I came from a boxing and muay thai background (usually trained in gyms which had boxing, muayt hai,mma and bjj) and when i went to a couple of pure bjj gyms, i didnt really like their method of teachings.Everyone regardless of experience were taught the same 2 moves and asked to practice and then roll afterwards. There was no proper curriculum and even after a couple months retention of knowledge was not there.
Plus some of these gyms (pure sports bjj) seemed to have a stick up their ass trying to prove stuff due to my standup and a lil bit of mma background (egging me during rolls).I never had that problem during the few bjj lessons i took in gyms which taught a mixture of standup and ground sessions.
I suffered a slip disc during one of those uber agrressive rolls and was out for over 8 months.Late last year i joined a Gracie CTC. Have been training 2 to 3 times a week for about 3 months and just got my 1st stripe. At this rate, i would be on course for 4 stripes white in a year. (you have to go through each technique e.g take the back/rear naked choke 4 times in the curriculum)
Plus first 15 minutes of each session starts with practicing the moves you learnt before with a partner. Im usually at the gym 20 minutes earlier and if there is no partner there yet, i would do drills on the heavy bag.
I really like the curriculum and systematic style of teaching and at our gym we start rolling ( your choice ) at open mat sessions after each class. We have a mixture of guys with MMA /Boxing/ Krav Maga / Weightlifting backgrounds so though we dont roll full on, we get to learn quite abit applying techniques on different people. ( Like the boxing guy would throw punches when we try to get into a clinch takedown, Weightlifting guy uses his strength when on the ground, Krav guy goes for eyes and balls etc.
The controversy on online blue belts is well known. Rickson stepped in and though he commended Rener on their focus on self defence he also said a true blue belt should be able to handle himself with a trained and also untrained opponent. They have now changed it to a special Gracie Combatives belt, which you get after your 4th white stripe assuming you pass the test.
I dont really care much for belts, since i wear nogi attire for training mostly, but i do get that having a belt aids with retention of students who need something to aspire for.