Nomad Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Studio

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes in Wilson Creek (Sechelt) on the Sunshine Coast, BC

NOMAD BJJ Youth Belt Promotion Handbook

Dear Student,

Welcome to NOMAD BJJ! Congratulations on starting your journey towards Black Belt Excellence. Our dojo is dedicated to not only developing martial arts skills but also fostering holistic growth, emphasizing discipline, respect, and leadership. This handbook provides an overview of dojo etiquette, belt promotion requirements, and what is expected at each belt level.

We are excited to support you in achieving your goals and look forward to seeing your progress both on and off the mats.

Table of Contents

Dojo Etiquette

Proper etiquette is essential in creating a respectful and positive learning environment. The following rules should be observed at all times:

  • Promptness: Arrive before class begins. If late, wait for permission before joining. (Note: You may enter class late or leave early if needed due to your schedule)
  • Respect: Always remove shoes when entering the dojo and bow before entering and leaving the training area.
  • Line-Up: At the start of class, line up by rank with senior students on the right when facing the instructor.
  • Greetings: Bow to the Sensei or Instructor and black belts when entering or leaving the dojo.
  • Partner Respect: Always bow or slap/bump to your partner before and after practice.
  • No Jewelry: Do not wear watches, earrings, chains, rings, hair clasps or anything else hard or metal during training.
  • No Eating/Drinking: Food and drinks are not allowed on the training mats.
  • Hygiene: Keep fingernails and toenails trimmed and ensure your gi and body are clean.
  • Respect for Rank: Junior students should look to seniors for guidance, imitate their behavior, and senior students should protect, help, and treat juniors with respect and consideration.
  • Teaching: Only demonstrate techniques when asked by the instructor.
  • Temper Control: Maintain composure and never lose your temper during practice.
  • Attention: Do not speak when the instructor is giving directions.
  • Permission to Leave: If Necessary, ask for permission if you need to leave class early.

Belt Promotion Requirements

NOMAD BJJ belt promotions are based on technical proficiency, attitude, attendance, and overall character. Promotions are not automatic; they are earned through consistent effort, respect, and dedication.

Below are the specific requirements for each belt level:

Grey/White Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 4)

Movement Techniques:

  • Bear Crawl
  • Rolling forward and backward over the shoulder
  • Hip escapes
  • Backward break falls

BJJ Techniques:

  • 1 Takedown
  • 1 Submission from Mount
  • 1 Escape from Mount
  • 1 Sweep from Guard
  • 1 Guard Pass

Self-Defence:

Technical stand-up
Single-handed wrist grab defences (thumb up and thumb down)

Fitness:

  • Count to 5 in Portuguese during jumping jacks:
    • “Um”
    • “Dois”
    • “Três”
    • “Quatro”
    • “Cinco”

Culture:

  • Proper gi wear and belt tying
  • Japanese terms:
    • “Arigatou” (informal thank you)
    • “Arigatou gozaimasu” (formal thank you)
    • “OSS” used for confirmation / yes, and emphasis
  • Portuguese terms:
    • “Obrigado” Thank you (males)
    • “Obrigada” Thank you (females)
    • “Kimono” or “Gi” as terms for the uniform

Grey Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 5)

Movement Techniques:

  • Side break falls
  • Alligator/Lizard walk
  • Crab walk
  • Forward roll to standing

BJJ Techniques:

  • 1 Takedown (O-Soto-Gari)
  • 1 Submission from Mount
  • 1 Escape from Mount
  • 1 Sweep from Guard
  • 1 Guard Pass

Self-Defence:

  • Two-handed wrist grab break
  • Technical stand-up with kick
  • Standing in base

Fitness:

  • Count to 10 in Portuguese during jumping jacks:
    • “Um”
    • “Dois”
    • “Três”
    • “Quatro”
    • “Cinco”
    • “Seis”
    • “Sete”
    • “Oito”
    • “Nove”
    • “Dez”

Culture:

  • Demonstrate key positions:
    • Mount
    • Closed Guard
    • Back Control
    • Side Control
  • Japanese for “Stop”: “Yame”
  • Portuguese for “Stop”: “Parou”

Grey/Black Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 6)

Movement Techniques:

  • Alligator / Spiderman walk
  • Forward and backward rolls over the head
  • Forward roll with a break fall (mat slap to stop)

BJJ Techniques:

  • 1 Takedown
  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 1 Guard Pass

Self-Defence:

  • Front choke defence (one-handed and two-handed)
  • Mount-to-back control sequence

Fitness:

  • Count to 10 in Portuguese during jumping jacks
  • Count to 5 in Japanese during squats:
    • “Ichi”
    • “Ni”
    • “San”
    • “Shi”
    • “Go”

Culture:

  • Understand tapping out (three ways)
  • Demonstrate position points:
    • Mount
    • Closed Guard
    • Back Control
    • Side Control
  • Portuguese terms for:
    • Stalling “Lute” (Loochi)
    • Begin the match or combat “Combate” (Combatchi)

Yellow/White Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 7)

Movement Techniques:

  • Bridging (straight back and over the shoulder)

BJJ Techniques:

  • 2 Takedowns
  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Guard Passes
  • 1 Escape from bottom side control

Self-Defence:

  • Rear bear hug (under arms)
  • Basic self-defence drill (break fall, move back, kick technical stand-up)

Fitness:

  • Count to 10 in Portuguese during jumping jacks
  • Count to 10 in Japanese during squats:
    • “Ichi”
    • “Ni”
    • “San”
    • “Shi”
    • “Go”
    • “Roku”
    • “Shichi”
    • “Hachi”
    • “Kyu”
    • “Ju”
  • 5 push-ups

Culture:

  • Who are the Gracies? Who is Helio Gracie?
  • Demonstrate three versions of Side Control
  • Understand points for Takedowns, Knee on Belly, Sweeps, and Passing Guard
    • Takedown/Throw = 2 points
    • Knee on Belly = 2 points
    • Sweep = 2 points
    • Pass Guard= 3 points
    • Mount = 4 points
    • Back control w/ hooks = 4 points

Yellow Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 8)

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 2 Guard Passes
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control

Takedowns:

  • Major Outside Leg Reap (O-Soto-Gari)
  • Major Inside Leg Reap (O-Uchi-Gari)
  • Major Hip Throw (O-Goshi)

Self-Defence:

  • Front bear hug (over and under arms)

Fitness:

  • 50 Jumping Jacks
  • 10 Push-ups

Culture:

  • Understand different mount variations and advantage points
  • Awareness of legal competition submissions for kids (for most competitions)
    • 6-7 yrs
      • Armlock
    • 8-11 yrs
      • Armlock
      • Kimura
      • Americana
      • Bow and Arrow Choke
      • Collar Choke
      • Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
      • Triangle (no pulling down on the head)
    • 12-15 yrs
      • Armlock
      • Kimura
      • Americana
      • Stretching legs apart
      • Bow and Arrow Choke
      • Collar Choke
      • Rear Naked Choke (RNC)
      • Triangle (no pulling down on the head)

Yellow/Black Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 9)

Movement Techniques:

  • Roll backwards and stand in base

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 2 Guard Passes
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 1 Escape from Back Control

Takedowns:

  • 2 Takedowns focused on legs
  • Sacrifice throw

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 10 Dive-bomber Push-ups
  • 10 Sprawls

Culture:

  • Portuguese terms for:
    • Mount “Montar”
    • Guard “Guarda” (Gwarda)

Orange/White Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 10)

Basic Ground Positions:

  • Half Guard
  • Quarter Guard

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 2 Guard Passes
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 1 Escape from Back Control
  • 2 Submissions from Side Control
  • 1 Submission from Knee on Belly
  • 1 Sweep from Bottom Half Guard

Takedowns:

  • 2 Takedowns
  • Hip Wheel (Koshi-Guruma)
  • Sacrifice throw

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 10 Dive-bomber Push-ups
  • 10 Sprawls

Culture:

  • Portuguese terms for:
    • Posture “Postura”
    • Sweep “Respada”

Orange Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 11)

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 2 Guard Passes
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 1 Escape from Back Control
  • 2 Submissions from Side Control
  • 1 Submission from Knee on Belly
  • 2 Sweeps from Bottom Half Guard
  • 2 Half Guard Passes

Takedowns:

  • 3 Takedowns
  • Sacrifice throw

Self-Defence:

  • Defence against Headlock (holding)
  • Defence against Headlock (hitting)

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 10 Dive-bomber Push-ups
  • 10 Sprawls

Culture:

  • Portuguese for:
    • Head = “Cabeça” (cah-bay-sah)
    • Arm = “Braço” (bra-soh)
    • Leg = “Perna” (perh-nah)

Orange/Black Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 12)

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 3 Guard Passes (Sitting + Standing)
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 2 Escapes from Back Control
  • 2 Submissions from Side Control
  • 2 Submissions from Knee on Belly
  • 1 Escape from Knee on Belly
  • 2 Sweeps from Bottom Half Guard
  • 2 Half Guard Passes

Takedowns:

  • 3 Takedowns
  • Sacrifice throw

Self-Defence:

  • Single-handed collar grab
  • Two-handed collar grab
  • Escape from Headlock on the Ground

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 10 Dive-bomber Push-ups
  • 10 Sprawls
  • 5 Sit-Throughs
  • 5 Regular Shrimps
  • 5 Reverse Shrimps

Culture:

  • Portuguese for:
    • Takedown “Derrubar”
    • Let’s Go! “Vamo Bora!”

Green/White Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 13)

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 3 Guard Passes (Sitting + Standing)
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 2 Escapes from Back Control
  • 2 Submissions from Side Control
  • 2 Submissions from Knee on Belly
  • 1 Escape from Knee on Belly
  • 2 Sweeps from Bottom Half Guard
  • 2 Half Guard Passes
  • 1 Transition from Turtle to Back Control
  • 1 Submission on an opponent in Turtle position
  • 1 Choke from Side Control
  • 2 Arm Attack Combinations from Side Control

Takedowns:

  • 4 Takedowns
  • Counter to hip throws
  • Stripping and grip fighting from standing

Self-Defence:

  • Sprawl Defence to Double Leg
  • Full Nelson Escape

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 15 Divebomber Push-ups
  • 15 Sprawls
  • 10 Sit-Throughs
  • 10 Regular Shrimps
  • 10 Reverse Shrimps

Culture:

  • Portuguese for:
    • Grips “Pegadas”
    • On top “Por cima” (por seema)

Green Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 14)

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 3 Guard Passes (Sitting + Standing)
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 2 Escapes from Back Control
  • 2 Submissions from Knee on Belly
  • 1 Escape from Knee on Belly
  • 2 Sweeps from Bottom Half Guard
  • 2 Half Guard Passes
  • 1 Transition from Turtle to Back Control
  • 1 Submission on an opponent in Turtle position
  • 1 Choke from Side Control
  • 2 Arm Attack Combinations from Side Control
  • 3 Submission Combinations from Back Control
  • 3 Submission Combinations from Mount
  • Lapel Choke from Back

Takedowns:

  • 5 Takedowns
  • Pull Guard with and without Gi

Self-Defence:

  • Cross Collar Choke from Standing
  • Single-Handed Shoulder Grab Escape
  • Sprawl Defence to Leg Takedown

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 15 Dive-bomber Push-ups
  • 15 Sprawls
  • 20 Sit-Throughs
  • 15 Regular Shrimps
  • 15 Reverse Shrimps

Culture:

  • Portuguese for:
    • Look up “Olha pra cima”
    • Closed guard “Guarda Fechada”

Green/Black Belt Requirements (Minimum Age: 15)

Ground Techniques:

  • 2 Submissions from Mount
  • 2 Escapes from Mount
  • 2 Sweeps from Guard
  • 2 Submissions from Guard
  • 3 Guard Passes (Sitting + Standing)
  • 2 Escapes from bottom side control
  • 2 Submissions from Back Control
  • 2 Escapes from Back Control
  • 2 Submissions from Knee on Belly
  • 1 Escape from Knee on Belly
  • 2 Sweeps from Bottom Half Guard
  • 2 Half Guard Passes
  • 1 Transition from Turtle to Back Control
  • 1 Submission on an opponent in Turtle position
  • 1 Choke from Side Control
  • 2 Arm Attack Combinations from Side Control
  • 3 Submission Combinations from Back Control
  • 3 Submission Combinations from Mount
  • 3 Submission Combinations from Guard

Takedowns:

  • 5 Takedowns
  • Pull Guard with and without Gi

Self-Defence:

  • Standing Choke from Behind
  • Standing Choke & Drag from Behind

Fitness:

  • 30 Squats
  • 15 Divebomber Push-ups
  • 15 Sprawls
  • 30 Sit-Throughs
  • 20 Regular Shrimps
  • 20 Reverse Shrimps

Culture:

  • Portuguese for:
    • Guard Pass “Passagem de guarda”
    • Choke “Estrangular”

Closing Remarks

At NOMAD BJJ, the belt is a symbol of progress, but the true goal is personal development—both on and off the mats. Our curriculum emphasizes not just technique but also respect, discipline, and leadership. As you advance through the belt system, you’ll be expected to develop these qualities and help others do the same. We’re excited to be part of your journey and look forward to seeing your growth as a martial artist and individual. Welcome to the NOMAD BJJ family!

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