How to Fix BJJ

A combat sport is a competitive game that teaches skills that could come in handy if you have to fight to defend yourself, like boxing for example. As a combat sport IBJJF grappling is fine, but BJJ promises to be a more comprehensive self defense system: 

Here is a clear path on how BJJ can fulfill that promise of being more than just a combat sport:

1. White belts should complete the basic self defense instruction you offer ( Pink Belt, Gracie Combatives, etc.) so that all higher belts understand your basic self defense strategies. When white belts are rolling (free sparring,) to prevent injury and provide the most important skills for beginners, the white belts and anyone they are rolling with should going for positions only (not working on submissions outside of completing the self defense instruction.) 
2. Blue belts should focus on learning submissions and take downs. Anyone not rolling with a white belt should start standing up with the goal of submissions on the ground.
3. Purple belts should develop a working knowledge of striking, through safe free sparring. This does not have to cover everything seen in MMA, but it should include strikes seen as key to making BJJ work in MMA, including curriculum on how to fight while standing up.
4. Brown belts should practice knife grappling. A knife grappling round should start standing up, with one sparring partner being an attacker with a safety knife and the other sparring partner being a defender trying to take that knife away from the attacker, while the attacker is trying to land as many slashes and stabs on the defender as possible. Once the defender is able to take the knife away from the attacker, the two sparring partners should switch roles and continue. This both develops real knife disarming skills, and prepares them to use a knife, which is another option for dealing with multiple attackers besides running away. 

This guarantees that each black belt has more comprehensive training for self defense, and may improve student retention as new material is introduced at each belt level. As I have said from the beginning All Martial Arts Change, and if BJJ does not continue to evolve than it will soon be surpassed by what are now considered lesser martial arts: