Requirements for a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that can be traced from Southeast Asia, China and Japan. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, many Japanese Jiu Jitsu masters traveled to other parts of the world to teach the art. Jui Jitsue was taught to Carlos Gracie in 1915. Gracie opened a school and taught the Jiu Jitsu art with heavy emphasis on ground fighting and submission techniques, as opposed to the Japenese focus on take downs and throws. As with other martial arts, Jiu Jitsu uses a belt system for classifying student progress through ranks.

  1. Knowledge Requirements

    • The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the the history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, key Jiu Jitsu Masters and explain to the examination panel the purpose for an interest in Jiu Jitsu and her continued martial arts training.

    Positional Escapes

    • The candidate is asked to satisfactorily explain and demonstrate certain positional escapes. The escapes tested include mount, side mount, closed guard, head lock, wrestler's cradle and kesa gatame.

    Positional Dominance

    • The candidate needs to demonstrate the various positions associated with dominance in the mount, side mount and closed guard positions.

    Submissions

    • The candidate should be able to exhibit the mechanics of and entries into the following submissions: arm locks from the guard, arm locks from the mount, chokes from the guard, chokes from the mount, leg locks from the guard and leg locks from the bottom of the mount.

    Self Defense

    • From a standing position, a candidate needs to demonstrate defense from bear hugs, headlocks, grabs and chokes.

    Physical Conditioning

    • The candidate must perform specified amounts, usually three sets of 20 each, of pushups, situps, jump squats and burpees.

    Grappling

    • Perform four five minute rounds of grappling. Two rounds are performed with other students, two rounds are performed with the examiner.

    Overall Awareness

    • Demonstrate familiarity with sweeps, how to fall, throws, standing take downs, take downs from the knees and familiarity with the open guard. Open guard familiarity is performed with and without the martial arts uniform known as a "gi."

    Other Requirements

    • Present a letter of recommendation to the examiner regarding your strength of character in the areas of loyalty, integrity and honesty. Show sufficient evidence of continued training over the past year.