How Long Does It Take To Get Your First Stripe as a BJJ White Belt

[@jamesbishop4183]

Lol. Im the 2 year guy from the other post. Watup

[@KierenLefevre]

Had to give you a shoutout my guy haha

[@jamesbishop4183]

@@KierenLefevre im feeling it.....almost feel famous....thank ya sir

[@AD-yo1pg]

Started 4 or 5 years ago, still a no stripe white :) Granted, during this whole time I've accumulated maybe a year of training combined (+ a whole year off due to covid)

[@jamesbishop4183]

@@KierenLefevre bro! Got my second and third stripe last night!!!

[@KierenLefevre]

@James Bishop Yes my dude!! That's awesome congrats - bring on the blue belt 🤙

[@AitoNitram]

I got my first stripe after about 4 months, I entered a comp and won, submitting guys with four stripes, showing me that while stripes are nice to get, skill in more important. It took me a little over two years to get my blue belt, during that time I only got one more stripe on my white belt. But a month after receiving my blue I got two stripes on it and less than 11 months after that I got my purple. Just keep training, I remember how stressed I was about the belts. Let it go. Have fun, try new guards and sweeps, put yourself in deep waters and learn escapes. When you get some competence start working on your pressure, your transitions and your submissions on newer practitioners. Then help them, tell them how you caught them and now next time they'll defend and you have to get better. That is the cycle of BJJ.

[@luxvinceretenebras6792]

Thanks for the light 🫱🏿‍🫲🏼

[@aleksandervaldal]

One year at blue? How often did/do you train?

[@silvermediastudio]

I'm a newb White and everybody tells me that I have great pressure. I tell them not really, I'm just fat.

[@Charlie7829]

@@aleksandervaldal you didnt get a thing on what he said. dont focus on belts but in having fun and learning

[@ACruz2]

@@silvermediastudio it takes some level of coordination to press eomeone at the right points to have 'great pressure'. roll with a fat 12 year old and you'll see how little pressure they have despite being 200+lb.

[@ColeLe684]

I received my first stripe yesterday and was thrilled! I've been attending class three times a week, and it took me about three months. I love the community, friendships, and personal growth it's already allowed me to have.

[@joncooke9515]

3-stripe white belt here, and I completely agree. At my school, it seems blue belt is the first one you truly earn. That being said, just flow- rolled helping a brand new student. It was easy to manipulate him, so it feels good to know I'm learning. However, I'm sure someone will cush me tonight, as is usually the case. Love it.

[@christopherneal5971]

Got my first stripe yesterday after 4 months 3-5 days a week with a 2 a day thrown in there almost once a week. Getting that first piece of tape on my belt was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. 🙏🏻🤙🏼

[@rombed8312]

hell yeah keep grinding brother!!!

[@NeoNormans]

W

[@stasiYT]

update?

[@TheSuJ]

Literally the exact same thing for me I just got mine tonight 4-6 times a week 140 days on the dot

[@em1nachbar]

2 times a week here. Got it today after 3 months. By a coral belt, we had a event today. Oss

[@jordanashby5155]

Been doing Jiu Jitsu for about 6 months now. No stripes on my white belt. I know I’m getting better though. I love the way you put it in perspective, “your worth isn’t about what stripe you have on your belt.”

[@KierenLefevre]

Absolutely Jordan its all about the jiujitsu!

[@jordanashby5155]

Although it’s about the Jiu Jitsu, it’s frustrating to train 3-4 times a week on average and not receive any advancement. I have to remind myself of the progress I’m making constantly to keep going. I enjoy going, don’t get me wrong. Just frustrating is all.

[@nonyllll1681]

After 7 months of training I finally got my first 2 tabs. Don't feel downhearted bro, keep grinding

[@jordanashby5155]

@@nonyllll1681 thanks! Just got my first last week! I am super pumped!

[@mikeyork3093]

Don't feel bad, my friend trained for a year but when he graded he got 3 stripes at once. You will get there!

[@DuckWatcher]

Just got my first stripe after two months of going 2-4 times a week with a few two-a-days in the mix. Really motivated to keep pushing forward!

[@Stuart_Dooley]

For me it was about three months, I came in on average 4 times a week and would make sure I would get as much rolls as I can, ask professor questions and if I’m feeling it I would go twice a day. Kept that cycle and got my blue belt in about 18 months.

[@Stuart_Dooley]

@GregLurik Official - it’s always based on gyms, my gym does promotions every two-three months but still maintains the appropriate timings of each belt. I assume yours is an annual promotion so you’re more “behind” but I feel like you’re a top tier white three if you’re getting your stripes by year since you and I have been training for roughly the same amount of time.

[@magnet8185]

I was there an entire year and didn't get anything so me and my brother left and my brother got into body building, but I decided to try another school and actually learned a lot more and got a stripe within the first 2 months. Point is, some schools don't want you there and purposefully try to bully you or use verbal jiu jitsu/psychological warfare to get you out, and there are some school that actually want to teach you and take the time to 1 on 1 with you and tell you what you're doing wring.

[@KierenLefevre]

wow that's actually really disappointing to hear that you had such a negative experience. Props to you for sticking it out and persuing a different gym

[@mr.dephiant9713]

Similar situation where an instructor at another place literally yelled at me for tapping out while being pressured mind you it was my third time rolling with no knowledge or experience. This F' my head for months & got turned off. Pandemic happened...but always had it mind to try it again & not let this one person ruined a potential journey...almost 8 months into my current academy...2 stripes, loving every roll & learning to not tap out under pressure ...lol. Good luck with your journey, OSS!

[@outlawpat8038]

Unfortunately this happened to me and I was there 5 months straight 3-5 times a week sometimes 2 sessions a day. Then I fought my last ammy mma fight and the reff was my opponents coachs Sensei. ruined my life in a way I can't explain.

[@jamesmurphy7292]

Can’t tell if I’m experiencing the same thing

[@magnet8185]

@James Murphy apparently it's rude to ask the professor about your progress, and or if you'll get a promotion soon? so there's no way of knowing or tracking your own progress. Just base it on how people treat you, and how much you think you deserve based on the time and effort you put in.

[@fwhitey7686]

@ 6 months to get first stripe on white belt and @ 3 years to get blue. I train 2 days a week and am in the over 40 year old crowd. Don’t get after it like the young ones but do remain pretty consistent.

[@Mr-mopar]

I like the stripes for white belt idea..it helps keep people coming and it lets the white belt know they are making progress..it is a long haul to blue belt so keeping someone focused with a stripe progression helps keep students ..

[@sosa41604]

Absolutely.

[@patrickwhite8144]

This is the most honest account of the grading process I have ever heard; in fact, it might be the only honest account of the grading process that I have ever heard! I have trained at quite a few clubs (around 5) and not a single one of them graded people on the basis of merit, despite claiming to.

[@KierenLefevre]

hahaha its ironically pretty standard these days, I'm not saying it right or good, just the reality

[@paisano316]

On one occasion, I actually saw our professor hand out 3 stripes at once to a new person, but that was because they came in with previous experience which was evident to the instructors, after the instructors saw him rolling for a couple of weeks. Still was kinda cool to see someone get 3 stripes at once!

[@KierenLefevre]

Wow! That's pretty legit, what a promotion! We had a sort of similar situation where a white belt 3 stripe was promoted to a 4th stripe and then immediately afterwards recieved a blue belt. It was because they were moving back to their home country and the coach didn't want them to leave without a blue belt.

[@jordangraves2481]

I just got my first stripe yesterday. A guy that started around the same time as me got 2 stripes at one time around a month ago. He has a wrestling background.Took me around 3 months to get my stripe which is about what I expected.

[@paisano316]

@@jordangraves2481 congrats!!

[@lakailf]

I received 3 stripes today and was not expecting that. I’ve missed a few promotion days but did not expect to get 3 at once, regardless skills>stripes

[@RileyDeveau]

I got 3 stripes at once at white because I had trained previously. It was a cool feeling lol

[@oldmanjankins8812]

Just received my first stripe. Been attending 2 months. I go 5 to 8 times a week. Mixed gi and no gi. Brutal schedule with work and home life. Based on attendance. Let's go number 2!!!

[@KierenLefevre]

hell yeah! Congrats on the first step in the journey

[@the-ironclad]

Got my first stripe a month into training. I come from a wrestling background so my takedowns were 🔥 it’s been three months and still working to get my second stripe. I’m not in any rush to get it, taking my time to work on the basics in transitions, guards, sweeps, escapes and some basic submissions. My goal is mastery over these basic concepts and just showing up to class. I enjoy it and even if I get whooped during live rolling, I’m just happy I get to practice and do what I love. BJJ is saving my life and I’m forever grateful for it

[@mkinghorn71]

I got my first stripe on my white belt after about 6 months. It took me about 2 years to get my blue belt. I am now a 4 stripe blue belt working on getting my purple. Jiu-jitsu for life!

[@rolly5558]

Bjj for life 🤟🏻

[@ant_toe_knee9168]

how long did it take to get your purple after you got your blue?

[@mkinghorn71]

@@ant_toe_knee9168 About 3 - 3.5 years. Mainly because I moved and then was able to get back under my original professor. But I feel if you stay at each belt a longer period of time, you have more time to not only grow in that belt but when you earn you next belt, you are better prepared for it.

[@musajojo]

Been about a year and a half. Just got my third stripe as a white belt. I was kind of inconsistent the first year and the past 6 months have been very consistent. I can tell the difference in myself even. Consistency is key

[@chopsreeze8549]

I got mine 6 months after joining BJJ , it's been 18 months now and I'm a 3 stripes white belt 🔥🤙🏽

[@mr.dephiant9713]

First stripe took 35 days, second stripe 55 days total so far over 90 days. I'm in my 8 month. Thank you for your video, at the end it is a business...but what you gain is priceless & the community is amazing. It has safe my well being as I suffered from anxiety. God bless 🙏

[@tappaires6615]

I didn't get any stripes in my 1st year. Then I got 4 at once. ^^ Personally I didn't mind it that much, as I go there to have fun anyways, regardless of what I wear on my waist.

[@Erubiel.Moreno]

I just got my first stripe today after 2 months of hard work and consistency

[@yourenotwrong3511]

Are you still training?

[@TheTogmo]

I have been doing BJJ for about 6 months and probably got my first stripe about 4 months in. There was talk amongst people that it was given to people somewhere between 15-30 classes and it was a timed stripe. I don't know how the other stripes work but I am in no rush to get them. I don't know nearly enough yet so don't feel it is deserved and I would much prefer that others I drill/roll with looked at me more as a rookie and gave me good advice and feedback than looked at me more like a target and tried to best me with my shinier striped up belt

[@RadicalTrivia]

I was a white belt for a really long time, I think because my coach wanted to give me time to compete if I wanted, but I dunno. Conversely, I think because of that, I was a blue belt for a very short time in comparison. I feel like you're not wrong about "buying love" with stripes, but I think I'd phrase it more like, "stripes are a motivational tool." I've watched my coach award a stripe at the PERFECT moment to really make someone feel good on their journey, so I think an attentive instructor uses stripes as subtly as they play jiujitsu. Thanks for the great video!

[@KierenLefevre]

Nah some gyms legit buy their students loyalty with promotions, especially blue belts. Not all gyms are in it for the purity of the sport many are out to make as much $$ as possible

[@RadicalTrivia]

@@KierenLefevre Right, I said as long as the instructor is attentive. There are definitely gyms out there who aren't in it for the purity of the practice.

[@September42010]

ive been training 16 months and havent recieved a stripe BUT, to be fair, I left my academy for a period of time to go 10th planet for MMA, but returned to my academy at home 7 months later..the first thing I did was compete, and subsequently register for a competition 6 weeks later, to show myself, and my home academy, my commitment to the art. It will come. I beat ladies who have competed multiple times and the lack of stripes probably took them for a loop lol

[@XieTianXieDi888]

My gym doesn’t have stripes. I’ve been training for almost a year now and tapped out a visiting blue belt from another school a bunch of times. I have no idea when I’m getting promoted or how close I am to it, but I feel like I’m doing pretty good. I’m not going to worry about it and just enjoy the journey.

[@dodgethis671]

I watched this video the day before I started my first Jiu Jitsu class. I got my first stripe 3 months in. I received my second and third 3 months after that. The first 3 months I was timid about my academy and was training 3 to 4 times a week. After I got my first stripe I got more confident and fell more in love with sport and started sparring. I train 6 to 7 times a week now.

[@KierenLefevre]

That's so awesome!! Thanks for sharing your experience 6-7 sessions is solid 💪🏽

[@psychlos21]

Great video. Very accurate. Here is my journey: I went to three different schools/gyms over almost 9 years. I am now a Black Belt. However, it took 3 years 8 months to get to Blue, 2 years for Purple, 1 1/2 for Brown and 1 1/2 for Black. The first gym I attended did not promote at all. The second gym, there was a coach (Brown Belt) who rendered 3 stripes to me just before I left. When I joined Gracie Barra in 2019, I had a solid base as a White Belt. Blue Belt was great because I was already keeping up with other Blue Belts as well as Purple. Everyone learns at their own pace. Overtime, you begin to develop your game and refine what you already know. Teaching others is another way to learn more rapidly. Jiu-Jitsu has to be part of your lifestyle and something that you love doing. As a professor once told me, "Keep Rolling."

[@michaelparrow3046]

I got my first stripe 1/2/24. it took me three months training, 3 to 5 times a week. My coach normally don’t give stripes out that early, he prefers to wait six months before getting your first stripe.

[@KierenLefevre]

6 months for 1st stripe on a white belt is insane to me

[@alexislc234]

I got my first stripe today, after 25 sessions “4 months” i feel like i dont deserve it but i want to uphold the standard that you are saying my progress is dependent on my improvement. Regardless i don’t feel they gave the stripe to keep me at their gym, but more of genuine reality of my ethic and consistency.

[@AllanReyes-u6v]

took me a year & 8 months to get my 3rd stripe on my white belt & ive grappled w other schools w this type of business & ofc the Matt’s do not lie

[@jamespaterson9703]

In 🇨🇦, 1st stripe after 5 full months, training 3-6 times per week. Probably 4 times per week as an average. Was pretty tired going to 6. Settling in to the next 6 months and just remaining very consistent, enjoying the ride.

[@ZOIMIBiIE]

@4:48 I’ve trained off and on across a few states and different gyms. Took sometime off.. almost 9 years and recently started back. This new place is the first gym I’ve ever seen that has stripes outside of kids classes or black belts

[@Mr.Grimm_44]

My 17 year old son got his first stripe after 3 months... Training 5 days a week. He did a bjj tournament and swept his whole weight division ( nobody scored a single point on him)with gi .won gold metal. Proud of him.

[@Warp_Speed_Hippo]

I had my first BJJ class in the 90s. Didn’t really sign up until 2007. Tried again in 2009. Then I moved and started again in 2010. Then a different place in 2012. Still being a white belt after 10+ years had me feeling pretty hopeless so I quit for a while… Got back on the mat in 2016 and got a stripe after about six months. Blue in 2017. Purple in 2019. Brown in 2022. Got my first stripe on the brown a couple weeks ago. 😃

[@KierenLefevre]

Whoa! What an absolute journey, just goes to show that jiujitsu is a lifelong pursuit

[@borispyakillya4777]

Hello everyone! I just got my first stripe after three months training 3-4 times a week

[@derrickstevenson5009]

Every school is different. I'm a 3 stripe white belt and I've been training 3 -4 days a week for about 9 months. Its a mixture of time and knowledge and how well you apply it when rolling. Every stripe was well earned

[@ericwessner228]

Even as a wrestler it took me a while to get my first stripe, but I would forget to log in religiously and after having to take 2 months off I think my instructor just forgot hoe often I was attending. Like you said though I don't think about this so much anymore. I simply remember to log in and I focus on getting better and that's what its all about. My promotions will come in due time and I'm grateful for my academy. Oss

[@riadarif3677]

I just started bjj 3 weeks ago at one of the Gracie barra gyms, after going to 4 classes a week I finally got my first stripe

[@constablekohler]

Bro, I've been a white belt with no stripes for about 5 years. Due to work and family I've been a seasonal player, about 4 months every year. I don't get subbed by blue belts very often and I'm able to pass the guard and pin other white belts. It's cool though I'm there to learn and practice not necessarily to rank up

[@StephenVTran]

I’ve also been a white belt no stripes for 5 years, but due to injuries and life etc. been consistently going 3x-4x a week for 3 months now

[@dustsettles6099]

Me 3 fellas, moving countries and gyms or only training 2-3 months in one place. I've matured a lot in the 4 years off and just started up again this year, I'm training smart and picking one gym and sticking with it. Hope all is well and you got a stripe! I like turning up as a "new white belt" but have 3 years experience in my old trouser pocket somewhere. haha

[@anthonygoffin6435]

Took me a year and half to get my first stripe, bouncing from gym to gym!

[@KierenLefevre]

How long did it take you to get your blue belt?

[@anthonygoffin6435]

@@KierenLefevre 3.5 years 😭 hahahaha

[@KierenLefevre]

@@anthonygoffin6435 Considering it took 18 months for the first stripe, that's fast! bahaha

[@anthonygoffin6435]

@@KierenLefevre hahaha yeah, tbh i bounced around for 2.5 years and it really only took a year of solid training 4-5 times a week. Had I done that from the start I probably would have gotten to blue in a year/year and a half (Standard time I'd say)

[@spaceyy06]

Today I got my first stripe after almost 6 months of training! I try to train 2-3 times every week

[@KierenLefevre]

Awesome!! Congrats on the first of many stripes coming your way 💪🏼 onto that blue belt

[@spaceyy06]

Kieren Lefevre thank you man!!

[@RictorIAG]

The Gracie University curriculum has 23 lessons plus a class called Reflex Development. As white belts, we don't spar, only drill. The next belt for us is the Gracie Combatives belt. This is a white belt with a blue stripe. It signifies that the student has completed and understands all of the 36 techniques taught in Gracie Combatives. A person with a Combatives belt then learns to use those techniques when sparring. Once they become proficient in that, they can test for their blue belt. At the white belt level we can get 4 stripes. We get these every 20 classes. To be able to test for a Combatives belt we have to have gone to all 23 classes at least 3 times plus have done 12 Reflex Development classes. The quickest a person can test to a Combatives belt is 8 months. So, 8 months and 81 classes in and it's possible to test for a Combatives belt, at which time you'll be a 4-stripe white belt.

[@KierenLefevre]

No judgement, just a question. Do you feel as though you could apply your skills in a live situation without sparring? 8 months is a long time to "drill"

[@RictorIAG]

@@KierenLefevre I mean, what are we talking about here? A scuffle outside a bar or taking on another grappler? If the former, yes, absolutely. That's specifically what we drill for. If the later, probably not. The time flies. I don't have a problem with the 8 months. I've seen enough MMA and jiu jitsu content on KZbin to notice the absolute horrid technique that some people have. If drilling gets me to see those movements as second nature, and we're only talking about a matter of months, it will be time well spent. I think it's important to get the basics right. It's my opinion - totally unsubstantiated - that "the basics" are not agreed upon. Before I started with the GU classes I went to another school and day 1 was a disaster. My hands were bleeding by the end of it from gripping the gi in spider guard over and over. On day 1? That's nonsense. That's a blue belt move in GU. Nobody should go home bleeding from their hands on their first day of training. But I did. And they thought it was funny. A rite of passage or something. So that sucked and convinced me more than ever that the GU approach is the right approach for people who aren't "hardcore" into jiu jitsu. I just wanted to learn, I didn't want to recover for three weeks. More than that though, I feel like I'm going to be doing jiu jitsu for the rest of my life. So what is 8 months compared to 50 years? Almost nothing. If that's what it takes to give me a solid foundation so I'm not drowning in the fight the first time I have one, then so be it. Let me ask a question back the other way: What was your first three months in jiu jitsu like and do you think that was the ideal way to go about it?

[@KierenLefevre]

@RictorIAG Thanks for taking the time to reply! I'm sorry to hear about your experience at the first school you went to, I don't like that "old school" sick or swim mentality, and totally you shouldn't go home bleeding on your first day. The first 3 months for me was pretty much all in, I was training 5-6 times per week and I ended up competing at the end of my 3rd month and won gold + silver in no-gi and gi respectively. I was rolling from day one, which is why I asked about the rolling situation with GU as I believe it's in rolling that I learned the most about jiujitsu. But man it's really interesting to hear the perspective of someone going through the GU programme, I've heard a bit about it but nothing first hand 😁

[@RictorIAG]

@@KierenLefevre I'm going 4 days a week. I should get my first stripe next week, so, 20 classes in. It could just be a case of we don't know what we're missing. It sounds like you were killing it 3 months in. For what it's worth, I just ordered a 10x10 jiu jitsu mat so I can practice more at home. I don't consider the drills boring, even if I'm doing them by myself. There's enough to learn in being really specific with each body position that I feel like the time learning in this manner is time well spent.

[@MyZ001]

@@KierenLefevre Ive been doing GU for about a month, and agree with the OP - What's 8mths of drilling in a MA that you plan to stick with for life, more or less, or at least a 10+ year path to blackbelt?? I've trained other MAs before, and Ive always been really big into technique and learning the basics. And, I've won "fights" just by applying that. So, I think the approach is fine. It might not be the best, or at least quickest, way to learn and especially compete, but that's not my concern. Also, one of their main reasons for not rolling is because "we found most injuries in BJJ happen at the white belt level". And, based on what I've seen, I agree. I bet it sucks getting injured and not being able to train before you even get going. And, it makes sense. When you're new, you're just trying the few techniques you know, and a lot of other random shit that's not even BJJ, just to survive. Also, GU lower levels are about applying skills to untrained opponents, not competing against other trained grapplers. So, not rolling isn't as important in that case. So, even after a month, I've had a huge advantage over friends I've grappled with. And like the OP also said, we drill specifically for street-fight live situations . So yea, six months from now I believe (and hope, Im not delusional) I'd be able to "easily" apply my skills against someone who is untrained.

[@sosa41604]

I first signed up for BJJ August 16th 2022. That was 610 days ago. I now just received my first first stripe at white belt at RGA in NYC. Injuries, and time off, of course. But man I worked for it.

[@khokvn]

I’m a white belt for 3 years and 6 mos now. Not to brag but I’ve been able to control and submit most blue belts, sometimes purple. The problem was I’ve been to 4 different gyms, because of work it, I have to switch gyms and always back to zero. my new coach says I’m a blue belt. I'm just waiting for him to give it to me officially.. Damn, I think I will be a forever white belt…

[@gianttigerfilms]

Just keep playing your game, belts come more from longevity and loyalty than just skill level alone

[@ryanflannigan2426]

My academy is historically slow to promote and i am def a reflection of that …..i got my blue belt after approx 1 year….purple belt at approx year 4 …..brown belt at approx year 8 ….i am now 4 stripe brown belt in my 12th year ….i did take a almost a year off after my brown belt promotion due to COVID

[@aleksandervaldal]

10 years of inconsistent training, then I started training again 2-3 times a week. Got 2 stripes at once after first comp last summer. 3rd stripe around Christmas and my 4th yesterday

[@bryce8737]

4 Year white belt, buttttt had to take a month off here and there due to injury. First competition is at the end of the month... Hoping if I do well I'll get my blue belt!

[@Community_Guideline_Violator]

The first gym I went to was a Gracie university affiliate, and I got my first stripe after 20 classes. Within four months, I had four stripes on my white belt. I started from scratch and currently go to a different gym, where I got my first white belt stripe after 3ish months and about 60 classes.

[@TrishCanyon8]

I don't think you can get 4 stripes in 4 months.

[@Community_Guideline_Violator]

@@TrishCanyon8 if you go to a Gracie University, you get attendance points. 20 class = 1 stripe. At 5-6 classes a week, you best believe you can get four stripes in just as many months. Renner Gracie will also award people a blue belt who have never rolled live.

[@Mikey-zs1lx]

I got my first stripe in mid April, so around 3 and a half months into training, after training 2 times a week consistently apart from a 3 or so week break due to a minor LCL tear. I think my coach awards stripes based on progression, as my progress sort of fell off after that and I don't think I've won a single round of sparring since. I'm a lot smaller than most of the people in my gym (probably closest in weight to my coach by about 6kg), so its quite hard to get myself into the advantageous position and maintain it. I love it though, got some nice comments today about my defence and go to a gym with a really tight community and world class tuition.

[@BookMunee]

I think my coach who is a black belt humbled me the most with his example and his speech. He first told me that he, "wished I could go back to white belt. To start again. To have the time to learn at a slower pace again. But now I can't. Now I am locked into this belt the way I worked hard for it to be around me." He then told me that stripes and belt ranks aren't something to gawk at. But milestones you're essentially "locked" into. When someone steps up to you as a 4 stripe white belt and they have only 1. There's a silent unspoken feeling that you're somehow stronger than them. When really it just tells them you have a few extra tricks up your sleeve. But, he noted that purple belts and up have it harder because, sure you can agree to roll. But everyone want's to feel what that belt rank feels like in a roll. So you hardly ever get the grace of being a "lowly white belt" trying to learn. You have to be someone with commitment beyond a doubt now. And THAT is why the belt system shouldn't be admired. But understood.

[@KierenLefevre]

Yeah I think I would have to agree with this perspective to a degree. But there is obviously nuances. The higher belts you go the more you realise that belts are not always an indication of skill.

[@Tommy3457]

I’m 54 I got mine in 2 months of hard work 2to 3 times a week and still going loving it .Till the wheels fall off going for more on my long journey

[@KierenLefevre]

Hahaha journey until the wheels fall off, I love it! That's awesome Tommy, good work

[@Erubiel.Moreno]

Same i just got mine after 2 months of hard work and consistency

[@Fragranceabe]

I got my first stripe two days ago after 4 months of training 4 to 5 times a week

[@bornsinner6134]

Got mine today after 2 months, pretty pumped to move forward

[@_jamesmoss]

Just got my first stripe yesterday!!! Been going for 2 months twice a week 🙏

[@benjamindelfs2718]

Sounds like a Mcdojo to me. Most gyms don’t give out anything under 6 months.

[@_jamesmoss]

@@benjamindelfs2718 believe what you want 👍🏻

[@scottyboy6269]

Whoa, you went from pure white, to black bar to first stripe in 2 months?! That's nuts

[@_jamesmoss]

@@scottyboy6269 currently 3 stripes :)! Got my first competition in September

[@lancepraet]

It took me 3 years to get a blue belt.

[@MicheleAlessandroBiancoGuerra]

Depends how many hours a day you train I got my blue belt in 1 year tops , cause I trained up to 4 hours a day from Monday to Friday and Open mat Saturday and Sunday.

[@lancepraet]

I’m happy for you. I trained 5 days a week.

[@miomimomiro]

Started on August 2020. Been to comps. I roll 5 times a week for 1hr 30min and from those 2 are technique based. Still haven’t received even one stripe on my white belt. Great +3yrs… Very motivating..

[@KierenLefevre]

damn bro that's rough ngl

[@miomimomiro]

@@KierenLefevre it is yeah, but I dominate comps as a white belt in -79,5kg and open weight. :D

[@miomimomiro]

@@KierenLefevre cool content, dude! Keep it up.

[@teamsanity3808]

Got 4 stripes at once after about a year (my gym didnt give stripes untill then) and then 6 months later i got my blue belt 💪

[@stronghealthevolution4421]

I got my first stripe about 1.5 months in but I had done BJJ training before (10 years ago) and I've been going about 4-6 times a week to class.

[@markb3451]

We promote white and blue based on time/attendance. Purple and brown get promoted based on skill.

[@Ufcfreak97]

My schools not a competition school, however let’s of people compete… your first stripe goes out to people within the first 10/15 classes… the biggest difference between no strip and first strip is being able to go “live” at the end. I was surprised to have waited pretty much all the 10 classes since I have a 7 year high school wrestling background… and really do well against all the other white belts … but at my school, I think the first stripe is more of a sign that they feel that person is safe and healthy enough to go live My personal coaches have seen me roll and know I’m game but before I got my first stripe often higher ranks would choose not to roll with me because without it they thought I wasn’t advanced or passed the introduction period Also side note, ( no gi days - they don’t count to sessions for your belt )

[@rev_kous9275]

Got now 4 stripes on my white belt. Started BJJ in December 2021, received 2 stripes in June 2022, then 2 more in June 2023. 1st year, 2 times/week, 2nd year, 3 times/week.

[@BensDevJourney]

It took me: 3 years to get my first stripe 3.25 years to get my blue belt 5 years to get 2 stripes on my blue belt 5.2 years to get 3 stripes on my bluebelt training 5 days a week, moving gyms a lot makes a big difference, like you said!

[@madWalker911]

Got my first white belt stripe after around 4-5 months of intense training (3 times per week). Then I got injured, so I missed about half a year of trainings, then Russia invaded Ukraine, I didn't have the mood to trained, missed another half of year. Then I was fixing my teeth, so I missed another couple of month (partly I was just lazy). Then started jumping in occasionally (2 times per week regarded as GOOD for me). So I've been more or less consistent for around a couple of months now. Still a one-stripe white belt, although I started in summer 2021. And now is December 2023. I just need more discipline, I guess :D For me it's not about stripes, but about the ability to use what I've learned and not to forget what I've learned so far. And when you train occasionally - you tend to forget stuff!

[@murkincl69]

Last thing to worry about is stripes and belt colors. In the beginning it’s cool and all* , however, after so many years training you begin to focus on your game. You start to want to move different , throw submissions, be on the offensive etc. I tell the white belts at my academy to literally only focus on their breathing. That’ll help by not wasting energy and strength . Breathing is key in this game . Enjoy guys !

[@KierenLefevre]

I personally think the whole "focus on your breathing" thing is so overrated. Gas tank and energy expenditure in rolling comes down to three factors: 1. Technique efficiency 2. Movement efficiency 3. Cardiovascular fitness If focusing on your breathing helps to "slow you down" and be more efficient, that's great. Otherwise, there's limited mechanical evidence that nasal breathing does anything to improve performance. But I agree entirely that stripes don't matter in the slightest when you reach higher belts.

[@GrapplingAutist]

Gym owner here. My students represent my school, no pity stripes, no attendance stripes. Has to be based on merit and skill.

[@KierenLefevre]

May I ask how many students you have and how to track progress of each of them? I know that larger schools can have a hard time with this

[@GrapplingAutist]

@Kieren Lefevre Jiujitsu I think you're bang on with that. I can see this being an issue with large schools. We're a smaller school. Adult and kids combined, I have about 39, plus another 20 from a youth program I run at an affiliate once a week. Watching how they do against others in the room and at other clubs is one benchmark, secretly testing them when I roll with them, competition results if they compete, time is a factor but sometimes more in a way where I don't want to rush a stripe so I'll hold off a bit if it's too close to a previous promotion. I do have a loose curriculum and base requirements for bluebelt, but everything is very much a feeling out process.

[@KierenLefevre]

@@GrapplingAutist that’s really interesting, thanks for sharing! My long term goal is opening up my own gym so I love soaking in as much knowledge those people like yourself who are doing it I knew secret tests were a thing 😉😉 hahah #confirmed

[@GrapplingAutist]

@Kieren Lefevre Jiujitsu If I can give one piece of advice that helped me the most; start teaching, or assisting as soon as you can. I started assisting a youth program as a whitebelt, so I've been teaching for almost as long as I've been training. It was invaluable to me. Helped me develop my understanding way faster, as well as really built a solid base of teaching. I'm not suggesting a whitebelt should be leading a class, but following direction of someone and just really observing how they do it, how people respond, and getting to test it out for yourself is super helpful.

[@KierenLefevre]

@@GrapplingAutist absolutely man that’s amazing advice. I’m very close to purple belt and I think once I get that next belt level my teaching opportunity will expand. I love the advice on getting in asap I’ll absolutely continue to follow it

[@TheTattooedRonin]

My gym doesn’t do stripes for white belt. But we go from white to intermediate white than advance white. Then blue. I started back in march i go anywhere from 1 to 3 times a week. Avg 3 times a week. Normally it takes about 40 classes but during test day if they take into consideration the classes you been to and your skill set. I still feel pretty new but learning a lot and improving. Gonna keep at it on my martial arts journey and update on my channel

[@701garage]

My first stripe was December 17th of last year and got my first stripe on by blue in July of this year

[@bartlomiejwrx4537]

1 year , consistency and changing gym

[@blakegundry]

I think both stripes and belts should be awarded when you reach that skill level, no matter how long you've trained. It's always been that way for me.

[@MaximusGalactus]

Just got my first stripe in 5 weeks of starting 🙌 🎉

[@KierenLefevre]

Amazing work! How often do you train?

[@MaximusGalactus]

@@KierenLefevre anything between 1 to 2 times a week. So not often. But when I wasn't traning all I did was study and done some mma training previous ... so I was tooled up.

[@VillageIdiotFs]

My school doesn't give out stripes & from what I've observed belt promotions are awarded off of objective skill & consistency over a long time if you want to go tge slow route or on the podium if you want to move up faster.

[@dezpop12]

This is my second week of BJJ no strips yet which is understandable. I go about 3-4 time a week with one 2 time a day. Can’t wait see how this new journey unfolds.

[@maykie6401]

Reseaved my first stripe today ! After 3 weeks 5 times 1 class and 1 time 2 classes. This first stripe definitely give me a bigger boost to keep doing what i am doing.

[@stuartclubb4302]

I think its fair to say that the rate of 100 hours per stripe is a decent average. Twice a week for six months will get you there. People who are athletic may well train more per week, and the time will shrink by more. It's a perishable skill, so people who train once a week will find they may need two years, or more. Though the weak, old, and constantly hurt usually get weeded out before even worrying about a stripe.

[@thejiujitsuemt999]

Took 3 years of training 3 days per week to get my blue belt

[@countaplay6749]

The best part of BJJ/wrestling is the workout and healthy mental. BJJ/wrestling tests your body in ways that weights/cardio just doesn't. When you roll with someone who is good and has been doing it a while, their strength hits different. It's oppressive. And the community tends to be awesome, so your mental improves by association. I haven't thought about my first stripe and don't care if I ever get it. The results are already paying dividends.

[@mickeyward1878]

White belt here, been there for 16 months zero stripes. Due to my work I can only get there 1-2 times a week but competed twice and took third both times in gi-nogi. Honestly don’t know if coach just isn’t paying attention because anytime I ask for wisdom on where I need to get better or what to focus on ; only thing I get told is to come more which to me is a cop out cause skill isn’t necessarily because you train 5 xs a week when a guy that goes once a week does well surviving purple and up and taps and controls whites/blue belts. Should I look for more structured gyms?

[@calmwater2529]

My Coach has 2 locations. Two classes per week in each location. I try to get in 2 to 3 classes per week in either, or both locations pending my schedule. My coach also test per our curriculum. It took me 5 1/2 months to get my first stripe at White belt.

[@sweetcell8767]

It depends on your instructor. My coach made me work my backside off for my first stripe. But, he knew I could hack it. Some people need that extra reassurance earlier, even if they may haven’t progressed as much as they could have or should have.

[@jmofosho]

I just got my first stripe at about six months training 3 and sometimes 4 times a week. We don’t do attendance stripes.

[@brianr9314]

2 years - 1 day a week for blue belt. 2 years - 1 to 2 days a week for purple. 1.5 years - 3 days a week for brown. Currently back to 1-2 days a week and will most likely take 3-5 years to achieve black from there.

[@rstlr01]

One year, winning three blue belt absolute sub only competitions, and showing up 2 to 3 times a week got me my first WB stripe at one year👍

[@KierenLefevre]

sounds like sandbagging to me 😥

[@jayceparker8737]

Ive been training for about a month but im a wrestler, i think im getting my first stripe later today at the ceremony!

[@KierenLefevre]

how'd you go?

[@roguedecoy]

Got my first strip 1 year into bjj, but got 2 strips that day the first couple of months i was inconsistent due to taking a rib injury my my first week into bjj. I will admit it did feel good when other people started asking the instructor why i didnt have any strips 😂😂

[@THE_Secular_Conservative]

In the Gracie Jiu-jitsu system I take its 20 hours per stripe up to four stripes, just show up. Then 4 stripes to spar, minimum of 81(not including open mat time) to test for your blue stripe combatives belt, though it will more than likely take 90-100 hours. Then after that its at minimum 100 hours to obtain blue belt.

[@KierenLefevre]

100 hours seems about right. Considering most people train 1.5 times per week on average it takes "most" people 1-2 years to achieve blue belt.

[@THE_Secular_Conservative]

@Kieren Lefevre Jiujitsu 5.5 months in, minus 2 weeks due to injury from weight training and minus 2 weeks from vacation = 75 hour class time, 6 hours open mat, 3 stripe white belt, and 15 more specific classes to qualify to test for Gracie combatives belt.

[@pikenren7884]

2 years actual training in a period of 3,5 years, two time silver and bronze medalist, still no stripe. I just don't go to that class when stripes are being given ;D

[@Samantha-yb7en]

I got my first stripe after 6 months and I’ve missed maybe 1 or 2 fundamentals classes and also attend open mat regularly. I train at minimum 4days a week with 5 days being my goal.

[@kaylacopass96]

I just got my first stripe yesterday after 2 months. I think it was based on progression. I’ve been told I’m a natural, but I’m still tapping in mosr rolls. It felt unplanned because they stopped rolling and my coaches had a very short talk before they gave me my stripe.

[@aacato8772]

My coach said I was the second fastest to get a stripe!

[@axelsrsdi]

It took me 3 months to get my first stripe going 3 sessions per week each session lasting about 90 minutes. Greetings from Hungary!

[@FortniteGuy004]

I got my stripe after 25 days

[@auto7judoka]

I admit I only train 2 times a week and I admit i saw my former gym they did more promotions.i feel like it's best to stick with a gym and you can be consistent and works with your schedule i feel like the more you train you just better.i dont care for stripes they are just progress

[@enkiigigi7647]

Just got my first stripe today been going for a month 2-3 times a week. It definitely feels earned

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

Hopefully long enough to earn it. If your school does six month/100 class stripe promotions (or if you have to pay for stripes and belts) then run. Find a good gym.

[@KierenLefevre]

I personally don't think the method of awarding stripes determines the quality of a gym. The longer I've been training and the more I've been moving into a coaching role myself the more I realise that the award to stripes doesn't matter all that much.

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

@@KierenLefevre There are gyms that have a duration schedule for stripes and some that use time and a fee. The problem with the former is people elevate without earning it on the mat. The latter tells you that it’s just a money grab.

[@KierenLefevre]

@@DoggosAndJiuJitsu White belt stripes based on attendance, in my opinion, are fine, as long as belt promotion is based on demonstrated skill and jiujitsu development. Charging people for a bit of tape on your belt is a disgusting business practice and I 100% agree that it is a red flag. Charging for belt promotion should only be done if a belt test is involved and some sort of feedback or personalised coaching. In other words, it actually gives value to the student and takes up the coach's personal time.

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

@@KierenLefevre would you break down what a belt test consists of that would justify charging? I’m not here trying to criticize your gym but I’m not understanding the cost, and I’ve seen it done for free for years through knowing the student base. Attendance is a critical component of success, but it cannot be the only metric. Personalized instruction should cost money - but that isn’t what I’m referring to here.

[@KierenLefevre]

@@DoggosAndJiuJitsu Belt tests are usually held outside of class hours and are either with a group of students or a 1-on-1 situation. The justification is the coach's time. It's not a charity. It's a business; you're paying for someone's time to provide you with a service. The test requirements depend on the coach and usually last 45-60 minutes. Different gyms do things in different ways. I don't like the belt test approach to promotion and won't be doing them myself. As for white belt stripes, bro, they don't really matter. So, having attendance as the only metric for white belt stripes is 100% okay in my book. For higher belts, it's a different story.

[@davemcalinden1566]

There's a guy in my academy who has been training for nearly two years, he is a white belt, competes and wins at blue belt, and still has not been awarded his first stripe on his white belt. However, our coach is notorious for not promoting people. There are 90 students in the academy. We have 3 blue belts and they compete and win at purple. Everyone else is a white belt. I have over 1000 hours of mat time and I'm a 2 stripe white belt. I don't mind because I don't compete (I wrestled from elementary into college and I could go my whole life without another competition). But when I drop in at other gyms, sometimes schools get pissed-they ask my rank, pair me with those of similar skill level, and then watch me run through guys one after the other. Then they put me with a purple belt and the guy tries to take my leg off. People say that belts don't matter. But they do. Jiu Jitsu is all about efficiency and effectiveness. If belts didn't matter, then we wouldn't use them. They are indicators of skill, scaffolds for progress, vehicles for motivation, and validators of hard work and dedication. Promoting too soon or too late is not good. Too early makes you a mcdojo, and too late makes you a sandbagger. So where is the sweet spot for promoting? I don't know. But perhaps there should be an agreed upon specific criteria for promotions so not to run into these types of issues.

[@mertabi28]

My coach is the same, i hate it…

[@actavisprime]

Got mine today after a lil under 2 months 3-4 days a week but I missed about a week and a half each month… just keep going 👊🏼

[@silentcyclops1180]

Year and 6 months. Due to an elbow injury had to stop for awhile.

[@Wd8_7]

Got my first stripe after 2 months, trained 7-9times a week. Got my first competition next week (currently 3d month training bjj)

[@adrianmendoza5213]

I've been doing jiujitsu with the gracies for about a year now and they give stripes by time and give belts by testing in how proficient you are just did my first test and wating for it to be graded by a black belt

[@Dannyboi94]

Coming from an academy where only children get stripes it helps mentally when you can look to your left and right and see others at the same level and same playing field at that point it’s all about skill and progression it too me and one of my classmates 11 months to make Blue belt

[@RoyThe4th]

My son got his s Gray bell in about one year. My daughter has been training a year and a 1/2 she has 4 stripes and there's some teenagers that have been training for around 2 years and still 3 and 4 stripe white belts. It's definitely Merit based however however I think the 1st strpe is more like a motivational thing to keep the kids excited about learning, Cause i've seen several kids receive one stripe that Probably didn't deserve it my daughter included lol. But if that 1 stripe gives them motivation to keep learning and push harder I I think it's o k.