Chris Haueter, one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s legendary “Dirty Dozen” and among the first non-Brazilian black belts in the art, has opened up about a practice that many in the community whisper about but few acknowledge publicly: the “candy belt.”
“We just call them candy belts — a belt that you didn’t really earn,”
Haueter explained in a recent interview, pulling back the curtain on a phenomenon that has existed in various forms throughout BJJ’s expansion in America.
“And there’s a lot of candy belts.”
What makes Haueter‘s admission particularly significant is his willingness to acknowledge his own participation in the practice however limited. The veteran instructor revealed that he once awarded an unearned blue belt to someone who operated a Taekwondo school and desperately wanted the promotion.
“I only gave out a candy blue belt once, just to be nice to a person who wanted it really bad,”
Haueter said, describing the decision with evident discomfort.
“It felt lame, but I was like, it’s only a blue belt — whatever.”
This confession from someone of Haueter‘s stature, a pioneering figure who helped establish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America, highlights the complex pressures instructors have faced during the art’s growth in the United States. The incident he described appears to have been motivated by sympathy rather than financial gain, suggesting that candy belts emerged from various circumstances and motivations.
Haueter‘s comments also shed light on historical practices from BJJ’s early American days.
“In the olden days, all the guys who are my mentors — I saw people they gave blue belts to,”
he noted, indicating that even respected instructors occasionally made questionable promotional decisions. This observation led him to develop a particular philosophy about belt progression:
“Which is why I always say, the purple belt’s the first belt you really earn. You have to earn it.”
The financial aspect of questionable promotions also came up during the discussion, with references to substantial sums changing hands for belt progressions and private instruction.
The concept of the candy belt remains relevant today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to grow globally. While verification systems have improved and the community has become more vigilant about fraudulent credentials, the underlying pressures that can lead to unearned promotions — whether financial incentives, personal relationships or business considerations — still exist.
