In a recent discussion on The Grapplers Perspective Podcast, Christian Graugart revealed an aspect of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s promotion system that challenges traditional notions of belt advancement in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. According to Graugart, the IBJJF operates what amounts to an automatic promotion system for black belt degrees based purely on time served.
“If you just keep paying IBJJF, they will also give you these stripes. Send you a certificate in the mail. Basically, they sell promotions online.”
This highlights a stark contrast between the two belt systems that exist in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The first system, covering white belt through black belt, is traditionally based on skill demonstration and performance. However, once a practitioner reaches black belt, an entirely different system takes over — one based exclusively on time rather than continued skill development.
“Jiu-jitsu has two separate belt systems,”
Graugart noted.
“There is the colored belt system which is based on performance or whatever. And then once you get to the black belt that kind of stops. Then there’s a new belt system that takes over based purely on time, based purely on staying alive, you know.”
The IBJJF’s automatic promotion system allows practitioners to receive their black belt degrees without maintaining a relationship with a higher-ranking instructor. As long as practitioners continue paying their fees to the organization, they can apply for and receive their next degree based solely on the time elapsed since their previous promotion. This typically occurs every three years for the lower black belt degrees.
This practice has significant implications for the traditional instructor-student relationship that has long been a cornerstone of martial arts culture. Graugart pointed out that this system can trap people in situations they may not want to continue.
“This can somehow force people to stay in business relationships they don’t want to be in.”
The automatic promotion system also raises questions about the value and meaning of black belt degrees in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Unlike other martial arts that require specific demonstrations of skill or knowledge (such as kata in traditional martial arts), the IBJJF’s time-based system requires only that practitioners
“not d*e”
and continue paying fees.
The IBJJF’s automatic promotion model reflects broader changes in how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is evolving from its traditional Brazilian roots into a more globalized sport.
