Blue Belt testing

[MrBERZERKER]

What are your experiences like? How difficult is it, and in what ways? What was the pass rate? How long did you train before testing (months/days per week)? Any other thoughts or comments are welcomed.

 

[KGB256]

Lots of gyms don't test at all, and testing methods (among those that test) vary widely from gym to gym.

Generally speaking, it is realistic to earn a blue belt after 6 months to 2 years of dedicated training. If you train infrequently or miss significant time with an injury, it can take longer. By dedicated training, I mean probably 3-5 days a week on the mats with additional strength & conditioning on your own time.

At my dojo we lean toward the longer side of that range. Our test is 50 minutes of continuous grappling with blues and above, with new partners switching in at 5 minute intervals. Because they have earned their belt through the same process and only have to go a few minutes at a time, the higher belts tend to go at a very high pace and hold nothing back. The idea is to see if they can make you quit (not to be confused with tapping) before the end of the test.

For blue and above, we spend approximately 20% of the time working takedowns...so for a blue belt test, that's 10 minutes of takedowns and takedown defense. This is generally considered the most grueling part of our tests.

Pass rate at my dojo is very high, because the instructors don't typically test someone until they are pretty sure they deserve the rank. The test is to remove all doubt. You need to be in shape, you need to be technical (because you won't last on fitness alone), and you need a certain degree of mental toughness when you have ten minutes left and two black belts still waiting for their turn to smash on you.

 

[Calibur]

I tested for my purple which is the same as our blue belt exam except instead of having to do 3 moves for every position, we did 4.

After that I sparred against two guys I spar with every day.

I cant imagine my coach learned anything about me he didnt know from those 30 minutes.

Kinda cheapened my belt promotion, but whatever.

 

[raines513]

there was 15 guys at my test, and i had to roll with each of them for 1min each. 15min total,each guy back to back starting at white belt and work your way up to black.

it was tough because 15 minutes doesnt sound like a long time but when every body is coming at you 100% because they know they only have to go for a minute.

only way to fail our test is to give up and say you can no longer continue, which has never happened because at my school to even get a blue belt you pretty much have to be a badass.

then after you pass and you are super tired, you have to crawl down the mat while getting beat by everyone belt, I got my blue belt in 14months training 5 days a week.

oh yea and before the test even starts he lets you roll for about an hour and you dont know your getting tested so you are already wore out before you even get tested.

 

[SonOfZion**]

very unlikely you will fail

 

[NZJAPANBJJ]

I got my blue in nz and purple in Japan. Both clubs did no testing, the instructor gives it to you when they think you are ready to grow into the new belt. I prefer it this way as I feel the instructor knows where you are at because they see you roll and compete so they know where you stand.

We are given his thoughts on what he takes into consideration for promotion eg applying jiu-jitsu movements, techniques, applying techniques he teaches as well as techniques from elsewhere, competing is not a must but will likely speed up your progress.

I have graded in TMA and it's nice to know what you need to learn/train to get graded. Either way stay relaxed don't over think things, just go with the flow.

 

[ganssle]

I got my blue in nz and purple in Japan. Both clubs did no testing, the instructor gives it to you when they think you are ready to grow into the new belt. I prefer it this way as I feel the instructor knows where you are at because they see you roll and compete so they know where you stand.

AMEN! Couldn't agree more on this.
Promotion based on your coach's evaluation of your skills over time shows that he/she is paying close attention to you, your retention of techniques, development of your own game, and your live rolling performances. A room full of guys paired up & trying to mimic specific techniques is impersonal and passing such a test is hardly an accurate reflection of your abilities.

 

[chunglii]

I don't remember what my blue belt test was, which is odd because I got my blue belt a little more than 6 months ago. Like others said, testing varies from instructor to instructor. Mine prefers to keep the tests a mystery. Sometimes he'll have everybody line up on the wall, and call 2 forward to roll, and gauge how they do, as well pull them aside privately and ask them to demonstrate a variety of techniques.

I can tell you that it took me 2.5 years to earn my blue belt, training 2-3 times a week, which is pretty casual, non-competition oriented frequency.

 

[AwesomeSquad]

Our tests have just been about making it miserable for the people participating, white and blue belts tested together.. It wasnt so much about showing that we knew the jiujitsu (that would have been verified by the instructor who asked you to "test"), as it was a demonstration of mental fortitude.

After the most recent three hour "test", sweat was dripping off the ceiling and a guy had to get an IV drip.

 

[Jagcorps_esq]

Our blue belt test is not really a test. By that, I mean that our instructor already knows if you have the skills necessary to be a blue belt. You wouldn't be invited otherwise.

Your individual skills for positions, techniques and sparring will have already been tested through 2 of the 4 possible stripes at white belt.

So, the blue belt test for us is really an initiation into the Vaghi belt system.

It starts with approximately 2 hours of BJJ specific drills. It's like a really long, arduous warm up. Every possible BJJ movement you can imagine is used.

Once you are completely exhausted, the upper belts arrive. Only those that have take the test themselves are allowed to come to this part (other than the testing folk). For the next hour, we roll. There are typically 4 to 6 fresh guys per tester and the rolling is constant for the entire hour.

At first, it is utterly demoralizing. You are so used to relying on strength, speed, etc. Then, after about 20 minutes, you find your second wind and you start to focus very specifically on technique, because that is all you have left. You don't exactly win, but you have little victories, brought on entirely by properly using technique.

I was taken to a place that I rarely find myself, completely spent. I got to spend 40 minutes there, being challenged to defend myself, and I learned so much during that time. When I'm in a competition and I'm tired, I can think back to that day and realize that I'm not really that tired...and I can stop whining and act.

 

[Baconator69**]

Our blue belt test is not really a test. By that, I mean that our instructor already knows if you have the skills necessary to be a blue belt. You wouldn't be invited otherwise.

Your individual skills for positions, techniques and sparring will have already been tested through 2 of the 4 possible stripes at white belt.

So, the blue belt test for us is really an initiation into the Vaghi belt system.

It starts with approximately 2 hours of BJJ specific drills. It's like a really long, arduous warm up. Every possible BJJ movement you can imagine is used. Once you are completely exhausted, the upper belts arrive. Only those that have take the test themselves are allowed to come to this part (other than the testing folk). For the next hour, we roll. There are typically 4 to 6 fresh guys per tester and the rolling is constant for the entire hour.

At first, it is utterly demoralizing. You are so used to relying on strength, speed, etc. Then, after about 20 minutes, you find your second wind and you start to focus very specifically on technique, because that is all you have left. You don't exactly win, but you have little victories, brought on entirely by properly using technique.

I was taken to a place that I rarely find myself, completely spent. I got to spend 40 minutes there, being challenged to defend myself, and I learned so much during that time. When I'm in a competition and I'm tired, I can think back to that day and realize that I'm not really that tired...and I can stop whining and act.

I love this guy lol.

 

[Knock Out Ned]

I got a blue belt test a couple of weeks after I won a competition. Everyone who gets one passes, as I think my instructor has it made up in his mind whether you are going to get one or not. I guess the most important thing I came away with was him telling me,

 

[Horus417]

Tested in front of Master Sylvio Behring, had to not only show knowledge of his progressive guard but also proficiency and fluidity in executing sweeps, throws, arm bars, etc..

There were white belts testing for stripes and he had me pull one aside that failed.

 

[KGB256]

AMEN! Couldn't agree more on this.
Promotion based on your coach's evaluation of your skills over time shows that he/she is paying close attention to you, your retention of techniques, development of your own game, and your live rolling performances. A room full of guys paired up & trying to mimic specific techniques is impersonal and passing such a test is hardly an accurate reflection of your abilities.

I hope you realize that a testing process doesn't preclude your instructor from paying close attention to all the things you've mentioned. Our instructors do all those things to determine if you're even ready to test. And at least 2 of us have already described tests that had nothing to do with "trying to mimic specific techniques".

Bottom line is that what your instructor does is fine for your gym, some choose to do more and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[ABC]

The belt systems are vastly different from gym to gym. I was looking at the requirement for the Jiu-Jitsu belts through the American Judo association and a typical black belt is 2 years of training. If you go through other organizations, it takes over 2 years just to get a blue belt and 15-20 years for a black belt. You can't compare one system/school with another because a blue belt from one school means more than a black belt from another.

 

[KGB256]

Our blue belt test is not really a test. By that, I mean that our instructor already knows if you have the skills necessary to be a blue belt. You wouldn't be invited otherwise.

Your individual skills for positions, techniques and sparring will have already been tested through 2 of the 4 possible stripes at white belt.

So, the blue belt test for us is really an initiation into the Vaghi belt system.

It starts with approximately 2 hours of BJJ specific drills. It's like a really long, arduous warm up. Every possible BJJ movement you can imagine is used.

Once you are completely exhausted, the upper belts arrive. Only those that have take the test themselves are allowed to come to this part (other than the testing folk). For the next hour, we roll. There are typically 4 to 6 fresh guys per tester and the rolling is constant for the entire hour.

At first, it is utterly demoralizing. You are so used to relying on strength, speed, etc. Then, after about 20 minutes, you find your second wind and you start to focus very specifically on technique, because that is all you have left. You don't exactly win, but you have little victories, brought on entirely by properly using technique.

I was taken to a place that I rarely find myself, completely spent. I got to spend 40 minutes there, being challenged to defend myself, and I learned so much during that time. When I'm in a competition and I'm tired, I can think back to that day and realize that I'm not really that tired...and I can stop whining and act.

Beautiful! This is similar to what we do.

It really does make you realize that when you think you're exhausted, you can dig deeper. More importantly, when you try to dig even deeper and there's nothing left, that's when you discover just how tough you really can be. Johnny is very big on the idea that we should have an indomitable spirit. He's also been known to say "if you can't fight when you're tired, you can't fight".

I respected you already, Jag, but reading this kicked it up another notch.

 

[dalexan242]

The belt systems are vastly different from gym to gym. I was looking at the requirement for the Jiu-Jitsu belts through the American Judo association and a typical black belt is 2 years of training. If you go through other organizations, it takes over 2 years just to get a blue belt and 15-20 years for a black belt. You can't compare one system/school with another because a blue belt from one school means more than a black belt from another.

The American Judo association gives belts in Jiu Jitsu?

 

[Jagcorps_esq]

Beautiful! This is similar to what we do.

It really does make you realize that when you think you're exhausted, you can dig deeper. More importantly, when you try to dig even deeper and there's nothing left, that's when you discover just how tough you really can be. Johnny is very big on the idea that we should have an indomitable spirit. He's also been known to say "if you can't fight when you're tired, you can't fight".

I respected you already, Jag, but reading this kicked it up another notch.

Thanks, I appreciate that. More importantly though, I appreciate knowing that other schools take that approach.

Vaghi requires this test for any person coming under his banner, even if you are already a blue, purple or even brown belt. If you are going to grade under him, you must do this test.

Any time I meet someone from Vaghi, I know they've been where I've been. It creates a kinship.

 

[ganssle]

I hope you realize that a testing process doesn't preclude your instructor from paying close attention to all the things you've mentioned. Our instructors do all those things to determine if you're even ready to test. And at least 2 of us have already described tests that had nothing to do with "trying to mimic specific techniques".

Bottom line is that what your instructor does is fine for your gym, some choose to do more and there's nothing wrong with that.

Maybe it's just my negative experience regarding tests that turned me off to them. My current instructor doesn't determine if you're ready to test... he just holds monthly tests that anyone can take.

One Thursday of every month, if you show up to the test he'll say, "Ok, show me two sweeps from such-and-such guard" and "Show me the pass from DLR guard we worked on" and everybody pairs up and keeps doing the technique until he says stop. He walks around with a pad and writes down your name and a letter grade from A - C on each technique. If you pass, you move up a notch (the test scores are posted on the wall the next week). Every four notches and you get a stripe, so on and so on. Totally lame, no?

 

[lechien]

Not lame