December 19, 2024 • 11 mins
In this episode of Social BJJ, Dave dives into Jeff Glover's recent controversial comments on the perceived value of the black belt in modern jiu-jitsu. From debates about physical performance to the evolving meaning of belt promotions, this episode tackles the heated Reddit discussions and broader implications of Glover's statement.
Key Topics Discussed:
- Jeff Glover’s Comment: The claim that black belts have lost their value and are given too freely.
- Physical Performance vs. Knowledge: Should black belts rely on physical dominance, or does technical understanding suffice?
- Community Reactions: Highlights from the Reddit thread, including defenses and criticisms of Glover’s perspective.
- Belts as Motivation: The role of belts in empowering practitioners, especially for those seeking personal goals or growth.
- Standardization and Subjectivity: Challenges in defining what a black belt should represent.
Listener Engagement:
- Do you agree with Jeff Glover’s take on the black belt?
- Should belts focus on technical knowledge, physical dominance, or both? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Closing Notes: Belts can be empowering, controversial, or even unnecessary depending on your perspective. What do you think? Let us know, and catch the next episode for more discussions in the world of jiu-jitsu.
Follow & Subscribe:
- Leave a comment and share the episode.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to the pod with your boy Dave here from Social BJJ. Today we're
(00:06):
gonna be talking about Jeff Glover. He hits the web and read it hits the news
and read it on the subreddit BJJ talking about his opinion on black belts.
Somebody ended up posting this. He I think he posted this probably on
Facebook or something. It's a screenshot and it goes quote this is from Jeff
(00:28):
Glover. Black belt in BJJ used to have value. Now we are giving black belts to
50 year old women who would get destroyed by a teenager with zero
grappling skills. The days of black belt are gone and not coming back. Let's give
(00:49):
everyone a black belt who trains long enough right? What a joke it's become. I'm
gonna let that sink in for a second. The days of the black belt are gone and not
coming back. Let's just give everyone a black belt who trains long enough and
(01:13):
this is probably gonna get a lot of people hyped up or upset or something
along those lines because one too many people care about belts. Too many people
care. If one person has a black belt or another person has a black belt one it
really doesn't matter if you're gonna destroy them destroy them. But for
(01:37):
argument's sake is what he's saying wrong? Is what he's saying wrong? I mean
he used a 50 year old woman but what about what about a six year old man or
50 year old man going against athletic I don't know 220 pound 16 17 year old and
(02:06):
let's say the 50 year old man is you know 145 and he just got his black belt.
Do you really expect a 145 pound 50 year old man to to beat up or to control a
220 16 17 year old just full of testosterone ready to go that played
(02:33):
football no grappling skills but you know I don't know I think that argument
could be to go on both sides you know some people on ready I'm looking at they
are saying hey by that logic we might as well start taking away belts from people
when they start getting older because if it's if we're only judging based off of
physical performance if that's the only thing that matters then you know maybe
(02:56):
we should take away your belts when you get a certain age right because you're
not gonna be able to perform in that level and then if you do that then the
coral boats it shouldn't be a thing the red boats should not be a thing I think
that's a pretty sound pretty logical argument right a lot of people on red
a are actually hating this take and again it's because I think everybody
(03:17):
really cares about belts but what he's trying to say is sure to make an
argument for him and I don't know what he's trying to say honestly but the way
I took of what he's trying to say is that if in your peak or you know maybe
just a little bit past your peak whatever you you're dominating on a
(03:39):
match you're a problem you're forced to be reckoned with you know you're
dominating everyone knows everyone knows that's a black belt right you know like
old school like you go against black but you know you knew you were losing there
wasn't there wasn't a chance that you might win nowadays and he's not the only
(04:02):
he's not the only only person saying this is other people saying this as well
there are other people saying that black boats they're chumps now and I'm not
even a black boat I'm a brown boat right and there are people there people saying
this hey some black boats are chumps I mean I be black boats when I was still a
(04:22):
white belt I tap some white black boats does it doesn't maybe I got lucky I
don't I don't think so but you know maybe maybe they were trying something
else and then there are some black boats that I still can't beat to sit it to
this day they're just that much there they're that much better than me they're
that much of a dominant force but what are we gonna say a black boat is just
(04:50):
because you could dominate somebody does that mean you're a black belt I hate
this argument because we're talking about belts but since we're talking about it
it does knowledge technical knowledge apply grappling knowledge apply to it
right because like look at that John dinner I don't think he'll get beat up
(05:11):
by a teenager with no grappling skills so like it's for him saying that it's
like then I will destroy a danger with no I mean the stories of him like
breaking people's arms like in privates because they're going too hard or they're
doing they're trying to do something right so pretty sure he no matter his
condition he'll still be very dangerous and maybe that's the point that is
(05:33):
trying to make but the other thing is I don't know like you you know there's
there's people who've been training for forever and you know they get overlooked
for bell promotions it just becomes very subjective like you know what is the
standard because some you know in karate they got kids with black belts take one
(05:55):
though they got kids with black belts like it means absolutely nothing over
there and I think what he's trying to he wants the black belt to mean something
into just so he wants it to mean something I don't think that's bad I
don't think that comes from a bad place maybe the way he worded it my
offend some people because he like specifically targeted like you know
(06:16):
women older women but is the point wrong should a black belt get beat up by a
teenager with no grappling experience should there be a black belt out there
in any any martial art should there be a black belt that gives speed up was by
(06:37):
somebody who has no experience I don't think so I have a hard time
disagreeing with that logic like you know taking taking the taking the you
know finer details of what he was saying taking the the mean parts out if you
will but just somebody with no experience I mean you won't even give a
(07:00):
blue belt to somebody who gets beat from somebody with no experience like the
blue boat signifies that they're able to handle somebody with no experience so if
there are in fact people that have black belts that were given black belts that
quote-unquote earned black belts that could get beat up by a white belt and
(07:25):
I'm trying to I'm trying to say everything is neutral you know I'm not
trying to say like the new guy the trial guy is bigger stronger faster more time
you know that's the initial thing that was saying earlier but I'm not trying to
say that I'm trying to say if all things were even and the only thing that was
maybe a little bit different was age depending how many many age we're
(07:48):
talking about you know Henry and here on Gracie I think they talked about like
every 20 pounds is a belt or something along those lines so if you're like
a black belt and you're going with somebody you know 20 pounds heavier than
you during that rule you're brown belt and if they're a white belt their 20
pounds is gonna add and make them a blue belt so if the black belt is going with
(08:12):
somebody that's 40 pounds older than drop you know additional two belts now
they're purple belt going against somebody that is probably a purple belt
because of the the strength and size disadvantage right I like how they did
that kind of scale I'm not sure if I'm right on the measurements or not but I
think there has to be something with age too you know because your joints your
joints are just not the same your ligaments your tendons your recovery
(08:36):
your reaction speed it's a reason why you know you're outside of your prime
and so they can't be the standard of judgment at least and in my opinion my
take I'm curious to know what you guys think about this it is is very
interesting some people on on red air Sam my thoughts are that I don't give a
sugar honey iced tea about Jeff Glover there's a couple comments there actually
(09:01):
a couple comments actually saying that you know they're actually now they're
they're criticizing him and they're not really talking about the topic you got
a love right for that one one somebody said as a 40 year old female blue belt
(09:21):
I think it would be pretty damn cool to be a 50 year old female black belt 10
years from now I don't think me practicing jujitsu and being promoted
someday hurts anyone and again I think that's I think that's very valid
because as a 40 year old female I mean she she wants to have something to aim
(09:43):
for something to strive for something to do shoot like you could think about it
even some 20 year old something women black boats might get beat up by a
teenager with no grappling skills it's possible it's possible how big is the
woman you know we're talking about all this stuff again I think belts are trash
(10:03):
I think bells are stupid because it begins to have this like stupid stupid
debate this stupid argument but I think on the opposite side but belts can be
very empowering for people who need something to do something to aim for a
lot of people were depressed and until they started doing jujitsu and they
started having that focus like I want to get that blue belt what do I need to do
(10:24):
to get that blue belt what what skills do I need to acquire in order to you know
satisfy this requirement now I got those skills now I want to try to compete or I
want to try to do this it starts opening up a door that wasn't there before and
it gamifies jujitsu in a different way it's something that can be very positive
(10:48):
and beneficial if you look into it in that way but on the other side if you're
very rigid it can be something that's very damning and harmful let me know
what you guys think in the comments see you tomorrow peace
Welcome back to the pod with your boy Dave here from Social BJJ. Today we're
(00:06):
gonna be talking about Jeff Glover. He hits the web and read it hits the news
and read it on the subreddit BJJ talking about his opinion on black belts.
Somebody ended up posting this. He I think he posted this probably on
Facebook or something. It's a screenshot and it goes quote this is from Jeff
(00:28):
Glover. Black belt in BJJ used to have value. Now we are giving black belts to
50 year old women who would get destroyed by a teenager with zero
grappling skills. The days of black belt are gone and not coming back. Let's give
(00:49):
everyone a black belt who trains long enough right? What a joke it's become. I'm
gonna let that sink in for a second. The days of the black belt are gone and not
coming back. Let's just give everyone a black belt who trains long enough and
(01:13):
this is probably gonna get a lot of people hyped up or upset or something
along those lines because one too many people care about belts. Too many people
care. If one person has a black belt or another person has a black belt one it
really doesn't matter if you're gonna destroy them destroy them. But for
(01:37):
argument's sake is what he's saying wrong? Is what he's saying wrong? I mean
he used a 50 year old woman but what about what about a six year old man or
50 year old man going against athletic I don't know 220 pound 16 17 year old and
(02:06):
let's say the 50 year old man is you know 145 and he just got his black belt.
Do you really expect a 145 pound 50 year old man to to beat up or to control a
220 16 17 year old just full of testosterone ready to go that played
(02:33):
football no grappling skills but you know I don't know I think that argument
could be to go on both sides you know some people on ready I'm looking at they
are saying hey by that logic we might as well start taking away belts from people
when they start getting older because if it's if we're only judging based off of
physical performance if that's the only thing that matters then you know maybe
(02:56):
we should take away your belts when you get a certain age right because you're
not gonna be able to perform in that level and then if you do that then the
coral boats it shouldn't be a thing the red boats should not be a thing I think
that's a pretty sound pretty logical argument right a lot of people on red
a are actually hating this take and again it's because I think everybody
(03:17):
really cares about belts but what he's trying to say is sure to make an
argument for him and I don't know what he's trying to say honestly but the way
I took of what he's trying to say is that if in your peak or you know maybe
just a little bit past your peak whatever you you're dominating on a
(03:39):
match you're a problem you're forced to be reckoned with you know you're
dominating everyone knows everyone knows that's a black belt right you know like
old school like you go against black but you know you knew you were losing there
wasn't there wasn't a chance that you might win nowadays and he's not the only
(04:02):
he's not the only only person saying this is other people saying this as well
there are other people saying that black boats they're chumps now and I'm not
even a black boat I'm a brown boat right and there are people there people saying
this hey some black boats are chumps I mean I be black boats when I was still a
(04:22):
white belt I tap some white black boats does it doesn't maybe I got lucky I
don't I don't think so but you know maybe maybe they were trying something
else and then there are some black boats that I still can't beat to sit it to
this day they're just that much there they're that much better than me they're
that much of a dominant force but what are we gonna say a black boat is just
(04:50):
because you could dominate somebody does that mean you're a black belt I hate
this argument because we're talking about belts but since we're talking about it
it does knowledge technical knowledge apply grappling knowledge apply to it
right because like look at that John dinner I don't think he'll get beat up
(05:11):
by a teenager with no grappling skills so like it's for him saying that it's
like then I will destroy a danger with no I mean the stories of him like
breaking people's arms like in privates because they're going too hard or they're
doing they're trying to do something right so pretty sure he no matter his
condition he'll still be very dangerous and maybe that's the point that is
(05:33):
trying to make but the other thing is I don't know like you you know there's
there's people who've been training for forever and you know they get overlooked
for bell promotions it just becomes very subjective like you know what is the
standard because some you know in karate they got kids with black belts take one
(05:55):
though they got kids with black belts like it means absolutely nothing over
there and I think what he's trying to he wants the black belt to mean something
into just so he wants it to mean something I don't think that's bad I
don't think that comes from a bad place maybe the way he worded it my
offend some people because he like specifically targeted like you know
(06:16):
women older women but is the point wrong should a black belt get beat up by a
teenager with no grappling experience should there be a black belt out there
in any any martial art should there be a black belt that gives speed up was by
(06:37):
somebody who has no experience I don't think so I have a hard time
disagreeing with that logic like you know taking taking the taking the you
know finer details of what he was saying taking the the mean parts out if you
will but just somebody with no experience I mean you won't even give a
(07:00):
blue belt to somebody who gets beat from somebody with no experience like the
blue boat signifies that they're able to handle somebody with no experience so if
there are in fact people that have black belts that were given black belts that
quote-unquote earned black belts that could get beat up by a white belt and
(07:25):
I'm trying to I'm trying to say everything is neutral you know I'm not
trying to say like the new guy the trial guy is bigger stronger faster more time
you know that's the initial thing that was saying earlier but I'm not trying to
say that I'm trying to say if all things were even and the only thing that was
maybe a little bit different was age depending how many many age we're
(07:48):
talking about you know Henry and here on Gracie I think they talked about like
every 20 pounds is a belt or something along those lines so if you're like
a black belt and you're going with somebody you know 20 pounds heavier than
you during that rule you're brown belt and if they're a white belt their 20
pounds is gonna add and make them a blue belt so if the black belt is going with
(08:12):
somebody that's 40 pounds older than drop you know additional two belts now
they're purple belt going against somebody that is probably a purple belt
because of the the strength and size disadvantage right I like how they did
that kind of scale I'm not sure if I'm right on the measurements or not but I
think there has to be something with age too you know because your joints your
joints are just not the same your ligaments your tendons your recovery
(08:36):
your reaction speed it's a reason why you know you're outside of your prime
and so they can't be the standard of judgment at least and in my opinion my
take I'm curious to know what you guys think about this it is is very
interesting some people on on red air Sam my thoughts are that I don't give a
sugar honey iced tea about Jeff Glover there's a couple comments there actually
(09:01):
a couple comments actually saying that you know they're actually now they're
they're criticizing him and they're not really talking about the topic you got
a love right for that one one somebody said as a 40 year old female blue belt
(09:21):
I think it would be pretty damn cool to be a 50 year old female black belt 10
years from now I don't think me practicing jujitsu and being promoted
someday hurts anyone and again I think that's I think that's very valid
because as a 40 year old female I mean she she wants to have something to aim
(09:43):
for something to strive for something to do shoot like you could think about it
even some 20 year old something women black boats might get beat up by a
teenager with no grappling skills it's possible it's possible how big is the
woman you know we're talking about all this stuff again I think belts are trash
(10:03):
I think bells are stupid because it begins to have this like stupid stupid
debate this stupid argument but I think on the opposite side but belts can be
very empowering for people who need something to do something to aim for a
lot of people were depressed and until they started doing jujitsu and they
started having that focus like I want to get that blue belt what do I need to do
(10:24):
to get that blue belt what what skills do I need to acquire in order to you know
satisfy this requirement now I got those skills now I want to try to compete or I
want to try to do this it starts opening up a door that wasn't there before and
it gamifies jujitsu in a different way it's something that can be very positive
(10:48):
and beneficial if you look into it in that way but on the other side if you're
very rigid it can be something that's very damning and harmful let me know
what you guys think in the comments see you tomorrow peace
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