The Ranking System at the MMA Institute for General Kickboxing and Grappling
The rank system, or hierarchy, is as follows: no belt, white belt, blue belt, purple belt, brown belt, black belt, and finally the master's belt. The master's belt is a black belt with the individual's name on it, and each stripe on the belt represents four years as a master.
A master in this system means you have been teaching or operating a school for a minimum of four years and have consistently met the MMA Institute's standards during the biannual examination.
If you are an active member of the MMA Institute and follow the system set forth by the instructor, the ranking format is as follows:
No belt to white belt: Basic grappling, body mechanics, and conditioning.
White belt: Grappling and throws.
Blue belt: Ground grappling, transitions to standing, throws, and an introduction to boxing.
Purple belt: Boxing and kickboxing.
Brown belt: Advanced kickboxing and grappling.
Black belt: Capable of teaching a no-belt student and developing their skills to an equal or greater level.
Not all schools are required to operate under the MMA Institute's active member ranking format. Each respective school may have its own teaching structure. The MMA Institute primarily certifies black belts, teachers, and school owners who teach their own martial arts curriculum.
