It's been 15 months and you're STILL a White Belt??? LoL

I have been signed off on my Blue belt for about 3 weeks now. I’m waiting on the Belt Promotion Ceremony to tie on my blue, but my journey continues as a 4th stripe white belt until that time. This has given me some time to reflect on the past 15 months I have invested in my training, and in the belt promotion process as a whole. I also helps that my internet BJJ aquaintance Julia "Jiu-Jiu" Johansen posted some very relevant thoughts, and asked some very specific questions regarding her own belt promotion. Congrats again to Julia if you are reading this.

One of the first things you realize when you undertake the study of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that there are very few steps in promotion. there are only 4 belts for an adult practitioner to earn.
1st Belt isn't an "earned belt"- Everyone gets a white belt- it signifies that you have begun your training AND it keeps your Gi closed. I don't have any facts to back this up, but based on my observations in my own school, I'd say 70% of the student body is at some level of white belt (the student body is also 100% bruised, but thems the facts of life in BJJ right?).
Q: How is it possible that there are so many white belts, and so few higher ranking belts?
A: There is attrition that occurs over the course of training. Mostly this happens during the White Belt conditioning. I think students come to realize that maybe they aren't cut out for the physicality of BJJ, or maybe they don't have the time that they thought they had to dedicate to training. Economics can also come into play, as can life changes like having children, or relocation to other cities, countries, planets... There are also those who lack the patience- they want that validation of belt promotion ASAP, and the fact that it can take over a year really wilts their determination. This all combines to create a factor- and that factor is that the vast majority of white belts probably won't get to Blue Belt.

From what I have seen, there is a similar attrition among Blue Belts. Many will not make it to Purple, although that seems to be where the attrition rate decreases. Many purples go on to Brown, and I honestly believe most Browns go on to Black. This progression takes an average of 10 years.

Compare that to my little cousins ascension to Black Belt in TKD- I think it was under 2 years to get her 1st dan Black Belt. She worked hard for it. I'm sure the testing standards are rigorous, and challenging- but then she quit. With no more worlds to conquer she moved on. Now those of us schooled in Martial arts know, there were in fact PLENTY more worlds to conquer- 1st dan begets 2nd dan and so on and so forth- these are the "degrees" in the progression, but she IS a Black Belt on record, and in title. Anyone who doesn't know jack shit about martial arts will bow down to that. To me, she is a Blue Belt that quit- just my opinion.

So there are very few Belts to progress through in BJJ, but each is extremely significant on your journey.

The next question is always about promotion. Why does it take so long?

For the sake of contrast lets look at the promotion model of Tae Kwon Do (or TKD as I often refer to it)

I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I do know that Tae Kwon Do has a very rigid structure regarding promotions. I know this because when I was 10 I took TKD for a few months before my parents chose to discontinue my martial arts activities. You go to class, learn and practice the "Kata" or "Forms". It is all Pass/Fail. On test day (usually about once a month) you show up and perform the movements before a jury. The jury then awards you with a rank, or you go back and practice some more and test again next month. There is very little sparring in beginners TKD. I remember this, but I also remember that I was pretty good at sparring, and not so good at the kata... Either way, I did achieve some rank while I was practicing, and then I was abruptly withdrawn.
not to get to far off the subject, but I recall being told that my Mother was unwilling to subsidize my training, hence the activity was no more. At my current age and maturity I can clearly understand that my Stepmonster was actually becoming concerned for her safety (as an abusive parent, she certainly should have been) and had pushed for my training to end. either way, TKD would have done little good to assuage the torment of bullies I would encounter in my teen years, unless I were a practicing Black Belt at that time- which would likely have given me a protective aura of mystery, and unpredictability.... Nah, those motherfuckers would have jumped me anyway, and no kata will defeat 4 or 5 guys attacking one. I'm no Chuck Norris. I digress...

In BJJ Promotions happen differently.

Easton has a formal/semi-formal type of promotion. We DO have check sheets for each stripe on the white belt, and those check sheets are signed off on by our Coaches and Professors during scheduled Randori for Checklist sessions that happen several times per week. There is also a standardized number of classes a student should have attended to be eligible for their next stripe. That would be the “formal” methodology. The “informal” is the part where a Professor is watching, and rolling with you in class. He knows where you are, and sometimes even though your check sheet isn’t fully signed off- the Professor promotes anyway. It goes the other way too though. Sometimes even when the check sheet is fully completed, and class attendance requirement is met a student still doesn’t get promoted. I can only guess that their head just isn’t “right” yet. I have seen at least one example of this in my school. The guy has been a 4th stripe for 9 months, He knows his stuff, but he is terrible to train with. If we run a full speed drill- like a reversal, or replacement from half guard- he will set himself up to succeed before the drill starts so he can “win”. I think a person with the right mind frame can understand the problem with that mentality. He doesn’t- hence, no promotion. We don't drill to "win" we drill to learn. You can still learn from a loss- in fact I think sometimes I learn more from a loss. The gist here is that BJJ isn't pass/fail at all- it is more than that. BJJ is about how you are learning as much as it is about what you have learned.

This guy I have described above has taken the longest road possible to get to his 4th stripe- and the road to his Blue Belt has been, and will continue to be equally arduous. This is the beginning, and I bet once he gets his blue, it will be the end. I don't think this is really the logic, but in that mischievous part of my mind I wonder if the Professor doesn't realize this as well and is therefore sandbagging to continue collecting mat fees... NAH. LoL.

What are my thoughts on standardizing belt testing in BJJ?
I dislike this idea for the very reason I stated above. I like that the Professors have latitude to promote students who are “worthy”, while holding off on promoting students like the one I mentioned above. A standardized “test” removes that subjectivity- and while that might lead to faster promotion for some students, or more clarity of expectation- I don’t think it makes for a “better” school environment even though it would probably lead to a larger student body (and profitability for the school). Even having only trained for a short while I can say I understand it is good that some students “wash out”. Sometimes it is better for the whole school that some guys get frustrated and quit- whereas standardized testing might keep them around. Also, standardized testing, and gratuitous promotion is very "McDojo" while the tradition of BJJ promotion is the antithesis of that business model.

I honestly believe in the current “schedule” of promotion being left to the instructor. The instructor knows his/her student far better than the student sometimes even knows himself/herself- they have a much more objective point of view regarding the students progress. With that said, when you get your blue belt, purple belt, brown belt, or black belt it isn’t up to you- it is your instructors decision, and I am sure it is based in a very clear understanding of where you stand in your progress.
My Professors have always said- getting your blue belt doesn’t mean you have to be able to tap out every white belt in the room, or that you “win” every roll in class or comp. Blue Belt is a way point in the journey- It means that you have embraced and understand the fundamental aspects of the art (moves), and you understand what it is to “train” as opposed to “fight” when you are on the mats in the school. A blue belt should have the mentality of a professional student, and a teacher/facilitator. This will keep the students "safe" from one another. We spar all the time- it is important that those who posses the advanced knowledge are responsible with that knowledge. LoL at the Spiderman "With great knowledge comes great responsibility" reference, but seriously it applies. The professors are judicious over who learns what- and for a very good reason. Who wants a meat head injuring their new students? Not me!