Forget the Belt Promotion , Commit to Your BJJ Coach / Gym
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- What does time have to do with a BJJ Belt Promotion?
Our buddy Edward recently sent in a message asking for advice on the subject of what time has to do with belt promotions. He says that he has quickly become one of the best White Belts in his Brazilian Jiu-jitsu gym after 4 months.
He’s wondering why his coach won’t promote him to Blue Belt.
He says he’s also considering leaving and going to train with his friend who’s a Purple Belt.
In this video I share how I would approach this situation as a Brazilian Jiujitsu coach.
I personally would not promote someone after 4 months. The reason for this is because I want to see commitment from the student and I want people to have time at the top of the pile in their belt level in BJJ.
Commitment is what is necessary to grow in BJJ. Motivation and passion for the martial art can come and go. But commitment is what you need to really stick with it.
And so the reason I believe time is important. 1 is that it helps gives the person more time to train.
But a big reason is that it shows commitment from the practitioner.
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I’ve been training for two months and...
I’m surprised they even let me wear a belt.
🙃
LOL
Stephen Miller 😂😂
After I started at our gym I showed up to the first two belt promotions with no white belt as I assumed I needed to earn it. I wasn't wrong.....
Hahahaha
So funny
He'll quit. 100%.
Yeah Edward sounds like a quitter.
Soundz like a PUSSY!🤣🤣
Chewie went easy on him and fair play to him for doing that.
I’m not sure if it was said besides “ he’s been training since his teenage years” BUT I’d bank on him still being young or really immature - for his age. That’s only way I can see anyone having that say after 4 months at a particular Bjj gym
2 years later guarantee he’s not even training anymore
I've trained for 7months for a single stripe. This dude wants a blue belt at 4 months? Jesus.
Polar Bearon 1 year zero stripes here. I eat the 1 and 2 stripe whites for breakfast. I dont know if im being sandbagged..lol
Maybe you are, or you've missed the days they did promotions perhaps :P We got a blue belt that always tries to dodge promotions xD
Polar Bearon I'm at about 7 months of 5-7 sessions per week and no 1st stripe. It is ridiculous. If there were another option I'd consider it. Too fast AND too slow are dumb.
twice_baked potato Assuming true, you have a dumb coach. Why would you not leave and go where they do it better?
Well at the rate your going at you should have a stripe too. Are you considering leaving your place? I have toyed with the idea. And its not only for the lack of progress acknowledgement. Its the lack of neglected fundamentals and no real class structure. My coach can sometimes get carried away with talking to student friends of his and totally not pay attention to the rest of us. That said some of my team members are awesome practitioners this is due to us having a former world champ as out teacher for the last 5 years but hes been gone for months now. So im probably on my way out soon.
Training for a belt is his first mistake
this
Maybe that's the only way he can see return on investment nothing wrong with that. "Commit to your coach" sounds real cult like to me.
@@charleslasley5367 it's for cash
bjj addict. U don’t just train just because you want to get a new belt so u can get to Blackbelt as fast as you cab
This is a tough one.. could be if he was in a great school he would never consider leaving.. but alot of schools out don't have an awesome guy like you chewman
4 months asking for blue belt 😂
Mint Body Fitness he could be a prodigy
If he is that good? Win some tournaments first prove yourself
Prodigies are extremely rare. The guy that contacted Chewy sounds like a real type A personality. That he would even assume he is that good shows he lacks the one think essential for progressing in BJJ. Humility.
Training with a single purple belt isn't going to give him the edge he thinks it will.
I really don't understand his end game, What does he think will happen? Hes going to train a while then go to another gym and another professor is going to watch him roll a few times and say ,,, oh wow,, you are awesome! Heres a blue belt!!
I was a white belt for 4 years and proud of it 4 months is nothing it's not mcdojo karate he should try online bjj mail him his blue belt for a fee Lol
Mint, if you don't mind me asking did you have a few periods where you couldnt ' train or only got to train only a few times a month?
I am only a Blue Belt in BJJ. However, I've done various martial arts for most of my life. I've learned not to worry about belts.
Eric R. Shepherd same here...
Go tell that to the purple and brown belts LOL
Eric R. Shepherd. Same here. I do do martial arts to learn how to defend myself, family, and friends from danger. I don’t do martial arts just because of the belts. This is only my 3rd year of karate and I have 5 more belts to Blackbelt, the last one is a 6 month training period. My brother took 6 years to get his Blackbelt but that is because of all of the hard work, dedication, and wanting to come to class to train, get better, and to become more committed to American Kenpo. Belts is not the most important thing.
Train Nogi. We dont give a shit about belts!!
Napoleon Blownapart so why are belts awarded in nogi?
I've noticed how every white belt says they're the best white belt at their gym...
Depends. I would be a white belt. With my past experience it's reasonable to believe I would be at the top of that range. However I may be the best because of cross training another might have the best cardio, another the strongest, another the best tack downs etc. that confidence false or not will motivate them to get strips different collared belts etc. personally I care about competitions and the keeping my wallet in dark parking lots but some really care about belts, rank, etc. to each their own. When I was junior varsity I was the best and be use of,that I went on to varsity and beyond. It's not,until you get to that beyond that you realize how little you know and especially how little you knew as a jv or white belt.m
I’m the best looking white belt in my gym does that count
Made me laugh cause I think I'm the best white belt too, too much real life 😂
j perception 🐊vs reality 🦏
Not me, I suck!! That's why we train
“Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” - Mark Twain, obviously talking about bjj belts.
This is what's so comfy about training no-gi. I don't have any worries at all about belts, and can just totally focus on one thing only, which is to become a better grappler.
And you get to use lots of heel hooks
Very sound advice Chew. I would only add that Edward is not at blue belt level in BJJ. It was never a "money grab" as he said in one of his comments. I gave him and his sons a discount and allowed them to train for $100/month. No good deed goes unpunished. Best wishes to Ed.
I was reading the comments and saw this... oops bustedddd,
bjj world is a small one eh ? xD
Lol Edwards busted
LOLLLLLLL. "Only $100/month! Totally not a money grab." Get the fuck outta here. It is a money grab. Chewie admitted as much in his video.
How much do you pay for bjj?
@@eddymetal 100 per month is really not expensive if you live in a big city. Even cheap in some places.
Thinking he deserves a belt promotion, is the number one indicator that he isn't ready to promote.
Not in every case but 4 months training for blue belt? “Tell him he’s dreaming!” Australian joke.
I don't know if I'm alone in this sentiment but, the belt I'm most proud of is my white belt. It was the most humbling experience I've ever had and I understood quickly that I shouldn't look forward towards my next belt, but the experience of learning the techniques, THE FUNDAMENTALS, the experience in general and my journey in this style. And I'm most proud of taking the first step of entering into the jiu jitsu world and having the white belt. all the other belts have been my reward for my hard work and dedication. But the white belt will always be special to me. Plus, I perfer being the most feared white belt, than a mediocre blue, purple, brown etc. colored belt.
So we'll said you deserve more than a thumbs up! Cheers.
Well said brother I am currently a white belt sure there are days when I get increasingly frustrated when I am not learning certain techniques quick enough but I understand time on the matt is the key
I don't want to get promoted to blue until I'm a solid white belt. I need to feel I deserve it.
Always told myself, i rather be the blue belt that beats the purple belts than the purple belt who get tapped by blue belts...fuck promotions. Earn the respect of your peers on the mat
I hate it when this happens. I've been training BJJ for 2 weeks now and I'm still not a black belt. I think I'm going to have to challenge my instructor, beat him then put on his black belt. (Following day): (*´>д
bodhi tree I kinda love the idea of belts being like highlander. If I tap you I absorb your belt lmao!!!
Hilarious bro
I know. The easiest way to get a black belt is to steal it from your instructor when he’s not looking. And if this guy in the video wants a blue belt so bad, why doesn’t he just buy one off amazon?
The two thumbs down are Edward, and his purple belt buddy.
Dark Knight of Thrones might be a year late but you win Internet today
I've been at it for 2 years on and off and I just got my first stripe. I really think there is freedom in being a white belt. Getting smashed isn't a big deal and not letting it get to you know really helps you learn.
I'm in the same boat. It doesn't matter the belt color. Actually I think being higher up on the belt ladder paints a target on your back.
MobiusCoin u must be awful
The best part of being a white belt is not knowing what you're doing and figuring it out as you go along. It's a giant jiu jitsu puzzle
I wrestled for 7 years prior to walking into a bjj gym. The coach told me from day one that he makes wrestlers wait a bit longer for belts because people coming from wrestling use there wrestling so much at the start that they aren't learning much bjj.
18months later I was given my blue belt because I took his message to heart and learned as much bjj as I could without using my wrestling outside of the 3 or 4 weeks leading to a competition.
Man I've been struggling with this as a guy who just started after coaching wrestling for about a decade. I try to focus on the bjj portions and hit the techniques without using my wrestling. However, I feel like doing that is almost limiting me when it's really some of the same concepts.
You may or may not resonate with this, but honestly I've gotten frustrated with winning too much. I'm not saying that to come off as someone who is bragging just that I feel you make your most strides when your fighting for your life.
I talked to my black belt and he gave some good advise about focusing on particular positions and its helped a bit but hasn't really challenged me much more. This is all working guard only too as they won't allow stand up for new white belts. How'd you handle this or did you even go through this?
@@mmkrite i was put with higher belts or people with wrestling experience to make it harder to use wrestling. But during normal practice I always worked on the new technique or a particular thing and getting that down over a W, winning in practice doesn't matter. In comp is when it counts
@@mmkrite It's a pure ego thing. If you are a mid to high level wrestler you should be getting your Blue in less than 6months. If they say otherwise then they most likely hold a grudge against a wrestler who beat them senseless. Grappling is grappling and if they can't recognize that then you should look elsewhere.
Who care if your good at wrestling... Wrestling has direct translation properties to BJJ that will help you win competitions. If anything they should promote you faster because you have many skill traits mastered that other have to learn.
@@tgworks5791 And let's be real. If you were a college wrestlers. Your takedowns are better than any black belt or ADCC champion.
Did this guy think Chewy was going to say "Your coach is wrong! Train at home"
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$s lol
Com'on, "four months, where's my blue belt?". Why did u even answer the that email??!!!
Just gotta answer one then point the other 100 emails to this video
When they ask you what gym you train at and your answer is "my basement." 😂😂😂
promoted to blue belt by my mom she got me one from bjj warehouse for my bday
Bob's karate garage!
I’m really glad chewy gave this guy some perspective, and did it so tactfully. Nothing’s your “life’s passion” after 4 months.
I just got my blue belt last month at about a year and 6 months. I wrestled in high school so I was pretty quickly "king of the white belts" but I never had any delusions that I should get my blue quickly. Honestly I was hoping they wouldn't give it to me until year 2 so I could get a little more "day in the sun" as chewy calls it at bjj tournaments lol
Lol love it brother, spot on. 👌
What Chewy said about commitment is so true. I'm only a white belt in jiu jitsu but have been doing endurance sports for almost 20 years and have competed over a significant chunk of that. There are many, many days where I don't feel like training and have to drag myself onto my bike or force myself to slip on my running shoes. I do it anyway because being fit is important to me and being an athlete is a huge part of how I define myself. Remember that your training in any sport (or any hobby for that matter) is a marathon, not a sprint. Put in the work and you will reap the rewards.
Great video! Currently going thru this now. Trained under my uncle (purple belt) for 5 years. He gave me a blue belt but he isnt certified. Two months ago I started at a school for the first time. Even tho i am skillful enough to roll and tap some blue belts i chose to wear my white belt because i wanted to gain respect from the team first. The instructor informed me in time the promotion will come when we feel you are apart of the team. In all, there is no rush. train and make friends and enjoy the Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle
54 y old. Purple . Took me 4 years to get blue an 2 more for purple. Never asked for them, just did what coach told me, discipline body and spirit, found my strength very deep inside of my soul, I found how complex, beatiful and unknown our body is.
Belts mean nothing compare to what we can find in martial arts or physical training.
Training for health and mind peace with brothers and sisters at gym
Bruh im cool with getting my blue belt in two years lol belt color is not everything. The comradery/family getting better everyday you step foot on the mat is whats important to me.
oIKENNYIo
The belt is just some cloth that holds your gi together. “Rank” comes from experience and the commitment to BJJ or any martial art for that matter
You'll impress a lot more people, with a white belt, than a blue belt... 🙋♂️😉😁🤙
Im a one stripe white belt. Its been about 6 months in and i was blessed with my stripe at 3 months. Ive matured a whole lot in such a short amount of time and realize that this is definitely a marathon and not a race to belt promotions just so you can show off to whoever. My team is getting better with me and im so happy to see that progression its awesome. Im more than willing to wait for my belts.
I got my black belt in TKD in 7 years. I love the way you got to commit in jujitsu. Time is the best teacher being loyal to your sensei or professor matters
Taekwando mate.. you train bjj ?
Does this mean teaching a class to get a belt promotion?its like dude im here to have fun and learn not to do your job..wtf
Man your videos and insight are simply amazing. As a white belt I have thought about quitting so many times and then I see one of your videos and it just inspires me to put the ego away and learn from my failures! Thanks and I hope you continue to post new videos!
I'm a white belt. My technique is bad. Blue belt isn't the goal, the goal is to better than I was last week, last month, last year.
I'm probably the worse white belt at my gym but boy am I having fun. 🤤
Appreciate the honesty of your answer. No sugar-coating, but also no shaming. Simply explaining facts.
I think you’re awesome chewy......you give great advice regarding bjj....I’m 50 plus and returning to class (I’m a blue belt) tonight to continue my Jiu-Jitsu journey and your advice is partly responsible.
Keep it up brother 🥋
Hope your still at it!
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You can lead a horse to water, but if it doesn't drink and turns around and ask you why its not a blue belt, then its probably not a horse,..... its a jackass.
True.
:P
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him party. Unless you have beerwater!
- American Dad
Great response. Much Respect Chewy!
The community building point is spot on!
@chewjitsu, I have had an 11 month break from jujitsu after moving. I started watching your videos this morning and filled out a waiver today to get back on my journey. Appreciate the knowledge bro.
Hard to stay away from it.
I trained from 08-10 and then for a few months in 2013. It was all nogi and MMA until health issues and major injuries sidelined me. I am healthy and started doing gi BJJ last August. I am a good white belt and I get a lot of comments about my skill level from upper belts. I could care less about a belt promotion. I just want to learn and immerse myself in the lifestyle. Grappling is a passion of mine and I feel incredibly blessed to be able to enjoy the sport once again. I feel like Edward is missing the whole point of doing BJJ.
A year in BJJ , a 3 stripe white belt and have submitted blue belts heck ive even swept advanced belts ( followed by getting quickly submitted lol), edward humble yourself , bjj takes time, you can always be better , dont think about the belt think about your own personal progression.
Keep in mind that tricky purple belts and above LOVE to bait us, give us that glimmer of hope for a split second that we passed them then lay on the choke or whatever nasty thing they were setting up then wham... tap, lol.
loooooool everyday of my life right there
@@danielcho3270 They're probably testing things out on the lower belts while also letting the lower belts get some training, good way to roll when you outclass the other person in strength or skill. That way both people get good training!
White belts are the living embodiment of the Dunning-Kruger effect.
I trained consistently for a little over two years, and was in my way to getting a blue belt... Then I got sick, then moved to another state. It was three years before I started training again (this year), and I humbly started over as a no-stripe white belt. Last night I got a stripe. I was in shock (still am), because I had a conversation with the professor just last week about how much I thought I sucked.
All he kept saying was, 'time on the mat is what matters. Consistency is what matters.' He said the same thing during the promotions. I am always happy for people who get stripes, but I wasn't expecting one until way further down the line. All a stripe (or belt promotion) represents to me is the journey. I am just here to have fun. I guess a professor (and training partners) see improvement more than you see it in yourself.
Took me 4 years to advance to a blue belt and i consider myself quite successful on the art with multiple national and international achievements at hand.
Someone needs to sit with this guy and explain to him how things work and why bjj is different from other arts.
Loads of bro-love to all you bjj brothers from other mothers
I’ve been training for three years. I have two stripes on my white belt. I’ve also had to relocate countless times due to work. Therefore, I’ve had to start over when joining a new academy. Yes, it sucks when one is passionate about their individual growth but that’s Jiu Jitsu. It makes you dig deep and understand your own frustrations and insecurities. At least that’s my perspective. Stay strong white belt brothers and sisters.
Pls tell me you blue now 😢
I use my Steven Segal tapes to get better at home.
What a great answer Chewy man. So much respect for what you say here. It needs to be a two-way street, everyone has to be giving. Belts truly mean nothing anyway when you think about it. Sure they are there for the heirarchy, etc, but you need to continue to consistently work hard with everyone to improve and fine tune your craft. Trying to force belt promotion is only hurting yourself.
In two monthas I'll celebrate my 3 year anniversary, and I'm still excited for every single class like a kid on Christmas morning. I love Jiu Jitsu so much and I beg my parents to drive me to every class I can possibly go to. Two more years and I'll get my license, I can't wait and I'll probably be training 12 times a week 🤣. Thanks Chewy for the super cool videos and wisdom!
Thanks Chewy. Belts are cool and all but it's not the end all be all.
I wanted my blue belt so badly when I first started. About a year and a half later I got my blue belt and it was totally not what I expected. It wasn't like a trophy or something. I mean I was (and still am) proud to have it, but once I put it on suddenly the fact that it was blue didn't mean anything anymore. It's something of a status symbol, sure, but it doesn't change anything about your training or your skill level. It's pretty much just vanity that makes people want to get to blue as quickly as possible because they don't want to be "the new guy" anymore. Its a shame, because looking back I could have built myself up faster if I hadn't been so concerned with getting my blue belt, and probably avoided hurting myself a handful of times.
TL:DR- the belt doesn't make you better, it's just a different color. Train hard and learn, don't look at belt colors.
Blue belt means you can fight mma shortly after if that's the direction your going so it is important
Lol its just fabric dude not some mythical relic
I actually make belts all the time out of burlapp webbing and bedsheets
KyleOnTheBeat TV you don’t need a belt at all to do mma it’s completely pointless.
@@prandz420 true, if anything it just sounds good
Ahhh, explained it perfectly. Exactly what I needed right now. Thanks!
Time on the mat brings experience, understanding and knowing to accept failure as part of the journey. This guy sees the progressive simply as knowing moves. I earned my blue belt after nearly 2 years of constant work, having good and bad days, and what helped was my classmates, my instructor, this suport helps you grow, a belt is a symbol, not just of skill, but how you have served yourtime.
You know, it strikes me as odd, how pretty much every martial arts instructor ever, not just Jiu-Jitsu, will tell you not to worry about the belt. That it doesn't matter, it's not a big deal. But then, when they hand out a promotion, yeah, it's a big deal. You do the gauntlet, get choked with your old belt, or do some formal "ceremony" when you get the belt. So, if it doesn't matter, then why make a big deal out of a promotion?
Yeah, I get that it's fun, and it's great to celebrate a promotion, and I totally agree with doing it. It's just that you can't say it doesn't matter, and it's not a big deal and still celebrate it when it comes. It *does* matter. It *is* a big deal, and it should be.
Saying don't worry about it, just train and it will come is sufficient. Saying it's not a big deal makes you sound intellectually dishonest if you still have any sort of celebration for promotions.
Note: This is not a dig at Chewy. No where in this video did he claim that promotions don't matter, though I'm pretty sure I've heard him say that before. It was just a random thought.
Look dude, belts do matter. Just like looks matter in society....but imagine having a belt without the required skill level to represent it.... that's why belts do not matter as much....they only matter when you got the skill AND the belt as a package.
Everywhere you go, human beings are human beings. Belts are largely about social status in the community of the gym. When instructors say "don't worry about belts" they are saying the same thing every priestly class says when they admonish commoners not to question how they distribute status. Of course (like any other surviving priestly class distributing status) the issuing of belts does have to have some objectivity to it to be credible, and BJJ instructors are by necessity going to be more objective than most. The more an instructor has his own ego in check, the more his promotions will be based on competitive success, and the faster his promotions will be for type A, athletic students. (However, there is good reason to be skeptical of tests because you don't want people training to a pass a narrow test.)
This is also not a criticism of Chewy. It is his gym, his rules, and he is very transparent about it with potential students. If you go to his gym, at least you know exactly what the deal is.
Am I the only one that notices his beard during other videos? Sometimes its pretty rough. I'd love to see it perfectly shaped. I need a life. Anyway love the videos!
Haha. Sometimes it is pretty rough. I get it trimmed every so often. But when I think I mess around with it too much and it just puffs back out.
Like a dyed Buddha all cover in hair and black belts. Also I've been getting some pretty big headaches after rolling. I'm in a my 30s now and not in the best shaped I used to be. Any wonder food you'd recommend or just drink the damn water? #obamacantomoplata
A couple of questions regarding the headaches:
1. Did you at any time get a knock or bump to the head or have a had a previous concussion?
2. Do you also get dizzy?
3. Where is the headache specifically and what quality does it have? (front/back/one side/stabbing/aching etc.)
4. What is your diet like in general, and what do you drink at the gym?
If you answer yes to the first question, diet is not the problem. You're more likely to benefit from adding long distance running or swimming to your training. You may also in the case of 1 and 2 want to work on strengthening your neck.
Diet based answers are a bit tricky, as there isn't anything where you can go 'add this to your diet and you will get better'. There are things you can change, but they can be invasive if you're not single and require a fair bit of effort.
Hey fair enough. No concussions. Mostly my entire head...I know not specific however that's what it seems. You are right though. I should start a running regimen. Thank you! For the record I am still pretty new to it all. So I am sure that is factor as well.
All I can give is general advice in your case as there isn't anything that sticks out to me. A doctor could do a variety of tests to give you more accurate data, but it's probably not worth the cost in the US. That said, here are a couple of common things to keep an eye on:
- Some of the headache is probably tension/fatigue in the neck and shoulders, which may pass with time due to increased strength in the area. To alleviate this part, consider massage, baths or showers (hot or cold - hot is more relaxing, cold in my experience helps with recovery).
- If the headaches are partially due to diet then check the obvious suspects: sugar consumption and caffeine levels. Additionally, if you are significantly more fatigued that any previous form of exercise you have done it's possible that you're getting a headache due to switching fuel sources, I know this is the case for some people, but it's really difficult to say anything about that without a lot more details.
- If the headaches are due to subconcussive impacts from either rolls (break falls or other tumbling), rolling, takedown practice or any of the other drills that can snap the head around the only solution is to slow down your drilling to the point where you can better control your neck and head and keep the wobble to a minimum (some motion will happen, but whiplash makes it worse as far as I understand it). If you drive long distances to and from practice, keep an eye out for this as an accidental knee to the head or messed up roll can impair your driving as well as give you a headache.
- If you have gotten the headaches due to practicing chokes or similar techniques where some level of oxygen deprivation is happening, tapping out early might help, or practicing for it (Wim Hof breathing method may help).
Hope that is of some use to you.
I hope my new bjj coaches are as insightful and caring as this man right here. I'm really early into my bjj training now but I'm already passionate about it and I can see how a great coach would only amplify the experience and self growth. Keep it up man.
Thursday, February 21 2019
I may be late to you chew but this is the best advice I’ve seen in a video, I’m at the same spot as him and I’m thinking it’s my life passion and all and I know it’s the lust of the sport, a lot like a relationship. My goal is to commit thru the ups and downs Thankyou for helping me realize my true goal 👍🏾
My proffessor makes everyone do there time regardless how good they are we have blue belts that give brown belts a hard time and blues that struggle with white belts. Age athletisism all come into play. But matt time is your experience. I dont think belts are there just purely for you ability there there to show your experience and dedication aswell so being good at tapping people isnt the only way to get your belts. We have a 70 yr old who for obvious reasons struggles with everyone....but hel still deserve his belts and earn them.
Chewy have you ever considered shaving your chin and stache and having the most brutal mutton chops ever?
I did it once.
Chewjitsu WOLVERINE!
Great answer, and i totally agree. Community is where it's at!
and i like that, i have been comitted to real estate for about 3 years now with no intention of wanting to slow down or quit or leave, no matter how hard it got.
and i remember my very first phone call with the Real estate office i was going to join, it was just a call to go in and get set up for my pre licensing classes, as soon as my phone rang i JUMPED UP RAN OUTSIDE, after it was done and the meeting was set, it was almost as if it all sunk in. i felt super pumped that this was the right journey for me, it was like i knew i wasnt going to quit and i was going to see this through no matter how hard it got, im having the same feeling of setting up my first appointment to go to the gym for BJJ.
i feel the same way, i know it will be hard but i also know im not going to quit. and when i get a little bit of skill on me, im coming to visit your gym :)
At the end of the day it’s all about upping your skill. These belts are just decoration.
YES, someone gets it.
Maybe he should do taekwondo and buy his black belt after a year.
Or he could just train to learn how to fight instead of training for a fancy colored belt.
Great advice. Well explained. Better late than early. Most coaches have pet peeve bad habits that they hate to see. If these promotions are your goal (they shouldn’t be), find out what these are and eliminate them.
Been doing Bjj for 12 years off and on, I am 49 and a blue belt, it was a long hard road to get there but I would never ask for a belt, it's earned through blood, sweat and tears, don't worry about belts it's about enjoying the journey and the family that we become on the mat.
I'm a big fan of the Gracie curriculum style promotion system, at least for the white to blue promotion; it lets the new guys know exactly what they need to learn to get that promotion, and it lets them clearly track their progress. Setting and achieving goals is important.
Now, I know that the Gracie method is designed to ensure commitment, by laying out a clear path for beginners, and it could be argued that this method shifts the focus away from the immersive experience, away from letting jujitsu become a lifestyle, and more to a tick box mentality of 'I have to do this to pass this test', so it becomes more like school and less like a lifestyle.
I guess it's personal preference, but I defiantly think that in Europe and America people are way to focused on belts in general, in every martial art. For the most part, the belt systems of most martial arts are just a gimmick, supported by popular culture.
I think people should really ask themselves why they practice whatever martial art they're into, and if the answer is to get a belt, then they're missing the point entirely,
Michael David Anthony Fekete I train at a gracie gym and a guy just started 2 days ago and is asking how long it takes to get belts and stuff ya know the typical conversation and I said black belt takes around 10-12 years if your coming frequently and he responded with ill just stick to getting a blue belt. In my head I thought well hes not gonna last long, don't chase belts chase knowledge. I would rather be a white belt for 5 years and know everything a purple belt knows than be a purple belt and only know basics.
Michael David Anthony Fekete I kind of went on a tangent story but I also agree the gracie system is the way to go for new people because it is all layed out in front of you what you need to know and whats expected of you from the start to get your combative belt.
BiggieB I agree mate. Everyone likes a pat on the back and acknowledgment of their achievements. I think in reality a lot of beginners strive for their first belt, but I'd like to think that by the time they get their blue belt, people are committed to the lifestyle, and as more time passes, the colour of the belt you're wearing becomes less important. Without getting too philosophical/sociological, It's another underpinning life lesson that people can gain from jujitsu; people should care less about how they're perceived, less about the colour of the belt, and more about bettering themselves and the journey. That said, systems of hierarchy have been at the core of our social structures for thousands of years, it's difficult to move away from some aspects of that.
When it comes to the importance of a belt, I guess it depends on the individual, and whether they consider jujitsu is just a hobby, that you do a few evenings a week, or a lifestyle.
I'm getting a little too philosophical for my liking lol.
I know it's another debate entirely, but I prefer no gi; I think on the mat, people roll differently if they know the rank of their opponent, particularly when it's newer guys, but you can learn so much more by throwing yourself into training, without the hesitation you might have if you knew the other guy was 'better'. Again, there are always pros and cons of any situation, and structured learning is important to get the basics covered.
I'd recommend a measured balance of both; structured beginners classes to get the basics covered, and open mat sessions for everyone, regardless of rank, and without any indication of rank or experience.
I think some people mature much quicker in BJJ, and I'm not talking about the knowledge or belt, but in grasping the philosophy. I don't train ( I'm disabled) but but son just started in May. He takes me with him to get me out and about. He is still a fairly new white belt, but he is totally absorbed in the learning process. Hes a big guy ( 6 foot, 200 pounds) and has been active in sports all his life.
He really grasped the concept of leaving his ego at the door. Other people have told me how much they enjoy rolling with him because he is all about focusing on technique and isn't worried about who executes it just that they learn.
Joe schmoe not trying to prod too much but how much disability do you have because we have had a couple people come through my gym with disabilities including wheel chair bound and blind. Glad to hear your son leaves the ego at the door its definitely the way to train.
It's awesome being the best white belt
Christian Polanco if you tap a higher belt your a prodigey, if you get tapped who cares your a white belt
The lack of pressure is grand!
You had me at TEAM! Great explanation
Right on, Chewy, passion and motivation are just feelings that come and go. Discipline and commitment are what stays.
I’m literally a 7yr solid white belt...
all good. just stick with it. it's still worth it, you're getting a great workout and meeting cool ppl.
I'm a year and nine months in and I'm still a white belt...
It took me 6 years to get my blue belt
2 years is not really unusual time to get blue afaik.
You are so right! Belt is not the goal, knowledge is. Been martial practitioner for 20 years and if not getting a belt make you question if you should stay or not at a gym... If jujitsu truly your life passion suck it up. Keep training hard and it will come, belt means nothing, keep that in mind. You'll never run out of stuff to practice, nothing will ever be perfect but yet still aim at perfection. Seen so much people come and go, don't rush it keep your training going and never give up, commitment and discipline is the key 😁
I feel similar to this guy. I love my gym, I love jujitsu, it's really changed my life. Sometimes I feel like it's my life passion. I've been here 4 months, hoping for 2nd stripe soon. I've finished every other white belt at least once, a half a dozen blue belts, and 2 purple belts. I am looked at as a leader and great team mate. Everyone calls me the Ox because of my strength and work ethic. I am always lifting others and being a great training partner. However I don't feel apart of the team and I don't feel like I am getting any coaching. Coaches don't seem to be on the same page. I feel like the head instructor might sense a slight lack of commitment from me because it seems like I am outgrowing the gym and i think a lot of people can see that there wont be many people there in my weight class who can compete with me in another 4 months.. if anyone reads this do you have any advice? I have had some other people suggest trying out some new gyms and deciding if I think this is right for me. I've had others say to pay for year up front here and see how things change.
You sound like the hero that everyone in the BJJ community needs. Just fck off mate.. don’t go around telling everyone who you’ve “tapped”. Did you win the BJJ world championships? One stripe means nothing. And you’ve done no time to go around saying “it changed my life” you’re the cringe commenter everyone hates
Hey guys, this was exactly what I was asking him when he answered the question. I was honestly just curious as to "HOW" you can earn the belt. Given the drive for me, an hour and a half there, same back, and all my instructor gave me was "mat time" and he never elaborated on what that means, and for me, having a large family and time is extremely important to me, that if I were to continue paying the gym fee, as well as gas to and from, I just couldn't justify it if I couldn't have a goal, because the way he proposed it was a money grab and nothing else. That's solely on the professor for not either understanding my question, and or not giving me an answer that made sense. Because I understand mat time is extremely important, but I had asked what I could do to show my worth because I have been training for so long. This was my first BJJ gym, however in my small neck of the woods, we had a boxing/mma gym where I trained for 7-8 years before the owner died. It's just a weird situation where the part of NY I live in doesn't have any gyms, and the balance of family and pleasure is a fine line. If I lived 20 mins from a gym, I wouldn't of put such an emphasis on "why", but I wanted the chance to prove myself worthy and it didn't work out. I know many will take their shots at me, but I live on an Indian reservation, with not much going on, and driving all the way to a big city(Buffalo), is costly. I still train daily, even though my former professor told my purple belt "friend" who lives 5 mins from me, he couldn't train with me. So, struggle is real. I've stuck grappling with wild bears and deer. Much love though CZcams family and big thanks to chew for giving me the time to hear a real answer in regards to promotions and how they work.
Edward Sponeybarger The belt is only there to keep your gi tucked. What really matters is that you are learning and getting challenged while rolling. Figuring out if it's worth your time and money is another thing but one that shouldn't be based on what's around your waist.
That is exactly what I've come to the conclusion on. I feel like I only wanted to earn rank fast, so I can compete and test myself against higher competition.
Appreciate the feedback!
I'd not want to be at gym if they gave it to me in 4 months. There's so many MCdojos out there (gyms that give you belts so that you stay training with them) be glad that your gym is making you work for it man
I would*
I have looked into that, and highly considered it. The only thing keeping me away is I wanted to teach, not just BJJ but MMA, Boxing, fitness and so on. But according to The rules of the garage, you cannot charge or accept any form of payment. Which, isn't everything by all means, but maybe there is a balance I can find? Thanks for the comment and guidance!
Thanks Chewy! I have also experienced being promoted way to quick, I agree with all that you had to say, and it holds true in my experience, i also picked several upper belts in the gym that i looked up to, and its funny i also picked up how they roll and when i get a position or submission, or an advantage of some sort, i think of who i learned it from, and i get so grateful and proud of my accomplishment, they also give me feedback and i also ask for feedback, and we all grow together, it is a strong fellowship, thank you for your insight and motivation :) and have a great day
I’m a black belt in TKD; i got my ass handed to me in my very first bjj class the other day.
I couldn’t care less if the color of my belt stays white for another several years - i just want to get better. I’d rather be a white belt that can hold my own against blue belts than be a blue belt that gets severely challenged by a white belt.
I’ve experienced an incredibly humbling experience and know just how much time and dedication it needs to acquire a skill that can only be transmitted through tacit means.
While yes I pay to goto a gym, I don’t expect anything from my coach. I’m grateful for the lessons and time well spent 🙏
Great content and advice Chew. I've come from nearly 30 years of kickboxing for which I was fortunate to have won a world title and attained a second degree blackbelt. Also a little judo as a kid and a little Jujitsu later on in life.
Recently started BJJ at 48 years of age as a total beginner and rightfully a white belt. Could not care less about the belts as that comes with time and experience. Learning and the journey are more important
I'm at about two months of BJJ with no prior experience and just got my first stripe. I haven't missed a class since starting but I feel like they promoted me too soon. I'm really insecure about it. I was so convinced it wasn't me when they called my name I looked down the lineup to make sure it wasn't someone else with the same name lol.
Teachers who refuse to promote students just because they "haven't put in enough time" are the reason people quit. Refusing to promote someone is the problem, not the solution.
I totally agree with you brother so true this. My gym want to make 1000% sure you deserve your promotion. They also allow you to do competition when you reach three stripe white. Not earlier to prevent demotivation and injuries
I totally agree. I’ve been training for almost 2 years now. My gym does belt promotions 2 times a year, one in summer and one in December. I was good enough to get my blue belt during December promotions but I didn’t get it cuz I’ve only been training 1.5 years and my coach wanted me to reach the 2 year mark before blue. I’m very glad I didn’t get promoted because I’m now in that “sweet spot” that chewy was explaining. I’m the best white belt in the gym and can tap out all the blue belts, but at the same time there’s no pressure since I’m still a white belt. It gives me lots of freedom to experiment with my game and get better without the pressure. Now when I get my blue belt this year I’ll know I truly deserve it instead of questioning if I do.
The Art knows your dedication 🎨 🥋
I just been to two free classes at my gym. But everything you talk about is how they are. It defiantly makes me more comfortable.
I just love training man. I just started back up again from a long break from it and I was the same way man. I felt like I was stuck on my second stripe and I just quit. NOW, I just go because it’s fun, I love this martial art, and I feel myself getting better at it. It’s not about the belt brother it’s about your love for it. If you think a belt is gonna make you love it then you will be disappointed man. Do this because you wanna do it.
I would love to find an instructor in my area that understands the importance of the investment of time in your advancement rather than walking in to a gym and seeing fifty 7 year olds wearing black belts. If you know you're improving but you're not advancing and your instructor is respectable then you should appreciate that it's so important to him or her to produce a high quality product.
depends on the gym and instructors, I have been blessed to have great coaches with 20+ years experience in bjj, police and military experience pouring into our training. the belts represent time, skill, and attitude. it's true that skill technically is the goal and at the end of the day we are learning grappling skills, the building of character and as a person is a nice bonus our gym adds to the mix and ad a result our gym environment is one of humble people who are all friends
I really like these videos. I don't know you but I can tell that you know what you are talking about. It really helps people to get another point of view on things you are a very wise man. Thanks for sharing your opinions, thoughts, skills, and everything else. Much love, and keep up the good fights
4 months as a white belt at a gym and demanding a blue belt and saying it’s your life passion is wild. That’s the instant gratification world we live in
You sir are a very clever man, you always make sense on any topic juijitsu related.
I have never thought of the time aspect like that before. Eye opening. Thank you.
Ever since I started at my school I almost always never think about the color of my belt, too busy learning and enjoying rolls with a good team!
I've been training for 3 Years and I'm a 3 stripe white belt just keep Moving forward
Update
i been doing jiujitsu for about a year now and i have highschool wrestling experience and i still only have one stripe i haven't competed yet but because of them seasoning my belt i feel like ill do great once i feel like competing on the mats . this commitment is for life and i don't mind not getting promoted you explained this the best .
I am impressed by how diplomatic Cherie was here.
Hi Chewie I am a newbie to jiujitsu. I enjoy listening to your life experience a lot! Keep up the good work sir.
Greetings from Germany 🙂
Your explanation makes total sense. I agree.
I've been doing martial arts for almost 10 years now, but my BJJ is in a very infantile stage, I wouldn't say that I am a belt or stripe chaser, but I can't deny that it's on my mind lately, I appreciate this video, thank you for the perspective.
I've had about a year experience no-gi.
Just started Gi at the gym about a month ago. My goodness, how a gi adds a whole new level of complexity to jiu-jitsu.
I'm really grateful for my no-gi experience as it helps me to catch on quickly to the fundamentals.
But just 1 flow roll with my Coach, and I immidiately know I have a LONG way to go before I get 1 stripe, let alone a blue belt.
So, over the last month, I've been focused on prodiving/maintaining pressure.
Never understood the want behind belts. I’m planning on starting BJJ soon and it’s interesting to see these videos on how much people want to climb in rank instead of focusing on making what they know better. Still very excited to start soon
I have trained in the past for about a year! Took some time off got back in to it! Ram in to financial issues took some more time off! And now I’m back at my old gym and have been there for 10 months and I have one strip! On my white belt. Earn your way!