Chris Haueter is one of the original “Dirty Dozen” non-Brazilian BJJ black belts. He has long been known for his revolutionary perspectives on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His thoughts on the belt system, particularly the black belt, offer a unique and thought-provoking take on what it truly represents.
Simplifying the BJJ Belt System?
In a recent episode of the Combat Base podcast, Haueter revealed his thoughts on possibly revolutionizing the BJJ belt system. He proposed simplifying the ranking structure to just three belts—white, brown, and black—with three stripes each. This idea was inspired by traditional Japanese martial arts, which only used these three levels. Haueter explained that the white belt would naturally darken to brown through consistent training, and that historically, the black belt was created by sewing black fabric over a brown belt.
He felt that this simplified system would better reflect the journey in BJJ, with the white belt representing the beginner stage, the brown belt signifying advanced fundamentals, and the black belt representing mastery and ongoing dedication to the art. Haueter was particularly skeptical about additional ranks like the coral and red belts, suggesting that they were a result of older black belts wanting to create new ranks.
“Older black belts wanted to add another belt,” Haueter remarked, highlighting his belief that such additional belts added unnecessary complexity to the system and detracted from the real purpose of ranking in BJJ.
According to him, the three-belt system would place more emphasis on the journey of mastery rather than collecting belt promotions. While this proposed system was never implemented, Haueter’s vision remains an insightful commentary on how BJJ’s ranking structure could potentially be restructured.
10-Years To Get Your Black Belt
In another segment of the Combat Base podcast, Haueter discussed the often-cited “10-year rule” for reaching a black belt in BJJ. This rule suggests that it takes approximately 10 years of consistent training to achieve the coveted black belt. However, Haueter emphasized that this timeline is more of a guideline than an absolute standard, as the time it takes to reach black belt can vary greatly from one individual to another. He noted that BJJ phenoms may achieve their black belt in as little as 5-7 years, while hobbyists might require 12-15 years. “Those pursuing multiple martial arts simultaneously often require even longer.”
“The only thing that can really stop you from achieving a black belt is quitting,” Haueter emphasized, further illustrating his belief that perseverance and consistency are key factors in earning the black belt.
He also broke down the different phases that come with each belt level, explaining that the white belt represents the humble beginning, the blue belt marks the eager learning phase, the purple belt is the “cocky belt,” where progress becomes more challenging, the brown belt signifies the confident, mature practitioner, and the black belt returns to humility as the practitioner continues to learn.
Rather than focusing solely on belt progression, Haueter advocates viewing belts as “wisdom markers” that reflect a practitioner’s accumulated experience.
“I think what has happened is over time we realize that I’m ranking you not only on where you stand in your peer group but where you are in your own personal growth potential,” Haueter explained, emphasizing a more holistic approach to ranking.
Black Belt is a Symbol of Wisdom, Not a Symbol of ‘This Guy is Super Dangerous’
One of the most poignant aspects of Haueter’s perspective on the black belt is his statement that “the black belt is a symbol of wisdom, not a symbol of ‘this guy is super dangerous.'”
This reframing of the black belt as a symbol of wisdom emphasizes the lifelong nature of the journey in BJJ. “If you want to be a real black belt, you’re signing up for life,” Haueter explained, reinforcing the idea that the pursuit of mastery and learning never truly ends.
