Hey. I am a black belt, an active trainer and competitor. My experience in BJJ is about 20 years. However, depending on who you talk to, everyone has a different opinion about awarding so-called bars (dan) to black belts. It is generally known that according to the IBJJF rules, dans are awarded every 3 years until the 3rd dan. Thereafter, each subsequent one is every 5 years.
This is how it works in IBJJF. However, I often see that black belts give each other information contrary to the time set by the above-mentioned parameters.
Moreover, write who can give you a higher dan. Does it have to be a belt a few degrees higher than the one awarded to you, or are those in IBJJF automatically awarded after a period of time without nomination by a specific professor. What about the players who opened their academies as black belts and have no one above them with a belt higher than BB. Do they stay on BB for life without BB stripes?
Some instructors from the Gracie family from Helio accept a two-year system (instead of the three-year system above), although the legendary Helio himself valued the achievements and development of a given student on the mat more than a rigid time system.
If you have experience in this topic, let me know what it was like for you.
"I call them survival stripes .. I find them a little pointless.."
Lowly purple belt perspective.
Disclaimers:
1. Realizing that it's "bad practice" to focus on belts/rank, in the end it's a real thing that most people take at least a little pride in achieving each level. All the while, personal skill advancement is the real benefit
2. Realizing that statistically once an individual reaches purple the chances of continuing to advance are higher based on individual commitment vs outside goals/factors.
...I find that stripes on the black belt are the most important/impressive. Coming up thru the ranks in BJJ from white to black there are clear motivators/markers/goals/steps, whatever you'd like to label them as, that help keep focus on training. Once black belt is achieved my impression is that is becomes more of a self discipline drive that keeps individuals coming back to train. Granted at that point it's more just part of someone vs something they do but still it takes self discipline to continue to return to something that, although being highly rewarding, is not an easy thing.
So my hat tips to all the BJJ black belts with stripes right up thru the coral and red belts that have it "in their DNA" to continue training. I hope to be there some day myself.
It's a good way to gage a belt's true age when the time comes to replace it. My coach recently retired his venerable, well-worn black belt and now wears a fresh crispy one that has his name embroidered on it and three white stripes built in. Since he's my age (early/mid 30s), this prevents people from thinking he just got it or something.
"I call them survival stripes .. I find them a little pointless.."
Agreed, I dislike stripes on belts, I don't use them at my gym. I will have to bother with it on my own black belt, because the whole "need x number of degrees before you can promote someone else to black," but I'm not happy about it. ;)
I have seen this done in all ways. Phone conversations, face to face conversations, face to face exams, etc etc
Most traditional systems do not have new technique after what they consider third black anyway. Just time in rank or service to system awards.
How it is done I do not think matters. I do feel it is the initial black belt instructors responsibility though to keep up with “their” black belts. Falling outs (egos) and death make this difficult it seems. Ultimately it is suppose to be their responsibility though not the students to find someone to award their stripes.
Usually you see changing of gyms or opening of their own gym as the initial black belts ego excuse. This would be ridiculous and stagnate a system. A black belt should venture out on their own to learn new things, experiment and incorporate those things. This black belt is on what was once considered the warriors journey. Now ridiculed and called a traitor at times.
The newer black belt must remember to give credit and respect his initial teachers though. This is also forgotten.
