‘To others it’s just tape': exploring meaning making and the striping system in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) instruction typically focuses on its self defense, competition, fitness and fun. Practitioners earn and progress through coloured belts to signify skill within the sport. Although existing research has explored how the promotion to a new belt is symbolically significant enough to warrant a ceremony, to our knowledge, little academic focus has unpacked the constructed meaning of BJJ ‘stripes’ – a piece of white tape that practitioners earn and wear on their current belt to signify progress between belts. Using symbolic interactionist perspectives, we identify a BJJ ‘online community of practice’ that has developed on message boards and Facebook groups dedicated to amateur BJJ; and analyse how community members discuss the significance of ‘stripes’ as tied to achievement, perseverance, and self-identity. BJJ ‘stripes’ represent a unique part of sport dress and help formulate a collective identity among BJJ participants that contributes to the sport’s unique culture.