The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community is reeling after security footage emerged showing a black belt physically attacking a purple belt during what appeared to be a routine training session.
The grainy security camera footage, which has circulated widely online with credit to McDojoLife for the original post, shows a purple belt applying what appears to be an arm triangle on a black belt. After the black belt taps to signal submission, he suddenly stands up and begins throwing strikes at the purple belt who quickly pulls guard and locks up a triangle to defend himself. Multiple people can be seen rushing in to separate the two grapplers and restrain the black belt.
The reaction from the BJJ community has been swift and unforgiving.
“Bro imagine getting subbed, sucker punching the dude, then getting subbed again. Who gave this dude his black belt? What a trash human.”
Bernardo Faria weighed in on the incident in a video response, expressing his disappointment with the black belt’s actions.
“I think this goes totally against the purpose of Jiu Jitsu. I feel like Jiu Jitsu is this tool that teaches us how to overcome obstacles. For example if a purple belt taps me I’m a black well it means that I have to fix something in my game you know. It means that I should try to do better in this situation versus I’m going to get mad with the guy and I’m going to try to beat him up you know like it doesn’t make any sense.”
He also noted the broader implications for the sport’s image.
“It kind of feels like it goes totally against what we are all trying to build here which is a good image for Jiu Jitsu. We see more and more people starting Jiu Jitsu nowadays from kids to celebrities. And they join Jiu Jitsu because they believe it’s a great tool for their lives. And then when you see like a black belt beating a purple belt because he got tepid just doesn’t make any sense and it’s so sad and I really hope it never happens again.”
Community members have been particularly critical given the black belt’s rank and presumed experience.
“It’s it’s even more sad because the guy’s a black belt you know like where is all his journey you know like. He’s doing bjj for probably like more than 10 years and then all of a sudden he does what he did. Like it’s so bad.”
Many practitioners noted the irony of a high ranking grappler immediately abandoning his training to throw ineffective strikes. One commenter observed that despite years of BJJ training,
“the moment he gets mad he resorts to sh** ineffective punches.”
The purple belt’s composure under pressure earned widespread praise.
“Purple belt still locked up the triangle regardless of the strikes! Good instincts!”
wrote one black belt. Others noted his textbook defensive response with one purple belt commenting,
“He timed his movement to bring the guy in to neutralize the punches perfectly. Textbook self defense jiu jitsu right there.”
Several community members questioned how someone with such temperament issues could advance to black belt without previous incidents.
“Scary that such an idiot has been weaponized to the point of black belt. Surely would’ve been signs before blue belt.”
The consensus across multiple discussion threads was clear.
“That deserves getting kicked out of the school. Awful example of a martial artist and a bad image casted on the school.”
Others pointed out that regardless of any liability waiver, the action constituted assault and could warrant legal action.
Many experienced practitioners emphasized that purple belts represent formidable opponents who command respect.
“Purple belts are good man. Theres zero shame in getting subbed by one.”
The overwhelming response from the global BJJ community suggests this black belt’s actions will not be forgotten and many hope he will be penalized.
