Rank
Professor William Vandry awarded 3rd degree in 2009 by Masters Carlos and Rigan Machado (Vandry is now a sixth degree Black belt)
BJJ is a Martial art of grappling. BJJ includes self defense, takedowns, throws, submissions, reversals, escapes and strategies to develop the student as a better Martial artist. Ranking systems are different across the world in Martial arts, and in BJJ. Different instructors monitor belt ranking based on techniques, sparring, testing and developing. Professor William Vandry has studied BJJ under all five Machado brothers, members of the Gracies and other BJJ black belts from Brazil. The inconsistent formatting of BJJ testing compelled Vandry to form his ranking structure, testing methods and specific techniques to better monitor the progress. Testing is generally made every two months. For Junior ranks or children and teen classes, the general belt system starts at white, then to gray, yellow, orange and green. Although not shown in the belt photos, Vandry also incorporates a system of testing for half white to half yellow, yellow to half yellow, half orange, orange to half orange, half green, and finally green belt for children and teens. Adults 18 and up begin with white belt to blue, to purple, to brown and then black belt. The chart below also shows black to 10th degree red belt. Black belt ranks are explained more below.
To develop rank, techniques and sparring are tested. Vandry is one of the highest ranking American BJJ black belts in the world. Regarding Black belt levels, here are definitions to explain each status:
Black belt (no band) 3 years
The first black belt level is the black belt. There is no band, as in an older time and the origin of ranking black belts began with a basic black belt, red and white bands were added later to signify a black belt achieved assistant instructor to instructor level.
Black belt 1st and 2nd degrees 3 years
The first and second degree black belts signify accomplishing study, material and understanding grappling, and explaining fundamental teaching of Jiu-jitsu.
Black belt 3rd to 6th degrees (Professor)
The third degree is 9 years of practicing Jiu-jitsu as a black belt. The development to teach fundamentals, intermediate and some advanced techniques are required. A third to sixth degree is a ‘Professor’ level, which is allowed to rank students up to black belt. Any level below 3rd degree ranking students without the authority of a 3rd degree or higher is illegitimate.
Black belt 7th and 8th degrees (Coral belt) Master
Jean Jacques Machado shown in Black belt magazine wearing 8th degree Red and Black Koral belt
Master Carlos Machado also shown with Red and Black 8th degree Koral belt along with William Vandry
This level is shown by the colors red and black on a belt. This is the Koral belt.
9th and 10th degree red belts (Red belt)
9th degree black belts are generally the highest ranked, as Grandmaster Carlos Gracie was a 10th degree,
Highest ranking BJJ black belts
To always recognize and respect those who have achieved rank in BJJ, here are a list from the highest ranked Black belts:
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brazilian_jiu-jitsu_practitioners
Professor William Vandry also chooses a philosophy for his students to practice as a Martial artist, and to respect the art, the academy, the community, and ultimately yourself as a Martial artist. Vandry wrote an article on his other website. The title of the article is “BJJ in My Eyes – The Most Valuable Assets of Great Students; Work Ethic, Respect, Loyalty and the Code of Ethics”. In this article, points about a student and his duty as a student are noted:
1. Work ethic
This term describes a person who has standards and values of training, developing and improving his martial arts personally, psychologically, spiritually, mentally and physically. The students that keep training and learn from mistakes are the best ones. The students that train while they are winning, and break or claim they are tired when they are losing are not just a horrible work ethic; it is a horrible ethic that is simply an indication of the person in life. Work ethic derives from our responsibilities, actions, attitudes, and patterns.
2. Respect
This term is the one every student should have. If you are superior to a student, you can still develop your skills. If you cannot respect a student, you really don’t respect yourself, or your actions. Like work, like relationships and life, it is a daily reminder and daily practice. These actions are always in and outside of class at all times.
3. Loyalty
This one is also vital. The loyalty issue is something you either have, or you will never have. And blind loyalty is not the answer either. If you have an instructor that aids you, or mentors you, cherish that relationship and never lose it. I have known my instructor Carlos Machado for almost 17 years. I always give him props, and remind everyone where I came from. Never shame yourself to your instructor. Never shame or embarrass your instructor with your words or actions. And never try to use your instructor. I have heard tales of this all around the USA in BJJ. I personally know of a story of a martial arts instructor first hand that trained his students, and in the end they attempted to recruit his students for their own break off schools. When I first heard this firsthand, I couldn’t believe it. And I have heard it many, many times. I myself have had similar experiences.
The Vandry Code of Ethics was written August 2012 by Professor William Vandry as a footnote to students to respect their community and schools. The 9 Code of ethics are:
1. Humility
Many fighters or practitioners can be tempted by vanity and arrogance. In our Jiu-jitsu community, there are many dark sides that are based on selfishness, prejudice, insecurities, arrogance, anger, and lack of morality, immaturity and lack of respect. These sins of the martial arts are to be discarded and constantly reminded to avoid. The opposite and good sides to adhere to are selflessness, acceptance, security within yourself accepting imperfections, public humility and temperance from anger, moral structure adhering to your martial arts responsibilities, emotional maturity, and respecting yourself first, and others while reminding yourself that in the public eye one venting of anger, name calling or threats will always be remembered. Those ghosts fall in the past, and always strive to be remembered or attached to an organization. Unfortunately those ghosts are confined to their own self convicted Hades in life.
2. Truthfulness
Betraying a fellow martial artist, an instructor, an organization or a creed are a sin in the martial arts and if forgiven, will reoccur. Selfishness is a disease that is incurable, as there is always an ulterior motive that stays with the person. Be open and truthful, and never betray your teammates, school, instructor, lineage, your roots, and always remember you have a duty and obligation as a martial artist, and a piece of a lineage that will either stop with you, or root for the next generation. Keep your word and truth always.
3. Bravery
The willingness to stand up for truth and justice is a traditional virtue in martial arts. The courage spoken of here is a higher kind of courage. It is the courage of self-sacrifice, of standing up for the truth, of mentoring and defending junior students as well as supporting them, regardless of what the odds are or what the cost may be. It is not the petty actions of proving one’s self-worth by engaging in meaningless rivalry, foolish stunts or the intimidation of others as well as shameful behavior that disgraces the essence of your community and the Martial arts. Courage is based upon the strength to walk away from a person you could physically destroy, as well as engaging in physical conflict to defend the weaker. To develop courage, one must have self worth, and value in his or her community. Without either, they are simply a nomad and will never tap into their potential.
4. Benevolence
An inclination to perform kind, charitable acts. This code is a code to follow for a lifetime. Many aids, helps, suggestions, guidance as a mentor get discarded, unappreciated and very rarely are paid back by passing this to another. Benevolence is an act that although rarely is any type of gratitude, thanks, giving, appreciation given back, a person must always hold his creed. To give or aid those less fortunate or not as talented, is a wealth of reward, but for those who simply take, those are to be discarded and doors closed upon.
5. Compassion
Compassion is a virtue, and a drive that endears the martial artist with his own ideals, dreams, passions, and virtues and desires to better himself, his abilities, his mental focus, his skills, and more importantly his part in a chapter of a lineage that has a vital meaning to tomorrow’s students and history.
6. Sincerity
Deeds, not words. Is your intent sincere, or ulterior motivated? Selfish desires to take from an instructor, student or academy are unforgivable sins. These sins do not come from the martial arts academy, but rather from the upbringing of the student’s personal life before he met his or her instructor. Sincerity is a desire to assure, and present oneself with a public display of the martial artist and their open, supportive desire.
7. Loyalty and Devotion
These two creeds are vital and a completion of the above codes. Loyalty is a value that if betrayed, does not come from the academy or lineage. This comes from the person that betrays his wife, her husband, their mother and fathers, their brothers and sisters, and most of all, they betray themselves their entire life. A relationship for years means nothing unless that loyalty is untainted. Devotion is the promise of support, loyalty, appreciation and desire to be a piece of a larger puzzle for the future. This code of Devotion comes from both instructors and students.
8. Integrity
Moral character is the spark to develop a martial artist to his full potential. Open, honest, and discipline in life to avoid corruption of finances, vanity, or evil. Pride must always be a shield to defend against vanity, but against arrogance as well. Actions, not an enemy’s definition or a rival from anther school, academy or community defines integrity. Those competitive remarks will never scratch the layer of integrity.
9. Respect
Respect and gratitude toward others has a strong effect on personal relationships, both at work or at school, and with friends and family. In community, respect develops your own inner spirit, your own ethical behavior and sets an example for those in the future. Others needs, and pains are acknowledged by your respect, as well as sincere concern for those less fortunate. Respect is also to be given to those who show it. For those who are not respectful, this is simply a mirror image of their own self-respect. If one cannot show respect daily, none other than himself or herself will unmask the mask of false respect. Respect those that are older, those that were great in the past and forgotten today, those that are younger and you must accelerate your patience to aid. Respect your community. Respect your values, and most of all, respect yourself. Respect senior ranks and their accomplishments. Respect your lineage, your origins and set a frame for those that will respect you in the future.