Blue belt
Mat Assistant
Assists in Kids, Youth and Adults classes. Does not run a class by themselves.
Gentle Way Jiu-Jitsu
Coach Certification Program
For jiu-jitsu practitioners building a career in teaching the art. One standard: safety, respect and technical excellence.
New here?
18+Blue belt or higher
- Create an account
- Pick your level and classes
- Upload certificates, sign, pass the quiz
- Teach supervised hours
- Get certified
Parents and partners
Check that a coach is certified, what they may teach, and the safety requirements they completed.
Levels
Purple belt
Assistant Coach
Leads a Kids or Youth class, always paired with a certified Mat Assistant or higher. Assists a Junior Coach or Coach in Adults classes, including as uke (demonstration partner).
Brown belt
Junior Coach
Leads Kids and Youth classes (always paired with a certified Mat Assistant or higher), Adults beginner classes and No Gi classes, depending on endorsements. Assists a Coach in advanced Adults classes.
Black belt
Coach
Leads every class, including advanced Adults classes, except black belt classes and coach instruction. Kids and Youth classes always have a second certified coach on the mat. Two Coaches may co-lead very large or advanced classes. Supervises and signs off coaches below black belt.
Black belt, 1st stripe+
Professor
Everything a Coach does, plus teaches black belts and advanced BJJ and leads the coaching team: supervises and signs off every level, including Coaches, and runs coach orientation and observed evaluations. Eligible to apply to open a GWJJ academy with the support of Gentle Way Jiu-Jitsu.
Who leads and who assists
Endorsements are the class types on your certificate: Kids, Youth, Adults, or any combination. Your belt sets whether you lead or assist in each.
| Level | Kids | Youth | Adults · Beginners | Adults · No Gi | Adults · All levels | Black belts · Coach instruction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mat AssistantBlue belt | Assists | Assists | Assists | Assists | Assists | — |
| Assistant CoachPurple belt | Leads | Leads | Assists | Assists | Assists | — |
| Junior CoachBrown belt | Leads | Leads | Leads | Leads | Assists | — |
| CoachBlack belt | Leads | Leads | Leads | Leads | Leads | — |
| ProfessorBlack belt, 1st stripe+ | Leads | Leads | Leads | Leads | Leads | Leads |
- Assisting is always under a higher belt. Blue belts assist purple, brown and black belts. Purple belts assist brown and black. Brown belts assist black.
- Two black belts may co-lead very large or advanced (non-beginner) classes.
- Kids and Youth: our policy calls for a second adult, usually a Mat Assistant, on the mat or in direct view.
Requirements
Every level
SafeSport (yearly) · CPR/First Aid and Massachusetts mandated reporter training · CORI and SORI checks (every 2 years) · BJJ belt certificate · knowledge check (through Coach) · signed agreements · extra SafeSport courses for Kids and Youth classes
Teaching hours
At least 20 supervised hours per level, and at least 10 in each endorsement you choose
Renewal
Every 18 months: 40 teaching hours, at least 20% supervised, with current certificates