So its dawned on me that I will soon be coming into my advanced stages of Jiu Jitsu being purple, brown and black belt. And I have been collating my techniques (to the best of my memory) into a specific order and gathering as much information as to what I need to do to get my purple belt grade.
I'm now advanced blue belt (2tabs) which I received Feb 2013 at my academy and around half way on my journey to faixa roxa! My attendance and progression has been good throughout those stages and following IBJJF guidelines Ill be ready in the next year if I keep up training 3+ times per week.
Personally I feel a belt test would best suit this stage as it would give me a chance to show everything I have learned through out the fundamentals, advanced and black belt programmes and where I can show that I'm not a one trick pony that has not looked into other areas of my game.
My academy has not done belt testing so far and to be honest I'm not sure that's a good choice as testing gives you the chance to show what your worth, and give your professor first hand knowledge of your movement and skills while being watched. Although we do have a list of techniques which we run through being tested is something altogether different.
Another reason is that I'm not really interested in competition. I've competed in numerous other martial arts during my lifetime and nowadays I'm more interested in learning the martial art to progress myself as a person and my lifestyle. Some students are given extra credit for a medal whereas people who don't want to compete have no way to show their skills by merit other than techniques learned and progression in their game.
Having searched online numerous sources I have found that Pedro Sauer academies testing to be some of the best in that a traditional setup with professors watching and calling techniques while the students perform.
Yes this may seem a little traditional like doing Kata's but is that a bad thing?
Kata's are there for a reason... to make sure you can perform the techniques for your grade.
So many of the guys are learning off of websites and youtube that you hardly ever see someone drilling basic fundamentals moves or body movements. Just last week I was listening to some white belts talking about inverted moves and berimbolos but one of those guys didn't know how to pull guard properly never mind a berimbolo. So it could definitely help with giving a clear structure and base for those individuals as they know they will be given a test to pass.
When I was a white belt (not saying that in a bad way) I literally took a full 6 months-1year working my defence from the bottom, full guard, half guard and side control. They were the first things on my list to learn as I knew with a solid base of defence you can learn to capitalise on your opponents mistakes when attacking to sweep, escape and get a better position. Solid fundamentals = solid advanced techniques.
Anyway I digress.....
Having searched for purple belt requirements pretty much everywhere I came up with a list of the general accepted requirements and techniques needed. To my surprise they did not outline fairly new open guards such as dlr, lasso, inverted. But I guess that's the new style which is evolving right now and as far as I can see only older lists of techniques exist. Although I can imagine in an academy like Atos (mendes bros), Cobrinha BJJ etc you would have movements like this involved in your grading as this is the style of the Professors themselves.
So down to techniques. I have a list of general techniques which are accepted for purple belt grading -
I have added some which I feel relevant in RED.
(Most added techniques as you will see are related to the open guard)
Conditioning-
Conditioning programme 3-4 days per week focusing on NASM CPT model due to my qualifications.
Stabilization Endurance, Strength Endurance, Hypertrophy, maximal Strength, Power.
Movement -
Increased flowing movement on the floor and standing including falling techniques, shrimping, inverted movements, stretching, drills.
Self defence -
5x+ standing defences, 5x+ ground defences, Kicking and punching defences, Advanced kickboxing/Thai, basic weapon use.
Takedowns/Throws -
2x single leg, 2x double leg, 4x hip throws, 1x leg throw, 3x arm/collar throws, 4x trips, 4x counters.
Sweeps -
5x+full guard/standing, 5x half guard, 3x+ butterfly, 3x+ spider guard, 3x+ Dlr sweeps, 3x+ Lasso sweeps, 3x+ x-guard sweeps, 3x inverted sweeps.
Escapes -
4x mount, 5x side control, 3x turtle, 3x back escapes, 3x knee on belly, 3x north south, 3x armbar, 3x triangle, 3x omoplata, 3x choke, 3x leg lock, 2x leg ride, 3x kimura.
Passing -
3x+ full guard, 3x half guard, 3x spider, 3x butterfly, 3x DLR, 3x Xguard, 3x lasso, 3x inverted.
Submissions -
5x full guard, 6x mount (low,medium,high), 5x back, 3x spider, 5x side control, 3x+ north south, 3x+ knee on belly, 5x double attacks, 3x inverted, 3x kimura trap.
Personally I feel the purple belt tests which are documented are missing a vast majority of the new guard styles which are being played. I already know everything I have put down here so I am on the right track as it is, I just need to perfect techniques to a higher level and broaden my horizons on the nogi style as I mainly train in the Gi.
Osssss
PS. some of those tests are attached.
Pedro Sauer Purple Techniques
Aloisio Test Purple
