Promotion is a huge deal in jiu jitsu given the amount of time and effort it takes to master the gentle art. This is why it never fails to surprise when someone gets promoted under strange circumstances or goes through ranks in a staggering time period.

The student in question this time is a man named Rohy Batliwala who has his own gym in Switzerland.

But what’s perhaps more surprising is that this promotion comes under the Nova Uniao school –  Manu Alves of Nova Uniao.

Note the dates in the pictures:

September 21st there was a purple belt:

And then came the black belt in staggering 8 months – June 11th:

Bjj black belt from Zurich Switzerland  Filipe Thiago Broa in the Carlson Gracie Jr Lineage writes:

UPDATE:

Since posting the article we’ve received a message from the man in question. Here’s how he described his situation.

Hello my name is Rohy Batliwala, you have an article about me published without really researching the whole story. I would be grateful to you and it would only be fair if you publish my Biografi. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact me. regards To whom it concerns here is my biography. Please read it and then judge. I am born on 4.10.1960 (57 years old) I have been training since I am 9 years old. Judo, Karate, Boxing, Muay Thai and Luta Livre and BJJ. My first BJJ training was in 1998 from 1999 -2001 I trained under Marcio Cromado’s RFT team and his student Marcelo Brigadiero BJJ and Luta Livre. 2001 I was in Vitel France white belt Europachampion (master class). In 2002, I had some surgery on my back and shoulder and could only train limitedly 3-4 years. In 2008, I was feeling better and I was able to train again. From this time on I have been trained hard under different masters. In February 2016 I have met Manu Alves since June 2016 3 -4 daily 2 times trained additionally my trainig in the school. So I’m training 19 years BJJ and now I’ve become something unworthy black belt.