For many martial artists, earning a black belt is one of the primary goals of training. The black belt is seen as a symbol of dedication, fighting skill and self-discipline. However, there are no unified standards for the awarding of this rank, so comparing black belts from two different schools is difficult even if they practice the same style. Black-belt requirements in judo and jiu-jitsu schools can be very different.
Traditional Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts
Traditionally, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu was very hard to earn. At a traditional Brazilian jiu-jitsu school, it can take up to two years of regular training to progress from a beginner's white belt to a blue belt. Up to three additional years can be needed to earn a purple belt. Four more years may be needed to earn a brown belt, and then another four to finally earn the black belt. Up to 13 years of continuous training is usually needed to go from white belt to black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but promotion is based on skill and not time spent. By comparison, a judo black belt can sometimes be earned in as little as three years. High standards were probably a major reason for the impressive fighting reputation of Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, but standards have been becoming less strict at many clubs.
Judo Black Belt
Although different judo clubs have different standards for awarding a black belt, there is a general expectation at all judo clubs that a black-belt holder will understand the "nage no kata," which is a basic set of throwing techniques, the "gokyo no waza," which is another set of throwing techniques, and the "newaza," which are techniques for use on the ground. The biggest difference among these judo black-belt requirements and the requirements of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school is the use of kata, or traditional choreographed sets. Judo emphasizes "randori" or sparring rather than kata, but kata still has a place in the system and this is reflected in the black-belt requirements. It is not used at all in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, so you can earn a jiu-jitsu black belt without memorizing any kata.
Gracie Academy Black Belts
The Gracie family of Brazil created Brazilian jiu-jitsu and its traditionally demanding rank system. However, the Gracie Academy Instructor Program has changed its emphasis, and rank can now be awarded through a distance learning program with rank testing by video. Schools can be certified to teach a basic form of Gracie jiu-jitsu at what would be the equivalent of a white-belt level, and certification to teach more complex aspects of the curriculum is granted in place of the traditional belts. Distance learning is a controversial issue in the martial arts, but that does not mean it cannot be an effective teaching method. However, if your goal is to earn a traditional black belt in either judo or jiu-jitsu, this program may not be the most appropriate choice compared with a traditional school.
Choosing a School
Some Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools emphasize time above every other factor in awarding rank. For example, to move from white belt to blue belt, a student may be expected to attend class three times every week for a year. While the total amount of time required to earn a black belt may still be substantial, the emphasis on time rather than demonstrated skill is not traditional. If your martial arts goals are based on earning a black belt as a symbol of your dedication to training, a school that focuses on skill rather than training time is probably the best option, whether the school teaches judo or jiu-jitsu.
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