Commentary by Jill Davidson

The Significance of Belt Color

by Jill Davidson

Unbeknownst to me, when I started this whole martial arts thing, there was a hierarchy of belt systems in one of our arts: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I mean, I guess if you asked me, I would have known martial arts had belts – I might even have known that black represented a high rank and white was low... but really, I might not have even known these basics of black and white. Even now, I'm not even sure how extensive the parallels are of white and black within all of these martial arts.

But as a person experiences these tangible metaphors of who is “above” and who is “below”, he/she can be assured that it will be just that – an experience. Those who now come to our gym, and perhaps those that are dutifully informed before their debut seem to take this belt thing in stride. It's expected. There are subtle nuances, but there's an expected pattern – no one is freaking out about what is happening.

Well, not for me. I found the entire process flabbergasting and unnerving.

I was told there are two ways to move up in rank. One is to be really good, and the other is to be loyal. So, you can continually kick ass and then they have to promote you... or, I suppose, they'd have to kick you out of the gym. Unfortunately for some, you really must have some talent for this first option. It helps to be younger, and you have to follow protocol and live the life of continuous learning. Relax, you can also be a really good student and decide that this is your gym – this is the place that you want to support and move up slowly as you learn the gym's style and beliefs. You can socially network, learn the history of the gym and find a place to utilize your specific talents for the team.

Then, there is a third option of moving up in belt rank – one I unknowingly stumbled into – when they don't really know what the hell else to do with you and it becomes apparent that you are not leaving – when you are not an alpha.

In other words, you do not have the drive to succeed nor are you an extremely dutiful student. Maybe you are exceptionally bad at following all protocol whatsoever. You improve because you are there all the time with lots of passion – so they put up with you rather than risk having you cause serious havoc to society if you were elsewhere. Essentially, you are the gym's public service project. You are a refugee. Your demons haven't quite burned enough bridges for them to throw you out and you are trainable with a lot of persistence and continual repetition, have a good heart and love the gym.

So basically, there are people on the mat with all sorts of colored belts for many different reasons and when it comes down to it, you are supposed to respect “rank” – unless of course, you have a hard time with “artificial hierarchies” placed on people... and then what? I recommend that you try to be skilled. Be prepared to dodge and weave, duck and parry, run fast and know how to hide!