journey……. some people only train no gi, some people love judo, some wrestling and some feel it’s appropriate for them to wear a belt that is more befitting their knowledge of a particular system of Martial art.
The fact that both previous and current instructor’s are happy with Meg’s decision means you should be too!
15 May 2015 @ 12:56 am
Thanks for reading and commenting, Peter, nice to have your voice here too! I don’t want to gang up on Lance, and I hope I wasn’t too adversarial. Has been a bit tiring to be second guessed so much the past 2 days. Everyone is just very passionate about this art that we all love and share, so big feelings and opinions come out! Me included! That said, cheers for chiming in, I am excited to keep learning and to add a GU belt to my ‘stable’ 😉
15 May 2015 @ 1:54 am
Let’s be honest here. You are just doing this for the attention. You bought the Gracie University kool-aid and are trying to use this to promote yourself, your new school, and GU. If you truly didn’t care, you would have put a white belt on and just train. But instead you guys told EVERYONE to stir the pot and get attention.
Come back & write a blog after you realize that Rorion & his sons are all about the $$$ and you can get the same, and better self-defense instruction from other schools/associations who have real integrity not just slick marketing and lots of $$$. One of the best decisions I ever did was join another, reputable Gracie organization and realized Rorion & does have okay Jiu-Jitsu but are full of crap.
15 May 2015 @ 1:14 pm
Hi Maggie, thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts. I understand that the GU issue is a flashpoint in our community and emotions can run high. Indeed, as this post itself points out, I made a one sentence reference to wearing a white belt in my new classes in the How to Change BJJ Schools post. That one sentence was seized upon when the post was picked up by BJJ EE; believe what you will, but that was happenstance rather than any design on my part.
I hear what you are saying regarding how GU uses branding and curriculum to build a business. I appreciate why the development and growth of GU is controversial. I also accept the legitimacy of those practicing GJJ outside of the GU system and before I moved to the US, I trained GJJ at an independent / non GU school. Here and now, a GU school fits my goals best.
No one is more surprised than I the attention that these posts have gotten. We are a very passionate community and that’s wonderful! All the best to you and your training.
15 May 2015 @ 7:25 am
So what belt will you wear when you go back to the UK?
And what belt would you wear when both your instructors are on the mat?
15 May 2015 @ 1:17 pm
Hi B! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. As discussed in this post, for me, I feel the appropriate GU belt in my GC classes is right for me. Outside of the GU environment I’d wear my GJJ belt from Dave Birkett. Thanks again for stopping by!
15 May 2015 @ 7:41 am
I respect your decision. GJJ and BJJ are very different disciplines.
15 May 2015 @ 1:20 pm
Thanks for leaving your feedback, Rachel, appreciated! GJJ and BJJ can certainly be different. I think the main point I’m trying to make is that the GU system has very unique testing system. Like it or not that’s the way it is. While I could wear the GJJ belt I was awarded under Dave Birkett while working through the GU belt progression, that didn’t feel right to me.
15 May 2015 @ 5:39 pm
Rachel and Meg,
Can you please expand on how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ) are totally different disciplines?
15 May 2015 @ 9:51 pm
Hi Jon, I personally have not made that assertion. I have asserted that the GU system has a very defined and distinct grading system. I have also stated that some schools emphasis the material often referred to as GJJ more than others. Please see the above post for my thoughts. Thanking you for taking time to comment.
15 May 2015 @ 2:05 pm
The last line was the best. In my mind, the belt has a few roles: 1. To make it easy for new students to know who to go to with questions; 2. To make it easy for instructors to pair up people during open mat; 3. To let you know how hard you can roll with a certain person and how much guidance you are expected to offer during/after a roll; 4. To motivate little kids to stay engaged.
Now, since there is mostly guided practice/rolls in the GU BB curriculum and the instruction is given usually by a single person, etc. it really makes no difference what belt you have. For that matter, the combatives were at one point intended to be learned without the GI, so the belt is a moot point.
People who are not comfortable wearing any color belt are probably extremely insecure of themselves, and need to learn some more jiujitsu…
15 May 2015 @ 5:11 pm
Thanks for leaving your thoughts, Galho, grateful for your time and energy spent! I like your list and would add to it: 5. to represent where one in is a progression. For me this is key, as a white belt in my GC classes represents where I am in that specific progression.
At the end of the day, I would hope that everyone can find the right place to train for his/her own goals. I would hope too that people with different goals and styles of training can leave others to their free choices without labelling or judgement. Think the pissing match over ‘BJJ v GJJ’ that has ensued over these posts shows that we’re not quite there as a community. 🙂
15 May 2015 @ 6:39 pm
Hi Meg! I have a lot of respect for you! As a white belt with less than a year of BJJ experience (I train at a CTC so I’m in the GJJ system), it’s women like you that I find inspirational, because I’m in a place where the community is large but high ranking women are still rare.
Train hard, take care, have a great time! 🙂
15 May 2015 @ 9:47 pm
Hello Jen and thank you very much for the kind and supportive comment. Much obliged!
15 May 2015 @ 7:17 pm
Hi Meg! While I wouldn’t have taken the approach you have, I can respect it. As long as you are having fun and learning, it doesn’t really matter what color belt you wear.
I’d disagree on the idea that BJJ and GJJ are different systems. There are a lot of BJJ schools/instructors out there with significantly different criteria for promotions. To say that they are all different systems based on those different criteria seems like a stretch to me, but maybe we’re just arguing semantics at that point.
I am curious about a few matters …
As a solid purple belt with prior experience in the combatives curriculum, I would expect you should be ready to pass the GU blue belt test within a month. I can’t think of anything in the curriculum that you shouldn’t already be pretty familiar with. What then? The GU curriculum through the blue belt stripes is pretty comprehensive, so it could certainly keep you busy for a while – but sparring and live drills are part of that curriculum. Will your school be adding those classes? I looked at the schedule on the website and it looks like everything is currently limited to the white belt curriculum.
Is Gracie Victor the only school in the area which covers the fundamental self-defense aspects of the BJJ curriculum? Given that there are BJJ black belts teaching in the area, I would think that some of them might have a higher mastery of the material. Are there other reasons why you chose the school you did?
One reason why I don’t view your choice as necessarily ridiculous is that Mr. Ingallina appears to be an accomplished martial artist with qualifications well beyond his GU blue belt. Will you be jumping in to his Shingitai classes and giving those a try?
15 May 2015 @ 10:11 pm
Hi Tony, thanks for taking the time to comment. As I’ve stated on this blog, after weighing my options and investigating the local scene, I determined that GJJ Victor was the best place for me given my personal training goals. As I’ve also stated, there are a number of great options here in Rochester with talented and friendly people. Please see the How to Change BJJ Schools if you’d like to read more on my personal journey choosing a new club. As GJJ Victor grows, it will being to offer the Masters Programme classes, but that’s not really for me to comment on.
I am familiar with the material we’re drilling at GJJ Victor and I look forward to taking the Blue Belt test when I’m ready. Alas, having recently moved from overseas, a toddler to care for, a now international small business to run, weights to lift and friends and family to enjoy time with, and no childcare, I can usually make a single session a week (on a good week!). As I’ve discussed in numerous pieces on this blog, since becoming a pregnant and a parent the energy I can devote to my hobby is very diminished. I am excited to consolidate my learning and do the GU Blue Belt test, however I am in no rush; I simply don’t have the bandwidth to make it a high priority.
Indeed, I have been to Shingitai class, as this offers a chance for good drills and sparring. There is also sparring at open mats at GJJ Victor and elsewhere locally; as mentioned in the How to Change BJJ Schools post, I’ve been invited by a local black belt I had the pleasure of training with while looking for a school to come to their open mat. Again, as mentioned in my earlier post, both instructors are cool with this, so my life’s more primary obligations allowing, I have plenty of chances to spar each week.
Thanks again for reading and commenting and all the best with your training.
15 May 2015 @ 8:26 pm
As a purple belt I would think I’d have an obvious advantage over white belts, if for that reason only I wouldn’t demote myself. I would be very honest that I didn’t go through the Gracie University system, and would devote time to learning their version of the Gracie Jiujitsu curriculum.
But to each their own. So long as you are honest with others that you are a purple belt under another school already I don’t see harm in it. It’s the sandbaggers that hide their previous experience that are the problem, no different than a judoka with a high brown or black belt putting on a white belt in jiujitsu. It’s dishonest.
15 May 2015 @ 9:45 pm
Hi Ian, thanks for your comment. Agree with you completely. I wore my purple belt during my intro classes, before joining. My new instructor and training partners are aware of my previous experience. Also, I don’t feel the need to bully less experienced players 😉 I know you’re not suggesting that, just saying that I always roll at my partner’s level, when working with less experienced players.