What, in your opinion, gets someone the title "scumbag" in the BJJ community? I have a few people in my mind that I believe deserve that title but will reserve my opinion for now.

In the last 20 years, I have met ALOT of scumbags in the Jiu Jitsu community. It's solely based on my own perceptions. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would classify me as a scumbag. In fact I know that there are plenty. I don't think it's just a Jiu Jitsu thing though. It seems that scumbags are attracted to combat sports. Don't get me wrong, I've also met many people whom aren't. Just my opinion, but I'd say that the ratio of scumbags to non-scumbags is higher in Jiu Jitsu (all combat sports), compared to the every day population.

i agree to the stuff William already has written in the other post. For me somebody for sure is a scumbag, who intentionally hurts other partners in training with "forbidden moves", someone who only takes and doesn't give back (not helping others), somebody who sexual harrass or abuses others, bullys. Dishonest people (for example someone telling me he can't make it to practise anymore then i see that person a week later training elsewhere: just be honest- say i want to train at another school or club or switch schools, then i am totally ok with it, cause i am an adult. Everybody can train where he/she wants).

Unfortunately it's an all too common reality in the BJJ community at large.

Get rid of them

It's funny I have met some of the best people through training and competing who have become close friends almost to the point of family but have also seen some of the most reprehensible examples of humanity in the arts.

The martial arts does not make you a better person yes it can give you the tools to become a better person but if you don't use them you are just a scumbag who fights a little better.

Pedophiles, sexual predators, con men, frauds, narcissists and ego maniacs the martial arts attracts them as it gives them a position of perceived authority to operate from.

We will never weed them out but we can lead by example and hope more people follow out lead than go the other way.

I think, for me, the term "scumbag" is a different level of insult. Like, you're a Black Belt at being an asshole. This isn't someone I just don't personally like, it's someone I genuinely don't want to be in the same room with. I would say that I have only, truly, met a few people in our community like that. Unfortunately, I would say that most of the time they are people a lot of other people look up to. Coaches who has students that make excuses for their actions or athletes who are successful and so people ignore who they are as a person.

And like Phil said, I don't think it's my job (anymore) to try to call those people out or educate their students on who they train with. All I can do is try to be an example and practice what I preach.