If you read my old article highlighting my Urvil James Arnis (UJA) Belt Ranking System*, and my other UJA article on my fondness for simplicity*, you’ll know that I’m not a fan of diluting and commercializing the art by creating a tedious series of belt ranks.

However, peering back into the history of arts like Judo and Gracie Jiu Jitsu, I can see now why their founders introduced belt ranks into their systems. Although (just like those founders) my class sizes were kept relatively small at first in order for me to focus on more individualized training, going straight from no-belt to Blackbelt now seems impossible as class sizes begin to grow and the necessity has arisen for me to teach more efficiently and group students according to their areas of focus.

My thought, much like Jigoro Kano’s thought (he used swim-rankings as inspiration for why he introduced ranks into his system), is that students at different levels need similar training partners and groups in order to focus their attention properly. It also helps organize the art more efficiently and provides students with a clear path as to where they’re headed.

Think of it like elementary school’s Grade system and how that relates to learning mathematics.

In Grade 1, addition and subtraction were the primary focus. Then, as you progressed further up through the Grades, they started introducing concepts like division, multiplication, and BEDMAS. Eventually, by the time you hit Grade 11, you were able to combine all that you had learned in previous Grades in order to solve even more complicated formulae using the foundations of which you had built upon so many years before.

Using this metaphor of learning mathematics in Grade School, I have decided to divvy up my system into 5 different belt ranks (devoid of stripes in between each belt) in order to streamline learning and make it more efficient to comprehend. The reason why I chose 5 is that: (1) I’m quite inspired by the simplicity of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu belt ranking system and its areas of explanation and focus, (2) it keeps things as simple as possible without convoluting the system and divvying it up into 7+ belt ranks, including a minimum of 3-4 stripes in between each belt; much like the first martial art system that I had learned.

All that being said, here are the new categories:

WHITE

At this level, practitioners essentially know nothing and must learn basic stick-handling techniques.

GREEN

At this level, practitioners understand the mechanics of the standard strikes and have started to learn and introduce basic blocks and disarms.

BLUE

At this level, practitioners have learned the basics with regards to striking, blocks and disarms; however, now they must focus on practicality - essentially breaking through beyond the basics and learning how these can be translated into more practical applications of stick fighting.

BROWN

At this level, practitioners understand the essence of practicality and are now ready to spar, while also being introduced to the idea of translating what they have learned into both empty-hand and other variations of offensive and innocuous weaponry (ie. knife, katana, machete, rock, rolled up magazine, cane, nunchucks, pen, pencil, keys, etc.).

BLACK

In order to achieve the final rank of Blackbelt, practitioners must become proficient in all aspects of the 4 previous levels, while also exhibiting a keen sense of feeling while simultaneously discovering their own unique Arnis flow.

DEGREES & MASTERY

These are teaching-related ranks conferred onto those practitioners in 2 and 3 year increments of teaching and training. Degrees 1-4 are awarded every 2 years and Degrees 5-8 are awarded every 3 years. However, such as it was in my case, exceptions may be made to speed up this process as it relates to extraordinary achievements. Degree 4 is the Mastery Degree, upon which that Blackbelt instructor may receive the title Master.

Teaching & Passing On Blackbelts and Degrees

As it was told to me, I will also follow this same rule: a person of rank Blackbelt may pass on a Blackbelt to another student, and only a person of 2 Degrees or higher may pass Degrees onto persons 2 Degrees lower than themselves. For example: If you are a 4th Degree Blackbelt, you may pass on a 1st Degree and 2nd Degree. You are unable to pass on a 3rd Degree because there must be a 2 Degree gap between you two.