Instructor bars
2 month(s) ago • 873 views • 24 replies
A few years ago I learned that some clubs don’t give instructor bars until someone has been a black belt for a year. Meanwhile, I’ve seen others get them immediately. If someone has been teaching through the coloured belt ranks, this makes sense. Anyway- is this a uniform “standard”, or more of a club by club matter? |
"A few years ago I learned that some clubs don’t give instructor bars until someone has been a black belt for a year. Meanwhile, I’ve seen others get them immediately. If someone has been teaching through the coloured belt ranks, this makes sense. Anyway- is this a uniform “standard”, or more of a club by club matter?" Just to be clear, you're talking about instructor tabs, i.e. the white stripes that frame the red ranking bar on a bjj black belt, correct? There doesn't seem to be a universal standard, and I've seen those on other belts as well. That being said, this is the tradition I follow: 1) You've been a bb for a year. 2) You've beaten another bb in competition as a bb. 3) You teach classes. You must have all 3 to wear the tabs, but this is just "my" gym and "my" instructors, so if we have visitors from other traditions, of course they can wear whatever they want. I've seen blue belts with instructor tabs. |
My opinion is its a way to signal who is actually the instructor and who's just a regular guy there to work out It's like the light on a taxi, if you're wearing them your telling the room you're there for them and available for questions and if you're not you're saying you're there to do your own thing On the flip side of that also by needing to get approval to wear them it's a way the gym can control for the well intentioned sideline coach that wants to help but always gives terrible advice If you don't see the tabs on his belt, politely disregard what he's telling you |
"Just to be clear, you're talking about instructor tabs, i.e. the white stripes that frame the red ranking bar on a bjj black belt, correct? There doesn't seem to be a universal standard, and I've seen those on other belts as well. That being said, this is the tradition I follow: 1) You've been a bb for a year. 2) You've beaten another bb in competition as a bb. 3) You teach classes. You must have all 3 to wear the tabs, but this is just "my" gym and "my" instructors, so if we have visitors from other traditions, of course they can wear whatever they want. I've seen blue belts with instructor tabs." Yes, the bars on the border of the red bar. I’m a shameless Budo geek and was surprised I didn’t know about this non-uniform practice. |
I've seen the red bar being used on colored belts as instructor's insignia, even though I don't think there are any mass produced belts like that. Also white bar on BB if a competitor but not an instructor, so the red bar in itself would be an instructor's bar. In that case, the framing white bars often signal "head instructor" (of an academy/location). Of course, this is usually the fellow with the most other white stripes on the red bar, but could make it clearer if it's not already perfectly clear and you think it's faster to explain the framing stripes than who is the head instructor. But in the IBJJF Graduation system (latest version June 2025), there's only the red bar with the framing white stripes described! Don't think anyone has been stopped from competing because of not wearing those framing stripes, but just judging by IBJJF, it could rather be seen as odd that BB:s are even sold without the framing stripes as default. In the first version of BJJ belt guidelines (from 1967), both the red bar only version and the version with framing stripes are shown, with the latter described as "professor" and the red bar only described as "professor estagiário" (student teacher). But only the one with framing stripes is shown with degree stripes and is from a minimum age of 21 while red bar only was from a minimum age of 18. So if not used to denote head instructor, it might have been added after a year or two as BB or along with the first degree stripe.  |
In my experience, it really is related to someone who has been a dedicated instructor, and after they have received their black belt. As Bobby mentioned above, I think many instructors do follow the black belt for a year guideline before giving an instructor their bars on the belt. So many people practice so many different things, so I don't think there is an actual standard. I have trained with many black belts over the years that have no interest in being an instructor. It could just be a designation for those that have a passion to teach and instruct. |
At our academy a freshly promoted black belt has a white bar instead of a red bar. After 1 year they get upgraded to the red bar, which we call the instructor's bar. After 2 years they get the white stripes at the edge, which we call professor's stripes. After three years they get their first degree. I think we've had 2 brown belts get their instructor's bar. |
"I've seen the red bar being used on colored belts as instructor's insignia, even though I don't think there are any mass produced belts like that. Also white bar on BB if a competitor but not an instructor, so the red bar in itself would be an instructor's bar. In that case, the framing white bars often signal "head instructor" (of an academy/location). Of course, this is usually the fellow with the most other white stripes on the red bar, but could make it clearer if it's not already perfectly clear and you think it's faster to explain the framing stripes than who is the head instructor. But in the IBJJF Graduation system (latest version June 2025), there's only the red bar with the framing white stripes described! Don't think anyone has been stopped from competing because of not wearing those framing stripes, but just judging by IBJJF, it could rather be seen as odd that BB:s are even sold without the framing stripes as default. In the first version of BJJ belt guidelines (from 1967), both the red bar only version and the version with framing stripes are shown, with the latter described as "professor" and the red bar only described as "professor estagiário" (student teacher). But only the one with framing stripes is shown with degree stripes and is from a minimum age of 21 while red bar only was from a minimum age of 18. So if not used to denote head instructor, it might have been added after a year or two as BB or along with the first degree stripe." It sounds like we are still evolving! |
My club has taken some flak because Elliott Bayev, who oversees our black belt promotions, ALWAYS gives out black belts with the "Professor Bars" already there. He's a 3rd degree under Shawn Williams who has 0 issues with him doing this. I was even chastised while visiting a club 200km away as a brown belt for him doing this. You Jiu Jitsu people are cray cray. lol |
My former coach even had a blue bar instead of a red bar, which some people from the Royce Gracie lineage wear … I’ve also seen a match on YouTube recently where Roger Gracie wore a plain black belt without a red bar or stripes… Also I’ve seen rare cases in which the people had the red bar already on purple and brown🤷♂️. |
"At our academy a freshly promoted black belt has a white bar instead of a red bar. After 1 year they get upgraded to the red bar, which we call the instructor's bar. After 2 years they get the white stripes at the edge, which we call professor's stripes. After three years they get their first degree. I think we've had 2 brown belts get their instructor's bar." So you finaly get your first degree after six years at Black Belt ? Seems way too long.... |
"No. 3 years. 1 year after blackbelt they get a red bar. 2 years after blackbelt they get stripes. 3 years after blackbelt they get 1st degree." Ok... now i understand, so it's just the process who's different with white bar then stripes then degrees. Interesting Thanks for taking the time to put some light in the shadow 😉 |
Fascinating. My understanding is as follows. Black Belt with a white bar. You have gotten good at the basics but you don't teach. (Edit) In addition... Black belts with white bars don't accrue degrees as they are reserved for years actively teaching... BJJ specifically. Black Belt with a red bar. You regularly teach classes and are recognised as someone to go to with questions (about BJJ). Black Belt with a red bar and white trims. You're one of/ the head instructor of the academy. You're being denoted as a main source of information for the academy and this is the person to go to with issues other than a lack of knowledge regarding a technique... If you catch my drift. I have heard of all of the other versions in this forum as well. There are specially made colour belts with red bars available that I've seen. Making clear that they are an instructor/ student or assistant instructor. But they should only be approached for information up to their level, as they are still learning the material for their next promotion. This is usually used by large affiliations with strict syllabus/promotion criteria. |
As with others, I am speaking specific to our academy, but may also reference practices common in some other academies as well... Black Belt with White Bar: Specific to Athlete Competitors with no teaching role Black Belt with Red Bar: Standard for all Black Belts in the academy Black Belt with Red Bar & White Border Tabs: Head Instructor of the Academy When I was the head instructor of our program before receiving my Black Belt, my Instructor added the border tabs "as designation that i was the coach". I have also seen some others use the red bar on a colored belt to denote they hold a designated teaching role as well. Personally, I don't at all mind the variance in uniformity as it gives each academy it's own flavor. |
https://youtu.be/sQ-Y7Ynj[...]04s5Y0DZ7R I thought was interesting aspect of the red bar, caps at the end of the red bars, and white bar on bb. Fun historical perspective. |
"If any black belt dare show up to my gym with instructor tabs, I immediately chastise them in front of everyone, physically remove their belt and force them to train with a rope of old socks sewn together instead of a belt, and a gimp mask." What if they show up already wearing a rope of old socks sewn together instead of a belt, and a gimp mask? |
