Do BJJ belts really mean that much?

[CROPopped]

In brazil I hear about so many of these fighters being BJJ blackbelts or Brown Belts and about how much scary knowledge they have on the ground. Silva for instance supposedly has a bjj blackbelt from the nog brothers yet when he gets on the ground it is like he has little to know sub knowledge. Anyone else think some of these bjj belts may not mean anything at all or are just given away as a resume addition? Also name some fighters who have this "knowledge" but never use it in the fights.

 

[TapSD]

A belt is a measurment of experience and knowledge....how its utilized is another story

 

[CROPopped]

so you can be a bjj blackbelt without ever subbing anyone? Knowing the info is the most important part of it? wow

 

[Shaner]

I can say from experience that yes, BJJ belts mean A LOT. I'm on my white belt and I don't even expect to even start thinking about getting my blue belt for the next 2-3 years. These people who have their black belts are insane on the ground and they've earned it.

 

[Jay Pan ROKK]

A belt is a measurment of experience and knowledge....how its utilized is another story

Not really, one must use it properly in order to get a BB, belts still is a big issue in BJJ ...

For this, many do not consider Wanderley a BB ...

 

[LockCracker]

brown belt, you're badass at BJJ
black belt, you're a real badass at BJJ

the high level of BJJ gets better everyday. the bluebelts of today are like the brown belts of a decade ago

 

[TapSD]

so you can be a bjj blackbelt without ever subbing anyone? Knowing the info is the most important part of it? wow

Yup..thats exactly what I said...

 

[TapSD]

Not really, one must use it properly in order to get a BB, belts still is a big issue in BJJ ...

For this, many do not consider Wanderley a BB ...

What do you consider using it properly? Subbing someone? Wand has been in there with some grappling masters and has never come close to being subbed so i would say that he was "using it"

 

[Jay Pan ROKK]

so you can be a bjj blackbelt without ever subbing anyone? Knowing the info is the most important part of it? wow

No, this wont happen ...

There are some exeptions like Wanderley and Anderson for example, they are not really BB ...

 

[Jay Pan ROKK]

What do you consider using it properly? Subbing someone? Wand has been in there with some grappling masters and has never come close to being subbed so i would say that he was "using it"

Wanderley knows how to defend properly but he is not BB level ...

Many people are crying about and exposing this kind of marketing...

 

[Gary Peters]

Black belt in Jiu-Jitsu is an insane accomplishment. It takes a looooong time to even move up from white belt except on rare occasions. However, alot of the upcoming fighters are "given" black belts as a promotion to their name and to the art of Jiu-Jitsu.

Vitor Belfort and the two Silva's are prime examples. In a straight up jiu-jitsu match I doubt they would last 5 minutes with a BJ Penn or Gracie.

 

[King CroCop]

yes belts do mean a lot and they take a long ass time to get them

 

[Conditioned]

Maybe we should first look at where one goes to get their belts before asking whether a black in BJJ is good. Honestly, a black BJJ is nice to have and may help win a few wins, but in MMA these days, just about anybody who's anybody knows how to get out of most of the subs that a BJJ artist will throw at you. There are only a select few subs that a BJJ artist can attempt without taking some shots or knees and so your typicall MMA guy will know the defense to these moves.

MOST SUBS THESE DAYS REQUIRE THAT A GUY TAKE A BIT OF A BEATING BEFORE HE'S LEFT OPEN FOR THE SUB (RNC, armbars, kimuras, etc.) So if a guy just knows BJJ and has a GNP style like say Hoyce Gracie (small punches to the ribs etc) then most guys will be conscious enough to defend.

 

[Extremesyko420]

BJJ belts do mean something its not like its a complete waste of time or something. But a champion bjj black belt is much more dangerous then your average bjj black belt. Its always a good thing to have so you can defend submissions and get in different positions, the key thing is to always be moving your hips and changing your position from the bottom to the mount.

 

[fgraziano]

it depends on the teacher you receive it from as well. The belt structure in BJJ is much more difficult then in say TKD. That being said, BJJ in MMA is totally different then BJJ in say a sport BJJ tourney or something. Concentrating on control and setting up a sub is a lot harder when you're eating an elbow or hammerfist.

 

[EvilScott]

I was talking with my instructor about this and he said in Brazil black belts mean a lot less - they're everywhere (I believe the conversation came up when we were discussing Zulu's alleged purple belt).

It also depends upon your instructor - certain instructors hand out belts like candy and other instructors make you earn it.

 

[AllDeezBallz]

Anderson Silva recently got his BB from NOg bros. and just hasn't had to use his BJJ since then. You fight with your strengths, which is mUay Thai for him, if things don't work out then he'll go to the ground. Similar situation with Chuck Liddell, people always say he has no ground game, it's just that he didn't have to use it.

 

[Ruskie Judo]

BJJ is one of the, if not the toughest martial art to achieve rank in. This may be due to the fact that is newer than most martial arts and in years down the road when black belts are everywhere opening gyms for after school daycare this may change.

 

[warrior_status]

A belt is a measurment of experience and knowledge....how its utilized is another story

Well Said

 

[Conditioned]

I know 2 guys with BJJ blacks and 1 BJJ brown and I can smoke all three by pissing on them. It depends alot on where you learned it and who was your instructor. Everybody's doing BJJ these days.