BRAZILIAN Jiu Jitsu athletes from Mildura Martial Arts hit the mats last weekend for the region’s biggest ever grading.
A total of 130 practitioners both local and interstate took part in the event which was overseen by coach and owner Mick Moloney as well as 5th degree black belt and coach of Phuket Top Team Olavo Abreu.
The grading was also attended by Guinness Book of World Records holder Eva Clarke who holds 17 world records including the one, 10 and 24-hour chin up records, the burpee world record and the fastest marathon for a woman carrying a 20kg backpack.
Moloney said people of all levels progressed at the seminar.
“We had everything from beginner level all the way through to a 4th degree black belt being graded and to get your 4th degree that takes 13 years since you’ve got your black belt,” he said.
“This was by far the biggest grading we have hosted, this is not just like a normal in-house one, we had people coming from seven different Born To Roll gyms and another gym from Sale.”
Moloney said the grading tested the athletes physically and mentally.
“In BJJ there are 23 levels of rank and five belts. Those going from white to blue belt did 30 two-minute rounds with a 20 second break, those going from blue to purple did 60 rounds, purple to brown did 75 rounds and those going for black did 90 rounds,” he said.
“There are some people that got graded that didn’t have to do the physical component because for some people it was beyond them physically or they had done enough in my mind to progress to the next level.”
Moloney said there were expected standards for each belt.
“For a white belt to get their blue belt they are starting to understand certain concepts and learn the submission moves but also getting an idea about the instincts of survival,” he said.
“From blue to purple it is about survivability and coming up with your own concepts, at brown belt everything is getting rock solid and your teachability is on point.
“Black belt means no more mistakes, everything is just instinctual.”
Moloney hailed the event as a success and said he looked forward to hosting it again.
“Throughout the day there were 850 rounds completed and at one point we had 11 black belts on the mat,” he said.
“The feedback has been absolutely phenomenal, people loved the new grading format with the guys going for their black belts rolling for three hours straight.”
“Everyone loved it and said they can’t wait for next year.”
