Kids Grading and Belt System at GB Highland Village

For parents new to Gracie Barra Highland Village, the belt system can look like a complicated rainbow. Unlike Karate, where children might earn a black belt in 2–3 years, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a marathon. A child cannot earn a Black Belt; the highest rank a minor (under 16) can achieve is a Green Belt.

The Gracie Barra Kids (GBK) grading system is designed to provide frequent, tangible reinforcement (stripes) while maintaining high standards for major milestones (belts).

Here is a detailed breakdown of how your child progresses through the ranks.

1. The Belt Hierarchy (The Colors)

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) system used by Gracie Barra splits the youth belts into five main color groups, with sub-tiers to ensure children don’t go years without a promotion.

 White Belt: The starting point for everyone.

 The Grey Group (Ages 4–15):

 Grey & White Belt

 Solid Grey Belt

 Grey & Black Belt

 The Yellow Group (Ages 7–15):

 Yellow & White Belt

 Solid Yellow Belt

 Yellow & Black Belt

 The Orange Group (Ages 10–15):

 Orange & White Belt

 Solid Orange Belt

 Orange & Black Belt

 The Green Group (Ages 13–15):

 Green & White Belt

 Solid Green Belt

 Green & Black Belt (The highest youth rank).

2. The Stripe System (Monthly “Micro-Wins”)

Because it takes a long time (8–12 months) to move from one belt color to the next, Gracie Barra uses Stripes (pieces of white athletic tape wrapped around the black bar of the belt) to mark monthly progress.

 Frequency: In the “Little Champions” program, students typically earn a stripe every month (or every specific number of classes, e.g., 20 classes).

 The Goal: This provides the “instant gratification” needed to keep young children motivated.

 The Rule: A student generally earns 4 stripes on a belt before they are considered for the next belt color.

3. How Grading Works: The “Attendance Card”

At Gracie Barra Highland Village, progress is not a guessing game. It is data-driven.

 The Card: Every student has a physical attendance card stored at the front desk.

 The Routine: When your child arrives, they pull their card and hand it to the coach.

 The Logic: This teaches accountability. If the card isn’t full, they know they aren’t ready for a stripe. It removes the “Why didn’t I get promoted?” complaints because the data is visible.

4. Grading Criteria: It’s Not Just About Fighting

Earning a belt at Gracie Barra is about more than just beating people up. The Professors look at three pillars:

1. Technical Skill: Can they execute the moves for their level? (e.g., Can a Grey Belt do a proper armbar?)
2. Discipline: Do they stand still in listening stance? Do they respect their partners?
3. Off-the-Mat Behavior: Instructors often ask parents, “How are their grades? Are they behaving at home?” A child who is a bully at school or failing classes may have their promotion held back until behavior improves. This reinforces that being a “Champion” is a 24/7 job.

5. The “Belt Ceremony” (The Big Event)

Belt promotions usually do not happen at the end of a random Tuesday class. They happen at a Graduation Ceremony.

 The Event: These are large, seasonal events (often Summer and Winter) where the whole team gathers.

 The Gauntlet: Students may have to demonstrate techniques or do a “shark tank” (sparring multiple partners) to prove they are ready.

 The Moment: The Professor calls the student up, ties the new belt around their waist, and the student gets a picture. It is a rite of passage that builds immense pride.

6. The “16-Year-Old” Reset (The Blue Belt)

A common confusion for parents is what happens when a “Green Belt” teen turns 16.

 The Reset: At age 16, they transfer to the Adult System.

 The Blue Belt: Most solid Green Belts are promoted directly to Adult Blue Belt.

 The Reality: An Adult Blue Belt is a serious rank. A 16-year-old Blue Belt who has been training since age 6 is often highly dangerous and capable of defeating untrained adult men.

🥋 Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village: A Comprehensive Profile

Gracie Barra Highland Village is a top-tier martial arts academy located in Highland Village, Texas, serving the communities of Highland Village, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Lantana. As an official franchise of Gracie Barra (GB)—one of the largest and most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) organizations in the world—this academy adheres to high standards of instruction, safety, and curriculum.

Here is a detailed breakdown of everything you can expect from this specific academy.

1. Philosophy and Mission

The academy operates under the global Gracie Barra motto: “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone.”

This means the school is not an intimidating “fight club” for professional cage fighters. Instead, it is an educational center designed to make BJJ accessible to toddlers, teenagers, working professionals, and seniors alike. The goal is personal development through martial arts, focusing on:

 Self-Defense: Real-world protection.

 Wellness: Physical fitness and mental health.

 Community: Building a positive social environment.

2. Program Structure

Gracie Barra Highland Village utilizes a standardized, week-by-week curriculum. This means a student knows exactly what they are learning, and if they visit another GB school, the instruction remains consistent.

1. Future Champions (Kids Program)

This is a cornerstone of the Highland Village location, given the family-oriented demographics of the area.

 Little Champions I (Ages 3–6): Focuses on “mat awareness,” coordination, following instructions, and basic body movements. It is heavily game-based to keep toddlers engaged.

 Little Champions II (Ages 7–9): Introduces technical Jiu-Jitsu. Students learn escapes, controls, and the Gracie Barra Anti-Bullying system (verbal de-escalation and non-violent control).

 Juniors & Teens (Ages 10–14): A more mature curriculum that prepares students for the adult program. It focuses on fitness, discipline, and complex problem-solving.

1. GB Adult Program

The adult curriculum is split into tiers to ensure safety and proper progression.

 GB1: Fundamentals (White Belts): The entry-level program. It focuses on self-defense, safety, and the core principles of BJJ (base, posture, leverage). There is usually no full-contact sparring (rolling) in the first few weeks to prioritize safety.

 GB2: Advanced (Blue Belt & Up): Once the basics are mastered, students move to GB2. This class involves more complex techniques, combinations, and live sparring (“rolling”).

 GB3: Black Belt Program: Designed for advanced practitioners to refine their style, flow, and transitions.

1. Private Training

For students who want to accelerate their learning or work on specific weaknesses, the professors at Highland Village offer one-on-one private lessons.

3. The Class Experience

A typical 60-minute class at GB Highland Village follows a rigid structure:

1. Line Up: Students line up by rank (belt color) and bow in to show respect.
2. Warm-up: 10–15 minutes of calisthenics and BJJ-specific drills (shrimping, breakfalls).
3. Technique: The Professor demonstrates a technique (e.g., an escape from the mount) and explains the leverage points.
4. Partner Drills: Students pair up to practice the move.
5. Specific Training | Rolling:

 Beginners: Positional training (starting from a specific spot and resetting).

 Advanced: Free sparring.

6. Bow Out: Class ends with a formal dismissal and handshake line.

4. Facility and Standards

Gracie Barra Highland Village maintains the “Premium School” standards required by the franchise.

 Hygiene: The mats are sanitized professionally every day. Personal hygiene (clean Gi, trimmed nails) is strictly enforced.

 Uniforms: Students are required to wear the official Gracie Barra Uniform (Gi). This fosters a sense of equality and team unity—on the mats, a CEO and a student are equals.

 Atmosphere: The facility is designed to be bright, clean, and welcoming to families. It typically includes a lobby for parents to watch their children train.

5. Instructors and Lineage

The instructors (Professors and Coaches) at GB Highland Village are certified through the Gracie Barra ICP (Instructor Certification Program).

 This ensures they are not just good fighters, but trained teachers who know how to handle safety, first aid, and pedagogy.

 The Texas region of Gracie Barra is historically very strong, influenced heavily by high-level Brazilian professors who settled in the Dallas/Houston areas. The instruction at Highland Village reflects this high-level lineage.

6. Benefits for Highland Village Residents

 Community Connection: It serves as a “third place” (outside of home and work/school) for residents of Highland Village and Flower Mound to socialize.

 Bully Prevention: For local school-aged children, the program provides confidence and tools to handle social and physical aggression.

 Stress Relief: For working adults, the intense focus required in BJJ acts as a form of “moving meditation,” clearing the mind of work stress.

7. Getting Started

The enrollment process at Gracie Barra Highland Village is standardized:

1. Free Introductory Class: New students are almost always offered a free trial class to experience the culture.
2. Introduction: You will likely meet with a Program Director who will give you a tour, explain the schedule, and discuss membership goals.
3. The “Red Shield”: Upon signing up, you receive your uniform and are welcomed into the team.

Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village is a structured, safe, and family-centric martial arts academy. It combines the rigorous physical training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a supportive community atmosphere, making it a popular choice for families in the Denton County area.

Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village

Informations

ADDRESS

200 Marketplace Ln, Suite 205, Highland Village, TX, United States, Texas

PHONE

+1 (972) 439-7411

Kids Grading and Belt System at GB Highland Village