The IBJJF rules have always been a source of controversy among the BJJ population, as the organization was long a monopoly and completely deaf to competitors’ requests. As of last year, IBJJF rules have started to change, with one more significant change coming our way from 2023, with the latest change regarding the minimum time required for adult competitors to spend at a certain belt level.
IBJJF rules on the subject of how much time someone spends at a certain belt level were defined by the IBJJF General system of graduation. According to this system, there is a minimum period of time that every practitioner has to spend at a certain belt level in order to be eligible for a promotion to the next. The recommendations are different for belt levels, as well as for adults and those under 18.
The recent change in IBJJF rules addresses this specific aspect of graduation, as it pertains to competition. Namely, if a person becomes a world champion at blue, purple, or brown belt, they no longer have to adhere to the minimum time requirements as per the Graduation System.
According to the official IBJJF website:
“In accordance with section 3.1.3, the IBJJF has updated the minimum graduation periods for adult blue, purple, and brown belt athletes.
If a blue, purple, or brown belt is an adult World Champion, he or she will no longer have a minimum period at that belt. This change applies only to adult athletes age 18 and up. Please note that the graduation periods for white and black belts remain unchanged.”
What this means is that people who are obviously very good at their level (world champions) can get a promotion earlier than what was previously required, gaining both progress for themselves, and even out the playing field for their opponents. In other words, it prevents unintentional sandbagging which was down to IBJJF rules.
Until now, the graduation system required athletes to spend a minimum of 2 years as a blue belt, 1 and a half years as a purple belt, and 1 year as a brown belt.
The minimum time requirements for white and black belts, which are no minimum time and 31 years respectively, remain the same, even if someone becomes a world champion at those levels.
These changes to the IBJJF rules will most likely cascade into other changes regarding the graduation system, as the organization stated:
“The General Graduation System may change as the sport continues to grow and evolve”.
The IBJJF, notorious for refusing to change things, surprised everyone at the start of 2021 by allowing brown and black belts to utilize leg reap positions and heel hooks in no-gi matches.
