\n<\/p>\n
Abraham La Montagne, a John Danaher brown belt, says Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has advanced faster than its belt standards.<\/strong><\/p>\n On the Jits and Giggles podcast, he argued that most people wearing black belts should probably hold blue or purple instead.<\/p>\n He started by comparing ranks to academic credentials:<\/p>\n Nobody gets upset that they don\u2019t have a PhD. I think you\u2019re literally called a professor when you get a black belt, which is same as having a PhD or teaching at college.<\/p>\n The bar, he said, should rise with the sport:<\/p>\n Maybe back in the day, Helio Gracie time, you got a good half guard, maybe you\u2019re a black belt. But today, jiu-jitsu is moving pretty fast. Leg locks, wrestling, passing\u2026 If a blue belt could just heel hook you at will, you\u2019re probably not a black belt.<\/p>\n For La Montagne, the rank measures the ability to teach more than competition results:<\/p>\n The belts are indicative of teaching capability, not competition capability. We don\u2019t call you the dominator when you get a black belt. They call you the professor\u2026 You should be completely content with being a purple belt and a purple belt should be considered a very nice rank.<\/p>\n His view is shaped by Danaher\u2019s approach to promotions:<\/p>\n My coach told me I was like the 12th brown belt he\u2019s ever given\u2026 It should be like a real rare thing to get an upper belt\u2026 \n \ud83d\udca5 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win?<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcad Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not your age. It\u2019s your strategy.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a passionate grappler over 35 who\u2019s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio\u2019d by opponents half your age \u2014 this 120 page e-book<\/strong> was made for you.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd13 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:<\/p>\n \n Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting?
If you can\u2019t wrestle, if you can\u2019t do leg locks, why are you considering yourself a black belt?<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t conceptualize or break down the ideas, I don\u2019t think you should be a black belt and that should be okay.<\/p>\n
When I got my brown belt from John, I\u2019m like, I must actually deserve this because he doesn\u2019t give it out to anybody.<\/p>\nSloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents <\/h2>\n
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