This Blue Belt Quit BJJ, Now He Want to Come Back to Training

[@patrickrichard5948]

After I got my blue belt, I had to take some time off (3-4 months) due to injuries. It was anxiety inducing for me to return to the mats. Some white belts were getting stronger, faster, more technical, and so on. No kidding. They've been working hard, and I was injured. Big deal. You're never winning or losing in sparring anyway. Don't let your ego stand in the way of your progress. As long as I can train, that's a W for me.

[@nicks1169]

You said it brotha

[@drewp1974]

Well said

[@chulito1981357]

I'm 41. So this mentality is essential

[@leebruno1722]

Blavk belt mentality

[@robcubed9557]

I've been submitted by lower belts that also happened to be larger/stronger and younger than me. I've submitted and/or stalemated higher ranking students because I was stronger and/or younger. Experience is only one factor. Physical attributes matter.

[@SingleShotSingleTake]

After I became a blue belt recently, my coach put down a challenge to me to actually be happy for people when they tap me out. Regardless of the belt color. It is a really high bar and I am working on it. It also helps me to remember that if I get submitted it means Jiu-Jitsu works.

[@fuloran1]

That's huge. I didn't have someone tell me to do that, but I did make a conscious decision to do that.

[@sleeplessdev7204]

That's the perspective I take when I get tapped. I compliment them, then analyze in my head or discuss with the person my mistake or opening that led to the submission. It not only makes people enjoy rolling with me, but it means every tap is a lesson on how I can improve. I'm not perfect, but I have a personal policy of bettering myself in some way, large or small, every single day. It adds up over the long term in crazy ways!

[@tededo]

I've been grappling since early 2000s, if there is one person that should quit or have the blues, it should be me, at 50. But one day, a student asked me how my rolling day went. I said, well today I lost some, and won some. His reply was gold... He asked me, what di you lose exactly ? Gold medal? big contract ? your wallet ? Your wife ? What have you lost ? I replayed his pattern by asking myself what did I win...Gold medal ? New contract ? More money ? Since then, I stopped saying that I lose. I love George Foreman's mindset when he boxed before his retirement, and lost to a young promising boxer, Merchant asked him how he saw his lost and Foreman raised his voice and displayed a huge smile saying: lose ? I never lost a fight, even back then when I faced great fighters, I never lost, when you're that confident, you never lose a fight. Later on as a commentator, he repeated his saying by adding, I havent lost a single fight in my career, and I tell you this, when you did your job, you never lose.

[@thejacobanderson1]

Tapping out doesn't mean you are losing, it means you are learning. if you quit, then you are loosing. on the mat, you win or learn. if you quit because you can't handle X,Y, or Z then you really lost. if you make yourself show up and accept whatever happens, then there is no losing. thanks for the video chewy.

[@chaystafari3228]

Dam I didn’t realize people think about this too much . I go and train . Took 12 years and I’m a black belt now . just go train.

[@revumbra]

this is a big thing for me as well. The anxiety of winning forces me to use my best skill sets on people instead of trying and experimenting with new and varied positions/submissions. Trying to just let go has helped me, slowly but surely.

[@blakem2068]

I make friends by tapping, not winning, ppl love me because I inflate their ego by tapping and then now that we're friends cause I manipulated their ego, our rolls are safer and more fun. I sacrifice my own ego in order to make BJJ more enjoyable for both myself and opponent.

[@harvenger0death]

I definitely used to beat myself up over and over after rolling. I would get in my own head and then one day my coach noticed when he rolled with me that I was second guessing over and over. He put me in -knee on belly - and as my mind went blank, he looks down at me and says " you know exactly what to do, don't defeat yourself. You need to keep moving no matter what. It's just like your day to day life. You have to keep going and embrace the suck. " Dude, no shame for saying this, but I was inspired and wanted to cry at the same time. I battle constantly with being my own worst enemy. I eventually worked myself out of the position and it just positive feedback from the coach. Months later I was in the same mindset, but my ego wasn't letting me admit that I didn't yet grasp the concept of a technique, so the coach rolled with me again and talked me through the technique and then pressure tested me again, and right as I was tapping due to pressure, he told me to lift my butt up and breathe, then to think about constant movement, not big moves, but tiny ones. Inch by inch. Again, it was me getting inside my own head, waving in surrender without taking what I know and applying it. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better coach. And it's made my rolls better, because I learned to "embrace the suck", to take losing and apply it to my next roll. I get in the same bad position again, I slow down and feel where I'm at and where I want to go, and how to get there. I'm a blue belt with a stripe and white belts can still tap me, and I just take a step back and figure out what made it possible and work around it the next roll. I'll do the same move technique/sweep/guard until I feel comfortable and I work out my flaws, even if I get tapped out while working it all out. My coach pressure testing and coaching me through, helped me break down a major wall in my BJJ and life in general. 🤙🤙

[@ianmcneil570]

Awesome advice. I too struggle with that same anxiety about losing when I feel I should be winning.

[@shonuff6699]

I got promoted to purple belt one week before I relocated across the country. Going to a new area to try and figure out a new place to train as an advanced belt who has imposter syndrome did an incredible amount of damage to my confidence. Everyone wants to smash the new purple belt! I had so much trouble, even with some white belts, because I felt like I had to come in and dominate so I over complicated everything to the point that I couldn’t even do most of the basics right. All of this has led to me developing a bad ego and just not having fun any longer. I haven’t been back on the mats in seven months because of it. Some day I’ll hopefully be able to go back and train.

[@joshs2795]

buddy, just go train for the love of the game. it doesn't matter who wins or loses, go solve some puzzles!

[@shainemcmillan]

One of the biggest problems I see in bbj is the amount of techniques we can learn. As a blue belt I found myself getting distracted by all the techniques. I found that I needed to focus on the fundamentals. And work on the finer details instead of look at this fancy move I want to practice it. Honestly if your having issues losing go back to the fundamentals and stick with them. Pick 1 submissions and 1 sweep to work on till you can get them from anywhere.

[@cft406]

100% agree. Refining basic techniques you already know and figuring out how to chain them together is huge for developing a game. Also being content to exclusively play defense some days has helped me a ton. Both for the ego and just to keep building the foundation of defense.

[@reginaldanglin4264]

Wow exactly what I'm dealing with at the moment. So much video of this move and that submission. Just focus on two moves or 3 sweep, submit, passing guard. Going Back to Basic. OK two moves. Only extra problem is should I do striking. Lol I get wrapped up mentally. Lol.

[@reginaldanglin4264]

​@cft406 thank u. OK I like that Idea. I can work on that. Defense some days. Thank u for the other guy as well. Going back to fundamentals. As a blue belt it was like were do I start!!!! DA DA DA 😅 BUILD from fundamentals. The only thing I would like to do is striking which start at the same time of fundamentals. Lol.

[@heidirosenz]

Just went from Japanese Jiujitsu to BJJ. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

[@wickednessity774]

What’s the differences that’s you’re major take always from the switch

[@namk0163]

@@wickednessity774 I think Japanese Jiu jitsu has FAR less focus on actual ground game than bjj

[@yesete777]

Getting my ass kicked by a blue belt half my size from a sister gym during an open mat definitely made me reconsider what i was doing but i ultimately went to all their open mats for a few months until i was able to be competitive with their guys. Sometimes a certain gym practices certain techniques that work well against my game and i just have to keep going against it until i can overcome

[@Courtside411]

Great video. I'm a blue belt and I have some white belts that have been getting me in bad positions and have been on the verge of subbing me. But my ego has not allowed me to tap. I ended up getting the submission but suffered 2 minor injuries as a result. I now think I will follow your advice Chewy. My professor has been telling us the same thing. He's got a bunch of knuckle heads on his hands.

[@johnteds4761]

Craig Jones helped me a lot when he said, "You're not that good at jiu jitsu." When I realized I would never be that "good" at this sport, I just started letting myself lose and learn. Now I'm better than I was.

[@isupportthecurrentthing.1514]

I estimate I've got between 500-2000 sessions left in my life. I'm just there to enjoy now .

[@anthonynelson2564]

@Spodo bbb just a douchebag ignore it if it gets to be too much don’t associate with em.

[@chadzard4]

@spodobbb6654 I mean you could always pull his head down and knee him in the face?

[@reginaldanglin4264]

Hummmm. Lol ok I see where this Is going. Don't have to put undo stress on myself. Thanks

[@Mbstr1]

You are completely right Chewie, how well you perform depends on many factors, not all of which you can control. So I decided to just focus on the things I can control and whatever happens happens. So I improved my diet, started going to bed at the same time every night and get a solid 8 hours of sleep, manage my work life balance better and reduce the stress I have, and paid some dudes to keep my entire bjj club awake every night with foghorns. Ever since I have gotten way sharper and faster than the rest of my team. Thanks for the solid advice.

[@stevenhsu5703]

That side control analogy is GOLD 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@stewmeat9261]

Yep. I'm a 55 yo blue belt and I get hammered by young strong experienced white belts every day. I know my age and lack of flexibility have a lot to do with it. But it's still hard on the psyche.

[@HalConick]

I bet that training hard with them makes you so much better against people in your age range.

[@stewmeat9261]

@@HalConick It does, I do have spurts of energy and pull off some good transitions. But when I roll hard I pay for it with about 2-3 days of soreness. I only roll 2-3 times a week at most.

[@martialartsvocationalschoo3319]

Hey, 48 year old bluebelt here, I know that feeling. :) Whenever younger, faster partners dominate me, I just go "defensive mode". My goal then is to not get submitted and wait for my opportunity (that often won't come). For me that's a fun game, too. Am I "winning"? No. But are you submitting the old man? No. :)

[@enore2981]

Chewy, thank yoy for this video, I have also a mental issue and quit after one tournament. I train hard and a lot. Im improving myself and be better and closer to best graplers in my gym. On lasts months on blue belt I won my country championship in open class after ( had 6 fights with bigger opponents) I loss my weight class after 2 fights being very stressed what was before open class. Then I got purple belt and wanna take some real fights in adcc pro champioship of my country. I lost of course in first fight in last minute and then quit, because I told myself "I can win tournaments, I train hard, but I never be on that level in future" and then quit. There were 2 purple belt in pro competition ( they train only 4 years BJJ) and fight on equal with others black belts, but I didnt see myself on this level. Tou give me a push just to back to gym and try. Thanks

[@808BJJ_Black_Belt]

Great advice 👍

[@martialartsvocationalschoo3319]

I do BJJ for 7 to 8 years now (and striking for around two decades). I get "beat" all the time. Doesn't matter. I just love fighting.

[@thetommyshades5347]

I actually really needed to hear this because I've already started having this issue as a two stripe white belt. I've been so anxious with my progress. I get really anxious when I roll with new comers especially if they correct me on a move(that I'm doing wrong) or even submit me when they've only been training a few weeks. Typing it out it actually sounds kinda ridiculous especially since I'm still really low on the skill level anyway.

[@Patrick-sheen]

Newbies can’t teach you anything because they know nothing. Just smile politely and ignore them.

[@GenericHandle54321]

Agree. If they submit you, whatever. Some people are just naturally strong or are able to pick up on things quickly. But I really don’t like it when other white belts start trying to be a mini-professor during a roll. Just shut up and roll. 🙄

[@TheeLoveland87]

Man, I needed to hear this. Thank you.

[@kellyannekirkland8300]

My coach says that your team is training too and you are all getting better together!

[@TC-bv4on]

I think everyone goes to this to a certain extent. I try to shift the goal posts from winning to hitting the move I’ve been working on and it’s helped a little.

[@fabianandiel6095]

@Chewjitsu wtf I wanted to leave you a tipp and I couldn't 😮‍💨. Im a no gi whitebelt and I always come back to your videos for the moral and mental side of the mat. Today I listened to this video and pulled my first triangle of. Thank you for your enriching content. Greetings from Vienna Austria 🟥⬜🟥 , Fabian

[@sinatracann1591]

I have been struggling with this issue. My answer has been to just work on guard retention for next couple months so no one can pass

[@retroghidora6767]

When it comes to what seems like stalled progress there could be factors that aren't just mental like your team mates adjusting to your game. They're trying to get better too and progress for the white belts walking into your gym could easily eventually mean besting you, this is something to keep in mind. Not expanding your game, having a health issue (post covid breathing issues as a random example), having school/work/family related stress, these are all things could affect your performance on the mats.

[@workendog]

Hey Chew. When your losing is when ur learning. So really losing is winning! The road trip is better than the destination.

[@TurtleturtleRB]

Words of wisdom from the Chewster. Leave the ego and embrace the process. 👊🏽👊🏽

[@teckniec2]

I got my first stripe a few months ago and I had a bad week where I was getting tapped by people who were newer than me and not getting any submissions. I was kind of down about it because I felt like I should be doing better, idk if it was just an off week or everyone is getting better lol. I went over the mistakes I was making in my head, the following week I was doing much better. I changed my strategy to just trying to win rolls to having things to work on, last week I was prioritizing passing guard and maintaining a favorable position, next week I am going to focus on my escapes. I have my first tournament in august, those are the rolls I really want to win the rest are just training I think sometimes I forget that. Iron sharpens Iron.

[@bravelilspidey]

Great video Chewie. 😎

[@mamabearthrives7815]

5:14 💪 so many important messages in this video, especially this one 😎

[@phillip4307]

I mean as always, showing up is the real W

[@michaelanthonyoutdoors]

Great vid Chewy!

[@Just_chill_fool]

It was like this message was directly to me. Thank you!

[@dgonzaga17]

I think everybody goes through this anxiety during jiu-jitsu. It's part of the process. I am trying hard as a purple belt to minimize this feeling but it's not easy. One "cheat" that works for me though is rolling against higher belts whenever they're available. I can roll as freely as I want cause it's a win win situation. If I submit the person good for me if I get submitted it's ok cause it's supposed to happen. It's not ideal but my jiu-jitsu is getting better while I'm working on my mindset.

[@medicineandbrazilianjiujit8511]

Thank you for this great advice, Prof. Chewy. Always learn a lot.

[@suplexed]

The way I think of it, your ego is the ideal image you have of yourself in your mind, as well as your relationship with how far your reality is from that image. It hurts when you realise how wide the gap is, but all it really means is that it'll take you a little longer to reach the ideal than you thought. Plus, recency bias is crazy. It's embarrassing now to be struggling, but when you're doing well again no one will remember the struggle.

[@dotschkeen755]

I have an ego issue for sure. Ive been dealing with it lately. It's always about people I think I should be better than. I want to try this new mindset out of being proud of my teammates, and being proud of being on their team. I want comradery and I think it would be useful in dealing with competitiveness.

[@kelleydenham559]

Ive been training bjj for about a month now in a GFTeam affiliated gym. The quality of both the instructors and students there is incredible. Its tough but i decided to get that mat time in, doing 4 days a week. Finally got my first tap in rolling, and consistently sweeping and defending. I get tapped, but I always learn lessons from it. My stamina within 4 weeks has increased dramatically. I feel like many of these white belt issues come from a lack of mat time, humility, and reflection.

[@ccmills87]

The video Chewy did about how as a blue belt your sampling moves, testing positions to see if they work for you. I think it’s really hard to win when your going through that growth. If your just crushing everyone probably not experimenting. Just only doing the thing your good at.

[@3rod3reelfishing19]

As a blue belt coming into my late 40s, I definitely still struggle with some white belts. So many variables, age, size, athleticism, previous experience. I just let it roll off. I do this for fun, if I’m gonna get stressed I would need to re-evaluate things.

[@Popcorn_Assassin]

Failing or loosing is the best teacher anyways right? Wanna learn? Seek failure. Figure out why something doesn't work and solve the problem. Repeat etc.

[@left4d1]

I’m a blue belt and I’ve had this issue before. Thankfully I adopted a similar mindset “update” and take it less seriously when shit happens… cause the aspect of losing gives opportunity for getting better. So in a way I feel it’s a little rite of passage 😅

[@Gun.Barrel]

Awesome Coach Chewy, I needed this. 😀😇

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

Pfft. No one really ever quits.

[@lunchbreak1792]

I find that in those days where my ego is in check, and i let myself tap early it brings that anxiety down. I dont give them an easy sub but if they have something and worked into it, i just avoid the late stage defence. It doesnt hurt the ego inside because maybe i could have got out of it, but they still made me tap and forces the 'who cares' mentality

[@maciek8172]

Thanks a ton for the video. I am a beginner (4 months) and I usually go for moves that I know im better at, but I hesitate to train at submissions I am not so good at pullin off (for example arm bars from mount position). Net time at training im just gonna focus on improving my armbar submissions from mount, even if I fail and the guy gets at top of me.

[@mmaacademyonline2250]

I always recommend that higher level belt revisit the basics through drill and positional training. Stop giving a shit just train. Think about the things that got you to that blue belt and revisit them. I agree with Chew stop trying to win. You already won your back on the mat.

[@T_L_D]

people forget that "ego" goes in both directions. it's usually interpreted as someone being too arrogant or self-assured for their own good, or being discouraged because they fear they're not as good as they should be. but the inverse goes in the direction of imposter syndrome, feeling like you haven't earned your rank because of setbacks or what have you. but both versions of it can be roadblocks to getting on the mat, and once there, to getting out of your own head and just learning.

[@kylechu4115]

I think blue belts worry too much when they get it. Nothing changes you’re still new to this sport and if a white belt taps you justI think blue belts worry too much when they get it. Nothing changes; you're still new to this sport, and if a white belt taps you, just remember a belt didn't change your game overnight! Great video, Chewy.

[@cft406]

Ive visited a couple gyms where I get crushed by everybody and I cant figure out why which leaves me questioning if I know any jiu jitsu at all.

[@ScottieFindsFish]

needed this

[@pbg2881]

I got my blue belt after 5 months, my coach is from Brazil and speaks very bad English. He wanted to see good technique, engagement, a decent fight iq and I had to roll a lot. He also wanted me to try everything out on the mat. I trained twice a day most of the time. And then I finally got it.

[@joseichoshow9846]

I quit I was 16 and my dad couldn’t afford the gym membership. So I always felt young and I could always go back. When time was right I would go back. Then my professor Jory passed away. It made realize my Morality. 2 year after he die I came back. My mind thought. People would like me. Thought I was unfit too. I was 27 when I came back. But I have no regrets coming back but I have regrets not coming back early. But I can’t change the pass. I paid for a lifetime membership at my gym

[@Menidnira]

I got promoted to blue right before the pandemic hits then from there onwards i wasnt training until this very day. I was training in abu dhabi before i moved here in canada Then I went yesterday to the gym and spoke to the blackbelt whos going to train me starting august this year, i asked his opinion wether to wear my blue where i dont have confidence wearing it after 4 years of idle. And go back to white for which my purpose of aim is to start back from scratch and refresh everything and learn the basics again. But for his point of view just wear it if i earned it on a legit black belt in another country. I dont mind about the belt to be honest. I am training bjj for the skills and dicipline, The belt is just a bonus for me. What is your point of view here chewy? Thanks for your response.

[@m5a1stuart83]

Now imagine being a Blackbelt but submitted by a Bluebelt in tournaments, watching by hundreds of people.

[@joshprice7436]

I love this.

[@heavymetalyogi1767]

so i wear a fit-bit when i train and as long as i burn 1000 calories in a section then im almost good with anything else that would happen in the roll. but i do have problems with ego as well sometimes. its something that i believe everyone has to deal me.

[@mott1992]

My take from the perspective of a white belt who has listened to many blue belt perspectives: Blue belts are described as the most brutal belt to get through, because upper belts won't go easy on you, and white belts see blue and think "he knows what he's doing, I must slam him". This basically puts a target on the backs of blue belts screaming "destroy me". As a white belt, I'm def that guy who doesn't see a difference between blue and purple, and for that reason I go hard against blue belts like I'm trying to destroy them. I see blue and I think "this guy can handle me, so I might as well put 110% in", and he's dealing with that from 10 white belts in class, while not having any upper belts go easy on him. Blue is where the real grind begins and your ego is tested to the max.

[@martialartsvocationalschoo3319]

That's why I prefer to roll with upper belts on some days. They are not trying to rip my head off like every whitebelt. They also punish stupid stuff that I can pull off when rolling with whitebelts.

[@TheOfficialJayP]

for sure we put these invisible expectations on ourselves all the time

[@mryang9738]

Really needed to hear this today, thanks for putting out the great content.

[@alltogetherplaytubefingerf6045]

Sometimes taking a break is a good thing.

[@badxradxandy]

Just have fun. Five days a week is a lot. Cut back. Train with people you know aren't going to hurt you. Just relax and find something funny or fun to do like smother chokes.

[@TheKro16]

With anything in life, there is always someone bigger and badder than you are. Accept it and always seek knowledge, then wisdom to teach you how to apply the knowledge.

[@shoon8837]

Man, I'm having this kind of issue now. I've been a Blue Belt for about five years, and I feel like I am not retaining what I am learning very well, and I am under performing, and I am not doing any the techniques in which I am learning. How can I overcome my own ego and not listen to my own doubts?

[@mdavissq3d]

HELL YEAH! I always tell my kids class and some white/blue belt adults too "I don't have medals to give you in practice"

[@robertblockbusterrowe3351]

“Like everyone else, you want to learn the way to win, but never to accept the way to lose, to accept defeat, to learn to die is to be liberated from it. So when tomorrow comes, you must free your ambitious mind, and learn the art of dying.” - Bruce Lee

[@darylkenny4562]

Yea and my instructor is notoriously slow at promoting I think for this reason. Changing your belt color won’t make you a better grappler. Just because you’re a blue belt doesn’t mean that there won’t be a time when there’s a white belt that comes in, is super athletic and naturally figures out the art - you’re probably going to struggle with that guy and there’s a chance he’s slippery and manages to get your back or whatever. We have a couple guys like that. Just because you have a blue belt doesn’t mean you can’t lose to a white belt. And that is especially true if the white belt catches you by surprise. I remember as a white belt I caught one of our purple belts in a reverse triangle from bottom side control once. I was totally getting dominated but had seen this move before and I locked it up. He tapped! It wasn’t because I was better than him. He was beating me up thoroughly. It was just a chance thing that caught him off guard. I always view rolling as a laboratory rather than a competition. The purpose is to learn to apply the techniques we learned in class against a fully resistant opponent. That’s the point of sparring, and if I am learning and working on something new there’s a good chance that it fails in the beginning. That means a likelihood that occasionally I might get caught in something or do the technique a bit wrongly and walk into a submission that I didn’t anticipate. That’s how it works though. It doesn’t always work in rolling exactly as it worked in drilling.

[@habojspade]

If a hobbyist is going five days a week, what kind of chance do the rest of us have?

[@christopherbrown7876]

Ceteris paribus, black belts should shake off getting tapped by blue belts and a blue belt shouldn’t place too much on tapping the black belt?

[@stumbras2000]

Strength is a skill...

[@slammed7]

HEY CHEWY, Why are the white shirts not available on the website?

[@Chewjitsu]

They're special shirts.

[@slammed7]

@@Chewjitsu Come on man. I want a white one. I credit you for getting me to finally walk into a BJJ gym 2 yrs ago (at 40 yrs old, 1.5 yrs after a major spinal surgery, just sayin). And thanks to that/you, I just got my blue belt in Dec. I feel like that makes me special enough to get a white one.

[@Orimthekeyacolite]

Technically, a question from Robert is a Bob-question)

[@Al-jh2wy]

If am honest ive had this few times, ive gone bk after like 7 mths off and my old mates have gotten better and am strugglin much more on both defence and submission agaisnt em and yeno wat its ok, its sound and its wholly expected same wen i get submitted by a 2 stripe white ( am 3 ) he cud b much younger n doesnt gas out as easy thers loads reasons it doesnt negate your experience/rank not even time off does its all part of the journey imo

[@rollinOnCode]

just tap or snap

[@gunnart1305]

At my gym we have several white belts who do MMA, all of those guys can destroy me. I probably won’t be able to beat those guys until I’ve been at this for about 5 years if I had to guess. At first I felt a little jilted being so easily destroyed by dudes like that, but it reminds me to keep showing up and learning technique and not thinking about ego and “winning”. If I thought about it like I was trying to when I would have quit a long time ago 😂

[@vladx3539]

nailed it

[@barrykee8876]

My coach says a blue belt is a good white belt, a purple is a good blue, a brown is a good purple and black belt is a good brown. I just have fun and try to have a good time. If you think your in a actual fight training jiujitsu then maybe it wouldn't be fun.

[@tomsheppard378]

I think that's why it's fun being a white belt, no one expects much from you and you can go out and have fun. I've being doing Jiu jitsu for almost 2 years and would happily stay a white belt.

[@jb66young]

Practice Practice you will get better.

[@Speciation]

I started BJJ 10 days ago, I'm getting smashed. I'm 250lb but I'm always paired with much bigger guys, when they get on top of me, I can't breathe so I tap out, then I say, ok, I"m good, so I keep interrupting and I feel bad. Now I have a finger that hurts like hell and it's purple... I'm afraid to go today as I might injure that finger more, but I want to go so bad.

[@badxradxandy]

Tape your fingers, stop grabbing so hard and let grips go, only grip with intention. And yeah you're going to get smashed even though you're heavy, that's part of the process. Enjoy!

[@adnanenaji8529]

How much bigger than 250lb can you get? Is your Dojo full of NFL players?You will condition tour stomach it happend to all of us

[@rolotomase1440]

Somebody told me once to enjoy the walk more than the destination and that made sense. Go to class.

[@fteambjj]

Get finger tape dont hold on the gi too much. Learn to let go and only hold on when u need to. Try different grips. Lots of time to learn. U just started bro, have fun get smashed. Its ok to stop abit take a breath and roll again, we all been there before. Better like that than quit before the round finish. Give it a few months

[@Speciation]

@@adnanenaji8529 Haha, yes, they are 300lb or even more sometimes. It's ok when they are experienced but I paired with another one as inexperienced as me and that was not good.

[@Bvggerffpls]

Competition is good and necessary for growth but it inevitably brings out the worst in people. This story is just one example

[@Nepthu]

Am I the only person who doesn't care about winning or losing in the gym? I'm here to have fun.

[@rodneyvieira7983]

Totally agree. I'm a 60 year old brown belt and at this age you really can't have an ego and survive mentally. I'm just here to sweat and have fun with my brothers and sisters.

[@Nepthu]

@Rodney Vieira You sound awesome. I'm brand new, and my only experience is wrestling with buddies who do BJJ. I came to class because wrestling itself is more fun than "winning." I'm not a highly competitive person by nature. I just want to be part of the club, so to speak.

[@mattburns545]

Roll with black belts if they’ll let you. You’ll get over losing very quickly. Then your training wheels come off, and you’ll look around and realize you’re just doing jiu jitsu.

[@svenvogel1018]

Hobbyist and trains 5 times a week? That’s a lot👍🏻

[@rodrigozombie]

There's professors out there that get caught by students. Can't let this mindset control you

[@LukeC908]

I’m a 2 stripe white belt and tap blue belts approximately 50% of the time. Do you think I should expect to get tapped by white belts commonly when I become a blue belt?

[@LukeC908]

To what Chewy is saying, I probably will get tapped especially when trying new techniques. Even now, I tend to hang with purple belts in some positions and get tapped by lower belts in other positions. Need to work on my weaknesses more.

[@ZWhiskey]

Way to answer your own question 😅

[@But_Stuff]

3:02 Chewmiseter says no one needs bjj, cancel forever BOO!!! BOO!!! Chewy!!!

[@rcwarrior868]

I thought I was a hobbyist only going 2-3x per week? Lol

[@gomugomu95]

hobbyist training 5 days a week, always funny to me

[@sofaking1627]

You get worse before you get better

[@drewp1974]

THIS IS YOUR BEST VIDEO MESSAGE YET , CHEWY.

[@igorbegpines6179]

Why people thinks I'm the issue😭😭

[@GeezUs_17]

lets goooo

[@goldeneagle525]

Know what sucks about Chewie here? Two things: He is in one singular geographic location and we cannot clone him.

[@af4396]

There's another phenomenon that's probably going on here, one that creates more ego even in people that generally aren't egotistical. When you start learning something new you know nothing and it's overwhelming. But, when you start scratching the surface and finding some success, you start to think you actually really know what you're doing because you're infinitely more knowledgeable on the subject than when you started, and you made it over that overwhelming mountain thay was in your way when you started. However, you are still a beginner, and you don't understand it as well as you think you do. You're not as good as you think you are. And there's a bigger mountain, usually a MUCH bigger mountain to get past... and another after that. People that truly are GOOD at what they do, have been through the grind multiple times. Apply this to playing an instrument, learning how to trade assets, salesmanship, math, or sports and martial arts. A blue belt means you have some fundamental knowledge, but it doesn't even mean you have expertise in the fundamentals. Expertise in the fundamentals is black belt and beyond (and even some black belts aren't experts in the fundamentals). BJJ itself is so complex most people need a decade or more to really reach that black belt. Now add all the variables or fitness and cardio and reaction time and flexibility and pain tolerance and the delta between different body types and your mental state.... bro, best advice is to chill and keep learning! Those white belts beating you will also get beaten by lower belts when they go up in rank. It happens to everyone. The belt is just your knowledge and GENERAL skill set. It's not going to get taken away if you lose matches.

[@dieselx999]

A hobbyist that trains 5x a week doesn't sound like a hobbyist lol