Author: Bret Gordon
When you look around the martial arts world, you can't miss the hundreds of organizations passing themselves off as the only legitimate source for credentials. Everywhere you turn, there's an organization offering "international recognition" among other catch phrases designed to get you to dig into your wallet. But that's an article for another day. Today, I'd like to address Brasileiro Jiu Jitsu's refusal to conform to our organized chaos.
If you ask most practitioners where they got their rank from, they'll often reply with an organization that certified them. When you ask a BJJ student, they'll give you the name of their instructor. As much as I don't want to, I kind of like it. It's a mentality reminiscent of old school martial arts, where the only backing you needed was your instructor's signature. But what happens if no one's ever heard of your instructor? There have been certain instances where people have questioned my standing in the martial arts and once I mention who I earned my rank, title and licenses from (Kaiso Steven Hatfield), the questions generally stop. So I've been fortunate enough to have that recognition, but that's not the case for everyone.
If you ask most practitioners where they got their rank from, they'll often reply with an organization that certified them. When you ask a BJJ student, they'll give you the name of their instructor. As much as I don't want to, I kind of like it. It's a mentality reminiscent of old school martial arts, where the only backing you needed was your instructor's signature. But what happens if no one's ever heard of your instructor? There have been certain instances where people have questioned my standing in the martial arts and once I mention who I earned my rank, title and licenses from (Kaiso Steven Hatfield), the questions generally stop. So I've been fortunate enough to have that recognition, but that's not the case for everyone.
That's where organizations come in. Every art, including the various branches, generally has a style-specific governing body. Not to mention the multi-style organizations, like the US Association of Martial Arts, that help organize the chaos of the arts. The purpose of these organizations is to set a standard that their members have to meet, so that even though there can be a wide degree of variation between practitioners, recognition from that organization carries with it an understanding of common ground. For example, someone who holds Kukkiwon Taekwondo Dan ranking should know the required poomse for their rank, have gone through various breaking and sparring requirements and follows a curriculum similar to that of other Kukkiwon schools. Of course, every school is different and instructors will emphasize different aspects of the art, but at their core they all follow similar standards.
Now, there are various BJJ organizations such as the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation which people recognize as legitimate governing bodies. But it seems the majority of BJJ schools are independent, using only their lineage as their source of legitimacy. When an art is relatively small, and everyone knows who the main instructors are, that's perfectly fine. Even now, someone can say they earned their rank directly from someone like Carlos Gracie Jr. and no one would bat an eye. But what if your instructor is Joe Smith from Po Dunk, Mississippi? Of course the natural answer is "well, let's roll and see where you stand." That works, for sure. But there has to be a better way. Believe me, the flood of organizations running around is not what I have in mind but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if the top BJJ instructors from the various branches came together to find some common ground and set a standard by which they can award rank collectively.
Now, there are various BJJ organizations such as the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation which people recognize as legitimate governing bodies. But it seems the majority of BJJ schools are independent, using only their lineage as their source of legitimacy. When an art is relatively small, and everyone knows who the main instructors are, that's perfectly fine. Even now, someone can say they earned their rank directly from someone like Carlos Gracie Jr. and no one would bat an eye. But what if your instructor is Joe Smith from Po Dunk, Mississippi? Of course the natural answer is "well, let's roll and see where you stand." That works, for sure. But there has to be a better way. Believe me, the flood of organizations running around is not what I have in mind but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if the top BJJ instructors from the various branches came together to find some common ground and set a standard by which they can award rank collectively.
Like I said, organizations are not perfect. You definitely need to do your research before joining any organization, because the majority of them will try to bleed your wallet dry and control every facet of your martial arts career. Be sure to find an organization (whether its ours or not is irrelevant, I can recommend some great organizations besides the USAMA) that meets your standards, supports your values and ultimately benefits you to join. Whether your seeking continued education, solid credentials or something else entirely, the organization you join should be able to meet your needs. One of the greatest benefits of an organization, aside from all of that, is the brotherhood that comes along with it. Some of the greatest people I've ever met have been through the various organizations I've belonged to, people I would've never met otherwise. For more information on what to look for in an organization, be sure to read "Prestigious How?"
