Gracie University Grading Credability

[LondonGhaazi]

Do you think that belt gradings from the Gracie University are credable?

There is a lot of criticism from people who consider grading through videos as utter nonsense, but how is it different from an instructor watching a video of someone to watching them live?

[Rob T]

Rolling with someone or watching them regularly against a selection of different people is totally different to watching a video, that should be obvious. Grading someone from watching a video is a money making scheme and nothing else.

[Simon Hayes]

No.Not credible at all.

[nihilist]

and close thread. shouldn't even be open to discussion. perhaps for other martial arts maybe, but this is not for bjj.

[jackmcd]

On tape you can send a highlight reel of your greatest sweeps and rolls. In person, there's no way to hide from your instructor's eyes when your training partners maul you.

[dave coles]

On tape you can send a highlight reel of your greatest sweeps and rolls. In person, there's no way to hide from your instructor's eyes when your training partners maul you.

Just to play devils advocate.
How about a highlight reel of your greatest sweeps and rolls performed in competition?

[jackmcd]

Just to play devils advocate.
How about a highlight reel of your greatest sweeps and rolls performed in competition?

It's the same thing really, it's a manipulation of reality by deleting the bits that make a person look embarrassing. It's a bit like playing a season on Fifa and re-loading the game every time you lose a match. It might make you look good on paper, but it bears little relation to your actual skill level.

[dave coles]

It's the same thing really, it's a manipulation of reality by deleting the bits that make a person look embarrassing. It's a bit like playing a season on Fifa and re-loading the game every time you lose a match. It might make you look good on paper, but it bears little relation to your actual skill level.

very true, I didn't pick up on the 'highlight' reel and was thinking more along the lines of full fight videos.

[slideyfoot]

Do you think that belt gradings from the Gracie University are credable?

Not before blue belt, as there is no sparring whatsoever, only compliant drills (which I babble about more here). There might be more of an argument for after blue belt, as they do apparently include sparring (according to this), but there are still plenty of major problems with that. Most significant is that students will still be evaluated on video running through what is basically a BJJ kata, rather than by an instructor who has been observing your rolling in person with a range of training partners over a long period.

[Tony L]

what about being graded through a seminar? Is this not as bad?

say any of the Gracie University guy graded someone at a seminar or any other BJJ black belt?

I'm not looking to stir anything or argue just plain curious lol