If you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you have probably noticed how big of a deal belts are. You often hear BJJ practitioners saying how bad they want to achieve their next belt.

A recent question mailed in to BJJ black belt and ex Navy Seal Commander Jocko Willink  asks: Why have belts if they’re not something to strive for?

Here’s how Jocko explained it:

“He sent me this random thing… You know hey, I don’t know if I want to do this stuff about belts..

At some point jiu-jitsu become a lot more than just belts. Eventually the Jiu-jitsu itself completely bypasses what the belts are and what the belts mean. Now, you say to me well that’s because you’re a black belt. Of course they don’t matter to you, you’re already a black belt… The fact is that didn’t happen to me at black belt, that happened to me at like purple belt. I think about mid way of my purple belt time I had no care whatsoever of what belt color I was. Literally zero. And I just wanted to get better, I just wanted to know more, to keep training and I never even thought about it after that. “

“Belts Don’t Matter”: Jiu-Jitsu’s Biggest Hypocrisy

How about when it’s NO GI Jiu-Jitsu, like 10th planet Jiu-Jitsu?

In this video, 10th planet black belt Brandon Mccaghren and Chewy chat about if 10p practitioners care about Gi as much as regular BJJ practitioners:

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