Jake Shields Says Someone Tried To Take His BJJ Black Belt Over Political Views: “It’s Ridiculous”
Sep 17, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
UFC veteran Jake Shields revealed that an individual attempted to pressure his longtime coach, Cesar Gracie, into revoking his BJJ black belt – over his political commentary on Middle Eastern...
Sambo Champion Reveals He Was Promoted From Judo White To Black Belt Immediately
Jun 29, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
For Vlad Koulikov, an accomplished sambo competitor, earning a judo black belt didn’t follow the traditional path. Instead of climbing through the belt ranks or competing in judo tournaments,...
Ryan Hall Explains Why Persistence Matters More Than Talent In Jiu-Jitsu
Jun 27, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
UFC veteran and BJJ legend Ryan Hall believes the biggest factor in earning a black belt has nothing to do with natural talent or athletic ability. Speaking on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Hall argued...
Mikey Musumeci Says Too Many BJJ Black Belts Earn The Rank: “Anyone Could Get A Black Belt”
Jun 18, 2026BJJEE1 Admin
Mikey Musumeci shared a controversial opinion about what he sees as a growing problem with BJJ’s belt system. Joined by Robert Drysdale and Hector Vasquez, Musumeci argued that the value of a...
Mackenzie Dern Shares Why Her Daughter Has To Earn A BJJ Black Belt
Nov 05, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu royalty runs deep in Mackenzie Dern’s family – and she believes the legacy will continue through her six-year-old daughter, Moa. The UFC star and multiple-time world champion...
Tom DeBlass Reminds Middle-Aged Black Belts: “You Are Still A Black Belt”
Sep 14, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Tom DeBlass has always been known for his ability to blend tough love with heartfelt encouragement, and his recent message to his middle-aged black belts strikes that balance perfectly. In a sport...
Zoltan Bathory Shares Simple Way To Check If Someone’s A Legit BJJ Black Belt
Aug 12, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Five Finger Death Punch founder & guitarist, as well as longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Zoltan Bathory has weighed in on the growing debate surrounding black belt legitimacy –...
Brandon McCaghren Promoted To BJJ Black Belt (In The Gi)
May 07, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Brandon McCaghren, one of professional grappling’s most recognizable voices, has just earned his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt — this time under legendary instructor Carlos Machado. The...
Jozef Chen Promoted To BJJ Black Belt At B-Team Jiu-Jitsu
Mar 06, 2025BJJEE1 Admin
Jozef Chen has just been promoted to BJJ black belt at B-Team Jiu-Jitsu! Only 20 years old, Chen is a remarkably young competitor – but he has also only been training for a little over five years....
Chris Haueter Proposes Revolutionary Simplification Of The BJJ Belt System
Dec 16, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Chris Haueter, one of the original “Dirty Dozen” non-Brazilian BJJ black belts, recently proposed a revolutionary simplification of the BJJ belt system. Inspired by traditional Japanese martial...
Should You Be Able to Earn a BJJ Black Belt Without Wearing a Gi?
Nov 27, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Few topics in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spark as much debate as belt promotions. The journey from white to black belt is a defining aspect of every Jiujiteiro’s experience, symbolizing years of...
Craig Jones: “The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Is A Marketing Trick”
Oct 15, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Craig Jones recently stirred up controversy by criticizing the BJJ belt system, calling it a “marketing gimmick” – designed to keep people committed to the sport. During a podcast...
Romulo Barral Promoted To 5th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
Oct 14, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Romulo Barral has just been promoted to the rank of a 5th degree black belt! The promotion came from none other than Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes, the same...
EA Sports CEO Andrew Wilson Is A BJJ Black Belt: “With The Right Technique & Preparation…”
Oct 02, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
EA Sports CEO Andrew Wilson recently shared how his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training has influenced his business strategies. And yes – he is a BJJ black belt as well! Wilson highlighted that Jiu-Jitsu...
Jocko Willink & Dean Lister: “100 Start Training BJJ, 40 Get The Blue Belt, <1 Get The Black Belt"
May 20, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is becoming increasingly popular and more and more people start training it with each passing year… But that isn’t to say that lots of people will be able to keep...
Haisam Rida Talks ‘UFC Black Belts’: “I Don’t Really Know, You Know?”
May 19, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
It’s true that some UFC athletes have been promoted to the rank of a BJJ black belt level without having competed in Jiu-Jitsu… Such as Alex Pereira. And, well, the public’s opinion...
Gianni Grippo Promoted To Luta Livre Black Belt
Apr 30, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Top American BJJ competitor Gianni Grippo recently achieved a significant milestone in his martial arts journey… By being promoted to black belt in Luta Livre! The promotion came from his...
John Danaher: “No One Cares If You Got A Black Belt”
Apr 13, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
What does it take to earn a black belt Brazilian in Jiu-Jitsu? Well, it takes a lot of effort, focus, and a lot of overcoming of failure… But, the truth is, that you’ll probably get your...
Do You Have To Compete To Be A Legit BJJ Black Belt?
Apr 08, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
So you’re not much of a competitor, are you? You sure like training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and you enjoy hitting the mats as often as possible… But the matter of the fact is – you...
UFC’s Jack Della Maddalena & Nathaniel Wood Promoted To BJJ Black Belt
Mar 27, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
UFC welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena and featherweight contender Nathaniel Wood have been promoted to the rank of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts! Both fighters have been promoted by coach...
BJJ Black Belt Arrested After Breaking A Man’s Skull In A Street Fight
Mar 17, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Nenad Shuput, a co-owner of a Jiu-Jitsu gym and a BJJ black belt, recently found himself in handcuffs – following his alleged involvement in a roadside brawl. According to KJJZ, Utah Highway...
Was Bruce Lee Really a Judo Black Belt?
Mar 17, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Bruce Lee’s name is unanimous with excellence in martial arts. His philosophy of utilizing everything that is useful and rejecting everything that isn’t – it’s a wonderful,...
Ahmed Best, Actor Who Portrayed Jar Jar Binks in “Star Wars”, Is A BJJ Black Belt
Jan 20, 2024BJJEE1 Admin
Did you know that Ahmed Best, the actor who portrayed the (in)famous Jar Jar Binks character in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, is a BJJ black belt? Best has been training for a long time and has a...
Charles do Bronx Promoted To Black Belt In Another Martial Art: “Today Was A Very Special Day”
Dec 26, 2023BJJEE1 Admin
Charles do Bronx, the former UFC lightweight champion, has added a new stepping stone to his successful career… Already a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, do Bronx has now been awarded a...
