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Tom DeBlass On Why He Doesn’t Believe in Testing For BJJ Belt Promotions

Tom DeBlass On Why He Doesn’t Believe in Testing For BJJ Belt Promotions

Photo: Garden State Photography- Mark Ward

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has had an informal approach to belt promotions, in which one or more instructors subjectively agree that a given student is ready for the next rank. In recent years some academies have moved toward a more systematic, formal testing approach, especially true for lower ranked students, where the decision to promote is arguably the least contentious. One of the first instructors to publicly publish formal testing criteria was Roy Harris, who has formalized his promotion tests from white belt to black belt. Formal testing is now becoming commonplace in many Gracie Academies and organizations such as Alliance.

Some Gracie systems have introduced formal online testing where the student can upload her or his qualification videos to qualify for promotion. Formal tests are generally based around the same elements as a normal promotion, such as the student’s technical and conceptual knowledge and the ability to apply those techniques against a resisting opponent. Some tests take other aspects, such as a student’s personal character or a basic knowledge of the history of the art, into account. Formal testing may require the payment of testing fees and a require a minimum of pre-testing private lessons with the instructor.

BJJ black belt instructor Tom DeBlass recently wrote his thoughts on belt testing on his Facebook profile. For DeBlass he doesn’t need to formally test his students, he believes in a different system.

Tom DeBlass is a former Bellator and UFC fighter with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jisu under Ricardo Almeida.

 

 

DeBlass runs his own Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His Academy hosts 300 students. He has produced his own World Champion students, such as Garry Tonon, Tom’s first student to compete in ADCC, October 20, taking place in China.

DeBlass is the 2015 No Gi Open Weight World champion at Master 1 black belt.

 

I’ve received numerous messages asking me how I feel about belt testing.

My answer is always the same. It’s not something I do.

I’m very involved in my Academy and I don’t feel it’s fair for my students to judge all of their hard work and dedication on one “test”. I judge them by their dedication day in and day out.

Furthermore I do not like the stress that the term “test” can possibly bring adults. We are talking adults with their own issues and problems they deal with daily, I do not want Jiu-Jitsu to be another added stress in their life.

Also if I have affiliate Academies I will trust the owner of the Academy enough to know when their students are ready for their next belt.

Finally I generally use the IBJJF guidelines for promotions, time and attendance, with a few exceptions when someone is especially talented.