Should we be BJJ Brown Belts? (Michael Pixley & Brandon Reed Sandbag No-Gi Pans for PSF?)

Today's video comes from this weekend's Pan Ams No-Gi tournament where my teammate Pixley and I both won our respective weight classes.

Both of us got a lot of hate for being "Sandbaggers" even though we both had tough matches in the bracket and have less than 3.5 years of BJJ experience.

Today I will address these comments, give you my perspective on our Belt Situation, and why professional Purple Belts are actually much better than grapplers often give them credit for.

I'm sure this video will hurt someone's feelings, but I guess it is what it is.

In my short time in the sport, I've met some of my toughest opponents at this level and I know Pix has too.

It's time you hear my side of the story...

Thanks for watching...
Brandon

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[SuperJayme]

Brandon I watched you lose last year and no one said a word. I respect the fact that your professors are keeping up a standard as far as not just giving you a belt. I know both of your instructors and they're solid guys. You put in the work and you're now getting the results. There is more that go into promotions than just winning tournaments, your instructors know this. Keep shining!

[derrickrobinson]

Been following you since your 1st debut with Chewy, You're a physical specimen, great wrestler, and an even greater student. I cannot believe people are shocked at how fast you are progressing

[jeshaya]

one disciplines oneself in consistency, effort and sacrifice, this is what creates the wrestling condition amd mindset to succeed.. good work Brandon

[jamesmoore]

I think people who have never competed are probably underestimating the level of competition at the color belts for these major tournaments.

[dominicheath]

When I first met you and pixley in 2021, you guys had only been training for 2-3 years. And now 3 years later your purple. Little under 5 years training you guys are world class. Aren’t sandbagging.

[someone-quelquun]

At my old gym we had an 18 year old that started at 4 years old. He got is blue belt around 16 and is purple around 18. He would beat easily some of our brown and black belts and I remember asking my coach about it and he said he wanted the young prodigy to get the feeling of every level. It would not be fair to him to straight promote him to black. Some guys are made to dominate each level on their way up.

[siddwitmusic]

I think the issue is BJJ overall, there are no standards when it comes to ranks. Theoretically any upper belt can promote you it's not like it has to be signed off on. But that isn't the athletes fault. Correct me if I'm wrong but Judo regularly does tests for belt promotions. BJJ people don't want to do that because we think the sport is so magical and special after all these years. Naw it's still grappling. Do your thing Brandon and keep growing, I'll keep watching! #bringbackbelttests

[kylechu]

I’ve been rocking with Brandon since Chewy first post about him when he was wearing a singlet in the gym. He’s going to be a very big name in Bjj one day. Just remember I’ve always supported you bro. 🤝🏽

[pier]

Bro. If you’re subbing black belts. You’re a black belt. Yes. You’re spot on that community is off its head. Keep thrashing black belts bro.

[malachiharvey]

Beautiful message. It’s stuff like this that will keep bjj in the rearview mirror and lacking popularity

[thewanderer]

You've been training for 4 years. A belt signifies your understanding of concepts, and, by extension, your ability to relay information. This is unrelated to how you perform in competition. They're two very different skillets. There are great black belt professors I've met that are outstanding at explaining technique in ways that others can understand, but aren't great in competition. Conversely, I've met great competitors that aren't very good at explaining things. Haters gonna hate big dawg.

[tededo]

Well, who were the sandbaggers in BJJ remind me again ? Nik Rod when he was blue.
Jokko Willink was blue for 7 yrs. Dan THE GIANT Manasouiu was blue and adcc invitee. JJ Machado confessed he was blue for a long time.

I've never went to high level bjj comps, but I consider myself a sandbagger. I got my blue in early 2005, and besides 2 blue belters, I am having a great big fun time playing with blue belt students. I moved city to city and switched bjj academies too often for an instructor to promote me.

I know ton of blue and purple belt students who are doing some form of sandbagging by default cause we live in a heavy rural remote area so black belt instructors are a rare breed when they come.

I am 52, let me wrte my story. I might stay blue till 70 and begin submitting black belt hobbyists. I could careless. If we were a judo collective, we, d probably be black belts, but BJJ is actually undergoing an disorganized disfunctional non-federal non-official group, that arbitrarily rewards belts to its students. Lot of us will either fall between tow chairs or fly under instructors' radar.

I want to qualify my story as a Cinderella man, this 52 seasoned grappler hobbyist and long time blue belt. I'm just a dot on the map of this BJJ world. I dont think I am special. Like many students, I'm just a blue belt, and this is how BJJ is treating its students, labeling them as just a (fill in the blank) belt. So be it. I value my skills and as long as the academy where I am now is respecting me, I'm cool.

[michaelswann]

The haters are out there because they don’t have anything going on for themselves. You’ll never meet a hater working harder than you.

[frankgarguilo]

@BrandonReed3x, keep up the good work. With your platform there will always be haters. Stay above the nonesense. Just like Chewy. Love your stuff. Keep up the great work.

[SteelCoastBJJ]

I know Fabio Santos gave Justin Flores a purple belt when he started bjj and ibjjf approved it, so he was a 0 year purple belt, it seemed appropriate.

[bradlopez]

ok is it odd that the top of purple belt starts to look like brown belts ? I don't thinks so

[THEchadjitsu]

Absolute gigachad. Congrats on the Pans title! I grant you a black belt in mogging under Helio Chad.

[anthonydoherty]

Crazy your coming to Halifax for a seminar

[grahamallen]

'Surrender the outcome', thank you.

[Fabyfakid]

If wrestling had a belt system you guys would be black belts, but it's awesome you guys are coming into jiujitsu showing everyone the benefits of crosstraining.