Brown Belt Hobbyist Makes a Big Mistake with Competitors in BJJ

So, today we've got a question from a Newly promoted Brown Belt, Evan, who is a hobbyist that finds himself having a case of the "Brown Belt Blues."
Usually, you hear about the Blue Belt Blues, but today's situation in a little different, or at least the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt color is.
He says that at his gym he's at the appropriate belt level. But, when he goes online and starts looking at the people who are competing at the Blue/Purple/Brown Belt competitions, he just doesn't think he's at that level.
He obviously finds this disheartening.
Sometimes he finds that he has no idea what these lower belts are even doing when they compete and now, he's suffering with a bit of imposter syndrome as a result of that.
He asks what I'd do to deal with the doubt of his rank in BJJ.
In this video I'll give Evan, and you guys, 2 ideas to chew on. 1 idea you guys might not like much, but I'm sure the other will be reassuring for some of you.
Hopefully, if you're struggling with a similar issue, then you found today's video helpful.
Thanks for watching.
- Chewy
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[@assoverteakettle]

A visiting Brazilian black belt professor once said to our class: whether you compete or not you need to be grateful to your class mates who practice with you and help you get better.

[@londonrhodes2429]

Coming from it's roots in Judo. Mutual benefit and welfare.

[@rabidlama]

Jita-Kyoei

[@DavidPittsChess]

judo has such a better attitude

[@jnng7463]

haha, I'm a 53 year old brown 11 years on the mats and almost got subbed by young 195 lbs., athletic, strong, flexible and hungry recent blue belt. He'd been training in kids program for 10 years and I was in shock after my roll. Got my back , flattened me , I fought off a choke and the bell saved me from his RNC. I told him congrats on the hard work and I'd be honored to get to roll with him again on his next roll. That will give me the chance to correct all the mistakes on that roll and he gets a chance to do the same. Jitsu is a Journey- I'm way passed the ego stage

[@hubriswonk]

Great post! I'm 52 year old Brown Belt and experience and think the same.

[@RS-kq9rr]

I am also 53 BJJ practitioner Did no Gi for over 10 years ,just switch to Go In our age, you roll with wisdom. The ego will only get you injuries. The law of aging sucks...the young bulls recover very fast and can grind everyday with no problem. For us, we need to drill more and more to perfection, that helps us alot to get the fluidity and experience to stay safe.

[@andrewkarl5174]

Age matters

[@RS-kq9rr]

@@andrewkarl5174 Yes, big time But, you can only get better with BJJ regardless of the age. Yes, you have to pick your partners... otherwise, you get injured. The young guys just can't help it, it's the testosterone...they have to be the Alpha...you need to be Mr. Wise

[@gerardmichael8523]

Age matters. Had you not been trained this kid would have destroyed you. The fact that you were able to defend is a win

[@swivel63]

we had a competition purple belt come from one of our other locations. i'm a four stripe brown belt and a buddy is a black belt. he gave both of us the business. couldn't submit us, but certainly wore us out and did well. and it wasn't necessarily the skill or technique, it was the intent. the grips were stronger, the pressure was different, the scrambles were more intense. as a practitioner at any level, you absolutely have to know that there are levels to this.

[@Regalgenes]

Such a brilliant observation. The INTENT, is key. You've given me something to think about when I'm rolling.

[@skulldaggery_20K9]

Levels anybody can aspire to imho. No reason a hobbyist can't have the same level of effort/intent, mindset is free.

[@toddianuzzi9296]

The INTENT. Yes

[@badoocee1967]

AGREED

[@jrizzy626]

Hobbyists keep the lights on!

[@UnskilledGrappler]

We are proverbial cannon fodder.

[@generallobster]

It is much harder to look down you nose on hobbyists when you learn they are making 10x your salary.

[@anonymousperson2816]

​@@generallobsteras danaher always says, there's a price for everything 😂

[@quantumjourney1]

@@generallobsterLol hows that relevant? Nice inferiority complex

[@vids595]

@@generallobster Not for me. What does one have to do with the other?

[@lehoff]

I'm a hobbyist that competes a handful of times a year. I'm in my 40s i don't have the time, skill, or stamina to do much more. Life is too busy to do much more than i do, and I'm happy with that.

[@rockade2408]

yeah there are guys that are so into it they dont are about there kids, one of them brings there kid in every day and gives her a ipad, farking wanker.

[@micaylapresley]

You're not a hobbyist if you compete.

[@lehoff]

@@micaylapresley I compete maybe twice a year. And don't worry about diet or getting in at a certain weight nor care about winning. I just like getting out of my comfort zone. Reminds me of my rugby days but with less teammates! I don't take it particularly seriously nor train specifically for a comp. However if that doesn't make me a hobbyist then sure if you say so!

[@RaveyDavey]

@@micaylapresley It's not that black and white. Hobbyists compete every now and again.

[@NhojMorgan]

There’s a point when you start to become comfortable with achieving your own goals and not simply winning things. It’s a great point when you can be happy with people beating you!

[@ChristopherBlieka]

The evolution of ambulamps never ceases to astonish. If you go back and watch early (and I mean EARLY) Chewjitsu videos, he gets so palpably frustrated every time an ambulance passes. One time he even yelled "What is going on with all these ambulances?!" Then somewhere along the line he started saying "ambulamps" to joke his way through the frustration, and he just kept doing until it clearly didn't bother him anymore. Now it's basically a trademark catchphrase. Could probably put it on a t-shirt and sell it at this point. Years of (largely unseen) personal growth expressed in a single dad joke. Incredible. (Stoicism at work, I suppose.)

[@JP-oq7zr]

Yeah I've been thinking about this too . His gym must be close to a dispatch or hospital.

[@Insider9467]

😂 his gym is in the hood for real! Gun shots, police, ambulance everyday.

[@jrizzy626]

I’m a paramedic. People call 911 for anything and everything. Currently, we have to run lights and sirens for almost everything, which is not only dangerous but also annoys Chewy.

[@Psichlo1]

I get so tired of hearing about "hobbyists" vs competition belts. If you're not making a living off BJJ, you're a hobbyist, like it or not. The only real difference between the two is that the people that compete regularly, train more intensely, usually. What I see in competitions is that the person that has the most reps on a given position wins. Competition seems to display a very small amount of the overall skill that any practitioner has. If you want to perform like the "competitors", you needs to train like them. I did a few competitions, but I stopped when I couldn't put in the prep work that was "required". Sometimes life gets in the wat of training and that's ok. Great video Chewy.

[@user-oi4in1cx1f]

I agree 100% if you’re not making a living off BJJ you’re a hobbyist. Also I can agree that there is a difference in those competing and not. So it’s just word play. Call it whatever you want that doesn’t hurt your feeling or dent your ego but there is a 100% difference. So what do we say? Semi amateur vs amateur? The point is it’s an ignorant debate, move past your ego and/or feelings 🤷‍♂️.

[@manuelhane2742]

I disagree with you 100%. You don’t have to live off bjj to not be a hobbyist. Sounds more like you’re tired about the negative connotation that comes with being a hobbyist vs competitor belts in the room. But you have to accept that competitors just have a different mindset and they have different goals with a different pace when they roll. Some people practice bjj because their friends do it or to stay in shape while learning to defend yourself and some people do it to train hard and compete. Nothing wrong with either one. Like in any combat sport, you don’t need to know everything. You just need certain moves and get really good at executing them. That’s why there are different games and styles in jiujitsu. Like in wrestling, not everyone is a great leg rider or in the top position, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be great.

[@JMU365]

I really needed to hear this dude. Thank you. You’re right. If you can’t put in the prep work then don’t do it. No half measures.

[@user-oi4in1cx1f]

@@manuelhane2742 I 100% agree with you also, however it’s still all word play and an ignorant argument

[@generallobster]

Let’s be real-words and categories are just that: words. Some people make their world bjj, while some have more going on in their life. I don’t compete because I don’t train enough to beat everyone in practice. Once I need more of a challenge than that, I’ll look at broader competition. Bjj has limited usefulness outside of the exercise, the social interaction and whatever subjective benefits you derive from winning gold medals at local weekend tournaments. I’ve trained Bjj since 2009. I admit a 3 in pocket knife in the hand of a novice defeats all my years of bjj in a real life confrontation because I’ve tested it on the mats.

[@gcracker2512]

I couldn't have said this any better myself. I competed for years, from White belt to Purple belt, just shy of 8 years. Training 4-6 times a week. Then I retired from competing and 5 years later I'm still training. I got my black belt last year, and I'm a hobbyist nowadays. In fact I even embrace the fact that I'm a hobbyist. I know there are tons of other black belts that are way better than me. I know there's purple and brown belts who compete every month who can give me a run for my money, even catch me at times too. When I was younger, around the time I was a Blue Belt I was told "Every man should have 3 hobbies, one that keeps him creative, one that can become a secondary income, and one that keeps him healthy." And at one point in my life, I wanted BJJ to fill all three of those slots. I wanted to be the highest level competitor I could be. But as I grew older I realized it only needed to fill one or two of those slots. And me personally, I'm totally cool with it. I wouldn't have wanted to do the last 13 years of my life any other way. So to all the other hobbyists out there, don't get discouraged and keep training. Trust me, it's worth it in the long run.

[@sebastienlundby-thomas7823]

I'm where you were at that 8 yearish mark debating doing some competitions again. Funny and interesting saying that you shared which also holds a lot of wisdom. I love jiu jitsu and the relationships and challenges it brings and that is more than I could have ever asked for

[@valiantravonous]

Great video Chewie. There seems to be a growing elitism, especially from social media involved black belts, about hobbyists and gyms that hand out belts simply for hours rather than skill (though they never mention specific coaches/associations that do this, oddly enough). I know my nearly 40 hobbyist purple belt self would struggle against some 21 year old blue belt killer competitor, but that's perfectly fine with me. That blue belt will have to radically change his game by the time he gets to my age, if he's even still rolling at all. Difference in goals and perspective. I just wish more of the people running podcasts and KZbin channels would be a bit more open to the folks that aren't willing to slaughter their bodies for medals.

[@User-54631]

And doesn’t pay well. Unless maybe you own a gym.

[@richarddukard8989]

The biggest problem is that the elitism is institutionalized now. Separating black belts by red bars vs white bars is completely unnecessary. It seems like hobbyist is becoming a derogatory word in bjj

[@PauloBerni699]

Good post. “If he’s even still rolling at all”🥇 SO TRUE. I’m 60 and 25 years BJJ regularly, competed a bit, but this is part of my life; my S & C, diet and supplementation is well thought out. I’m retired and only work two days a week, so even though I’m a “Hobbyist” I take this shit quite seriously. I’m very focused. I don’t do a roll, sit one or two out, then maybe do another. I’m on a mission to get at least 5-6 back to back rolls in, get exhausted and mentally pushed. I’m always studying bio mechanics, exact positioning and leverage displacement for optimal control, defense, counter, attack, etc.. I teach so I have a responsibility to be at my best, and I do find myself in deep waters often, but it’s my challenge to do better. We’re a huge school with multiple champions at the state and national level, but yes, many of these may not be doing this in a few years it has been my observation. Life circumstances will determine priorities.

[@Frenchieeeee]

@ddukard8989 doesn't the red bar vs white bar simply indicate whether you are an instructor or not? sure there are black belts who can point things out but they don't necessarily want to be teaching classes.

[@bobjones-bt9bh]

meh. i ran a school and had guys who medaled at IBJJF tourneys at blue adult and whatnot. I always smoked them. Had state medalist wrestlers, blue belts, no gi also medaled at IBJJF...no gi, it was even worse for them. the answer to these young strong guys is to go back to BJJ's roots- guard. have a trapping guard, outthink them, be dangerous off your back

[@chegufarid8699]

hobbyist: train 1-4x per week, competes for fun, starts bjj after 25 years old competitor: trains twice a day, 5 days per week..competes almost every month, started bjj between age 10-16years old im a hobbyist who trains 3x /week, started bjj at 33,y.o..honestly, i feel awesome

[@AEBJJ159]

These are weird lines to draw. I train more than twice a day 5 times a week and I'm still a hobbyist. Craig Jones started way later than 16 and probably doesn't train as much as I do. He's still the competitor/professional athlete.

[@conceivebelieveachieve9653]

Craig, Nicky Rod, & Ffion all started later 🤔

[@joao8563]

@@AEBJJ159a lot of free time as I see

[@AEBJJ159]

@@joao8563 I work a full time job on top of that. Different people have different priorities. Everyone has free time, it's just about how you use yours.

[@johnpedouify]

@conceivebelieveachieve9653 Nicky Rod and Ffion had grappling backgrounds before bjj tho. Nicky wrestled as a kid and Ffion did judo

[@WolfCubMMA]

I recently tried competing for the first time. 43 years old, 64 kilos, white belt. I had two matches against a strong 25 year old who was a bit heavier than me. And even though I lost both matches (I almost had it the first match), it was so much fun getting to feel the intensity of it and test my jiu-jitsu.

[@Isr1708]

Why were you in the same catergory as a 25yo?

[@WolfCubMMA]

@@Isr1708 The only opponents in my weight class came from my own academy, so they asked if I wanted to be moved to adult in order to face someone from another academy, even though that meant someone younger and possibly heavier. So I said sure. 😅

[@jackdewipper187]

Compete in masters 2

[@anonymousperson2816]

Really agree with 1st point. A couple guys I usually dominate, decided to join and prepare for a comp, I suddenly, have a much more difficult time with them

[@christopherbrown7568]

Those "fancy" moves that we see lower or same belts doing (especially younger lower belts) against their peers are often misleading. I'm a 54 yo purple belt. I see younger, athletic white, blue, purple, & sometimes brown belts pulling off amazing acrobatic techniques that I can't even dream of doing & sometimes it makes me feel inferior by comparison. But guess what I've learned by experience? - when they roll with me or somebody their own skill level & higher, they can rarely ever pull it off. My boring-ass jits manages to shut it down most of the time. Moral of the story, don't worry about "flash"....it doesn't mean it'll work on you just bc it worked on someone w/less experience.

[@oosik411]

As a hobbyist I’ve noticed I like the challenge of BJJ but at a slower pace. When things get more aggressive and faster I’m more concerned with injury.

[@bookofdaveandsteve]

I hear you. I'm middle aged, got kids who need lifting and a job without sick pay. It is what it is.

[@chadd3299]

Agreed. About 2/3 of my rounds are with brown and black belts for that reason. I’m pushing 40 and I’ll still roll with the aggressive young bucks because I think there is value in learning how to adjust your game to be able to deal with them; both for in gym purposes or a potential self defense situation. However, they are definitely not my preferred rounds. As soon as the 23 year old ex-wrestler blue belt that competes biweekly fist bumps me and gives me that initial collar tie where he’s trying to put my head through the mat, I can’t help but think to myself “here we go again, time to roll with this sack of wrenches.” I much prefer the slow technical battles with upper belts, but there is value in both.

[@JuliusGo]

As I was coming up through the ranks, I would try to compete at least once a year. I never really enjoyed it but usually felt like I improved a lot more quickly while training to compete. Training to compete requires so much more focus, which I felt took a lot of the fun out of BJJ. At the end of the day, I enjoy BJJ as a way to relieve stress, so it didn't make sense to me to push myself to compete to the point that BJJ was becoming stressful.

[@dv7057]

lol, “sack of wrenches”

[@bcjaliu]

As a 54 yo 3 stripe white belt I know exactly what you mean!

[@mmaontherocks]

Great explanation! It works the other way too. You have young competitors in the gym who can consistently tap higher belt hobbyists and think that their level is higher than it is. It’s so important to trust that your instructor has ranked you properly. Cheers 👊🏼

[@sampigman479]

The difference that I have observed in competative spheres (more than just bjj) is that hobbiests participate for a purpose outside of "winning". Wheather its to find community, stay/get in shape, explore new things, or dare I say fun. Competitors participate for the sole purpose of improving their ability to "win" whatever theyre competing in. Things hobbiests practice because they like a certain move may not be practiced by competitors because its not efficient. Ofc a competitor will beat a hobbiest, their motive is winning

[@nintendad2099]

I’m just happy to be able to be a hobbyist in bjj. Much respect for the comp types. Keep rolling all 🤙🏽

[@sanjuansteve]

I learned BJJ at a Carlson Gracie Jr BJJ gym in Puerto Rico. They all rolled with gi and they always allowed me as the only no-gi person in the gym, and I never took advantage of that. They called me, and I'm very proud of this, a ''transparent belt''. jajaja

[@danw4685]

The big difference I have noticed with competitors vs hobbyists is in the levels of athleticism. Competitors are generally stronger and faster. So it seems like their skill is much higher but i think what happens when it’s a hobbyist vs a competitor is that the hobbyist isn’t used to the competition pace and therefore gets stomped. It isn’t so much about who knows more bjj.

[@ethanchaney1139]

One knows more in general and has a vast array of things to play with One is knows less overall, but is better at doing what they know and know it better When I had to wrestle off for the varsity spot my senior year, my teammate wrestled for 6 years, doing folk style and freestyle. He knew substantially more wrestling than me, since that had only been my 3rd year wrestling. However I was simply more aggressive, a little stronger, and made up for the lack of experience with hitting the few techniques I did know faster and better than he was hitting his.

[@Ufcfreak97]

Theirs also science done to people who play “sports”. The stress you endure during a high level game or event stimulates high stress and thus allows you to handle higher stressful situations without feeling overwhelmed. For example as a high schooler I felt less anxiety, less tension, less stress while my years of competitive sports… years after I lost that competitive spirt and feel that type of feels but is more intensified. I noticed it a few years after my sports days were over and thought it was pretty unique.

[@kainkabil6393]

belt color dont mean that much im 45 yrs old hobbyist and started 2 months ago. a new guy came that said he did bjj for 6 days. so apparently we both are white belts. we started sparring with gripping and next hing i know, he slammed me on to the top of my head to the ground. i stopped immediately because not only my head but also my e,neck got huge ache. i told him that was not a white belt move, he said he did wrestling 15 years before. i felt like what he did was a dck move a bit. if he said the was also a wrestler, i wouldnt start stand up for more safety

[@micaylapresley]

You really shouldn't start there anyway until you learn how to breakfall. Hope you feel better soon

[@SethKBaldwin]

This is me except I'm not looking at blue belts on TV, I know they've trained for 10 years and are huge sandbaggers, I'm looking at other hobbyist blue belts who are younger and more athletic than me who seem to be getting better so much faster than me and they will tap me unless I really bring my A game. I'm 50 and when I think of how much I've trained over the last 9 years (maybe not so much at white belt) I feel like I deserve my new brown belt, but when I roll I feel ineffective against anyone athletic. Not just dudes in their 20s, even guys who are 35 or 40 but still pretty buff.

[@bobjones-bt9bh]

you have to be willing to give ground...learn guard. Guard is the essence of BJJ.

[@yamz342]

Everyone’s on their own journey bro

[@MichaelAres]

I heard there’s 4 categories: hobbyist, hobbyist competitor, competitor, and professional. I feel like I’m more the hobbyist competitor. I come 6 days a week, I roll as competitive and hard as I can, I just do competitions 2 to 3 times a year as it doesn’t speak to me the same as my other hardcore teammates.

[@JesseStanchfield]

yes!

[@vikingvampire6198]

Competed in 76 tournametns (400 matches). When I train I train very calm and relaxed. I don't train like a competitor at all. I don't want to be sore all the time. I'm almost 40. I'm never trying to train "hard". I train smart.

[@jackdewipper187]

@@vikingvampire6198and do you win matches during competition?

[@ashdoroshenko6453]

Thanks for your content mate, new practioner after watching your videos for several years now 👍

[@coloradocombatzone]

I just had a similar conversation with one of my students. Great Video! Keep it up!!!!!

[@-gz9lu]

Best thing to do is hit up a open mat in one of the top comp gyms in ur area 1-2 a month that’s what I do on top of class four days a week and one open mat on Saturday mornings. Third I usually hit up a gym Sunday mornings 2-3 times a month that is one of the top if not the best comp gym in northern Illinois.

[@sigilmovement]

Why not just go to that gym if it's the best?

[@allan459415]

Awesome discourse as always, thanks for giving me more clarity Chewy👍🙏

[@tye3ow]

Often times competitors have their belts held back longer as well so a competition blue belt might have been ready to advance months ago

[@micaylapresley]

This is more normal, in my experience. I was blue for 7 years and I've known people who were held back at every belt to make their gym look better

[@Macktube]

I feel like it's possible some instructors will promote a student just because they've been there for so long and they want them to feel like they've spent their time accomplishing something so they won't quit. While other instructors emphasize competition skills and are at a much higher level even at a lower belt rank

[@SuperGoatTV]

I am a brown belt in Muay Thai, and I can relate to this video because I was already over 40 when I started my martial arts journey, and I'm turning 49 this year, I'm definitely a hobbiest as I've never competed having been so late to the game. However, all of the other students come to me on a regular basis with questions and for help and pointers with their technique. People helped me a lot when I got started. It's the reason I stuck with it this long, and it makes me proud to be able to do the same for others now that I'm experienced. And for that reason, I don't feel like a fraud.

[@reconjitz]

I just love the one vs one feeling competing gives. I'm a 30+ dad of 2 hobbyist, but compete every other month it's exhilarating as a blue belt.

[@whorton1978]

I look at belt level as what you know and competition as what you can do under stress. There are home chefs who can cook a huge array of tremendously complicated dishes who will crumble working the line during the dinner rush at a pub. There is a separate set of skills required to perform successfully under stress over time. If you're not going to work in a restaurant, you don't need those skills. If you're going to be a professional chef, you don't benefit from learning a bunch of dishes you'll never make.

[@williamleuellen8125]

I definitely suggest competing as much as possible. You will only progress so much when you only drill and roll with your own teammates. Working with new people always helps, especially in live scenarios

[@rossedwardson5322]

Just stay tight and shut down the game you don’t want to play. You don’t need to learn it. You’re a superstar chewy. Cool videos

[@RicoMnc]

I, as a hobbyist, older, smaller blue belt sometimes find myself training with the younger, faster, guys training for competitions. Sometimes I just politely turn down rounds with them. But when I do roll with them, I have to be more defensive and conservative. That may sound counter-intuitive, why wouldn't I try to match their movement and intensity? Because I can't sustain that very long. Apply fundamental, "rice & beans" concepts and principles. Good base, connection, posture, good frames, conserve energy. If I can slow them down ( can't out gas them), make them waste and drain some energy, and frustrate them a bit, get them off their "game" and make them at least meet me half way to my game and intensity. I'm not tapping these guys, but I'm making them work harder to get the tap, and sometimes put them on defense.

[@jongsma_aquaria5071]

Great video Chewy. Your are a hobbyist when its not your living. The real pro guys are training 3 times a day and 6 days a week. They need to preform because otherwise they don't earn money. Im blessed that im a coach and have my own gym. I teach 6 days a week and that's my living. I don't focus specifically on competition but on normal people, people with handicaps, people who are bullied etc. Love my job.

[@fazer12779]

Also you don't need to know everything anyway, you can focus on the top 10 submissions that most people win by!

[@vids595]

Disagree, belts should be mostly about what you know.

[@BMO_Creative]

In military, we're quick to adopt new stuff because we're always looking for a force multiplier while honing the base milspec stuff.

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

The "force multiplier" in the military will be drones and artificial intelligence. The countries with the smartest scientists will be the ones who have the most powerful military. We will no longer needs guns, bullets, tanks, bombs, and missiles. All you need to do to control and "defeat" another country is to hack into their computer systems and disable the computer networks of their banks, their hospitals, their military, their colleges and universities, their health insurance companies, their airports, their shipping industry, their utility companies, etc. You'll disable their country and render their people helpless.

[@wizworm]

Also sandbagging is a thing where coaches delay giving belts to competitors so they can win at their belt level

[@EnbL0187]

I think this is common sense. Don’t compare yourself to a competitor if you’re a hobbyist, regardless of your belt color. Which probably why I like training in nogi most of the time now. No pressure in regards to what color belt anyone is has. You just roll for the hell of it.

[@anaguerrero3466]

Even as a white belt (49F / 125lbs) I watch other white belt competitors- holy smokes! They are out there killing it!! I want to compete, but they’re doing moves that are blue belt levels-

[@jackdewipper187]

They are not yet promoted blue belts.

[@jokesyfuntime4898]

The levels in levels is a beautiful thing. So much to gain.

[@justinjex1]

I am a 53 year old purple belt. Not impressed with this trend of segregation within the BJJ community. I work during the day and train at night. Not sure how you can be a competitor and eat. If you’re 18… maybe, but you have to plan for making a living so when you are my age, you’re not homeless. I am also a “hobbiest” guitar player. I make a pretty good living, and bought a Gibson Les Paul from a “musician” Difference is I can afford to buy the equipment that he couldn’t because I have a job. Wouldn’t change places with him ever… because at the end of the day, you won’t be able to live in the gym when you’re 75… food for thought. WOULD NOT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE THE STARVING ARTIST.

[@sigilmovement]

That's cool but the people who have passion for training are the ones who discover all this cool stuff to disseminate to the rest of the public who have jobs... imo they deserve some respect for that

[@micaylapresley]

You think competitors don't have full time jobs? In fact, most of us do heavy manual labor and have to train and compete around work.

[@nicholasneyhart396]

What do you mean, I wash dishes at a casino restaurant at night, go to college in the morning, and train and even compete in both bjj and wrestling before work.

[@markoniksic3630]

Its all about frequency. If person A trains 6 days per week and person B trains 3 days per week person A wins even as a hobbyist, its just more time on the mat. Simple as

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

No it isn't "simple as that". There's some people who are simply more talented than others. If life was simply a matter of "working harder than the next guy", and "putting in more time", then things would be so simple. I could just practice basketball 12-hrs per day, 7 days per week, and I'd be better than Lebron James. But it doesn't work that way. Natural TALENT makes a HUGE difference in how successful you will become. In Kenya you got 12, 13, 14 year old kids who don't even own a pair of running shoes, and who know NOTHING about distance running training, yet they could probably beat many top U.S. college distance runners just with their talent alone.

[@markoniksic3630]

@@user-sg8kq7ii3y Sure man, 95% of the time working hard will get you most of the things you want in life, 5% dont need to try as hard they are just gifted. For most of us its just a matter of getting the ass off the couch.

[@taylormorris_]

I agree despite the descent you have received. Can't compare bjj to running, or any other sport, bar wrestling. More bjj makes better bjj than those who train less, which usually leads to winning rounds. I've never seen a new white belt; any age, build, or athleticism do anything but get wrecked by purple or higher. Unequivocal.

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

@@taylormorris_ I think BJ Penn could hold his own, and even defeat, many higher belts when he was a white belt.

[@taylormorris_]

@@user-sg8kq7ii3y hence the nickname "the prodigy". My point stands.

[@RS-kq9rr]

A hobbyist can beat a competitionner in a street fight. BJJ is a different issue. But, street fight??? Size does matter and you can't underestimate a hobbyist that has a knockout power in the hands.

[@jdt1221a]

I absolutely appreciate your explanations/insight on all advice you give out. It is awesome how pure it really is. Much enjoy.😎👊🙏

[@DreX-8810]

I’m a 44 yr old hobbyist at a competition school. What’s lol about that is the mixed classes during trading season….thats when you get real hard n good training. Shoot! I be feeling like im getting ready for a competition 🤙🏿✌🏿

[@lucassmith2332]

I know all about lacking drive and butterflies. I have done 2 competitions and can not get my " killer" to come out first round for nothing. When I get the second round Losers bracket my survivor comes out and that's it. Can not seem to ever get out of just gym rolling.

[@nicholasneyhart396]

I am a competitor, primarily a collegiate wrestler but also judo and jiujitsu. My methodology is whether I win or lose, I need to come prepared and have the tools to perform what I need to. I am always adding new tools to the box, so to speak, just so I can always be better than last time.

[@CrossedCollar]

Something to “chew on” haha caught that. Love it 🤙

[@floyd666uk]

This guy is very articulate. Talks so much sense.

[@Jiu-Jitsu-Robot]

I’m a hobbyist and never felt any difference whatsoever between people going hard in the gym and competing. They’re the same people. When you get to people who train 6 days a week for 8 hours a day, then yeah - you’re getting your ass handed to you in a magical way but newsflash ladies and gentlemen, we are ALL hobbyists unless jiu jitsu competition is your JOB.

[@MrCmon113]

Yeah and there's plenty of small competitions where you find people, who suck just as much as you.

[@cafeapaka7501]

Competition raises the level of any sport or art. Individuals who compete will face more opponents than a typical club level practitioner - get over it - if you want to raise your game then face more opponents and be willing to learn and that means to lose - your belt rank is meaningless if you plan to advance your skills - there are millions of people practicing any given sport or martial art and to think your belt will galvanize you against someone who is constantly facing new opponents means you are trying to rationalize where you are in terms of your skill level - reaching a particular belt level is not the end, it never ends until you can come to terms with where you are at and what you want to accomplish. Don’t bitch about it, either up your game if it is important to - if not, accept and realize you will be rolled over by a blue belt who wants to get better and isn’t afraid to lose and learn. I stopped worrying about my belt ranking and focused more about learning new skills and keep honest about my physical training to endure multiple matches, it has made my experience more fruitful and given me peace of mind as i am willing to learn from all experiences regardless of the belt I face. I acknowledge a better opponent as an opportunity to get better. Keep in mind I am not stating to abandon belts or testing as it helps to establish some semblance of hierarchy when teaching but there are some who learn faster and will advance in skills beyond the level shown around their waist - nor should we abandon the values of the fundamentals of a particular art - maybe some balance can be found within each individual and club as to the values they want to pass to their students.

[@jamieeccles3329]

I’m a 38 year old blue belt who has never won a match at my current rank. I have been a blue for 2.5 years and train 3 times a week and help out kids coaching every once in a while. I compete the most out of my gym, 6-7 times at my current rank. I don’t know which category I fall under but I feel like a hobbiest. It’s doesn’t effect my love or drive to train but feel I should be better. Guess I’m just in a valley looking for my next peak and shouldn’t focus on the hobbiest VS competitor debate.

[@christopherbrown7568]

Are you competing in masters (ie-age appropriate)?

[@jamieeccles3329]

@@christopherbrown7568 I enter master but 90% of the time I get merged to adults. Weekend just been was the first time in a long time I actually competed in masters

[@davidmills5286]

not to mention competitors are just sometimes straight sandbagging for the Ws.

[@samuelfarinha2017]

Dear Chew, I regularly follow your blog and find your insights very useful. Following this subject, I’m a 56-year-old blue belt, weighing 92 kg and standing 185 cm tall. I consider myself a strong individual, quite resilient to being swept and very hard to be submitted. Recently, there were promotions at my gym, and despite being able to successfully guard pass many blues and purples and most of the time be able to submit them, I was not promoted to purple, although i had the time for it. My instructor mentioned that it’s just not my time yet. I’m beginning to wonder if this could be due to the fact that I primarily rely on a couple of techniques rather than having a broader skill set, or perhaps because I still lean on strength more than technique. Initially, this situation left me feeling quite frustrated, but I'm now trying to understand what I might have missed along the way. I would greatly appreciate any tips or advice you might have to help me in this journey. Thank you in advance for your guidance. Regards, Sam

[@m5a1stuart83]

I am a Brownbelt Judo 85kg with much skills in competitions in the past. But younger guy with weight 40-50kg can throw me like a ragdoll even tho they are just a Orange or Green belt. Todays kids are train and compete more than us in the past. They have techniques better than us the dinosaurs.

[@jamiller83]

Never competed brown belt here. I had the brown belt blues also. It only lasted about a month though. I choked a double black belt unconscious. After that I didn't have any brown belt blues.

[@rickgraham7641]

I cannot speak to this myself but I have been told there is a fair amount of sandbagging that goes on at the competition level. Both from individuals and even schools that want to make it seem like they have superior white and blue belts as a marketing tool.

[@danielwayne2055]

Ambulance 😂😂😂😂😂😂 ambulance 😂😂😂😂 the way he said it.

[@dradamov]

Hobbyists can still roll with competitors and elevate their game one way or another. And since there is so much jiu jitsu to go around and explore, there is always a space where both sides can learn.

[@mkurnava]

this is on point - and needed the reminder

[@medicineandbrazilianjiujit8511]

Thank you. Great advice, as always.

[@Aaronek5]

Chewy I hope you realize that the ambulance helps you take a breath while “rolling” these videos out 😉 Thank you for yet another awesome topic discussion.

[@enamlennahc1701]

Bro there's so many "competitors" in my gym who really are just hobbyists who take themselves too seriously. Sorry, not sorry.

[@lahunakbal4277]

48 here. Got my Purple last Thursday after 6 years. I was anxious but now that Ive got it I'm good with it. It is for me, for no one else. Also if you fought your untrained self you would certainly beat his arse.! Keep training. Dont care.

[@dustincintron1682]

I understand that guys frustration. I am a hobbyist who trains 2x a week, 3x AT MOST. I end up loving the training so much that I wish I started younger and actually competed. At this stage, competing isn't really a thing for me. So when you see a younger guy who found bjj earlier in his life and actually competes, part of you feels like you missed out. Just my experience, at least.

[@naoimhinfada6233]

Only in combat sports will people get butt hurt about being called hobbyists. Like, does anybody here think the guy who goes to his local batting cages to hit a few balls for fun and relaxation has any trouble telling the difference between himself and Shohei Ohtani? Do you think that it makes him feel bad about himself /at all/ that he can't hit the ball out of Yankee Stadium and Ohtani can, even though they both know how to swing a bat? Train jiu-jitsu and train it hard, but please, for the love of Mike, leave your ego at the door.

[@barlorox]

Maaate. This is a good video. Love it chewy.

[@awyzeguy]

It hit different when a hobbyist can keep up with "competitors"

[@juiceknot]

Excellent video 👍🏾💪🏾

[@skulldaggery_20K9]

Eh, I think being a hobbyists doesn't mean you can't hold yourself up to the same technical, tactical, or effort standards as competitors. Obviously you don't have to train as much, or do as much conditioning, tape studying etc. but that's no reason not to give up easy sweeps, not be positionally sound, have bad technique, and not pay full attention when drilling or sparring. Even if you train 2 days a week, make them count.

[@AnthonyScalzilli]

great explanation chewie

[@tamamalosi]

I've signed up for ten competitions this year. As an older white belt, does that make me a Hobbyist Competitor?

[@216kingDavid1]

Fuck bro, you trying to defend the Earth Realm LoL 😂 good luck on your battles I’m sure it will develop your game

[@tamamalosi]

@@216kingDavid1 Saving my waistline from pies and chips more like! Two comps down so far. Bronze and a gold. It has madr a huge difference to this white belt's game. More confident. Tougher. Way less bothered about open mats. Happier being uncomfortable. More aggressive in rolls. I should say my wins have also come through submissions...all chokes. Who would have thought that actually doing what you train would nett such results?! ;-)

[@216kingDavid1]

@@tamamalosi that’s great. I had my first tournament yesterday as a blue belt and I hope to do a few more this year.

[@tamamalosi]

@@216kingDavid1 Awesome. It can only make our game I reckon. Ossa!

[@bc2578]

Amberlamps, lol...I don't disagree with anything you said, but to be honest my first thought was that folks who compete in tournaments tend to want to stay at a lower belt level as long as possible to get the easiest opponent possible (sandbagging.) Someone who might really be a black belt skill-wise might want to compete as a blue belt.

[@sombojoe]

Rank has a whole lot to do about knowledge and teaching.

[@anton8267]

I am a 42 Judo Competitor in my young age. Today kids are good and have strong even for their lower belt than mine. If I follow todays ruleset, I would lose. But if we go by old standard, and I can go all out with old banned techniques. I can win the match via rough hard techniques. something we do learn in the past. Which now I pass it down to my kids.

[@bookofdaveandsteve]

Hope you are getting some sleep chewy - those first few weeks are no joke

[@sd_pjwal]

John Danaher is competing...just not directly on the mat himself.

[@PauloBerni699]

He’s by his own admission never done even one tournament. I’m a number of years older than him, training nearly as long and beat to shit too..and don’t have a long storied competing history, but I did get out there.

[@bh11151980]

Can we get an am-ba-lance montage please?

[@davidfigueroa6318]

Thanks for this video. Very informative of what type of mindset I should have moving forward I'm BJJ. Question: because a competitive person has more tools in their arsenal relative to a hobbyist, would you say that if the two went to a competition, the Competitor will always win? Is there room for a hobbyist to win tournaments vs people that train 5-7x per week and competes more frequently?

[@Chewjitsu]

Good question. Will save for a video.

[@LC-in5or]

Bjj is kind of a weird sport/art because you can have the same rank as a professional athlete thats at the top of their game. Belts just dont matter at all. Realize that.

[@russbilderback]

Oh but they do matter.

[@bradleylivingston6514]

winning competitions and technical level are not the same thing. some world class competitors are not nearly as good technically as many great coaches... who deserves the black belt? the one with less technical understanding & greater athletic ability? or the coach with an abundance of technical knowledge but not as physically gifted...?

[@russbilderback]

@@bradleylivingston6514 John Danaher said the exact thing you just said, almost verbatim.

[@bradleylivingston6514]

@russbilderback yea, that guy steals a lot of my material... 😆

[@russbilderback]

@@bradleylivingston6514 lolz

[@blackdouglas450]

Dear Brown Belt - you might be surprised how well you would perform against those competitors. It's easy to be intimidated watching from the outside but you would probably do fine.

[@locobass]

Very good video. Thank you

[@eriktaylor1225]

If you have 100 students, maybe only about 3 or 5 of them are real hardcore competitors. The vast majority of academies are made up of hobbyists and they’re the ones that keep the lights on and the doors open.

[@tunaman2200]

Thank you for this video.

[@mmhm007]

BJJ is just like any other sport. Professional level football players will crush college guys > college guys will crush high school teams > and good high school teams will crush the typical church or park recreational league. IF someone has the aptitude, desire and physical abilities to dominate everyone around them, they'll either fall into the competition scene and stagnate at the local level or realize they can progress up the tiers of competition. Either that or they'll typically end up in some form of teaching/coaching at their gym. It's just a natural progression for athletes if they don't let their abilities to go to waste taking TRT and smashing everyone in their gym for a daily ego boost. The best and most dedicated to that one thing will naturally rise to the top. And then of course there is the age factor. While they're getting younger as so much instruction is readily available, many brown and black belts are in their 30s and in my experience, most are even older. Most high-level athletes in ANY sport are pushing the limits after 35. While testosterone and other PEDs are helping the age increase, only an exceptional few can still compete at the highest levels past their mid 30s. There is nothing wrong with playing softball or any other sport for health, challenge, fun and community bur it is completely silly for such folks and non-professional level athletes to compare themselves to the Michael Jordan's of the sport they like to play recreationally. There are levels and there always will be. Enjoy your Jiu Jitsu at the level, age and place you find yourself in. If I had to compare my black belt to Gui or Rafa Mendes or even my professor in order to NOT feel like an imposter, I'd just turn the belt in or quit. It's a silly comparison. Some people are just smarter, faster, stronger, and more dedicated than you and it's up to them to go up a competition level rather than you thinking you have turn in your belt if you're not ready to face Gordon Ryan.

[@AnthonyButler3]

He should also trust his professor. More likely than not he knows what a brown belt looks like and when someone is ready.

[@stevenmael]

Methodology and mindset go a long way.

[@cocksandcobras]

If he is watching inversion at brown belt and doesn't know what's going on, yet having good matches with his club black belt--- it has nothing to do with being a "hobbyist"- his gym is probably not very skilled. Tons of terrible clubs out there. Problem solved.

[@georgeamaechi4739]

Great vídeo had the same problem thankyou

[@jeremyp6161]

I think there are still hobbiest as tough as competitors. I think the difference really stems from the the variance in mat time and skill as a result. Most competitive blue or purple belts have the same or more mat time as hobbiest black belts.

[@JustT725]

The military has cars before the Model T?

[@toddianuzzi9296]

Yea that was news to me although I don't doubt it

[@jackdaniels2127]

Does How much I spent weigh well with my belt skills? I still have other interest that I still pursue. I get less injuries, I am not stressed cuz of the fun factor.

[@dlastmohican71]

A competitive wrestler can easily wrestle 50 matches in a season, then off season matches as well. People in my gym that would say they are "competitors" might have 12 matches a year... not a season... a year!!! Sorry son, your a hobbiest and a weekend warrior

[@MrCmon113]

12 matches a year is a ton of stress if those are all in different competitions. You're massively underestimating how much of a pain in the ass tournaments are.

[@dlastmohican71]

@MrCmon113 naw... wrestled for about 10yrs at about 50 matches a year, sometimes more. Not counting off-season comps which were more for fun or trying B plans stuff. BJJ is no different, done those comps too. Is it "stressful"? Sure it is but that's the nature of competition. However, saying your a "competitor" and being a "competitor" are 2 different things entirely. A competitor understands the need to actually compete regularly within a seasonal framework, thus allowing one to structure their training and development for that season and maximizing their resources for competition and development. Wrestling by and large has this down to a science, most BJJ schools are just farting into the wind. Granted there is a marketing and money aspect for BJJ schools whereas most wrestling clubs are much less so.

[@MessianicJewJitsu]

Some of us are in between on this spectrum.

[@danielmccarthy9065]

Really well done.

[@oldmanmorgan]

I haven't heard someone say "amber lamps" since I was on that ac transit in east Oakland.

[@edmoorhouse273]

Literally could have been the person who wrote this. I got my brown and felt like a sham. Like, I'm letting the level of the club slip. I got in my head and began to obsess about the flaws in my game. I got worse. In the end I just accepted I am a hobbyist desk worker with 2 kids. I don't compete, I don't enjoy it and I can't afford it. I train for fun and I was making it not fun so I am back to having fun. If I get caught by a more athletic lower belt, so be it. I'll iron out the flaws in time. Black belt is miles away anyway so I'm going to enjoy the journey.

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

And that's the problem with martial arts. They often give belts just because a person has "stuck with it" for many years. This is why I like sports like basketball, baseball, and football. In baseball for instance, a lot of kids play Little League baseball, even kids who aren't very good at baseball. Everyone is allowed to play. No one gets cut. But once you get to the high school level, you have to be good enough to make the team. And, even if you make the team, you may not play. Then once high school is over, only the VERY BEST high school players will make it to the next level - D1 college. The players who are good, but with less talent, will make D2 or maybe D3. Then, from D1 college, only a VERY SMALL percentage get drafted into the pros. And even a SMALLER percentage will make it to the major leagues. And even a SMALLER percentage will actually be able to have a steady career playing major league baseball. People get "weeded out" in sports like baseball. But in jiu-jitsu, as long as you keep paying your dues, and if you keep showing up, you will most likely eventually get promoted. Unlike in baseball or basketball, no one will tell you, "You're not good enough to play anymore."

[@edmoorhouse273]

@@user-sg8kq7ii3y belts represent knowledge and skill not athletic performance. BJJ is a sport and a martial art. Sure, to compete in the sport requires certain criteria for success where as to just learn the art takes less. It isn't paying your dues, it is learning the art. Your so called problem with martial arts as very narrow minded. Do you see no value in the process of learning skills and a body of knowledge if you cannot compete at a high athletic level? If that is how you feel, great and good for you. Your whole argument only values elite success rather than the value of lifelong learning. Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering to respond.

[@Noah-jy8wb]

Correct :)

[@user-sg8kq7ii3y]

@house273 I'm just responding to your comment that YOU made about how when you got your brown belt, you felt like a sham. In most things in life, you MUST have the SKILL in order to be promoted and to be respected. You cannot just have "knowledge". I could be a carpenter, and I could have all the knowledge of what SHOULD be done and even how to do it. Yet, if I don't have the physical talent and ability to actually do it, no one will respect me. And surely no one would want me to build anything for them. I could tell you, "You need to make notches for those door hinges." That's correct - door hinges need to be seated in notches. But if I can't actually MAKE the notches because I don't have the skill to do it, then I'm useless.

[@edmoorhouse273]

@@user-sg8kq7ii3y I'm curious to know what belt you are. I said belts represent knowledge and skill. But please, do explain BJJ to me some more using more unrelated disciplines that are completely different.

[@carguy2256]

It’s funny how many young blue belts in their late teens or early twenties make BJJ their identity. They don’t realize yet that they are all hobbyist