It started as explaining jokingly but ended up as a rather detailed text so sharing with you for ideas, counterideas, inspiration etc. Feel welcome to share yours as well 😊
Jorgen Matsi belt standard made simple:
BELTS = marked qualitative jumps
STRIPES (1-3) = quantitative development between qualitative leaps
White = came to training
Blue = basically knows jiu jitsu, i.e. from every basic position there is some instinct or idea to do something that is fundamentally right or in that direction. No longer does fundamentally wrong things/particularly stupid mistakes.
Purple = like blue, only better, usually has at least one basic position that is already uncomfortably good. Performs well and does not embarrass the Võimla standard in any gym in the world. You have gained an understanding of why and how something works and the ability to analyze yourself. This last characteristic/skill can be compensated for with athletic talent.
Brown = like purple, only better. The skill in all basic positions has now positively levelled, and with that you have the ability to understand and teach jiu jitsu (including things outside of your game) and/or the ability to compete/spar in your category at the brown belt level.
Black = yolo, you are Mr/Mrs/Otherkin Jiu Jitsu now. Congrats. I am now learning more from you than I am from myself.
"Jorgen Matsi belt standard made simple:
BELTS = marked qualitative jumps
STRIPES (1-3) = quantitative development between qualitative leaps
White = came to training
Blue = basically knows jiu jitsu, i.e. from every basic position there is some instinct or idea to do something that is fundamentally right or in that direction. No longer does fundamentally wrong things/particularly stupid mistakes.
Purple = like blue, only better, usually has at least one basic position that is already uncomfortably good. Performs well and does not embarrass the Võimla standard in any gym in the world. You have gained an understanding of why and how something works and the ability to analyze yourself. This last characteristic/skill can be compensated for with athletic talent.
Brown = like purple, only better. The skill in all basic positions has now positively levelled, and with that you have the ability to understand and teach jiu jitsu (including things outside of your game) and/or the ability to compete/spar in your category at the brown belt level.
Black = yolo, you are Mr/Mrs/Otherkin Jiu Jitsu now. Congrats. I am now learning more from you than I am from myself."
These are good!
This is the way I look at promotions:
Because you're going to make the fastest progress/ biggest leaps in your career as a white belt, I make it a point to have some criteria for each stripe:
1st: I know your name without thinking too hard (lol kidding/ not kidding).
2nd: You're demonstrating a basic knowledge of the positional hierarchy in sparring.
3rd: You're actually getting a little tough to deal with, and have at least one thing you can do from each position.
4th: You can do almost all the stuff I expect a blue belt to be able to do/ know, but with maybe just a couple gaping holes.
Blue: You're able to execute at least 2 moves/ concepts from each position, and I can imagine that you could defend yourself adequately in a self-defense situation against an unarmed, untrained attacker.
Purple: You have a solid, deep guard game - I think this quality is especially important, as the guard is typically what separates a good wrestler/judoka who just knows some BJJ from an actual jiujiteiro. Also, you're very difficult to submit.
Brown: This is the "Junior black belt", so you're just refining at this point; you should be competent at the leg lock game, and anything else you might see in your competition division, you're doing some teaching and you should be able to converse with black belt on myriad bjj topics - anything from guard systems to current events and major players.
Black: everything's refined, you're not a scumbag, and you're educated enough in regards to theory and history. These last two are probably unique to how I do it, and it should be noted that I haven't promoted anyone to BB yet, but I think it's crazy how many people get to black belt and have no idea about any BJJ history. Basically every other martial art on the planet would expect you to know something about their founder(s) and why/how the art came to be, and I don't think it's too much to ask. I've developed a (honestly very easy) written test everyone must take.
All of this is on top of a minimum, generally-accepted time in grade (basically IBJJF standards) at each belt.
Oh yeah, and I think it's important to demonstrate proficiency in a gi. I don't give out "nogi belts". Even if you prefer nogi, that's fine. Just suck it up and train in a gi every now and again.
"What's your criteria for being a scumbag? Maybe that should be it's own, whole new thread."
I agree. It would make a good new thread.
All of William's criteria would apply from my point of view a well, but generally speaking, someone who doesn't treat other people with respect? It's hard to define, I suppose.
I think by the time someone is at that level, I'll know what kind of person they are, and make the call as to whether or not I'm going to be the one to promote them.
But, I'm not planning on promoting anyone anytime soon, and I don't really have the "authority" to do so for at good while, so maybe I don't need to think about it so hard...
I generally don't do stripes as I am not big on belt ranking and have always felt it and artificial motivator,
White ... Dazed and confused trying to understand. Sorting through information to build a foundation
Blue ... Solid positioning, good defense, understand transitions, understanding escapes . Starting to build an offensive game around motions and isolation you are comfortable with
Purple ... Hard to submit, positioning starting to become a weapon in itself, Smooth transitioning, solid escapes. Starting to build a personalized offense from every position, Able to break down and explain the moves in your game and underlying principles
Brown... Defense on point, maintains pressure on transitions, hard to hold a position, multiple attack options from every position. Starting to understand in depth your own game but also able to break down and explain concepts and moves other than just the ones you use. You are putting your stamp on your own game but understand other approaches.
Black... You have your own personal form of Jits, Defense offense everything is on point, An ability to understand, execute and teach concepts outside your own game, You have a good game but now are starting the everlasting journey of expanding and refining
