My White Belt to Blue Belt guide for students lacking direction & needing help

[@ChasenHill]

What guidelines did you follow to become a blue belt?

[@cbrusharmy]

Roy Dean's and Rick Ellis' until I get a curriculum from my instructor.

[@hawaiijim]

I think competency should require at least one takedown. You can't fight on the ground if you can't get the fight to the ground. Both the Gracie Combatives and Gracie Barra Fundamentals (GB1) require learning some basic takedowns like the double-leg takedown.

[@jeerachi]

Dont think too much guys, train consistently, go all in and submerse yourself in the sport of jiu jitsu and you will achieve your goals

[@ChasenHill]

Thanks for taking the time to check out the video. I hear what you are saying, agree with it, and understand why there is simplicity behind it. However, over the past 14 years, I've literally seen hundreds of students quit and have more resentment for Jiu-Jitsu following this formula than I've ever seen work. 99% of students do not relate to the best sport guys in the world and never will. We tell students not to compare themselves, but at the same time, the best advice we give is to submerse themselves. If that level of simplicity brings comfort and benefits someone, fantastic. A lot of students hate hearing 'just show' and find it dismissive. There is a lot more to it than just showing up.

[@Rico702Vegas]

This was stupid advice for those with brains. It's line learning a new language, do your want to speak or correctly or sound like you're a foreigner?? You show your colors.

[@Thecelestial1]

Tom get my blue belt I attended class probably 4 to five hours a week over 3 days for a year and a half. I took notes on every lesson we did and made it a point to understand all the basic positions of the sport. I competed without being subbed although I did lose lol. I memorized the Gracie combatives and watched videos of people doing the test for it, great resource! I always made sure I could see the moves of the day and asked questions to understand why the body should be positioned this way or that to do the moves correctly and efficiently. Last I watched a ton of instructionals from Danaher, Ryan, Faria all kinds. A standardized curriculum should be given, but I think a lot of gyms want an ambitious carrot for you to chase and they hold people back on purpose. Just my opinion.

[@ChasenHill]

Wow! That's amazing dedication and willpower! I agree with you about schools should have a standard curriculum designed from the top down based on what they think their students should develop; however, don't sell your self short on the ownership you took! Taking the time to study, take notes, and be as studies as you were is a rare thing.

[@michaelm9710]

Our coach mentioned taking notes. That’s a good idea

[@darksithmartin]

I started 1 month ago at age 57. I love it and am not feeling the massive need to be banded or a blue belt, I just love going and support my academy to be a good team player. Like supporting them at comps. If I get a band or belt then I will be happy. I would defo hope I have proved the foundational skills first. Loved this Video Chasen - Osss

[@HerculesLoyd]

I started at 22 and trained 4-6 days per week for 3 years until I got my blue belt. Very far beyond the 125-200 training sessions lol. In my opinion belts are kind of arbitrary, just focus on developing your skill and you’ll get promoted whenever your instructor feels you’re ready.

[@Unibot47]

Appreciate the video. I have been training with this gym since January 2023. I am now a 2 stripe white. Competed in October. Next tournament the gym is going to do as a team is in April. And I MAY be getting my blue belt around that time. I know a lot of people are dying to just 'progress' by way of belts, but I view these days as precious. I'm trying to hold onto this white belt as long as possible, and compete at least a handful of times. I just feel like it's kind of like your childhood where you're only a kid once until you're not, and then you never have that time back. Now is the time as a white belt that people have no expectations of you, and once you get that blue you're at the bottom of the barrel all over again in a much deeper pool since the spectrum of blue is so wide. Great info and insight!

[@ChasenHill]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Happy to hear you found it helpful!

[@skintback8211]

WORD

[@johndavis7407]

Narrowing my focus helped me improve much faster in jiu jitsu. I doubled down on a guard recovery from side control and an armlock from high mount, and I found I had much more direction, intentionality, and drive. I was also able to improve those things and discuss and drill the techniques with my fellow practitioners. I think this framework will really help me. Thanks for the upload and the comprehensive description of your methods.

[@Ink.johnny]

I’m 40 and literally just started last week. I have no expectations of getting a blue belt for at least a couple years. I don’t know if it’s that important to me but I guess it is a good way of tracking progress. I just wanted to learn something useful while staying active. Your videos are very informational.

[@olivarrio]

Similar journey here, 46, started about 7 months ago. Totally elated to survive each class without injury and make tiny increases in endurance/strength/technique each week.

[@MrGabino8000]

@@olivarrio 41 year old. Started yesterday.

[@anonymous071985]

Can I join this 40s club? I'm 39. Almost 40. And just started BJJ too. Relate to you all

[@MegaJullikka]

I started bjj three weeks ago. I will turn 41 in a month. Looking forward to train, compete and having fun.

[@johnafielding]

Started BJJ 3 months ago. I am 70. I have no expectations besides learning new stuff and surviving until my next birthday.

[@retiredusmc9090]

2 1/2 months into training as a 57 year old no stripe white belt, seeing this broken down on a white board chart put things in a pretty good perspective for me. Thank you.

[@eddiewright5921]

Thank you for taking the time to produce this video. Now, i finally have a framework to go by.

[@graphthis2249]

What a nice actionable list to strive towards :) Especially in a sport where many instructors when asked for advice will keep it vague and say "just keep showing up" or "work on the fundamentals" without actuall elaborating. I find with the advant of youtube it is easier than ever to find BJJ resources and instructors sort of leave that up to new students to do on their own. It's very much like when starting out as an engineer or prgrammer lol. I also think new students struggle with knowing what kind of questions to ask when looking for advice, at least I do/did. Looking at things from this frame imo helps prompt good questions like "I struggle with executing this attack, what alternatives can I research and or ask my instructor about that might suit me better?" etc.

[@bobbydabutcha]

Man I wish I had this layout as a White belt from 2018-mid 2022 lol. On the bright side, my defense and escapes is through the freaking roof as a Blue belt for the last two years. Right now, I'm focusing mostly on Judo take downs, sweeps from both closed and open guard and tightening up my offensive and positional sequences. The fundamentals are as always an ongoing process.

[@ahasver923]

17:40 Thank you. This really gave me encouragement. I'm a four stripe white, and every person I roll with in class is a purple or brown. I just feel so incompetent with all my escape efforts against them. In very rare instances, I get matched up with a white belt, and it almost feels awkward because everything's so easy.

[@medicineandbrazilianjiujit8511]

Thank you for this excellent video! At our Academy, the instructors also add: 1. Does this white belt have the neuromuscular control to move in jiu jitsu ways at all times? 2. Does this white belt have the emotional regulation to use that neuromuscular control at all times? 3. Is this future blue belt a safe training partner at all times? Certainly don’t want to promote a total spaz to blue belt! Too dangerous. Thank you for this great video Nikolas

[@ChasenHill]

Thank you for the kind words and support! I love those requirements! I would be curious to know how he determines those aspects!

[@medicineandbrazilianjiujit8511]

@@ChasenHill Hi Professor, Thank you for your response. Our coaches observe the following very carefully: 1. Do teammates greet him warmly when he shows up, or do they avoid him? 2. Are teammates willing to roll with him over and over, or do they roll with him once, and then avoid him like the plague? 3. When rolling with a less skilled opponent, is he cranking up the spaz factor because he can’t tap him, or is he keeping it playful and steady at all times? 4. When the roll is over, does his training partner have a smile on his face, or is he limping to the edge of the mat holding his elbow? 5. Are his teammates willing to roll with him night after night, or avoid him after rolling once? 6. Our coaches will flat out ask teammates, do you feel safe training with him at all times? If no, why not? Thank you for your excellent videos!

[@ricardogalindo8794]

​@@medicineandbrazilianjiujit8511wow! Fantastic! I'm a 4 stripe white belt, 2.5 years, n yesterday was promotion ceremony. I wasn't blue belt, but n aggressive type of white 3 stripe belt was, who I don't like rolling with because he rolls at 100% ( n heard other 2 partners mentioned they don't roll with him) get blue belt over me. I know it shouldn't bother me, but when I see how friend friendly the professor is with him...I can't help but feel that I was skipped over favoritism. I shouldn't feel this way...but when I traveled at other academies in Mexico n was told that I "feel" like a blue belt...I feel like I'm not getting recognized n being put behind based on favoritism. I know I just have to keep rolling ...but math wise....I'll be blue in 3 years...when I know that I feel that I'm blue belt now. N yeah! There is that ideology that we shouldn't questioned the black belt professors, full respect, but favoritism n liking a student will impact judgment. And I know! I'm. Teacher by career, I know that it does.

[@thesethreekings]

Nearly three years here attending around 4 sessions a week on average, still a 4 stripe while belt 🙋‍♂️. I think some gyms like people to win comps, and being slower to give belts is one way to achieve it. Don’t mind either way, as long as I’m learning!

[@realjustinkarp8626]

Thank you for this. Students can also benefit by reflecting on that days training and rolls and using a journal to write down their mistakes and improvements. This helps me at least. Even visualisation of that day reinforces the training in the brain.

[@PettersonKAG]

Used a “Fancy Spreadsheet” as described in video. I think is fancy too!

[@ChasenHill]

Fantastic! Spreadsheets aren't bad! I love them.

[@KazzArie]

Amazing. As commented on your other videos, I'm a 41yo white belt. Started Jan 31, 2022, at about three days a week. June-July 2022 I learned enough it became more fun and increased training volume to 5-6 days (Monday-Saturday) a week since then. ~260 weekdays per year for going on two years. A *really* good blue recently complimented me that I've got more mat time than most of our other blues. I think my instructor is holding me back thinking I'll quit shortly after promotion (half kidding).. perhaps the "old ways" said white to blue is two years, no exceptions. He got his black from Kurt Osiander 6+ years ago 🤷‍♂ long as I'm having fun, learning every day, and not getting injured, the color belt I'm wearing means nothing. The people I train with every day know what my white belt is capable of 🤙

[@KazzArie]

@@kodiakcombatcollective Being old as I am, I'm just a hobbyist that takes it seriously. Working from home, the gym is only 5 mi away and serves as my exercise and social outlet. If I were younger or a really serious competitor I'd consider moving but traveling further and maintaining my 5-6 days/week is not something I could do with three little kids. While I was half joking, it does make me wonder what the lag is. Not just for my own promotion but others as well.

[@ricardogalindo8794]

​​@@kodiakcombatcollectiveI'm going through what he is going through. I go 3 days a week: I've been at it 2.5 years. Apparently, by professors ' opinion I'm "close to blue belt" but require "small modifications." Meanwhile, a 3 stripe white belt got promoted to blue on today's promotion ceremony, n myself as a 4 stripe white belt didn't... I see that this same student has the same level in skill n movements...but I also see that this student is friend friend with the professor, so much so that they follow each other on ig...but professor doesn't follow me... I thought the small modifications were to be taking place throughout one's journey? I've gone to other foreign bjj academies, where I've been complimented as "feeling like a blue belt"...but apparently at my academy....I'm a 4 stripe white belt, 2.5 years...by the math...I'll be blue belt by May 2024, 3 years in. Is this right? Because I'm feeling like my current professor promotes based on favoritism.. if I don't get blue by next ceremony...should I be thinking about possibly transferring to another academy? I'm debating so now.

[@aristolochene]

why don't you compete to see how you do against others at your age and experience

[@KazzArie]

@@aristolochene did two times. One 7 mos in and the other about 20 mos in. No golds but it was fun. Now I’m blue as of about a week ago which throws a wrench in the works. Not sure when I should jump in with the senior blues. Maybe sooner rather than later?

[@danguillou713]

I’ve been training for about 10 months now, logged … back of napkin calculation … 110-120 training sessions. I’m still working towards my second stripe and on your competency map I think I’m confident in maybe 10-15 %. I don’t think 200 hours is going to get me there, is all I’m saying. But hey, I’m having a great time and I don’t really care about external validation anyway :-) Anyway that breakdown on what I should try to get basic competency in is really good. I paused the video and took notes. So thanks!

[@alphabromega859]

Love the new content lately. Keep up the good work man.

[@ChasenHill]

Appreciate it! Thanks for the support!

[@jk9685]

Been training for 1 year 8 months 2/3 days per week. 3 stripe white belt here!

[@yoitsrami]

Great video, today is my first class. I’m 31, I’m kind of nervous but looking forward to it. I hope I can stick with it

[@Rye_-kq3jn]

How’d your first class go?

[@davidd6334]

Need an update! Still in the game?

[@yoitsrami]

@@davidd6334 Now more than ever! I am now a 3 stripe white belt. I still get smashed multiple times every class by same or lower ranks. Submissions come few and far between but motivation is at an all time high. Keep it going, keep it rollin'!

[@davidd6334]

@@yoitsrami good to hear! Thanks for the update! I had sore ribs the entire first year. I recently have been feeling better and have good mobility. 2 years total and just got blue belt. I agree it’s worth it!

[@yoitsrami]

@@davidd6334 Nice! Lets keep it going!

[@patrickreagan7784]

After class last night I was thinking I needed to come up with a way to track my progress because so far it's been a mish mash.I like the structure and think it will help.Thanks! Oss

[@YoKeyzs]

As a white belt that has gone to jiu jitsu 5 days a week for 7 months, I appreciate this. However, even though I think I meet all of these requirements I’ve learned to not care about rank. It’s a cool idea, but learning to enjoy jiu jitsu for what it is I think is the best thing for the long run

[@SM-ov4vl]

Can you do one for blue to purple please?

[@ChasenHill]

I'll see what I can do, that would probably be a much longer video!

[@vrodsan]

Coach, it would be great if you can put together a concept chart like this for the other belts. Thanks for the video

[@ChasenHill]

Thanks for check out the video! I'll see what I can do. Up level concepts are much more vast than lower level. Is there a specific belt you had in mind?

[@vrodsan]

Thanks for the reply. I’m about a year into my blue belt, and it would be great to see your concept map for blue.

[@alo2832]

Holy shit this video helped me so much, I am so bad I’ve been training for a year and I only have 1 stripe and I go about 2 times a week, we learn a couple of techniques every session and that is way too much I forget them at the next day anyway so I feel like I know as much as when I started with BJJ. Honestly I don’t even know how I still go to the sessions because they are not even fun because I’m still the worst in my gym.😢 Just going to the session doesn’t help, I forget most of the complicated techniques when I don’t even know the basics. the spreadsheet does help a LOT

[@XieTianXieDi888]

I discovered after a year my gym has fundamental classes on Saturday mornings. I still haven’t gone. I’ve been going to the colored belt classes for a year and a half! 😂

[@alo2832]

That’s rough

[@anonymous071985]

😂 wait. There's fundamental classes?! At least I'm not the only one

[@InfernoPhilM]

Video starts at 2:46

[@bsojdfo]

I’m 38 years old, in pretty decent shape. I just started almost a month ago. While I’m loving it so far, I’m still worried about progressing, and if I started too late.

[@graphstyle]

No, you didn’t.

[@cheyennemeredith1174]

Character development is also important. How do we respond when losing, fatigued, outskilled, surprised, against more powerful opponents or idiots? How are we on our worst day? Can we keep our composure during difficult moments? The new guy, is he left in awe of jiu jitsu after a round with us or does he not want to return because we had a bad attitude about working with him? Or did he give us a reality check that we've yet to receive promotion for legitimate reasons? Character, skill, technique, experience. Wya? I got my blue belt after my lone MMA fight. I was training out of an mma-oriented Carlson Gracie school. I've always bounced around gyms since starting and when I get purple it'll be cause I sold my soul refusing to sacrifice quality for an easy promotion. I don't want a belt I can't back up, even after weeks of scarce training. Either you got it or you don't.

[@ronaldp.vincent8226]

Damn, my gym requires 60 sessions per stripe. So 300 training sessions to even be eligible for a blue belt lol.

[@Ink.johnny]

This is really good insight.

[@kajloman4096]

Based on my experience so far, that's not enough. I'm on my fifth year, more than 300 mat hours (+other training that supports BJJ). Still a 2 stripe white belt. One major reason for this might be that I'm not competing and my style of training Is not that competitive. But when it comes to techniques, I know much more than is presented here. So I don't know how much a person needs to train if not competing but I'm not even expecting any promotions any more, which also means that nowadays I "love" the sport. I like the balance of constant winning and losing, trying new techniques etc. and I'm getting a bit better all the time. And mainly this means that I don't try to learn new things all the time but I try to focus on getting better in fundamentals and being calm no matter what happens. I think that it's also in my age better to be a good white belt as long as possible, less injuries, less expectations.

[@yourlure]

Great work Brother!

[@peppertime1]

100% respect.... oss.

[@ChasenHill]

🙏 Thank you!

[@peppertime1]

@@ChasenHill i didnt quit.... 50 years old WB 3 ...well now i earned my blue belt yesterday.... still shocked. your channel helped alot to organise my all around,disparate game to an organise system pattern. oss and thanks professor Chase.

[@BenShearon]

Took me 284 sessions to get my blue belt (over about two years)

[@nathanslaman8695]

I’m 51 and two months in. I study and drill a lot in class and don’t just go balls out

[@JW-wc6ol]

I started BJJ a couple months ago and this is a great guideline, thanks so much! Regarding the main guard, I recently learned about the rubber guard after a classmate told me about it and I think it looks awesome. I naturally have very flexible hips and I think I would enjoy that quite a lot. Is this too specific as a beginner to get into?

[@ryanrpggamer3902]

The one academy I received my blue belt was the Gracie academy they have a Gracie combatives program I attended like 140 classes it’s curriculum is like 36 techniques in 23 classes do each class 3-4 times and reflex development class not really rolling it’s a partner drill where they create openings and you react to them I think 10 of those to get a strip and start rolling after the first stripe so like 30-40 classes

[@Calwinn]

You're not a blue belt without extensive rolling experience imho

[@ryanrpggamer3902]

@@Calwinn took me like 6 months to feel like a blue belt at a gym not an academy

[@Blukoi1]

Question for you, we're having issues with retaining our white belts and trying to figure out in what ways we can keep our white belts coming back. I really liked the guide here and we want to try and have more direction and aid for our white belts so that they can get to blue belt and continue to train. Wondering what you found successful

[@christophersmith3695]

One question: when you talk about the list of competency, are each of these requirements just having the knowledge and drilling capability or are we talking about being able to apply them in a competitive roll?

[@ChasenHill]

Thanks for asking! It’s a bit of both. The goal is to first build the foundational knowledge and drilling capability to understand the mechanics of the technique. From there, it’s about being able to use it effectively in a live roll, adapting and applying it against resistance. So, it’s not just about knowing it but integrating it so it works for you in a competitive environment. Hope this helps 😊

[@franknguyen1259]

How do you escape the mount position on a 230lb black belt when only weighing 150lbs?Elbow escape was difficult.

[@CynicEidolon]

How many black belts I gotta sub to get my blue belt?! 😂

[@ChasenHill]

Hahah! 72 and half...

[@CynicEidolon]

@@ChasenHill 69 more to go! 😅

[@BboyDaquack]

Me who's already a blue belt just watchin this to see if i even make the cut

[@Charlie7829]

the less you care about belts, the more you'll enjoy and learn. :)

[@cravenmoorehead5657]

I’ve been going four times a week for the last 14 months and I’m still a white belt

[@Bradley9967]

224 times. It depends on the academy, sadly. But when you get your blue, you will be a solid blue belt.

[@cravenmoorehead5657]

@@Bradley9967 yeah they brag about how slow they are to promote which shouldn’t be that way. It should just be fair based off standards and performance. Holding back someone just because it’s edgy is demoralizing to the person striving to achieve a goal. 🥋

[@Bradley9967]

@@cravenmoorehead5657 I completely agree. It's shocking to me to brag about such a thing. This comes across as 'we are so bad at teaching that it takes longer for our students to get the next belt'

[@78logistics]

Fact of the matter is I don't car.e . If blue comes fine, if not fine. All this presentation does is complicated things for me. I probably will switch to No Gi and be done with belts to be honest

[@ChasenHill]

Thanks for checking out the video. I understand how it can initially seem overwhelming. But saying you'll switch to No-Gi only doesn't make anything less complicated. All the belt does is represent an assumed amount of knowledge and skill that you've developed. Usually, a blue belt means someone has progressed from beginner to intermediate. So, whether you are training in the Gi or No-Gi that progression track doesn't change. The techniques might vary, but you don't go from beginner to expert in anything. There are steps in between. AKA blue, purple, brown. In my opinion, where students get frustrated is not understanding what it means to no longer be a beginner and now be an intermediate student. And it's not their fault; it's poor leadership and direction from their instructors. This video lays out what I deem an intermediate student is. I wish you the best of luck on your journey!

[@samo2072]

So I just quit because im concerned about getting injuries to be out of work for 6 mths to a year would crush me financially...Any advice to get less injuries???⁷

[@tonyhew8482]

I think I'm like the worst wb ever I have 4 stripes a stripe a year, 4 comps , 2 silvers very small brackets, I get beat by much newer guys and now haven't trained for months after injury resulting in surgery. I feel this maybe the end of my journey but I sure will miss it.

[@alo2832]

Same for me I have trained for 1 year and I only have 1 stripe I forget all the techniques… I am the worst in my gym after 1 year

[@tonyhew8482]

@alo2832 keep going and get some consistency it will all come.together.

[@alo2832]

@@tonyhew8482 that is not working. I have been consistent for 1 year 2-3 sessions per week and just going to the training doesn’t help at all because we learn way to much techniques while yiu can’t remember all of them. I’d rather just revise the techniques from the last sessions so we don’t forget them instead of lerning more techniques which I am going to forget anyway. I needed this spreadsheet really bad. I had no orientation

[@scottyboy6269]

2 years my arse, I'm past 2 years and have 1 stripe(should have 2 missed a test) this is 2x a week avg

[@78logistics]

Had to switch gyms after 15 month because I moved. And again after another year when I was probably close to blue because of a delusional woman less than half my age. Been at the new gym three months and looking at a change once again. I am happy being white until I cease rolling. At 64 this is all about participation not belts given most subjectively. Each to their own. The current school gas not changed his curriculum in almost one month. Seems a bit excessive in length.

[@makkavelli3972]

No one can train that much,,,too many knee and Acl injuries,,due too rock hard matts in most gyms,,they need too start laying down soft foam for matts then less injuries,,the Bjj governing bodies need too make this Compulsary for all gyms...

[@itierney]

Good content but the editing is annoying. Your are punching in constantly for no reason. It’s distracting,

[@joshscottabi]

Never has someone spoken so much and said so little

[@gracewnell6464]

Good video, I feel a little sad watching this, I've been training for 9 months, mostly about 6 times a week, 3 No Gi sessions and 3 Gi, just two weeks ago the club gave me a stripe. With all that work, I only got one white belt stripe to show for it. But, it doesn't discourage me, I've learned so much that now on many occasions I submit blue belts and I rarely, rarely get subbed by blue belts. I confidently do rounds with purple belts, they submit me most of the times of course but I also often survive. I guess I am glad I have learned a lot but in terms of the blue belt, I am starting to feel like the club forgot me, I either go to another school or it will take like 4 years at this rate 🥲