Decentralized Belt System for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Andrei Georgescu

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

A DApp to standardize BJJ belt rankings and lineages, ensuring global consistency and transparency, thus solving the issue of varying standards and unclear lineages in the BJJ community

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependecies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The core elements of our DApp, including the smart contract code for belt ranking and lineage tracking, will be open source. This ensures transparency and fosters community trust, allowing others to verify the integrity of our algorithms and contribute to their improvement. We intend to use the MIT License for our open source components.

The smart contracts will be parametrizable (generic) in order to be easily reused for other martial arts ranking systems.

[METADATA] Horizons

Community Outreach

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our proposed solution is a decentralized application (DApp) on the Cardano blockchain, specifically designed to address the issues of inconsistent belt rankings and opaque lineage tracking in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

Perception of the Problem:

We recognize that the current BJJ system lacks a unified, transparent, and verifiable method to track practitioners' progress and lineage. This leads to discrepancies in belt rankings and difficulties in verifying a practitioner's training history, especially across different schools or regions.

Approach:

Our DApp leverages the Cardano blockchain's secure, transparent, and immutable nature to create a standardized system for recording and verifying belt rankings and lineages. By using blockchain technology, we ensure that once a record is made, it cannot be altered, thus providing a trustworthy and permanent account of a practitioner's journey and achievements.

Engagement:

The project targets BJJ practitioners, schools, and organizations worldwide. By providing a unified platform, we aim to bring together the fragmented BJJ community, facilitating smoother interactions and recognition of rankings globally.

Demonstrating Impact:

We will measure our impact through user adoption rates, the number of verified belt rankings and lineages on our platform, and feedback from the BJJ community. Success will be marked by widespread acceptance and use of our system as the standard for belt and lineage tracking in BJJ.

Uniqueness and Benefits:

Our solution is unique in its application of blockchain technology to a martial arts discipline. It not only solves a specific problem within the BJJ community but also demonstrates the versatility and utility of the Cardano blockchain in real-world, non-financial applications. The project promotes transparency, integrity, and global unity in BJJ, aligning with Cardano's vision of creating a more secure, transparent, and fair world.

Importance to Cardano:

This project illustrates the practical use of Cardano's blockchain technology beyond typical financial applications, showcasing its potential in diverse fields. It contributes to the broader adoption and understanding of blockchain technology, potentially attracting new users and developers to the Cardano ecosystem. By solving a real-world problem, it demonstrates Cardano's commitment to using technology for social good and community building.

The success of this DApp in standardizing belt rankings and lineage tracking in BJJ will encourage other martial arts communities to explore the potential of Cardano for their own unique challenges.

PS: We will try to develop the smart contracts as parametrizable (generic) as possible in order to be easily reused for other martial arts ranking systems.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Impact on the Wider Cardano Community:

1. Increased Cardano Adoption: Our project will introduce the Cardano blockchain to the global BJJ community, which comprises millions of practitioners. This exposure will not only raise awareness about Cardano but also potentially lead to increased adoption and investment in the Cardano ecosystem from a new and diverse user base.
2. Blueprint for Similar Initiatives: The success of our DApp can serve as a blueprint for other sports and communities looking to leverage blockchain for similar purposes, thus expanding the use cases and reach of Cardano's technology.

Measuring Impact:

The impact will be measured through both quantitative and qualitative metrics:

• Quantitative Metrics: User adoption rates, number of BJJ belt rankings and lineages recorded on the DApp, transaction volumes on the Cardano network due to our DApp, and growth in Cardano’s user base within the BJJ community.
• Qualitative Metrics: Feedback from BJJ practitioners and schools, community engagement and satisfaction, and the perceived increase in transparency and trust within the BJJ community.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our dual roles as technology professionals and BJJ enthusiasts uniquely qualify us to deliver this project with a high level of trust and accountability, directly addressing the needs and nuances of the BJJ community while managing the project effectively.

Capability to Deliver:

1. Relevant Experience: Backgrounds in technology complemented by personal experience in BJJ, ensuring understanding of both the technical aspects of the project and the specific needs of the BJJ community.
2. Insider Perspective: As active BJJ practitioners, we have firsthand insight into the challenges and nuances of the sport's ranking system, positioning us to address these issues more effectively.

Validating Feasibility: Leveraging our direct experience in BJJ, to validate the feasibility through pilot testing within our own training communities, ensuring the solution is tailored to real-world needs.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Foundational Documentation for DApp Development

• Functional Documentation (and diagrams using PlantUML)

Onchain Logic

• Smart Contracts and Minting Policies written in Plutus: Customized contracts facilitating the DApp's required functions.
• OnChain Logic Test Suites: A combination of unit tests and property-based tests tailored for the written smart contracts.
• Haddock Documentation: Initial documentation of the smart contracts using Haddock.
• Samples of transaction construction using cardano-cli.

Transaction Building

• OffChain Code for Transaction Building
• OffChain Code Test Suites: A combination of unit tests and property-based tests tailored for the transaction building logic.

• Website
• Create a Project Close-Out Report and Project Close-Out Video.
• Update documentation of the open source repository

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreigeorgescoo/ - Project Lead (Machine Learning and Computer Vision Engineer, Web3 Developer and BJJ Practitioner)

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

1. Development effort (1 x 12 months): 25k ADA
2. Domain registration and web hosting: 2k ADA
3. Graphic design: 8k ADA
4. Community management: 5k ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Our project, requiring an investment of 40k ADA, offers significant value to the Cardano ecosystem by leveraging blockchain technology to revolutionize the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) belt ranking and lineage system.

1. Direct Impact on a Niche Market: The project targets the BJJ community, which is a niche yet substantial market with over 4 million practitioners worldwide. By integrating blockchain into this sector, we not only solve a pressing problem within the community but also open up a new market segment for Cardano.
2. Enhanced Integrity and Trust: The decentralized nature of the DApp brings transparency and trust to BJJ belt rankings and lineage tracking. This aligns with Cardano's ethos of creating trustworthy and transparent systems and serves as a practical example of blockchain's potential beyond finance.
3. Long-Term Growth and Adoption: The DApp serves as a gateway for introducing the Cardano blockchain to millions in the BJJ community. This exposure could lead to increased adoption and investment in Cardano from a diverse user base.
4. Model for Future Applications: The success of this DApp sets a precedent for other sports and communities to adopt blockchain for similar use cases. It extends the utility of Cardano's technology, demonstrating its versatility and potential in various real-world applications.

In conclusion, the investment represents not only a solution to a specific challenge in the BJJ community but also a strategic opportunity to grow Cardano’s presence in new and diverse sectors.