Your MMA's Background?

[Hitchahard]

Hey:

I haven't posted (or checked) the forum in over 2 years. Its good to see its still going strong - although I don't see any names I recognize from the old days.

I wanted to see what people's martial arts backgrounds are that are posting on the forum. Here's mine below. Thanks...

Black Belt in Hwa Rang Do: 1982 - 1987
BJJ Green Belt: 1994 - 1995
Ruas Vale Tudo Green Belt: 2001 - 2002 (In my opinion, Marco Ruas is the best instructor there is - bar none!)

Also, I recently relocated to Denver - if anyone knows of a good MMA school here please let me know.

Later,

Hitch...

[Sean Dempsey]

which BJJ school gives green belts? What does that equal in the white/blue/purple/brown/black scheme?

[mjohnson]

BJJ belts

https://www.pittmansbjj.com

That is a place I trained for a while, He has a 14 belt system with 2-3 stripes. It explains it on his website, it's off the wall to me. WTF? I guess it keeps students interested. Some BJJ instructors get creative. He is a Carlos Machado Black Belt.

My background

Boxing- My grandfather was professional boxer in 60's. Just a few butt kicking lessions here and there.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu- Started with a friend, went to pittmans for a while, then my friend opened a dojo, then I moved. Almost 2 1/2 years combined training. Now I train with another blue belt where I live. We also did kick boxing, vale tudo, and muay thai.

Hapkido- Just started 3 months ago, yellow belt.. woohoo

[Hitchahard]

Sean Dempsey:

Sorry its taken me a few days to respond - been busy at work! Green is only three levels up in the discipline I studied of BJJ. In Ruas Vale Tudo, a green belt is only two levels up. Frankly, I don't even like the idea of belts in MMA. I agree that its there primarily to keep people interested. A white belt that's in shape, strong and at the top of his game can defeat a black belt in some cases.

In Ruas Vale Tudo, Marco wasn't real interested in giving belts. Frankly, he would grant them very informally which I preferred.

Regards,

Hitch...

[Thai Bri]

A guy I know went to Brasil to train a few times. Someone there (not sure who) has awarded him a green belt in BJJ.