Negative Effect of Higher Belts Not Smashing New BJJ White Belts

Getting smashed in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is important! As a White Belt part of your beginning in BJJ is learning just how vulnerable you are. And when you get smashed and submitted by a higher level belt during rolling it makes you aware of the reality of the martial art.
In this video we have a newer BJJ White Belt who says he has submitted a Black Belt. He feels as though the Black Belt is actually using the full extent of their skill and that he is getting a legitimate tap on him.
His questions is whether or not he should lighten up on this Black Belt during training or keep going.
In this video, I share how I think the Black Belt is letting the White Belt work. I'm nice about it. And because I'm not there I don't really know. But based on my almost 20 years of Brazilian Jiujitsu I have a good hunch what's going on.
Many times experienced practitioners know the difficult road that lays ahead for the newcomer to Jiujitsu and so they try to ease the person into it slowly. Playing down significantly in their skill and ability.
In this video I describe a story from my gym to put the situation into context so that it can hopefully be helpful to our friend.
Thanks for watching the video.
-Chewy
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[@TheUnbekantxe36]

Chewy's being nice. Bottomline: you did not submit a black belt.

[@jacksonfrench4048]

Big facts at my gym everybody lets you know your at the bottom

[@psyience3213]

Maybe he did if its not a legit gym. Or maybe its japanese jiu jitsu and although he's a black belt, he would still only be a white belt in bjj.

[@scottdykema1279]

@@psyience3213 Japanese style focuses on more/different techniques...most Japanese style works more on standing...to include joint locks, throws, and weapon takeaways...I bet you if it started standing, the Japanese style would be able to get a good takedown (and not just pull guard)...and if wrist locks and leg submissions were allowed it would be a different roll...bjj has turned into a sport(money making) while Japanese style has maintained its roots a little more

[@psyience3213]

@@scottdykema1279 I did Japanese jiu jitsu but thanks for your ridiculous remark

[@robbybee70]

this in fact is not the bottom line, it is the most likely answer but there are factors such a simple statement does not take into account

[@aqdjbcr]

I didn’t realize people were being nice when I was learning either. Then I got better and they became more serious

[@robbybee70]

most people don't

[@Monna7777777]

true! same here. I even thought they were going pretty hard but now when i´m a blue belt people go way harder. But i still feel like i can handle it. maybe a new tier of hardness will come soon.

[@uralwong799]

I think there's two sides to it. New white belts always start with a lot of strength and in most cases aggression. Where the more experienced person is relaxed and going through the motions. The new white belt is treating this as life or death, the experienced person knows that you gain just as much from "losing" if not more. I got tapped by a fairly new white belt recently and I wasn't not trying. I wasn't letting him win. He was just quite strong and very aggressive and pounced on an opportunity.

[@andretullier3469]

Blue belt. As soon as got my blue belt I realized everyone was just playing with me

[@esrarali4650]

The senior belts from purple onwards deliberately put themselves in sticky situations as they are working on specific things. I have rolled with purple and brown belts who let me take there backs etc because they are perfecting there escapes and also they are giving you a helping hand in your own journey. These are the best guys to learn from.

[@Mus4shi15]

Quite the assumption to think you can legitimately tap a blackbelt as a white belt. If that were me, I'd be 100% convinced I was training at a mcdojo.

[@robbybee70]

that is foolish, you don't base anything off of what happens with rolling with one person, that black belt might have come from another school entirely.....

[@model84]

@@robbybee70 blue,purple, even brown ok, but black belt is a different lvl, it has to be legit, it has to represent, they don't just give it. Of course shit happens, he could fall asleep, thinking about mortage or sth, if it happend once, it is possible, if it is on regular basis either it's McDojo or this white belt is Ronnie Coleman lvl xd

[@quasar4601]

I have noticed a vast degree of quality between the ranks of Blue and Purple. Many blue belts seem like White belts with more experience but Purple belts seem more like experts

[@robbybee70]

@@model84 so you just ignored the part where I said "that black belt might come from another school entirely" ?

[@robbybee70]

@@quasar4601 I don't assign rank or anything but most blue belts (until they are experienced as blues) are basically just white belts that have learned where their hands should go and what posture should look like....

[@effinretards]

This white belt really convinced he’s tapping out a black belt lmaaaooooooo

[@ifthatthenthis3797]

Hahahaha hahahaha I'm actually fucking dead what a dumbass

[@robbybee70]

you do know that part of being a white belt is knowing very little right?

[@ifthatthenthis3797]

@@robbybee70 nah bruh I'm a white belt that's just dumb

[@Vechking]

@@robbybee70 I am also a white belt and that's pretty ridiculous to think you can tap a black belt. Blue belts make me wanna die lol

[@robbybee70]

@@Vechking I remember when I was a white belt I had no idea what was happening to be honest with you. I don't remember tapping people as a white belt at all honestly when rolling.

[@Igorovich88]

As a blue belt, I have yet to come across a black belt that I could submit. Even when they are being nice. And they are always nice.

[@NuevoVR]

My black belt instructor light rolled with me I'm a white belt no stripes and he let me kimura him but then I've seen him roll half seriously and he wrecks

[@carnalito80]

Me neither brother... me neither. I have rolled with 7+ different ones at different academies.

[@swimmerman2233]

I’ve had a black belt let me get close and then he escaped and I had to start over

[@bobdownie.2806]

Yeah, never seen one let anyone just submit them yet. Personally I have never come close to submitting a black belt and I have trained for 4 years and weigh 120kgs!

[@yaugernet]

Dude so well said. They’re always so nice to you. Even still, I’m not even getting near a submission. Round ends for time. Every time. They smile and thank me for the roll. Uh huh.

[@dannykrise9721]

This reminds me of the time I knocked out thanos with 1 punch. No joke.

[@GreatDayDnB]

🤔 That sounds possible, you must be Saitama...or Shaggy, or Goku, or Jiren, or Vegeta, or Superman, or pretty much anyone cause Thanos was a joke in those movies compared to the comics 🤣

[@Chewjitsu]

Hahah

[@dannykrise9721]

@@GreatDayDnB I'm just saitamas student. A few people said he let me win but I think he was really trying and I just caught him 😂😂

[@LucasKingPiano]

Thanos was letting you work.

[@Crystals10000]

That didnt feel so good

[@paulthemediacreator]

A few years ago my instructor started an extra class that not many of the competition team would attend. The only two consistent people was me (a no stripe white belt) and a much older mid level blue belt. As the weeks went on I started to catch the blue belt with submissions until one day I had tapped the blue belt multiple times in the same round. I was feeling really confident until my instructor told the blue belt to ‘stop letting him work’, the blue belt then proceeded to submit me what felt like 18,000 times for the rest of the round. After that reality check and standing literally bleeding into my brand new white gi. My instructor presented me my first stripe. So I can say with some confidence (and personal experience) that the black is letting you work 🥋

[@notmyname108]

White belt: "... or shall I ease up on this black belt?" :-D

[@yourlocalcoolguy]

lmao

[@Empridon]

lol

[@josemartin1727]

Im a purple belt but whenever I roll with a white belt I go light on them the first round and let them thrash me around for a bit and guide them through some techniques as I defend and let them tire out. But when the second round comes I let them know I was just being nice. Stay humble. But most importantly look out for your partner. Tap early and tap often. Remember, there is no losing in Jiu Jitsu. Only learning.

[@kylehallman8183]

I got my blue earlier this year and I generally try and let really new people or less experienced white belts take a position, or ill just lie down and watch them try and figure out their way around me like Im secretly planning something. Like dude, just hop on and take side control you goof.

[@bonocoon3234]

I'm a purple belt too. But I do the opposite to the whitebelts. I go hard(using just enough strength to get the first tap real fast) at first and then go light on them and let them do their thing.

[@robcubed9557]

@@bonocoon3234 "I go hard(using just enough strength to get the first tap real fast) at first and then go light on them and let them do their thing." I'm a white belt with 8 months of training and I actually do something similar to newer white belts. If I can smash them consistently, I start going easier and I'll stop just short of submitting them and guide them (with my limited knowledge) on possible escapes. I've gotten positive feedback from the newer white belts

[@Beekers77]

@@kylehallman8183 that's fuckin funny

[@BasediNVegas]

It’s always the opposite for me. They’ll destroy me for the first half and then let me work some moves. I still haven’t submitted a higher belt 😅

[@robertogarcia1797]

I'm a blue belt and I once taped a 2 stripes brown belt, I was like: I'm am that good or he let me?? Then, I asked him if he could roll with everything, no holding back, so he did, and he literally wipe the mat with me, which I thank because taught me a lesson, never underestimate anyone... Anyhow, if you submit a higher belt it is because he let you, specially if he is a black belt and you're a whitey...

[@brianflanagan5173]

vlad dracul agreed! I just started about a month ago! Im bigger and stronger than most of the guys in my class. Im still getting smashed by blue belts even when they are taking it easy on me!

[@samuraisteve2775]

vlad dracul Also, sometimes a higher Belt is trying something new stuff they might not know very well, and are “working out the kinks” in new material. I have tried new stuff with students, watched their egos flare a little, and then would tap them quick 2 or 3 times to remind them Who is Who. Often the talk would be, I was doing so well...I cannot believe I tapped you... Then I explain that I just wanted to try something and see what would happen. Sometimes we are experimenting.

[@dredge34]

A good litmus on how legit your tap was with a high belt is if you get smoked right after. If somone is letting you work the pace will be the same. If you legit caught the tap, well, at that point you've had your fun and the gloves will come off. I have a whitebelt student who has a very nice straight ankle and pretty good developing leg lock game. Good fun to play footsie with. I was fucking around one day trying some new entanglements from odd positions and left a foot out and he caught me in a toe hold. 100% legit. The rest of the round was smesh. We laughed at the end about how if your going to tap a brown belt do it at the end of the round

[@henrikparsgaard9648]

Was it a Turk by any chance?

[@patrickparson9628]

Everyone should be holding back to some extent during normal training unless you've spoken about it ahead of time that you're going to go 100%. That's Jiu-jitsu etiquette, unless you're a small person then no one cares what you do.

[@DOOMLORDHOKAGE]

Dude, I just started Jiu Jitsu after spending my life in striking martial arts and minimal grappling. I’m getting tapped by 2 and 3 stripe white belts with ease. I find it hard to believe that anyone is submitting black belts fresh off the streets. I can honestly say, Jiu jitsu is one of those arts where belt color is an actual indication of skill.

[@johnh8546]

Yes with one caveat. If a guy has years of non BJJ grappling experience. Like a 15 year old with 9 years of Freestyle wrestling and 3 years of once or twice a weak Catch wrestling. I know that guy and he could consistently tap purple belts, he can beat brown belts if he’s just allowed to slam them until they get tired of being dropped on their heads. Now a true white belt you are 100% correct. Some of his winning is just the intense conditioning of top notch wrestlers.

[@johnh8546]

@SilentDiablo if BJJ was the superior fighting art most MMA champions would come from a BJJ background and not from a wrestling background, but most MMA champions are wrestlers.

[@johnh8546]

@SilentDiablo by that logic the same is true of boxing and wrestling. You have to train take down defense to really be viable in MMA and if you want to learn take downs and take down defense you have to study wrestling.

[@shad3128]

@SilentDiablo wrestling is and always will be superior for applying pressure, conditioning, positions, and inflicting damage. BJJ will help you get through some real shitty situations on the street but any GOOD wrestler with minimal BJJ experience is a problem for anyone. Now is the wrestler is DECENT at BJJ and applies it with wrestling, forget it. It's not the other way around. Even Jon Jones was a blue belt for like half of his UFC career among many other great wrestlers and look how much harm they inflict on people. Wrestling is superior dude lol BJJ has its place but on its own, not really. Why do you think every BJJ gym teaches us takedowns and control positions that come directly from wrestling now?

[@johnh8546]

@SilentDiablo they also typically take the edge in take down defense and excel in taking top position. If a wrestler learns not to give up their back and that its better to get on your back than to give it up that is a dangerous person.

[@E.J.Crunkleton]

If you're crushing BB's one of two things will happen. 1. They will tell you. 2. They will tell you to compete. Your mileage may vary.

[@benjaminramos799]

Underrated comment

[@albertcohee7757]

As a large fit dude (205 lbs) When i first started I didnt realize just how much mercy the higher belts were taking on me until i met and rolled with a blue belt who was my size and absolutely put it on me in sparring. I later realized it was because all of these dudes who were like 130-150 lbs soaking wet didnt want to embarass me and scare me off from the gym when i was just starting.

[@blockaderunner]

I think that too heh. They want me to stay and pay. They don't know that this payment isn't really an issue with me. Sure, I could invest more in stonks, but that's boring.

[@iuseyourname]

Chewy forgot to mention the guy's full name is Jon 'Bob" Jones who taps black belts.

[@RealDarkFilm]

He taps people with only his right hand and and injects pictograms with the left

[@ufcgymguy7618]

@@RealDarkFilm no sir, you are incorrect. He clearly uses his left hand for eye pokes. 😜

[@schopenhauerassplower4223]

I’m a white belt and all it took for me to realise the level of skill black belts have was when one told me to get in full mount and to put an Ezekiel on him and then tell him when I was ready He got out of the choke, put me in half guard, then full guard and reversed me in around 10 seconds. I mean I knew before that they were taking it easy but that occasion just put it into perspective

[@martialmusicman]

In my first class, a black belt instructor was lying down while I attempted to pass guard with what little I knew in our roll, and he flipped me over his head in the air 180 degrees, and I landed on my back on the mat. I think neither of us will ever forget that hahaha.

[@Intensi0ns]

I rolled for the first time about a month ago. Obviously im still terrible but at least now when i look onto the mats I can at least grasp what is going on with other people rolling and the battles thats going on. So my instructor pointed at me and said lets go, so i did my best half ass efforts to last more than a minute and about a minute in i tapped to him and felt like I did so good. Obviously i knew he was going to beat me but i was so happy that I just survived for a little while against him. The next roll a brown belt asked to roll with me and after we were done I used the phrase, "That felt like rolling with a 4 year old and I was the 4 year old." He just controlled me with complete ease I felt so helpless but it was awesome nonetheless. The very next roll the brown belt and the black belt rolled together and I decided to watch them. The instructor made him tap in like 10 seconds, it was just complete fluidity of movement, it was amazing to see. And from that moment on I had perspective on just how high the mountain goes.

[@LukeWood-Willan]

Intensi0ns imagine how people who fight khabib fell lmao

[@CoulierCuts]

@@martialmusicman Hes probably done that to new players 1000 times

[@Artistjmorgan]

Just got back from my first bjj class ever. most fun I've had in a long time !!!

[@EvoVFX]

Good to hear just remember to stick at it never get lazy and miss sessions

[@Shaka_Garami]

Nice one bro! Keep going

[@yourlocalcoolguy]

how many black belts did you tap out?

[@miikkaernamo767]

I'm a newly promoted blue belt and I can tell when a higher belt is is letting me work. Sometimes it's a bit too obvious, like when someone gives a bit too much space or when I'm working my closed guard and they slap their hand to the mat so I can go for a kimura. And when higher belts go harder, I get to really work on my escapes and submission defence.

[@jordanbjj]

I need a follow up on this if the white belt goes and talks with the black belt to see what’s going on here. Please follow up Bob!!

[@holdenmuganda97]

I let people work depending on their athleticism and personality. Strong ex-wrestler and football players get wrecked cause that’s what they need to believe in the art( which they often think they don’t need Martial arts period). But women, un-athletic and meek men get allowed to work cause that’s what they need. You let strong, tough guys win too much too soon and you risk them getting big egos and leaving the gym anyway.

[@NuevoVR]

I'm a small skinny dude with the ego of a big person lmao I got wrecked my first day was so funny now I know my place

[@italkaboutstuff710]

I just got my white belt. I love bjj so far.

[@redvindicator1019]

just wait until you get your first injury then you'll realize it's not love it's addiction lol. Have fun on your journey my friend ;)

[@cptseagull]

ITalkAboutStuff! Reviews congratulations. Hope the journey is rewarding!

[@robbybee70]

don't wait, buy some medical tape now!

[@hm31191]

@@redvindicator1019 been going 8 months , injured bottom part of my leg 😩 don't wanna sit out

[@redvindicator1019]

km tell me about it I pulled my chest muscles. Which really helped improve my bottom submission defence cus that’s all I could do for a month lol

[@nukanszn8237]

All it took for me to realize the skill gap when rolling with a black belt as a white belt was the pressure. I had trouble passing guard and he knew this so he held me in his half guard to let me work and i could not pass his half guard for the life of me. His grip strength and suffocating pressure was all i needed to know that this dude was far beyond me and it even seemed like he was doing it unintentional. Shits crazy man

[@zakmadison7517]

One time my 16yr old son who was a high level white belt with alot of judo experience armbarred a judo black belt. Now bear in mind he is very very good at finishing armbars more so than he gives himself credit for. He thought the black belt gave him the submission. I witnessed it first hand the black belt most definitely gave him the position and probably figured he would work on his armbar defense then all of a sudden he was fighting for his life to prevent the armbar but it was too late. He was very cool about it. I remember he said surprisingly "dam that was good"! Later on I laughed when my son said" Dad he let me have it" I responded by saying he gave you the position but not the necessarily submission.

[@JordanSeibert]

This is great advice! Be humble. Expect to be humbled. Do not brag. When you submit someone, still be humble.

[@epikcyne]

I don’t do BJJ, but I like hearing stories of other people’s BJJ experiences.

[@imunfathomable]

You should do it so you can feel as awkward as we do! First day i trained i got a dude chest hair in my mouth. Its revolting! But i rarely floss on my own so i didnt complain.

[@EvoVFX]

Theres so many benefits to jiu jitsu it's fun, its great for your health and is good for self defense and necessary for mma if you want to pursue that in the future

[@greenmanofthewoods6060]

@@imunfathomable probably the funniest comment I've seen in a while. Cheers for the lols!

[@TheTigerice]

I really appreciate the jiujitsu CULTURAL content you always publish! There's a lot of culture pieces in jiujitsu that don't get covered in technique vids. Keep up the good work!

[@sfarias16]

Humble him please No liabilities

[@Frazful]

Unless that black belt stopped training like ten years ago, is extremely unathletic or whatever, this shouldn't be happening. My instructors are black belts under Roger, I'm as athletic as they are, but I swear it looks like they weigh double with that pressure. I'm on my way to purple and they still kick my ass everyday. There's no way a white belt comes off the street and regularly taps one of those guys. By the way, they know when someone's ego is getting big... They will tell people to check it. I competed recently, won and was getting a lot of praise due to a couple of highlights. I had to roll (seriously) 10 minutes straight with the top black belt (110 kgs), I wanted to die. If that's what "congrats" is supposed to be, I don't want to win again.

[@antebauer]

unlikely but possible, white belt with collegiate or open wrestling experience. Also size advantage, 110kg is big but a 125kg guy could show up.

[@michaelcorcoran3942]

@@antebauer seems like you missed his point

[@antebauer]

@@michaelcorcoran3942 not really, acting like there is no way a white belt could beat a black belt, but I'm telling you there are variables that make this possible and it can happen more than you may think

[@joeligreen]

Extreme example, Khabib. He started bjj, wore a white belt. That man is not a “white belt” level grappler. & could definitely tap a long list of blacks. But in bjj he’s a “white belt”

[@Frazful]

@@antebauer Wrestlers are grapplers mate. I said someone with no experience whatsoever. By the way, on another note, Khabib wouldn't stand a chance against an elite BJJ guy. There's a recent video online of him looking like a fool against a decent guy. He couldn't even get out of closed guard.

[@Sprite_525]

It’s tough: experts can crush a spirit if they’re too harsh, or spoil a spirit if they’re too easy/complimentary

[@joshua24shea]

Good lesson to know especially coming from myself being a white belt with lots of wrestling back round but almost no jiu-jitsu. I’ve personally experienced this rolling with higher leveled belts that they help you out by letting you do certain things to help get you up to speed and once they start seeing you get better they turn it up but the submissions you get are either lucky or they let you get them to help you. Always be humble especially in this sport

[@beta5601]

I remember going hard against higher belts when I was a white belt...the higher belts just let me work. I'm a brown belt by now (been training for 8-9 years). And I realized after a while that thats kind of what juijitsu brings to the table. Regularly, most of the time they'll let you work, but if you get cocky about it, or if they feel you need to be put in to place. I'm pretty sure they'll do it if they want to. It's kind of an untold message in jiujitsu I guess, at least at my gym. Awesome videos chewie, wish I've seen this when I was a white belt!

[@DeclanHiggins__]

Wow, you guys are nice. I didn't get a tap on anyone higher than me until I was nearly a blue belt. I joined the gym in a quiet time and was kind of in my own category for a while, like i had been training for 18 months and we hadn't really had any new consistent people come and then the next newest person had be training for about 4 years so there was no one really on my level and boy did they work me, I got my ass handed to me so much and im grateful for that because, Boy let me tell you, when i tapped someone higher than me for the first time, i knew i worked for it.

[@dakotasmith5694]

Man, I appreciate this video. One of my instructors at Checkmat is an absolute leader. I appreciate the ability of teaching while working the drill, instead of making the white belt feel embarrassed or bad about not understanding certain functions of the technique. This video really makes me appreciate my instructors and hopefully clarifies this to many of those wondering the same!

[@Dbunkr55]

Rolling with BB at my school feels like never had a lesson.

[@mouthguardcomic]

We just finished talking about this in our class today (the idea of smashing a white belt or visitor when they first visit or start the advanced class). Sometimes I feel as if Chewy has a microphone in our gym. He has his pulse on the culture... On the other hand, my coach once asked me to roll with a new white belt who had been taking some privates. He was a former football type and had a cocky look. I played light with him and then decided to pull half guard. It was a mistake as he jumped on me and held on for dear life. I was fine with it until he turned his sweaty face toward me and his lips slightly touched mine. He didn't let go or say my bad or anything. The squeezing, lip touching, etc., was so awkward that I tapped out of disgust. He had violated all kinds of etiquette (that he didn't know about). - Coach asked if we wanted to roll again and I gave him a real hard time after that. I took him down, applied pressure, and dominated him from every angle saving the tap for the last few seconds. He said he could feel my "energy." -- I learned a lesson about "enforcing" and not to underestimate people.

[@chadmichaels1896]

Ewwwww lmao oh man that's rough.

[@robbybee70]

pulling half guard without an Underhook is just giving up a takedown....

[@mouthguardcomic]

@@robbybee70 We were already on the ground. Also, I often play half-guard with my hand gripping across the body to the other collar. - However, I admit, I was playing light and he spazzed out on me. It was my fault for not taking it as serious as I should have.

[@mouthguardcomic]

@@chadmichaels1896 Agreed...

[@VentureDad6]

As a blue belt I'm amazed when my Blackbelt coach can find that perfect level to push me but let me work and then turn around and adjust his game through all the ranks. He just does a little bit better than everyone's level to make them their best. Sign of a great coach!

[@Owlsey9]

I like rolling with the higher belts at my gym. They let me work for positions better than the older white belts who smash the hell out of me

[@eschelar]

As a white belt, I have found there are stages. When you first start, you occasionally get smashed, but usually encouragement is primary. However, some people, when they start, start spazzy. I wasn't really spazzy, so I never got smashed all that hard. Spazzy white belts get smashed. On the other hand, I'm quite strong, quite a lot stronger than anyone else at the gym except for one, so most experienced guys will relax with me to try to keep the intensity down and focused on learning. Then when you have been training for a while, you start to relax a lot more and the opponents tend to relax too. Then, you start getting better and you can start taking top position more and then the higher level belts start to get harder again. But if you ask, you'll still probably find that they are going 20% or something. And that goes up and up and up until you're each challenging each other. That is when you can start thinking that you actually beat someone, but by that time, you probably understand a lot more about the progression and aren't so concerned. I beat a purple belt the other day. I realize though that he was modulating his power because the mats were crowded and gave up position instead of sweeping me into another person. I beat the coach in positional sparring too, but now I can feel that he was just observing my style because he is evaluating me for a belt promotion. I know what he is like when he's trying and so I know what he's like when he's not. But those subtle differences aren't going to show up until you've got a good bit of experience rolling hard and getting smashed.

[@Leontor1234]

I got in a similar situation. I'm a super new whitebelt, got 8 bjj classes so far. Around my 5th class I subbed a purple belt. It felt good but it also didn't feel right. It felt like a real sub, because he was apparently trying to defend, and I did my best and tried really hard. But I knew it shouldn't happen and he probably was just letting me practice. Right after that I decided to roll with a white belt because I knew she would go 100% and wouldnt let me sub her. And I was right: it was tough and pretty clear that I had much to learn from the more experienced white belt. Helping rolls are important but I need also the real rolls and then learn from my mistakes. Making mistakes against real challenge, and reflecting upon them, is one the most efective ways to learn.

[@garyking4032]

As a black belt I see this scenario regularly. It's also to do with which side of the Gracie family your lineage is. Helio's side tend to spar 'assisted' more where they don't treat it as a competition, more as a learning experience, and Helio's ethos was always relax/wait for a mistake/take advantage of it. But with Carlos's side of the family being more into the competition side, they have to consider themselves against the clock and are pushing themselves harder. Personally I flow roll with my students and give them just enough resistance to progress (and get the tap) and hardly ever go 100%... But yes, you do get the odd student who then goes round telling everyone that he tapped a black belt. 100% is good for pre-comp training.

[@Protohomo1]

Is this the same helio that waited outside a gym and hit someone with a lead pipe?

[@garyking4032]

@@Protohomo1 This is about sparring, not street fights 😁

[@mickyc4003]

I am a white belt with a substantial weight advantage and have managed to tap some (green) blue belts but experienced blue belts and up always crush me and that's the way the head instructor rolls too. I have never seen anyone submit him in his gym. I like this way because there is no ambiguity as to where you stand and it enables me to clearly track my progress or regress in my journey. It also promotes respect and sorts out new egos very quickly.

[@shadowstab5509]

The dangers of not being gentle to a new person is dislocated joints, and putting people to sleep. I got chewed out for responding to a tap too little too late. The guy was such a champ he put his elbow back in place by himself.

[@aqdjbcr]

Ferris you can be non gentle without injuring them. Just hold an armbar at extension until they realize they won’t get out, if they are stubborn extend enough for a little pain to show them you can turn it up however much you want. Same goes with chokes, you shouldn’t be choking white belts unconscious. You need to have the control to apply a choke and check on your partner before applying it more so. Not just sink in a choke full force and hope the beginner is smart enough to tap, his life is in your hands and you know he’s ignorant. Treat him accordingly

[@robbybee70]

injuries in training should be embarassing to everyone. I mean yes toes will get caught in mat creases or fingers will get tied up in lapels etc but like a dislocated elbow in training.....

[@robbybee70]

@overgrow00 isn't so hard to dominate someone through position when they are new either, and then they don't get injured and the less injured people in the gym the better the overall training for everyone. it's just the basic question of if you want to have a gym where people improve at the quickest possible rate or if you want to be able to feel 'hardcore' I've trained in both styles of gym, there is a clear difference for the better in the training style I espouse which is why I am in favor of it.

[@matthewlaplant8919]

It was BJ PENN that submitted the question and he was rolling against midgets. I see no other plausible explanation.

[@TeamTrollJk]

I agree 😂😂😂

[@quasar4601]

BJ Penn does not have any good wrestling

[@irongrip]

hahaha!

[@areitomusic]

It actually IS an exact answer. Ryan Young of Kama Jiu Jitsu has a video on exactly this. It's a tool for helping the lesser skilled student have a working understanding of the techniques they have learned up to that point.

[@cristobal9677]

My black belt professor's have always been nice and let me work and get positions, then after they allow me to work for a bit, they go FULL MATRIX and tie me into a pretzel....your coach is being nice👍

[@bwkid1]

I don't do Jujitsu, but I do loads of grappling at my gym. My coach takes it easy on me when rolling. I can tell he has me, but lets me off. Just so the roll continues, and we don't lose the flow. It really has helped my timing, and brought my ground game on. Some guy's do try to smash you. But I train extra with just the coach. So I'm catching them up lol. Don't get too big headed because you taped someone better. Just thank them for the help!

[@brotherchrisrco1125]

Logical. Everything he said is True. Great answer...

[@MAYH3M0NE]

When I was a white belt one of my instructors was a 320 lb first degree BJJ Black belt with a 3rd degree black belt in Judo. I was a 135 lb fifteen year old with nearly a decade of muay thai, but only a year of wrestling and 10 or 11 months of BJJ. I "tapped" him all the time. He was very kind. He also had a rule: he only "tapped" to a technique he deemed was executed perfectly. The only times he rolled live with me we would start from standing with one of his hands tied into his belt in front or behind his back. He submitted me (and then half the gym) every time or would refuse to roll with me outright on days he wanted to roll hard. Never saw him tap when going live, even to other Black Belts with elite wrestling. Like I said, he was very kind.

[@andym1594]

Every white belt thinks they're mma material after a few classes.

[@brandonovich6063]

I just felt how vulnerable I really am, it's so eye opening

[@etagged]

They are, they make great heavy bags.

[@RhinoXpress]

Not me, i knew what i was getting into because i used to watch my brothers gf dad roll after school, before i joined just to get an understanding of it beforehand. First day of class i knew i was amongst some highly trained killers that could easily kill me if they wanted too.

[@DeathrashWhiplash]

For me it made me wonder just how many people out there are mma or jiu jitsu trained.... and have a greater respect for the uncertainty

[@MoooseBlood]

Bangkok ready

[@Tentacl]

This video makes me feel at home being a 2 stripes white belt myself. In my experience, ANY taps I got on purple and higher belts was always because they let me. The only exceptions are old guys (60+) who don't train a lot anymore and really light women, and I feel like I shouldn't use pressure on them either (even tough I'm not a big guy myself). And if I don't, they just murder me, of course.

[@danielskrivan6921]

This is my philosophy on learning a martial arts technique. There are 6 phases (really 8 or 9): 1) Active compliance 2) Passive compliance 3) Passive resistance 4) Active resistance 5) Failure Drills (prereq: know other techniques) 6a) Variation 6b) Experimentation 6c) Sparring The short of it is: Active Compliance - basically showing the other person how the technique works Passive Compliance - just be a dummy Passive Resistance - make them have proper technique in their drills Active Resistance - take advantage of any openings they leave when they do the drill improperly Failure Drills - if they don't give you X, do Y. For example, if they block your inside move, go with an outside move. (But you have to know the outside move) Variation - Apply the move in different scenarios Experimentation - Follow up the move with different applications Sparring - Test the move in a live environment It's kind of like working out. You don't walk into a gym for the first time in your life and try and bench 200 pounds. You start off small, and as your muscles build you work your way up. So it makes sense that you take it easy sometimes, as long as the beginners know that's what you're doing. We've had people in my hapkido class get frustrated because every week its harder to do the techniques. Until we tell them "we're going harder because you're getting better at them." Then it's a huge confidence boost.

[@willdallas53]

I’m a one stripe blue belt. I’ve caught a couple brown belts in chokes a couple times, 3 years into training. I’ve never submitted, or even came close, to submitting a black belt. I don’t care how much bigger I am than they are. It doesn’t happen if they don’t want it to.

[@s.2196]

2 year white belt here. My favorite rolls are agaist higher color belts, I learn so much from them every roll.

[@marcusmjx740]

Learnt my lesson from rolling with visitors. I'm a smaller purple belt and they go 100% at me when I always try to go easy with them, which puts me at a huge disadvantage. My coach recently told me, smash them in the first round, then only ease off and let them work.

[@ericstewart4732]

Love this message. That is the culture of our gym as well🤙🏽

[@pgh99504]

I saw the title of the video and was ready to argue, but with the context, you're right on about the situation. I love/hate your spot on commentary Chewy. (My original desire to argue was based on a black belt at my gym whom has a reputation for injuring lower belts).

[@muaythaiforever7893]

I have rolled with quite a few higher belts, me being a white belt, and I get smashed and taught at the same time! At least the black belt is letting him get submission attempts! Lol

[@quasar4601]

Yeah but most of those guys you would KO with your MT on the stand up game !!!!!! I am sure you will be good by next Summer

[@quasar4601]

There are a few guys who always beat me in bjj but cannot throw a punch or kick for their life.

[@Mixwell1983]

Its a 2 way street, I used to enjoy rolling with higher belts that would let me work and they would eventually tap me or let me sub them. Then you get blue belts that go full force on white belts like they have something to prove. I always liked to pick higher belts brains when rolling about a certain technique or how to improve on a technique I needed improvement on etc.. Most higher belts were cool but you always have those few.. Even as a white belt who trained about a year I would never go all out on fresh white belts who were new.

[@danisprettygay]

I showed up at my gym as maybe the most physically powerful guy there. After a couple of weeks, even the two stripe white belts had their way with me (they usually had the advantage. I might get a back or pass guard and take side control occasionally)The blues and purples could knock any cockiness I had going on right out. After a few months of training, I still can't make anything happen to a 70 year old black belt.

[@W2LTA]

My BB will just lay flat out and let me work but will not let me submit him and rightly so; the confidence in the escapes shows how effortless great technique is.

[@lornemcculloch-auld496]

I just started Jiu Jitsu short of 3 weeks ago, and I'm making better progress than I thought I would (a small increment). I'm not delusional, I know how much the upper belts are holding back, and yet I still get properly shellacked. One moment that really stood out was when I was rolling with a guy (not sure what his belt is) with some serious cauliflower ear, and I pulled off a technique that we had drilled earlier. I didn't get the submission because his skill level absolutely dwarves mine. He still complimented me for pulling it off. I was proud, but also know for a fact that if he didn't want me to pull off that technique, or anything that I did in that roll, I wouldn't have XD.

[@juanc.9387]

I love your videos. I often have these questions and it's great to not have to bother busy instructor's etc. I love what you're adding to bjj culture.

[@SindreEide93]

I have my own gym and I am head instructor. I always play super nice with new people, but as trhey get confident on the mats I so smash them some times. I feel it's a good thing to do. I see that if I do this to my students at the right time they are even more motivated to train. Showing them what level they can get to lights a new spark in them. So smash your students some times, but be nice and let them work also under sparring. =)

[@grnttylr480]

My gym is great. The higher belts take it easy on my shoulders, make me work for everything, and will guide me through when I get stuck. If every gym were like this, we would all become the best down the road.

[@yurisghost9107]

I submitted a purple belt as a white belt, that day I got my next stripe. Obviously I was being tested. Thanks, brother, I’m glad I passed the test. Good people in Jiu Jitsu.

[@johnbravo1034]

All the guys at my school are as nice as I am; meaning if I chose to be a jerk they would start hurting me. I am not there to sooth my ego, I am there to learn. When I am submitted it is a gift because my peer just showed me where I need to improve.

[@FDonovan1979]

Guy must be smoking if he thinks he submitted a black belt

[@jeremywatson169]

I've had the simular experience in my gym I was rolling with one of my white belts and let him see what it feels like to actually get a submission. I really go easy on the newbies like yourself I'm 6 7 and 300 hundred pounds so I ease them in. But this guy was really getting pumped so to remedy the problem I set him down and explained the process and then we hit the mat and I just showed him a little and it worked out good.

[@halfman58]

I am late to this vid, same thing happened to me, I could feel that brown belt is letting me to go for submission, it is not hard to notice. we rolled for about 5 min, and he could have gotten 10 different submissions however he was nice enough to let me enjoy my 5 min of glory. I could see and feel that he was going around and wrap his arm around my neck and just a gentle squeeze and letting it go. I was going full speed and I was trusting him to be gentle with me. Which was true, no ego here. Bottom line, there is no way you walk off the street with no experience and expect to submit someone with X number of years experience over and over. This is just common sense, unless you are some robot :) that laws of physics are not applied to you :) Love your vids BTW :)

[@niscent_]

i do judo and my habit for sparring with beginners is that i always start slow and technical. so i fight with zero strength, when i see an opening, i slowly walk into it to give time to my partner to see and counter my attack, i stay calm and soft when countering his attacks, and so on. but, if my partner get to speed, i follow his pace, and if i need more than just strategy and technique to not get thrown or submitted, i'll ramp up my speed and strength as needed. so that in the end if you manage to do something to me, you earned it. i may have acted careless and offered openings, but in the last seconds before your throw/submission, i was at 100%.

[@norigib6186]

Here’s the thing. Even when the higher belts are going easy on me, I’m still not doing much 😂😂.

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

I was never submitted so many times as after I got my first stripe. It's a fair question to ask. I’ve had brand-new white belts complement my progress. I never correct them because I know they don’t mean anything by it. Then again, as a one stripe blue belt I’m still learning to moderate the line between too much and not enough so now I get choked out by everybody. 😂

[@DoggosAndJiuJitsu]

Quick update: as a four stripe blue belt I tap way more against the black and brown belts than I did at one stripe. Maybe they're getting better 😶🤣

[@matthewhigginbottom8328]

I have a great group of people to roll with. My favorite people to roll with are all a little older like me. They move a little slower and really help me focus on technique. Of of my training partners works hard to help me feel good about our rolls and while I really appreciate the thought, I can't help feeling that I would learn more if I was getting smashed consistently and forced to learn to get better. As an example the last day of training before they gym closed I finished our roll with a unexpected sweep and I don't know how to feel about it. I don't know if it was legitimate or not. It seemed to catch us both off guard. I feel like he was just being nice and so cannot take any pride in the technique. Thank you for this video. I will just keep working until the higher belts decide I am ready to start getting smashed.

[@dripxloading]

Its hilarious that some people think they are really tapping a higher belt. I always know when higher belts are letting me work, because they would run laps on me if they legit tried.

[@captleesoutdooradventures7133]

as a newer white belt I appreciate the higher belts allowing me to methodically work through some of the moves and submissions I have learned. That being said I can say for a fact there is not one higher belt in our gym that couldn't toss or submit my 220lbs around including the guys that are half my size. Thankful for the nurture mentality that allows me to progress and learn but I'm sure its beneficial to be humbled at times.

[@dirtymoney7783]

Hey I'm a white belt (5 months in) and I've gotta say it's hard to get most of the guys to actually smash on me. They definitely did at first, and I love the rush (I don't usually know what to do when they're just waiting for my offense, but I can fight a choke or play defense with all I've got), but most of the guys have started being nice and we end up having really slow rolls which aren't that fun for me, and I wouldn't think it could be that fun for them either. A couple of them will actually respond when I ask them to be a little meaner. But most of them just get a tired lazy look when I ask them to roll. And these are not lazy or unduly nice guys in general. I'm pretty quiet and nice so maybe it's just not fun to be mean to me, I don't know. But I definitely feel like I learn more when they take an opening and smash it, than when they pass up that opening and just tell me about it afterward. Thoughts?

[@ripzu7739]

I've personally seen a legitimate white belt vs black belt tap, and the black belt was in fact a multiple time national champion. The white belt was quite close to a blue belt promotion, also outweighing the black belt by around 100-120lbs though.

[@tpp5151]

I've never rolled with a black belt but a blue belt can smash me anyway they want to... So I'm guessing a black belt would do the same but faster

[@danielcho3270]

There is a small black belt at my gym (like 5' 6'', maybe 160 lbs?) who is like a magician. You literally cannot touch him for longer than 2 seconds without getting armbarred or swept. He starts his rolls with us by laying flat on the ground supine, lol, no exaggeration. I've watched him from the sidelines and I still often can't figure out exactly what he is doing. Its truly like magic. We have other tough brown belts and black belts but this dude is special.

[@cokafor410]

This was really helpful. I always subscribed to the idea that higher belts should hold back. But at the same time hearing this, it should be a trial by fire where the lower belts learn to keep their egos at the door. The losses build character and tough skin.

[@strength4863]

Great advice. Respect to higher belts with helping white belts to stay in the game💪

[@rchappell77]

Totally true. When I taught kenpo and sparred, I would purposefully leave openings for my partner to attack. It teaches them to recognize openings and experiment how to attack it, timing and distance while building their self confidence.

[@pedrovillelabjj3163]

it might sound silly, but the got to attitude where I train is: when training with any particular white belt for the first time is submit them fast 3 times and than let them work. You are not suppose to destroy anyone, just let'em feel what's up...

[@zenmartialartist701]

I came from a wrestling background(4 years) so I pretty much knew when they were holding back

[@beardydave]

Had my second class yesterday and rolled with a different black belt. He gave blatant indicators (both hands in front of face -> americana) I'd get the submission in, but he would prevent it and then tie me in a knot. This continued for the whole 4min roll. It was awesome. I got to practice basics, and still feel the full power of BJJ. I was under no illusion that I had any kind of power over him. He was playing with me as a predator might play with its prey :) Amazing!

[@garybolenable]

When I first started BJJ, even if it wasn't obvious that it was happening, I just assumed that a higher belt was giving me a position and never thought I was doing something awesome. Now I can tell when they are and thank them after the roll. The purples belts who coach our technical classes are very good at this, especially when it's a position that coincides with something we've been working on as they want to see if I apply what I am learning. Sometimes though, they just smash the holy shit out of me, lol, but they are always nice about it.

[@KeeganVera]

I couldn't agree more. I submit higher belts sometimes, mainly smaller blue belts. But when I go against a purple belt or higher, they let me work. I know that with 100% certainty. They put me in tough situation, and teach me how to handle them. They know they can smash me if they want, and sometimes they do that's how you learn.

[@droshi3464]

I have a personal philosophy as a blue belt, if your a new white belt or this is the first time you roll with me I'm submitting you several times in a multitude of ways so you know right off the bat this shit works and it doesn't matter what you thought you'd be able to do (ESPECIALLY if your a big guy or a have a wrestling background). Every subsequent roll with them is a "teaching" roll with a tough roll thrown in here and there to keep their ego in check.

[@rickynewton72]

I agree with his point only to a certain point! There are times where lower belts catch higher belts even when the higher belt is going for it! I hate when they use this excuse “he let you do it”.

[@jadonortlepp1293]

I had a similar experience when I was training Judo. I was progressing fast as I had done Judo as a kid and had a few years BJJ under my belt. Frequently used to spar this French 2nd Dan who Id mostly get the better of. I thought I was the man. The day I get my judo brown belt we randori again and he smashes me with eaaaaaaaase, getting foot swept all over the place. Couldnt get any offence going. 2 YEARS THIS GUY KEPT THIS LONG CON GOING! He just didnt care about "losing" and just wanted to help me. But now that I was brown I was fair game apperantly :O

[@johnberg2906]

As a year and a half in white belt I can usually hold off the black belts almost indefinitely (excluding leg locks) but I have yet to tap one. With that said I'm a 280lb powerlifter and my blackbelt teachers are at most 140lb soaking wet. The bigger (200lb+) require a lot strength to fight off and can usually wear me down (depending on skill level) in about 3-4 minutes.

[@flavoredchin]

I'm proud to say that I've never submitted an upper belt.

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Oof, when i was starting Judo, i did smash upper belts while going almost all out, i couldn't do a lot on newaza tho

[@spacentime7]

I told my instructor the 1st day of BJJ. I had only been to like 2-3 classes but I got great cardio. And do a lot of running through the week all the time. And he pushed me.. Hard it was awesome though. Might've gotten submitted like 10 times in 6-7 minutes xD . Watching this video now gives me some happiness knowing he can push me.

[@behindthedecks6088]

I'm also 41 and a white belt. I have rolled with higher belts and they were just defending and helping me to learn and figure things out. As he said no point in him smashing me as I would not learn from it and could put me off learning

[@124madcow]

One of my mates was boasting that a black belt couldn't submit him. I was like bro he let you win and he was convinced that he could beat him

[@rcbjjinternationalassociat6082]

Bob another thing to look at is how are you doing against other belts in the room such as purple or browns and then how does that black belt do against them. I know styles make fights and you weirdly might have his number, which probably is not the case. If the purples are destroying you and he beats them with a fair amount of ease, he is probably being nice. I had a case when i first starting instructing where a white belt rolled with me and I was letting him pull off technically sound moves without countering and he looked at me with the "I am doing well and he has nothing to offer me" look. I noticed that and the next time I rolled with him, I took it to him hard and subbed him in seconds. He never returned and I never took it to that level again on a white belt. Ego and inexperience as an instructor took me there. Any thoughts or comments Chewy?

[@robbybee70]

A few potential answers pop up based on my training experience that were not covered in the video. 1.) if someone stops training and comes back they retain their rank so maybe that guy got his black belt in 2000 and came back the same week this White Belt started seeing him. He would still come back with the rank of black belt on the mats but his ability wouldn't match his knowledge for some time till he got back into things. 2.) some instructors will let Judoka (or other grappling based style students) wear their belts from those styles in a BJJ gym. There are Judo black belts who are monsters on the ground and there are Judo black belts who are downright mediocre at best when it comes to mat work.

[@alahatim]

yep, i was a white belt and a purple belt came in that hadn't trained in years. i did really well against him that first night and felt good about myself. after a couple of weeks, he got his strength/cardio back and was smashing all of us with ease

[@robbybee70]

@@alahatim indeed, I know I am biased but I really feel like my comment is worth more then 7 likes!

[@alahatim]

@@robbybee70 oops i forgot to like it. so you're up to 8 now! :)

[@robbybee70]

@@alahatim thanks, glad I said something!

[@CobraAquinas]

I believe all of the stories about, people having this same experience, however when I was a white belt I GOT SMOKED. I mean 24/7 There was no "light" nothing expcept drilling. If we were those freaks were getting after it. I had so much fun because that's how you learn, I remember going home as a kid, and just thinking how in the world did he do that. I remember everyone telling me how strong I was yet handling me like a child, it lit a flame of curiosity knowing both of those to be true that still burns to this day.

[@shanenewell3609]

its best to nurture new students...... how ever i think age is a big factor, also lingering injurys.... im not a black belt yet, but i ben training for a bit. i have had 4 knee surgries, and im 37, and i like to work alot of stuff i stink at and i try hard to kinda put my self in bad situations. i dont want to say let the person tap me, but in a way im trying to see if i can fight out of taugh positions.. also i dont think new ppl to ju jitsu understand the taping the game quite yet.. i feal like i learn more from my taps then anything.. and um idk... In my experience new ppl to jiu jitsu think its all about the winning , however i feal like its more about testing and exploring different scenarios.. great vid chewy.. ...

[@andruepotts]

I feel like the skill of our gym has gotten better since we let the white belts work. When I first started it took me longer to better because no one would let me work. Now that I am higher belt, I like to let guys work.

[@finding_aether]

Its not exactly the same, but similar. When I did Judo (almost 20 years ago), as a white belt, they smashed me. Old skool gym. :D Nice channel. Brings me back

[@cyph91]

I submitted a black belt as a white belt. He let me do it because I did the sequence right. He does not show up much anymore because of life (he has been training for 14 years). I got my blue and 2 stripes now and he sits on me and submits me and I see no escapes. Good guy.