Can I get a black belt in jiu-jitsu?

Question

I'm a sophmore, and I've been home training in bjj and jj for 2 years. I've used the net and home dvds to learn the art. I was wondering if it was possible to go to a dojo or any jiu-jitsu instructional place, and take the black belt exam to certify my qualifications for the belt?

The list of dvds I've watched to train myself include the following:

-Daniel Moraes series

-Eddie brave Rubber Guard

-Frank Shamrock Series

-Free style Revolution

-Gracie jiujitsu Basic, intermediate, and advance

-Judo for Bjj

Marcelo Garcia series

-Mario Sperry Vale Tudo (all 3)

-Schembri Omoplata series

Note: Aside from jiu jitsu, I've also trained in Kungfu Bagua, I can do full side splits, and almost front splits. And I'm 14.

Weight- 140

pull up reps- 30

pushups- 75

situps- 40

Answer 1

I hope you are joking. First off, you can't learn ANY martial art by reading books and videos. Who can judge and point out your flaws? Do you even have a training partner? And no your lil brother doesnt count. I say go to a Jiu jitsu place so you can really see how foolish you are.

Answer 2

I have one more list of DVD's for you to practice before I'd say you're black belt ready.  http://www.cjmas.com/index.php?main_page... these DVD's cover all the way up to 6th Dan and these DVD's can be bought seperately as well jor about $25.00 per DVD give or take.  Even with such knowledge under your belt and even if you practice religiously with a like minded partner does that mean you should even want to get a black belt for the simple sake of having one?  The coolest part isn't having the belt, but being humble and still being able to defend your self even though others might think you're a push over.  I've bought Ken Penland's student "Steve Crawford's American Jujitsu" DVD's in the past and they were pretty d**n good too I might add.  I think American Jujitsu DVD's have been discontinued though .......shame too because they were d**n good DVD's.  Since you've studied all that you named above in your question I'd say that you have a "Far better than average start", but These Shorinji Ryu DVD's are Traditionally based and it sure wouldn't hurt to learn all you can right?  You may even want to buy them starting at volume 9 and work your way backwards .... since you're advanced enough to easily try that.  I'm glad to see that there are more people out here studying via these step by step instructional DVD's like you are.  Makes the training way more fun and enjoyable working on the techniques at home I personally think.  You should check those Shorinji Ryu DVD's out though and maybe get a couple of them just to start out.  It could never hurt.

Edit:  Yeah well Rob if the high school's coach was teaching everything you needed to know via his own instructional DVD's Then you may even get that QB spot and maybe even be at starting QB eh?    I've never viewed or studied from instructional DVD's so Instructional DVD's must be BS huh Rob?  I totally understand dude.  Lack-O-Knowledge on your part Rob.

Actually DVD's are like having your own "At home - On Call Sensei"  I've studied and reviewed many from many different art forms and even had taken dojo classes of some of the same arts ..... the DVD's win hands down .... no lie.   No one accidentally deviates from "technique" on a DVD yo!!

Answer 3

This makes as much sense to me as watching a bunch of football games then going to your school's head coach and asking to be the starting quarterback.  

No one in their right mind is going to allow you to test for a black belt based on you watching DVD's no matter how many pullups you can do.  I'm not saying you won't find someone willing to separate you from a large sum of money for a worthless certificate, but it won't mean you earned it.

Forget everything  you think you know from the videos and go into the school as a white belt.  You will be surprised as to how silly this question seems to you in a year.

Answer 4

ummmmmmmmmm...................that would be a no.  What you learned on the videos would be great for the purposes of showing off in school by submitting a 1st grader, but please do the art and all of us a favor and don't show up at the dojo asking to test for a black belt for pete's sake.  In all seriousness, if you are going to go to a dojo, it's to sign up and learn as a WHITE BELT and train the right way

Answer 5

Forget about testing for the black belt. If you wanted the traditional "title and respect" of earning a black belt, you would have studied at a Dojo. If you are training on your own, you are training for a very specific, and different purpose - the goal here is have a well planned course of study, not skip any sections, and never speed through learning.

Learning from instructional DVDs is fine so as long as you are WELL DISCIPLINED, follow the proper syllabus schedules and grading scale, and have a like-minded partners.

You drill and drill the moves until they work, then, you spar and spar until they work on a fully resisting opponent - afterall, this is the goal of any respectable dojo and if you are intelligent and intuitive enough to learn them from a DVD, then congratulations, you are smarter and more confident in your abilities to learn than most people who answered this question.

A black belt, like a degree, is just a status symbol in today's society. Black belts get their *** whooped, just like people with degrees work at dead-end jobs.

Keep up the dedication and the self discipline. Learn the art any way you can, just do it properly.

Answer 6

If I were you, I would go to a studio and show the instructor your skills, and ask for his or her opinion. Testing for black belts can be pretty pricey, so it would be good to know if you are actually good enough.