In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, obviously belts hold a certain significance. For example, a white belt means you’re a beginner, whilst a black belt means you’re experienced. In short, they’re used as literal status symbols and also show time served on the mat.
And, whilst many genuinely don’t care about belts or their looks – some people take it quite seriously. Specifically, we’re on about the sight of a worn-out belt which some people aim for on purpose. In this article, we shall address why this happens and whether it’s culturally relevant or meaningless.
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How do you make your BJJ belt look worn?
If you want the look of a worn-out BJJ belt then there are a few ways to go about it. The most common way to achieve the look of a worn belt is to train lots and your belt will naturally wear away. This is why it’s usually black belts with worn belts due to owning the same belt for years or even decades. In fact, this is possibly the reason why people love faded, worn belts – as they show experience and years of graft.
Another way to get a worn look is by constantly washing your belt. You should be doing this after training regardless as it’s good for hygiene reasons. Nonetheless, some people don’t wash their belt due to laziness or superstition. Basically, every time you put your belt in the wash it may take away a little material. If you do this long enough then eventually it will start to show.
Moving on, you could always buy someone’s previously owned belt if they’re giving it away. The chances are, they’ve spent at least a few years at this level so it will already be pre-worn. Lastly, you could even scrape it with a blunt knife if you were that concerned. Obviously, this method is a bit drastic.
Why do people make their BJJ belt look worn?
As touched upon briefly, some people want to make their belts look worn to show experience. You could argue that this will give you elevated status within the gym as others may look up to you if you’re seen as having trained for a while.
Secondly, some people just like the look. Remember, in life – some people are attracted to certain looks and images. A worn belt may be the BJJ equivalent of this. This may be like people wanting to worn faded jeans or boots as they appreciate the look and aesthetic. Ultimately, it’s down to the individual.
Does it matter?
Honestly speaking, no one cares if your belt is worn or faded. Whilst the odd practitioner may make a remark in passing – most of the time people are too busy focusing on other things to care. Obviously, those who exclusively train no gi won’t even wear belts, so in this case they’re truly not bothered either.
You could even go as far as to say that it’s also a bit petty and insecure. If you get a faded belt after years of work and it naturally occurs then fair enough. However, if you try and force it then are you really training BJJ for the right reasons? In some ways, this is similar to when people try to give themselves cauliflower ear or desire it badly. Typically, it shows that someone really wants to look like an authority figure which is a bit weird.
Conclusion
Faded belts are a thing in BJJ. Most of the time, this is down to years of training, where your belt will get rubbed, gripped, and worn during training – however, the main reason is probably years of washing it on a regular basis.
In summary, if you want a worn BJJ belt then the best way to go about it is probably to train consistently. This way it will happen over time. As the saying goes though, the mats don’t lie. Basically, there’s no point desiring a faded belt or higher rank if you can’t back it up when it’s time for sparring.
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