Guest post by Brandon Hetzler  who is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black bet under Rickson & Kron Gracie, 7th degree black belt in Jugoshin Ryu JuJutsu.

Early belt system of Gracie Jiujitsu.

Originally the Gracie Academy did not use belt colors to denote fighting ability. Different colored belts were only used to differentiate students from instructors. Black belts were avoided, because this was what Judo instructors wore. The Gracie’s regarded Judo as a restrictive sport, instead of a comprehensive fighting system. Back then, instructors in the Gracie Academy wore light blue belts and head instructors wore belts that were dark blue. Head instructors had to complete a special course, taught by the Grandmaster personally.

Grandmaster Helio was old school like the masters before him. The belts we use now in BJJ were only created because of the Federation. So basically, in the old days, if you never wanted to teach, you would wear a white belt forever. Do you think that their skill was any less because they didn’t wear a black belt? I have made several posts recently talking about how things were done in many martial arts before the kyu/dan system was adopted. In the old days, you were simply a student or a teacher. If you became a teacher, you would have been given a teaching license much like the Professor certificate Grandmaster Helio gave out.

Grandmaster Helio Gracie wearing his dark blue belt.

The old masters made many statements about the problems that would happen when belts, ranks and titles became popular. Their visions have come true for most arts and now BJJ is finding themselves facing the same problems. In fact, Grandmaster Helio reverted back to his dark blue belt later in life out of protest towards the direction that sport jiujitsu and jiujitsu in general was going.

Royce Gracie Explains Why He Wears a Blue Belt instead of a Coral Belt

As most know, this is why I adopted the old Menkyo System (the ancient system used before the adoption of the kyu/dan system). I am now considering even making a bigger change within Jugoshin Ryu Jujutsu to separate us even more from the masses. More details to come.

Ultimately all you can control is your personal dojo. Let’s not forget that the color of a students belt may not represent their actual abilities. In fact, the highest rank Rikishi (Sumo wrestler) is a Yokozuna. He wears a white heavy rope to denote his rank and status.

Jugoshin Ryu Jujutsu

(Rare Video) GM Helio Gracie on His Criteria for Degrees on Black Belt