Before and after a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, the chances are that you will be put in a line. At some gyms, this may be random – whereas in others it may be based on the order of your belt. Even more specifically, this may also place emphasis on stripes, whereby people with stripes on their belt will even line up above those with fewer stripes.
In this article, we shall be discussed how this works, why this is even a thing, and whether it’s actually good or bad for Jiu Jitsu.
Table of Contents
Why some BJJ gyms line up in grade order
While BJJ is very much a modern martial art, it still has cultures that go back to traditional martial arts. In other words, it still has clear influences from its predecessor, Judo. In Judo, you’re expected to line up in grade order, bow, and show respect. Even though BJJ isn’t as strict with many of these rules, in some places there’s still a lot of crossover.
So, the point is that some BJJ gyms see the hierarchy of lining up in belt order as a sign of respect. Here, it shows who has trained longer and earned their place in the line. Whether you love or hate this system, the fact is that it’s commonly used – and most people adopt it due to years of tradition without really thinking much of it.
Why some BJJ gyms don’t line up in grade order
On the other hand, this behavior isn’t for everyone. Remember, every gym is different and is shaped by the vision of its owner. In some cases, certain gym owners may view the lining up in grade order as overly traditional, whilst also putting too much hierarchy in place.
For instance, if your gym is meant to be truly inclusive, then you would treat everyone the same. By making the white belts line up at the bottom of the pile, and the black belts at the top – this literally shows who is valued more than who.
Of course, others may argue that this is a bad interpretation of lining up in belt order. Nonetheless, it is merely used as an example of how certain coaches and gym owners think. In short, if a gym has a casual, laidback vibe then they’re less likely to have people line up in belt order.
Reasons for lining up in belt order
As mentioned, the main purpose of lining up in belt order is based on years of tradition. However, there are also a few reasons that make it beneficial. Supposedly, your students can see the skill levels of the gym, which is especially the case when it comes to no gi. Therefore, each student can know what to expect when it comes to sparring.
For instance, a black belt may go easier on a white belt, whilst also avoiding heel hooks for safety reasons. Similarly, if you want easier rolls, you may choose to spar with easier blue belts as well. Lastly, it also acts as a sign of respect for the higher belts. This doesn’t mean that they’re superior either but is instead done to show the time they’ve put in.
Another reason is that it also creates organization. Or, lining up does. If you’ve been to a relaxed gym that doesn’t have people lining up, it can cause timing issues where people are sat on the sides doing very little. By implementing a bit of structure, this can make the classes run smoother and with less time wasted.
Reasons against lining up in belt order
As mentioned, some people view lining up in grade order as disrespectful towards younger belts as well. Whilst this probably isn’t the original intention, there is some truth to this theory. In short, it can create a class division, where the lower belts are seen as beneath the higher belts.
This can eventually lead to pettiness, whereby they’re joked about, or refused rolls based on being newer. Although this shouldn’t be the case, in some gyms it certainly goes on. A good way to stop this is by not implementing the belt order line-up.
As well as this, it can also cause friction within the group. For instance, if there’s a bad blue belt who has a big ego, they may insist on lining up in front of someone who is also a blue belt. If this keeps happening, it shows that there’s a clear problem and this can develop into jealousy and falling out. Overall, it may create a bad atmosphere at the gym.
Conclusion
In general, most people don’t really care about the inner workings of how lining up works in BJJ. For the most part, most people will just randomly line up and aren’t too bothered. Similarly, in gyms that don’t have as much hierarchy, people are probably even less mindful of lining up.
In conclusion, it’s not really a big issue and most people aren’t bothered. However, as mentioned – lining up in grade order can have good and bad connotations, depending on how your gym reacts. This is also a good example of leadership from the gym owner. So long as there’s a good atmosphere and everything is handled well, you shouldn’t have many problems in terms of morale. Because of this, it’s more to do with how you handle your students, rather than whether a line is a good or a bad thing.
