BJJ testing- what's it like?

[Jonathan]

I mean, I know it changes from instructor to instructor/school to school, but what kind of criteria do they look for to advance a student? Does the student necessarily have to *win* a match, or just show that they're able to use techniques appropriately (as opposed to letting opportunities pass them by)?

I'd be interested in hearing about any stories about your own advancements- particularly the earlier belts.

Thanks!

[MJS]

Here (http://www.royharris.com/articles/?sec=6&id=1172) are the requirements that Roy Harris uses for black. You will also find the requirements for the other belts as well.

One of the guys I train under is a Purple belt under Mr. Harris.

[Brian R. VanCise]

Back in the day and also still I imagine with most BJJ schools. You simply went to a seminar and generally your instructor would tell Royce, Rolker, Caique, etc. to watch you and at some point they would pair you up with someone a rank higher who they had observed as being good and if you were not submitted or you submitted them basically holding your own then you were promoted. This also could occur if you just went to a seminar and the seminar instructor "noticed you" and decided to promote you on the spot. (I had several of these) No formal test and sometimes guy's had to wait years and then some before being at the right place at the right time. I imagine things are changing but that is how it was and I am sure still is many places. http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon6.gif

[Eternal Beginner]

I mean, I know it changes from instructor to instructor/school to school, but what kind of criteria do they look for to advance a student? Does the student necessarily have to *win* a match, or just show that they're able to use techniques appropriately (as opposed to letting opportunities pass them by)?

I'd be interested in hearing about any stories about your own advancements- particularly the earlier belts.

Thanks!
Some schools have hard and fast lists of a certain number of sweeps, defenses, self-defense moves, etc. and some are a little looser in their promotions.

Generally, at the less structured schools, you have to show proficiency against other belts of similar rank and are tested against people of higher rank to see how you handle the challenge. Some schools also use your competition record as an factor in promotion.

It is quite common for promotion tests to be physically grueling so that the instructor can see how well you do when you are tired and have rolled match after match. Some people tend to get really sloppy and slip back into "instinct" rather than use technique when they are really tired.

[Ybot]

Absolutely no testing where I train. When Cassio thinks your ready for a certain belt, he give it to you. Typically he promotes twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter, but occasionally you may get promoted after a big tournament win, etc.

[TriangleMachine]

I mean, I know it changes from instructor to instructor/school to school, but what kind of criteria do they look for to advance a student? Does the student necessarily have to *win* a match, or just show that they're able to use techniques appropriately (as opposed to letting opportunities pass them by)?

I'd be interested in hearing about any stories about your own advancements- particularly the earlier belts.

Thanks!

Here is an excellent video to give you some idea. It is footage of a Roy Harris Purple Belt test. The student is very technical and has some heart:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WD74C2jIkD0

[MJS]

Here is an excellent video to give you some idea. It is footage of a Roy Harris Purple Belt test. The student is very technical and has some heart:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WD74C2jIkD0

That was a fantastic clip!! Thanks for posting that!!!:ultracool

Mike

[newGuy12]

That was a fantastic clip!! Thanks for posting that!!!:ultracool

Mike

Yes!

Haha --> the student kicked the man who had the black gi in the head as he transitioned from one position to another!

[fistlaw720]

In the bjj schools I have been to there is no testing. You are tested daily while sparring others, once you start hanging with higher ranks and submitting people the same rank you are typically just promoted. I was just told that I had to wear a blue belt from now on and leave my white belt at home. Hell I even had to get my own belt, he didn't have any to spare.

[Marvin]

I was told I was a blue belt in an arport on the way to the lounge for a shot of wiskey.

[Marvin]

Here is a purple belt test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oc-Ok7JGdI

[newGuy12]

I was told I was a blue belt in an arport on the way to the lounge for a shot of wiskey.

Yes!

[fistlaw720]

I was told I was a blue belt in an arport on the way to the lounge for a shot of wiskey.


Nice!

[fistlaw720]

Here is a purple belt test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oc-Ok7JGdI


Thanks for the link. Where is that club?

[fistlaw720]

Speaking of purple. MATalk just promoted me to purple on my last post. If only BJJ were so easy!!

[Dave Leverich]

Awesome links, BJJ really puts faith back into the ranks.
I've been doing it for about a month now, and holy cow I'm a newbie heh. But, I'm loving it, and starting to see the openings, how to go from here to there etc. Slow, painful, I need a 2nd and 3rd gas tank heh.

[Marvin]

Thanks for the link. Where is that club?

I believe that was at a Straight Blast Gym Spring camp, in Portland OR.

[temagami]

Hmmm.. interesting thread. I don't technically study BJJ but rather JJJ (Japanese). In order for us to test for black we have to be a member of the CJA - Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Association. We have to meet the prescribed standards set out by the CJA and drive to a testing facility - for me it's about 2 hours away. We go before a panel of at least three masters and they run us through the rigors (about 3 hours); there is an interview process for you AND your Sensai - it ends with sparring and ground work. The last test had only 3 applicants; so it's a pretty big deal. The testers are independent from your school.

[USP45CT]

Hmmm.. interesting thread. I don't technically study BJJ but rather JJJ (Japanese). In order for us to test for black we have to be a member of the CJA - Canadian Jiu-Jitsu Association. We have to meet the prescribed standards set out by the CJA and drive to a testing facility - for me it's about 2 hours away. We go before a panel of at least three masters and they run us through the rigors (about 3 hours); there is an interview process for you AND your Sensai - it ends with sparring and ground work. The last test had only 3 applicants; so it's a pretty big deal. The testers are independent from your school.

Thats kind of interesting and I kind of like that approach.

[PurpleParham84]

I have never been formally "tested" for any belt, nor have I ever seen it done that way at any school. What I mean is, knowing that you are being tested for promotion. All of my promotions, belts and stripes, have been somewhat of a surprise to me, excluding 1 stripe.

I was awarded my blue belt one night after a long training session where I trained with many senior belts and then was able to effectively use that on other students of my grade.

For purple, our class was playing a "game" where the class is lined up by size, not rank. The two smallest guys would fight 2 min, winner fights next in line. I was 2nd from biggest of about a dozen guys, and somehow fought my way up and down the line almost twice. After about a 5 min stalemate match with another purple belt, I was awarded my purple.

I think "testing" for a purple belt is not how it should be. Yes, there are concepts and techniques you should know or be aware of at each level, but being exposed to these techniques is hardly grounds for promotion. I think effective application in a real scenario, as well ability to defend against are equally as important.

Also the ability to teach it to another student in a simple and comprehensible manner, and the ability for them to understand and apply is really important the higher you get, especially if you plan to teach. As you become more advanced in your school, and the field of equal belts shrinks, lower belts will look up to you and ask you questions. You must be able to answer them.

[msmitht]

Never had a bjj test. Spent 2 years at white and was given blue after class. Spent 3 years at blue and was surprised with purple last oct. The black belts and Master just look at a students posture, balance, technique and how effectively they roll....especially when totally out of gas. There are certain techniques that coincide with the different belt levels but BJJ is about combat effectivness. No in school test can tell you that you are ready for promotion. You are ready when you are ready. If you are invited to a test then that means the instructor thinks that you are ready and is just waiting to formalize it...which is not a bad idea....but what do they charge for it? Personally I paid for my Purple with blood, sweat, tears and many packs of ice.

[Aikironin]

There are certain techniques that coincide with the different belt levels but BJJ is about combat effectivness. No in school test can tell you that you are ready for promotion. You are ready when you are ready.

Well said, although it tends to contradict the majority of schools. If BJJ was about combat effectiveness, your promotions should be based on handling yourself against some sort of Self defense Street attack. Not based upon how well you roll against others in your rank structure. Does this make sense to anyone other than me? As I have rarely if never seen a Spider guard or a Star Pass in anything resembling a street fight. Now if your school is Sport based clearly promotions based upon skill level within ranks makes absolute sense. But any discussion forum would not be complete without a School X blue belt being able to beat School Y blue belt in NAGA or grappler's quest, so on and so on. This is a false metric. The test should be can School X and School Y blue belt be able to successfully defend themselves against an unskilled attacker of similar size. That to me is the bottom line.

This thread has shown that with each school the standards of testing vary differently, which is okay as your instructor is really the best judge of someone's skill, as we all know by now, somedays you are on fire, and somedays you are getting crushed by everyone, big picture mentality of your training should be foremost in your view as not every day will be one that takes you a step forward.