Why You Should NEVER Buy a BJJ Black Belt (What It Really Takes to Earn One)
By BJJ Sportswear Editorial Team
Reviewed by legitimate black belts with verified lineage and decades of training experience | Last Updated: January 14, 2026
Searching for a “cheap BJJ black belt” to buy online? Stop right there. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt represents 10-15 years of dedication, thousands of hours of training against resisting opponents, verified lineage under legitimate instructors, and mastery of complex grappling systems—not a $10 piece of fabric you can order on Amazon. What makes buying a belt you haven’t earned so damaging is that it disrespects every practitioner who sacrificed years of their life to achieve legitimate rank, undermines the art’s credibility, and provides you with zero actual skill that will be immediately exposed the moment you step on any BJJ mat.
According to Novaki BJJ on belt lineage, a verified BJJ belt lineage is an assurance that your instructor learned under the guidance of a legitimate professor who taught both effective and safe techniques. Without this verified lineage, a belt is meaningless—just cloth with no legitimate backing.
The recent controversy around Derek Moneyberg—who received a black belt in 3.5 years from Jake Shields—illustrates the problem perfectly. Gold BJJ states clearly: “Derek Moneyberg’s black belt is fake as hell and is an embarrassment to the sport”. Even “celebrity black belts” given by legitimate practitioners damage the art’s integrity when recipients haven’t put in the time and competition testing required.
This article will explain why purchasing or receiving an unearned BJJ black belt is fundamentally wrong, what a legitimate black belt actually requires, and how to start the real journey that makes the achievement meaningful.
Table of Contents
The Problem with Fake Black Belts
Why People Buy Fake Belts
Motivations (All Misguided):
- Halloween costumes / movie props
- Social media clout
- Impressing non-practitioners
- Opening fraudulent schools
- Teaching without credentials
- Ego without effort
Martial Art Fraud explains consumer fraud: Consumer fraud by a martial art school or instructor begins when material fact is misrepresented. Trademark counterfeiting violates federal statutes and is punishable as a felony federal criminal offense. Martial art school trademark counterfeiters typically affix spurious marks on patches, counterfeit rank certificates issued to students, flags, banners, and other merchandise without a license.
Why It’s Immediately Obvious
Any legitimate practitioner will spot a fake instantly because:
1. Can’t Demonstrate Basic Techniques
- Mount escapes – white belt fundamental
- Guard retention – basic defense
- Passing – fundamental offense
- Submissions – core attacks
2. Fails Under Pressure
- Can’t roll (live spar)
- Taps to blue belts
- No positional awareness
- Zero technique under resistance
3. No Lineage
Reddit r/bjj emphasizes verification: Ask who gave him his black belt, then email the black belt or association and ask if they’ve heard of the person. If they balk at this request, they’re 100% not a black belt.
4. No Promotion Documentation
Combat Creative podcast notes: A black belt promotion is a very important event in your Jiu-Jitsu career—all teammates present, pictures, videos. If there’s no evidence of your black belt promotion, something’s fishy.
5. No Competition Record
Combat Creative continues: If you have not won a match at brown belt, you should not be wearing a black belt. If you set a competition standard for yourself and can’t crack it at the brown belt level, how are you a competition-based black belt?
The Consequences of Wearing Fake Belts
Personal Consequences:
- Immediate exposure in any gym
- Embarrassment and ridicule
- Removal from legitimate schools
- Social media exposure
- Legal issues (if teaching)
- Zero actual self-defense skill
Damage to BJJ:
- Undermines belt legitimacy
- Confuses beginners
- Disrespects practitioners
- Dilutes art’s credibility
- Enables fraud
Chewjitsu discusses fake black belts: The Derek Moneyberg situation—a wealthy individual who received a black belt in 3.5 years from Jake Shields despite questionable skill—demonstrates how even “legitimate” promotions from real black belts can be fraudulent when time, training, and competition requirements aren’t met.
What a REAL BJJ Black Belt Represents
Time Investment
How long does it actually take?
Average Timeline:
- White Belt: 0-2 years
- Blue Belt: 2-4 years
- Purple Belt: 4-7 years
- Brown Belt: 7-10 years
- Black Belt: 10-15 years
Total: Typically 10+ years of consistent training (3-5x weekly).
There are NO legitimate shortcuts.
Technical Mastery Required
A legitimate black belt must master:
Guard Systems:
- Closed Guard – fundamental platform
- Open Guard – dynamic control
- Butterfly Guard – elevation sweeps
- Spider Guard – distance management
- De La Riva – passing prevention
- X-Guard – advanced sweeps
- Half Guard – recovery position
Passing Systems:
- Knee Slice – fundamental passing
- Toreando – bullfighter pass
- Leg Drag – modern passing
- Multiple variations for each
Submissions (20+ minimum):
- Rear Naked Choke – king of submissions
- Triangle Choke – legs around neck
- Armbar – hyperextend elbow
- Kimura – shoulder lock
- Guillotine – front headlock
- Cross Collar Choke – gi fundamental
- Bow and Arrow – from back
- Kneebar – leg lock
- And many more…
Positional Control:
- Mount Position – 4-point dominance
- Back Control – most dominant
- Side Control – fundamental control
- Transitions between all positions
Escapes:
- Mount Escape – survival fundamental
- Side Control Escape – most common
- Back Escape – defensive mastery
Sweeps:
- Scissor Sweep – closed guard fundamental
- Butterfly Sweep – elevation reversal
- Advanced sweeps from all guards
Takedowns:
- Double Leg – wrestling fundamental
- Single Leg – versatile attack
- Judo throws (some schools)
Verified Lineage
Novaki BJJ emphasizes importance: A verified BJJ belt lineage is an assurance that your instructor learned under the guidance of a legitimate professor.
Legitimate lineage means:
- Instructor promoted by recognized black belt
- That black belt promoted by their instructor
- Traceable back to Brazilian origins
- Gracie family or other legitimate source
- Documented promotion ceremonies
- Association membership (IBJJF, federation)
How to Verify:
- Ask instructor their lineage
- Check association websites
- Verify instructor’s instructor
- Look for promotion videos/photos
- Competition records
Competition Experience
Combat Creative podcast: If you set that standard for yourself and can’t win matches at brown belt, you should not be getting your black belt.
Most legitimate black belts have:
- Competition experience at multiple belts
- Wins against quality opponents
- Tournament performance documentation
- Tested techniques under pressure
- Proven skills against unknowns
Note: Not all schools require competition, but most respected black belts have competed.
Teaching Ability
Black belts are expected to:
- Teach beginners effectively
- Demonstrate techniques clearly
- Troubleshoot student problems
- Understand theory behind techniques
- Coach competition students
- Build curriculum
The Real BJJ Journey (Worth Taking)
Starting as a White Belt
White belt curriculum is designed for absolute beginners:
First 6 Months:
- Survival positions (mount escape, side control escape)
- Basic closed guard control
- Scissor sweep – first sweep
- RNC, armbar, triangle fundamentals
- Learning to tap (ego management)
Year 1-2:
- Consistent training (3-5x weekly)
- Live rolling against all belts
- Getting destroyed (normal!)
- Slow improvement
- Understanding belt system
Blue Belt Achievement (2-3 Years)
- Competent escapes
- Functional guard game
- Basic passing ability
- 5-10 reliable submissions
- Positional awareness
- Can submit untrained opponents
Why it matters: Blue belt proves you’ve moved beyond beginner—you won’t accidentally hurt yourself or others, understand fundamental concepts, and can implement techniques against resistance.
Purple to Black Belt (4-10 More Years)
Purple Belt (4-7 years total):
- Advanced guard systems (spider, DLR, X-guard)
- Competition experience
- Developing personal game
- Teaching beginners
Brown Belt (7-10 years total):
- Advanced techniques (berimbolo, leg locks)
- Coaching ability
- Near-black belt skill
- Competition tested
Black Belt (10-15 years total):
- Technical mastery
- Teaching proficiency
- Verified lineage
- Complete understanding
- Lifelong journey begins (not ends!)
Why Earn Your Belt Legitimately?
Real Self-Defense Skill
Earned black belts can:
- Defend against larger attackers
- Control opponents without injury
- Apply submissions effectively
- Escape dangerous positions
- Remain calm under pressure
Fake black belts:
- Have zero actual skill
- Panic under pressure
- Get submitted by blue belts
- Endanger themselves and others
Physical and Mental Benefits
Legitimate training provides:
- Functional strength and conditioning
- Cardiovascular health
- Flexibility and mobility
- Problem-solving under stress
- Emotional regulation
- Confidence (earned, not false)
- Resilience and perseverance
You can’t buy these benefits—only earn them.
Lifelong Community
The BJJ community:
- Supports legitimate practitioners
- Exposes and excludes frauds
- Creates lasting friendships
- Provides training partners worldwide
- Shares knowledge freely
- Respects the journey
Chewjitsu notes: Coaches who award fake black belts for money damage not just recipients but the entire community’s trust.
Personal Accomplishment
A legitimately earned black belt represents:
- 10+ years of your life
- Thousands of hours of training
- Hundreds of times tapped out
- Overcoming injuries and setbacks
- Mastering complex skills
- Becoming part of lineage
This accomplishment is priceless—and you can’t buy it.
How to Verify a Legitimate School
Red Flags (Avoid These Schools)
Warning signs of fraud:
- ❌ No verifiable lineage
- ❌ Promises black belt in under 5 years
- ❌ No live sparring (rolling)
- ❌ Instructor can’t demonstrate techniques
- ❌ Belts awarded based on payments
- ❌ No association affiliation
- ❌ Instructor refuses lineage questions
- ❌ No competition participation
- ❌ Certificates look homemade
Green Flags (Legitimate Schools)
Signs of legitimate instruction:
- ✅ Verified lineage (traceable to Brazil)
- ✅ Association membership (IBJJF, local federation)
- ✅ Daily live rolling
- ✅ Instructor demonstrates techniques
- ✅ Belt progression takes years
- ✅ Multiple black belts produced
- ✅ Competition participation (optional but common)
- ✅ Open about lineage and credentials
- ✅ Promotion ceremonies documented
Questions to Ask Prospective Instructors
Before joining ANY school:
- “What is your BJJ lineage?” (Should answer immediately)
- “Who promoted you to black belt?” (Specific name)
- “How long did it take you to reach black belt?” (10+ years typical)
- “Can I verify your lineage with your instructor?” (Should say yes)
- “What association are you affiliated with?” (IBJJF, federation, etc.)
- “Do you have competition experience?” (Not required but common)
- “How often do students roll (live spar)?” (Should be daily)
Legitimate instructors welcome these questions. Frauds dodge them.
Start Your Real BJJ Journey Today
Find a Legitimate School
Resources:
- IBJJF academy finder
- Local BJJ associations
- Recommendations from practitioners
- Online reviews (verify lineage claims)
- Trial classes (see instruction quality)
Begin as a White Belt
Everyone starts here:
- Zero ego required
- Learn fundamentals (escapes, guard)
- Tap early and often
- Focus on survival first
- Respect the process
Read: Complete White Belt Guide
Understand the Belt System
- White → Blue: 2-3 years
- Blue → Purple: 2-3 years
- Purple → Brown: 2-3 years
- Brown → Black: 2-5 years
Total: 10-15 years average
There are no shortcuts. The journey IS the reward.
Embrace the Process
What makes BJJ special:
- You’ll get tapped out thousands of times
- Progress is slow but measurable
- Every belt genuinely earned
- Community of legitimate practitioners
- Skills that actually work
- Journey worth taking
You can’t buy this experience. You can only earn it.
The Bottom Line
Searching for a “cheap BJJ black belt” to buy online reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what a black belt represents. It’s not a costume accessory or a social media prop—it’s verification of 10+ years of dedication, thousands of hours against resisting opponents, technical mastery of complex grappling systems, and verified lineage under legitimate instruction.
Buying a fake belt gets you:
- ❌ Zero actual skill
- ❌ Immediate exposure and ridicule
- ❌ Disrespect from legitimate practitioners
- ❌ Potential legal issues (if teaching)
- ❌ A piece of cloth with no meaning
Earning a legitimate belt gets you:
- ✅ Real self-defense ability
- ✅ Physical and mental benefits
- ✅ Lifelong community
- ✅ Personal accomplishment
- ✅ Verified skill and knowledge
- ✅ Respect from practitioners worldwide
The choice is obvious.
Start your real BJJ journey. Begin as a white belt. Train consistently for years. Earn each belt through sweat, taps, and dedication. Join the legitimate lineage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The journey is worth taking. The belt is worth earning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a BJJ black belt online?
You can purchase the physical belt online, but it has zero legitimacy without proper training, verified lineage, and promotion from a legitimate black belt. A BJJ black belt represents 10-15 years of training under a legitimate instructor with traceable lineage back to Brazil—not something you can buy on Amazon. Wearing an unearned belt will result in immediate exposure and ridicule at any legitimate gym.
How can I tell if someone’s black belt is fake?
Reddit r/bjj advises: Ask who promoted them, then verify with that instructor or association. Legitimate black belts have verified lineage, promotion documentation (photos/videos), competition records, and can demonstrate techniques under live resistance. If someone refuses to answer lineage questions, has no promotion ceremony evidence, or can’t roll effectively, their belt is likely fraudulent.
What’s the fastest anyone has legitimately gotten a BJJ black belt?
The fastest legitimate black belts typically take 5-7 years with exceptional circumstances: prior grappling experience (judo, wrestling), full-time training (twice daily), high-level competition performance, and natural aptitude. However, the Derek Moneyberg case (3.5 years) shows that even promotions from legitimate practitioners can be questioned when time and competition requirements aren’t met. Most practitioners take 10-15 years.
Is a 3-year BJJ black belt legitimate?
Almost certainly not. While rare exceptions exist (Olympic-level judokas transitioning to BJJ), a 3-year black belt typically indicates a “celebrity promotion” or fraudulent credential. Gold BJJ states about Derek Moneyberg’s 3.5-year promotion: “Derek Moneyberg’s black belt is fake as hell and is an embarrassment to the sport”. Legitimate black belts require mastery developed over 10+ years.
Why does BJJ take so long to get a black belt?
BJJ requires mastering hundreds of techniques across multiple positions (guard, passing, mount, back control), developing timing and reflexes through thousands of hours of live resistance training (rolling), and building the teaching ability to coach others. Unlike striking arts where you can practice techniques solo, BJJ requires live opponents who resist—dramatically increasing learning curve. The standardized belt system ensures consistent quality worldwide.
What happens if I wear a fake BJJ black belt?
You’ll be immediately exposed the moment you step on any legitimate BJJ mat. Fake black belts can’t demonstrate basic techniques, get submitted by blue belts during rolling, show zero positional awareness, and have no verifiable lineage. The BJJ community actively exposes frauds through social media, you’ll be removed from legitimate schools, and if teaching, you may face legal consequences for consumer fraud.
How do I verify my instructor’s BJJ black belt?
Ask for their complete lineage (who promoted them, who promoted that person, etc.), then verify with the promoting instructor or association. Check association websites (IBJJF, local federations) for registered black belts, search for promotion ceremony documentation (photos/videos), and look for competition records. Legitimate instructors welcome these questions—frauds dodge them. Novaki BJJ emphasizes: verified lineage is essential for legitimacy.
Start Your Legitimate BJJ Journey
Educational Resources:
- BJJ Belt System – Understand progression
- White Belt Guide – Start here
- How Long to Black Belt – Realistic timeline
- What is Guard? – Core concept
Essential Techniques to Learn:
- Mount Escape – White belt survival
- Closed Guard – Defensive foundation
- Rear Naked Choke – King of submissions
- Scissor Sweep – First sweep
Don’t buy a belt. Earn it.
How We Reviewed This Article
Editorial Standards: Information verified through legitimate BJJ lineage requirements, IBJJF standards, documented fraud cases, and interviews with verified black belts. Fraud identification methods reviewed by practitioners with 10+ years experience and verified lineage.
Sources Referenced:
- Novaki BJJ (lineage verification)
- Gold BJJ (Derek Moneyberg analysis)
- Martial Art Fraud (legal framework)
- Chewjitsu (fake black belt discussion)
- Combat Creative (promotion standards)
- Reddit r/bjj (community verification methods)
- Multiple fraud exposure cases
Last Updated: January 14, 2026