Despite being one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, Jon Jones remains humble about his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey.
The two-division UFC titleholder recently spoke about his current purple belt status and his long-term goal of one day earning a black belt.
Jones has spent the last six or seven years training under respected coach Roberto “Tussa” Alencar at Gracie Barra.
And even with his extraordinary success in MMA, he’s committed to respecting the traditional path of progression in BJJ:
I don’t like to train in the gi because I compete bare-chested with no gi.
My professor tells me that in order for me to ever become a black belt, I need to spend an adequate amount of time in the gi.
That traditional mindset is central to Alencar’s coaching philosophy.
He follows the established standards of the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJ), even for high-profile students like Jones.
While some might expect Jones to bypass the typical belt journey, he keeps a good sense of humor about it:
Sometimes I like to make fun when the guys tease me about being a purple belt.
I also remind them that I have the ultimate gold belt in combat sports.
Still, Jones clearly views the black belt as a meaningful accomplishment beyond his UFC legacy:
Being a black belt definitely symbolizes a lot of patience and just years spent committed.
It’s something for me to aspire towards getting after I retire from the octagon.
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