In the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where tradition and hierarchy are sacrosanct, a self-promotion to BJJ black belt is nothing short of a seismic event. The story of Roland Sarria, and his decision to self-promote to black belt, is as controversial as it is fascinating, covering his self-promotion, and the backlash that ensued.
From his tumultuous tenure at Rickson Gracie’s gym to his exploits as an MMA promoter with “Rage in the Cage,” Sarria’s journey is a compelling narrative of ambition and controversy. Here’s an in-depth look at the man who dared to break the mold.
Who is Roland Sarria?
Roland Sarria is a name that echoes through the corridors of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, though not always for the most conventional reasons. A practitioner who has dedicated decades to the art of BJJ, Sarria is also an MMA promoter known for his event “Rage in the Cage.”
In the hierarchical and tradition-bound world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, belt promotions are sacred milestones typically bestowed by higher-ranking practitioners. For Sarria, however, the conventional path didn’t align with his vision.
In an unprecedented move, he promoted himself to black belt—a decision that sent shockwaves through the BJJ community. This act of self-promotion was more than just a quest for recognition; it was a statement of independence and self-belief.
“God Promoted Me to Black Belt “
But what led to this controversial decision? Sarria’s motivations were rooted in his deep dissatisfaction with the existing structures and his desire to chart his own course in the martial arts landscape.
The decision to promote himself to black belt was not made lightly by Roland Sarria. Frustrated by what he perceived as the slow and politically driven promotion process within the BJJ community, Sarria took matters into his own hands.
“Instructors got black belts inside the academy, but they never competed in their lives—those cowards. Yet, they want to make fun of me when I competed against the best of the best, and they did not” announced Roland Sarria after he decided to self-promote to black belt.
Roland claims that it was Rigan Machado who helped him secure a super match with David Myers, suggesting that Roland was at a black belt level already. It was the post-match interaction that prompted Roland to self-promote to black belt:
Then some Brazilian came up to me and said, “Hey, who promoted you?” I looked at the monkey and said, “You saw the match, right?” He goes, “Yeah.” I said, “Do I look like a black belt?” He didn’t say anything. I said, “I’ll tell you who promoted me—God did.””
His announcement sent ripples through the BJJ world, triggering a wave of backlash, particularly from Brazilian practitioners who saw his actions as a blatant disregard for tradition and respect.
“I Wasn’t Born to be a Sheep; I Was Born to be a Lion.”
In numerous interviews afterward, Sarria defended his decision, stating that his years of dedication, skills, and contributions to the sport justified his promotion. He argued that the established system was flawed and that his actions were a form of protest against a rigid hierarchy that often overlooked merit.
“Let’s talk about kind of quantify this – how many guys you know that had the balls to do that back in those days?”
Despite his justifications, the criticism was relentless, with many in the community questioning his integrity and commitment to the art.
“There’s got to be a little bit of frustration, especially when you’re dedicating your entire life and time to something” said Sarria.
Training at Rickson Gracie’s Gym: “It was a Cult”
Roland Sarria’s journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu took a significant turn when he began training under the legendary Rickson Gracie. He was there in the early days, filled with old-school training and Gracie challenge matches. In fact, he was one of the witnesses to the Rickson vs Yoji Anjo fight.
“American guys followed the pack like, like little, like little, like little sheep. And yeah, they were like little sheep, and the shepherd was misleading them into the cave with the wolves.” said Sarria in an interview.
“The Rickson Gracie school was not structured; it was very primitive, somewhat disorganized. It was kind of like being in Brazil and just training. It was just too clicky, it was just too Brazilian for me that I wasn’t used to that and I didn’t like it.”
“After I left, I felt their wrath at every tournament,” he shared. “When I went to Ken Gabrielson, a white American black belt, I took so much sh*t from those guys. Conan Silveira was setting me up with all these Brazilian champions at every belt level.”
Beyond the BJJ mats, Roland Sarria ventured into the world of MMA, establishing himself as a prominent promoter with his event, “Rage in the Cage” based out of Arizona.
Is Roland Sarria a Fake Black Belt?
Roland Sarria’s decision to self-promote to black belt and his subsequent actions have sparked intense debate within the BJJ World community. Some argue that Sarria’s move undermines the traditional values and hierarchical respect ingrained in BJJ, while others view it as a bold statement against a sometimes rigid and slow-moving system.
At the end of the day, very few can deny that Roland had the background experience and knowledge to be a black belt by the standards back then. His issue was running into the Brazillian wall that decided, for some reason, he shouldn’t have his belt. Most likely for leaving Rickosn’s gym.
The backlash he faced, particularly from old-school Brazilian practitioners, underscores the cultural importance of these traditions and the resistance to change. In the realm of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, his actions challenge the established norms and prompt discussions about the balance between tradition and progress.
It is true that Roland set a dangerous precedent, but I’d rather we look at his case as an outlier, a blip in the system. There are more than a few blips of people not getting what they clearly deserve at the hands of malicious instructors. However, at the end of the day, people can’t just start to self-promote to a black belt, or any other belt – that’ll mean chaos.
Order Beats Chaos
On one hand, his decision to self-promote and his outspoken nature have made him a polarizing figure. Some argue that his actions undermine the integrity of BJJ’s deeply rooted traditions.
On the other hand, supporters see him as a maverick who challenges the status quo and advocates for a more meritocratic approach to BJJ belt promotions.
While I don’t hold the proponents of the old-school approach in high regard, I find the second stream, of those who support Roland, as more dangerous and as having the potential to fully disrupt the belt system, and with it, a big chunk of the credibility of BJJ.
We kind of need order at the end, even though belts really do matter less and less, and different aspects of training Jiu-Jitsu are now much more important than how much time you spent at blue belt or how old you were when you got your brown belt.
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