The gauntlet, a long-debated ritual in the BJJ community, involves newly promoted students walking between two lines of practitioners who strike them with their belts.
The practice is believed to have originated in California during the 1990s at the Machado Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
However, not everyone agrees with the tradition of the gauntlet – for example, celebrated competitor and coach Tom DeBlass.
Here is what DeBlass had to say on the topic of the gauntlet, in a recent social media post:
Besides thinking that all drilling is useless, I think the gauntlet after a belt promotion is the most idiotic sh*t ever.
For those of you who aren’t familiar, good. However, I’ll explain.
It’s when someone gets promoted, they take their gi top off and everyone in the school whips the persons back as they walk down.
DeBlass thinks that there is no sense in this sort of a tradition, as he humorously concludes:
I’d rather just fist fight everyone.
“Here’s your belt, now let me hit you from behind with my belt.”
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