This past weekend Paramount BJJ held it's 2009 Adult Belt Promotions at our Downingtown, PA location. It's not often that one achieves rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In fact, BJJ is known as one of the most difficult martial arts to advance in. Each of the four students who were called up to "test" for the belt had quite a challenge on their hands.

You see, in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu advancement through the belt ranks is not based on memorizing techniques as with many other martial arts. Rather, BJJ belt promotions (and the art of BJJ itself) are based on the application of techniques. Not only does a student need to recall the moves, he or she needs to be able to utilize the techniques while facing resistance. This dates back to the birth of BJJ on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, where knowing how to truly defend oneself was imperative. It's also an important part of BJJ training that sets it apart from other martial arts.

As with past Belt Promotions each student impressed with not just their skill but their courage and determination, and all four were promoted to blue belt! So once again a big congratulations to our new Blue Belts: