Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Craig Jones has made some controversial statements about the belt system in BJJ, calling it a “marketing gimmick” designed to keep practitioners hooked on the sport.
In a recent podcast appearance, Jones said: “The black belt is honestly just a trick. It’s like a marketing trick to keep people hooked. You know, it’s the reason why people do Jiu-Jitsu longer than they do kickboxing or boxing classes. It’s a hook to keep you invested.”
Jones explained that the belt system, with its progression from white to blue, purple, brown and finally black belt, acts as a motivational tool to retain students. “It’s like a multi-level marketing scheme,” he added.
The Australian grappler, known for his leg lock expertise, argued that a black belt doesn’t necessarily signify true mastery. “You could be a s*itty black belt,” Jones noted. “A black belt doesn’t prevent or mean anything at the end of the day. You’re only as good as how you could train and perform.”
While acknowledging that achieving a black belt requires significant time and dedication – typically around 10 years for most practitioners – Jones believes its importance is often overstated. He suggested the prestige associated with black belts is largely a marketing tactic used by BJJ schools.
John Danaher: I know plenty of BJJ Black Belts that suck
In a wide-ranging conversation with Lex Fridman, renowned jiu-jitsu coach John Danaher offered some surprising insights about Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts. While discussing advice for white belts starting their jiu-jitsu journey, Danaher made the provocative statement: “I know plenty of black belts that suck.”
Danaher emphasized that students shouldn’t set their sights merely on attaining a black belt, saying “Don’t lower your standards by saying I want to get a black belt.” Instead, he argues that practitioners should focus on developing real skills rather than chasing belt promotions.
“The only thing that counts is the skills you have,” Danaher explained. He encouraged students to ask themselves “How good do I want to be?” rather than when they’ll get their next belt.
This perspective challenges the common view of the black belt as the ultimate goal in jiu-jitsu. Danaher suggests that simply showing up, paying fees, and putting in time doesn’t guarantee high-level skills, even at the black belt level.
His comments highlight the distinction between formal rank and actual fighting ability. Even at the sport’s highest levels of certification, Danaher claims there is significant variation in skill.
Jozef Chen explains why a BJJ Black belt means nothing to him
Jozef Chen recently explained why a BJJ black belt holds no special significance for him. In a candid interview on the Grapple Asia podcast, Chen shared his unique perspective on belt rankings and his approach to the sport.
As a brown belt who has already achieved remarkable success against black belt competitors, Chen stated simply that a black belt “means nothing” to him. He elaborated that belt color is less important than actual skill level and performance on the mat.
“Maybe if I did IBJJF maybe I’d care more. “
