Hi guys and gals I have a question for anyone who could help.
I am a purple belt coach and have run a school for 5 years ( i got my purple a couple of years ago ) we have never really had much luck with affilations going from 1 black belt to the next in this time though no fault if our own.
I have had a student train with me for 5 years + in this time he has gained 4 stripes on his belt ( through seminars off our various black belts ) he has had very good success in comps both gi and nogi fought and won MMA fights winning with submissions. and he taps other blues at our team and sometimes myself.
I now feel he is ready for a blue belt as do other in our team to take his training to the next level
I know this students game inside out and I have taught him everything he knows.
As we have no black belt coach again I am seeking advice as to if it would be accepted that a purple belt grades a grade below himself. I have handed out stripes and no black belt has ever questioned one of them!. I am just a little hesitant at handing out a belt. I would feel better giving it myself rather than getting yet another black belt to do a seminar ( maybe have to affiliate again ) that does not know him or will hardly see him or has taught him nothing! I know I will need to re affiliate for my personal progression and that of the other blue belts but that could be another year or 2 and i honestly feel he should not be held back because of affiliation issues.
advice and opinions please.
Hey man,
Personally I dont see any problem in you as a certified purple handing out a blue belt. Hes your student, and it sounds like hes more than overdue for the promotion. Sucks about the affliation issues, where are you guys located?
I definitely feel like a purple belt can give up to a blue belt with four stripes. Brown can give up to a purple with four stripes, and black can give up to black of course. I see nothing wrong with you giving a blue belt to a deserving person. If It were me I would be hesitant about giving stripes after blue maybe but I would definitely be okay with the blue.
I dont think anyone would give it a second though. I always have heard that purples can give out blue belts. It might be a rule that you would need to consider if you were affiliated, but considering you dont have one at the moment it shouldn't be a problem. Claim "ex post facto" when you get an affiliation!
Hey as long as you are ranked higher no one SHOULD have a problem. I'm only a green belt, but my judgement has caused several promotions for both our adult and youth Jiu-Jitsu classes. Point being you shouldn't have to be a black belt to hand out a rank.
It's not my palce to really ask, but I'm curious... Why aren't you interested in affiliating yourself in a team? Esspecially for you I believe it would be very helpful. I'm in the exact same situation as you, a purple belt teacher in my own gym. I'm the most experienced guy jiu-jitsuwise, I have some good students... 11 blue belts, 9 are "my own" students, 2 of them have learned most of their jiu-jitsu from somewhere else. On sunday we will get 3 more blue belts and one guy will get his purple, but that is because we have Gabriel Wilcox holding a seminar this week (he already awarded one blue belt). I feel that I have learned a lot this week, much more than i would if I was just teaching... normally my progress is based on trial and error, now I can just suck knowledge out of Gabriel. Insane feeling when you are used to figuring things out yourself. We also have plenty of guys come in and hold shorter seminars, brown and black belts from Hilti BJJ (we are affiliated), and the blacks have awarded belts to me and my guys.
Anyways to your question. No, it isn't officially accepted that purple belts award blue belts. But in practical terms it is. I have awarded one blue belt, but on paper a Hilti BJJ black belt awarded it to him. I have permission from him to award blue belts, but I don't feel really comfortable doing this because I like traditions and I think it is nicer for the guys also to get their belts from legitimate sources.
But in your situation, you can award him his blue belt if you ask me. It's not like a guy holding a seminar has the time or possiblilty to evaluate everybody at the gym, so it is up to the local teacher anyways to decide who is worth what belt. The same thing here, I asked Gabriel if he can award belts and he said "Ofcourse, you are the teacher - I'm here only to help!".
Last edited by Benu; 09-23-2010 at 11:14 PM.
Hi guys thanks for the advice :-) I have decided to award the belt and put the guy in a comp at blue.. once he beats ( as he will ) a blue belt from another team I will have justification of my actions even if he does not medal.
As for affliation No I'm not really interested in going down that route YET again as its more hassle than its worth + my team will look like a bunch of belt hunters changing team all the time. as for my own progression I have been having privates off black and brown belts at a local team what I learn I will pass on to my students and if the team is ok and I get on I may hook up with them.
Go for it man, 5+ years is a long time to be a white belt.
Originally Posted by bjjtrekker
As a BB i allow any of have one student at each rank (which for lack of better words i will call the senior student) that has permission to give a belt...mind you...they can not promote to their level....only the levels below them. i do believe that you have every right to promote someone who is in YOUR school.
I agree. It's in the IBJJF rules that instructors can promote up to one rank below them. It's perfectly fine. If youre planning a seminar I would wait until then though just for the sentimental value :P
"The more you sweat in training the less you bleed in battle"
"To conquer without risk is to triumph without pride"
http://shop.thebjjlifestyle.com/?Click=909
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks