A Machado Belt will win no fights for you, and will not make you a better person. It is what you are inside, what you know and can perform, that is important, that is your true rank. As such, attaining belts in Machado Jiu-Jitsu is never the true goal. Rather, always strive to achieve the physical, mental and spiritual mastery, which results in a belt being awarded. Without these attributes, a belt is worthless.
There is only one true rank in Machado Jiu-Jitsu - Black Belt. All belts below this point are progress points. A Black Belt represents completion of a course of study in the martial arts. Colored belt ranks in Machado Jiu-Jitsu, blue, purple, brown - represent progress towards achieving Black Belt.
Quitting Machado Jiu-Jitsu before a student is a Black Belt is like quitting school before he or she graduates. In many organizations, students who hold less than a Black Belt rank lose their rank after six-months if they quit. This is because these ranks represent progress not attainment of the only true rank - Black Belt.
