Should This Purple Belt Change Gyms or Change His Training Habits?

[@danielskrivan6921]

The two most frustrating spots in a martial arts school are when you're at the very top or very bottom. Ideally, you have people that are better than you (to teach you), people that are worse than you (to drill on), and people at your level (to test yourself). If you're at the extreme end of the spectrum, you lose two of those three groups of training partners.

[@kc270352]

facts 💯👍

[@goldbee6150]

Spot on

[@truongmai2195]

I just came from Roger Gracie seminar. Learning more techniques after blue belt probably won't make you better. He mentioned he finally got good years after he was a black belt. At the time he had no training partners, so he decided to refine and figure out how to bring what he already knew to a very high level. After taking his seminar I literally felt like I leveled up 3 to 4 times.

[@leebruno1722]

Danaher?

[@danielskrivan6921]

@@leebruno1722 The specific quote is me. The general concept of the three training partners is fairly ubiquitous as far as I'm aware.

[@danielskrivan6921]

My professor (4th degree black belt) gave me (1-stripe white belt at the time) a private lesson the day before his tournament, in which he took gold. The running joke is that I did an excellent job preparing him.

[@rorkan138]

Might be time to start coaching a fundamentals class every now and again. Teaching something helps me learn that something better/faster, I'm sure it does the same for others.

[@lawv804]

A mentor of mine advised me once: "If you're the smartest person in the room, go to a different room". It's important to be around people of similar or greater skill level for growth in any endeavor, not just BJJ.

[@lululenox]

I heard the story that Roger Gracie used to only train with white belts when he was prepping for comps, don't know if it's true or just BJJ urban legend

[@sugardaddy2157]

Easier to train

[@jayslice4371]

I think rolling with lower belts is actually really good for your bjj. Personally I always try to roll with at least one person who’s better than me to work my defense, someone at my level to work on building internal toughness, and someone with less experience so I can work on finishing the submissions cleanly. If you roll with less experienced people you get a lot more practice actually finishing submissions. That will definitely help you when you finally do roll with someone better. I didn’t come up with this idea. There’s two examples I like to think of. One of the gracies (I think roger Gracie) went away and started his own gym where he only had white belt training partners but he came back even better. Mikey mussemecci or however you spell his name trains with bjj hobbyists. He teaches them how to defend and counter whatever part of his game he wants to work on. Basically reverse engineering bjj.

[@micaylapresley]

I've felt the benefits of this too. It's so true. Joe Rogan also says to choke blue belts if you want to get better as a black belt 😊

[@jayslice4371]

@@micaylapresley yeah I don’t remember exactly where I got this idea but I think it was from joe rogan explaining it. It makes complete sense. How are you going to practice the finish if you never get the finish lol

[@wemylee]

Great points! An additional thing I like to do where I train - I share the counters to my favorite moves/techniques with as many people as possible so that they also level up and are able to give me a much greater challenge when rolling. Everyone ends up winning!

[@JAndersen22222]

He should consider coaching at his gym, maybe ask his coach to get a different class time once a week or cover a class for him. Coaching is a great way to test how well you really know technique.

[@dougreviewstheuniverse9082]

He needs to come to my gym its called ChawJitsu we literally chaw tabaccer whilst training flying armbars etc.

[@Daniel_Cooley]

This video is exactly what I need to hear rn

[@Matt2299]

This was a very relevant question for me. I'm one of the only guys that competes at my school and I run into other local schools that have more competitors. After a recent tournament, I did well, but wondered if I would do better if I had more competitive people to push me. I thought about it for a while and decided that I liked my current school a lot and would rather make everyone else better versus leaving them for greener pastures.

[@gonzalosanchez6387]

I agree with everything. I would add cross training. I had similar scenario went from being a purple belt under 20+ brown/black belts, to a new gym (new city) where there were 2-3 higher belts than me. I stuck it and worked great. I'm a coach there now and several new higher belts have moved in too.

[@Slade3465]

I want to say that it was following advice like this that has really helped me, and people already think I'm much better than I am. I've been watching your videos for a long time now but I only just actually started jiu jitsu a couple of weeks ago. I have to give a little credit to you when they asked me if I was lying about my experience.

[@connerferril6684]

Thank you for the wonderful video as always Chewy. I too find myself in this situation. I hope to grow my jiu-jitsu through constant repetitive moves haha

[@Mlittle99]

I think defining what he considers success is very important. Is he technically better than everyone in the academy or are they just physically better ? If the answer to both yes, are they having fun ? You nailed it, you can drill harder , roll more rounds to get more tired. - lots of ways to get better with lower belts. If he’s not having fun, he needs to talk to his coach. If that still doesn’t change, then I recommend looking for a different academy

[@4the_win]

Great video as always. First off, drillers make killers. I have this problem myself, and didn't want to leave my guys. So I go to open mats and push my pace with shark attacks. Also put myself into bad positions on purpose.

[@manuelrodriguez5777]

That’s so true. So one of the purple belts in my gym told me because there was a class of all whites for the class that day he was gonna work on using nogi rules for the Gi class for example cupping and holding verses grabbing Gi material to move someone.

[@VinnyDoesLife]

When rolling with less skilled players, the best mentality, imo is to help teach them while rolling, and I actually enjoy that. Also, it gives you the opportunity to let you work on the cool moves/techniques that you come across on the internet.

[@lewisb85]

I've heard stories about how some friends of mine who train with a certain BJJ academy in Wales that has satellite gyms in the local area they get promoted to a higher belt and think "lets go train at HQ" HQ which is in Cardiff is an elite level gym and they notice the big step up from the hobbyist level of the satellite gyms to the pro level of HQ so a lot get smashed and can't cope with the pace change.

[@Unibot47]

Was great meeting you in Tucson for the seminar!

[@Patrick-sheen]

Fabricio Werdum was teaching in Madrid, all lower belts and became UFC, ADCC and Jiu Jitsu champion.

[@SalsaBailaProductions]

Always great advice my coach said the same

[@darylkenny4562]

A couple things. Firstly, drilling is absolutely the best thing to get better. If you want proof positive of this, Roger Gracie is the best example. His game is essentially the fundamentals taken to an extremely high level. That is because he moved away from Brazil as a purple belt and had nobody except his white belt students to train with. So he just continued to sharpen that axe until he became literally the best in the world. The other thing is that you can adjust your training to suit your goals. You don’t have to start standing or on your knees. For myself quite often I will tell my training partners to start wherever they want. Mount, take my back, pinned under side control, whatever. And then my goal becomes to escape and move progressively to the exact same position that we started in and then finish with a submission. Maybe we start with my partner armbarring me and I’m defending, or maybe he’s on my back and has my lapels and hooks and I am defending. Sometimes I fail and get tapped. That’s the point. If I get tapped I know what needs work. In my mind I want to know that no matter what they can’t get me. I can also play with pathways through the positions and chain moves together to get to something and learn to anticipate my opponent’s movements and be several steps ahead of him. That’s where the growth is imo.

[@hearnn1680]

I’m at the very bottom of my gym, 5 months in and I still get smoked, not bothered at all, I usually like to roll with the blue belts (don’t tend to get injured by them) but if I do roll with a white belt, they usually have at least 6 months training on me, but I’m not planning on quitting, and one day I will get them 🤣

[@FR-ty5vn]

100% - curious what you think of the 70/30 Rule, Chewy? 70% of the time work with people below your level, and 30% of the time with people at or above your level - old 3 stripe purple belt here…I think the rationale is so you can get enough reps in against full resistance.

[@danilecashin4126]

I try to really mix up skill set levels with who im rolling with and try not to do the same guys all the time.

[@pingislife2653]

If you're a dominant student at a small gym, I say handicap yourself. Utilize less athleticism. Don't use your most effective techniques and positions. Try to apply only your weak techniques and positions. Lovato Jr mentioned something like this before. He talked about how he would compete at very high levels even when his students/training partners were mostly white and some blues.

[@aminezahiri5549]

I experienced this before were only few whites and 2 brown belts so I dominated every white belt and get destroyed by those brown belts, and I always complained i need to roll with some one who's better than me but not a brown belt level, but I eventually got better cus over time I started doing well against brown belts and when a blue belt comes to our gym I didn't feel that much of technique gab between me and him although he was heavier than me and had a couple strips om his belt

[@jasonsatterlund]

Thank you so much for this. Very helpful.

[@mickeyward1878]

White belt here, been there for about 2 years 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 a more structured gym? Again I’m not saying I’m amazing. I just love this sport and getting stressed out dealing with a coach that isn’t paying attention also doesn’t show up to peoples matches

[@3nt3rtain]

My 2 cents... 1) Belts don't matter. You're figuring this out on your own. If you're being honest, you're competitive in the gym and in tournament. From this perspective, good school. 2) Jiu-jitsu is a business for your coach/ professor. If you need a friend or more supportive instructor, this is understandable. Sounds like you care, and they don't. If it really bothers you, go hit some open mats wearing your belt. Be humble and ask questions about your skills. You may find a new home, or not. Ultimately, does the belt/feeling unsupported trump the quality of training you are receiving? Can't make the call for you, but I tried to boil down the issue and give a bit of perspective. Good luck on the path 🙏🏼

[@kylefee4822]

Maybe pay for a private lesson from the instructor. Speak with him before and see if you can roll with him and have him evaluate you before the private then he will be able to more accurately help you and focus solely on you.

[@mickeyward1878]

@@3nt3rtain hey man thank you, really… it’s been killing me and my best friend since we’re tight with the crew but we’re learning more from our peers than our actual coach. I love my boys here but it’s just been disheartening going through injuries, pushing hard in comps, and really leaving it on the mats every night I go and just not feeling that dedication back from your coach just pulls the air out of the sails

[@mickeyward1878]

@@kylefee4822 hey dude, so I tried this, and was literally told “just keep coming” which to be in biased yes; frequency of any task will create improvement ( but on the other hand not having specific goal sets to achieve has been a huge battle in where to focus energy on since I can’t get there 4xs a week) that’s where it feels more like this dudes just not being a coach and just wants us to stay here for the paycheck

[@kylefee4822]

That sucks that he isn't doing a good job coaching you would think he would know that of you don't provide a good service people will move on

[@Fanaro]

Isn't it more proper to walk into the gym with *many* goals in mind instead? There's a pretty big likelihood that if you go with only one goal in mind, the opportunity/scenario might never come, but with many goals, it's very likely you'll be able to test something useful and not be frustrated.

[@77stephani77]

I would think going to seminars, and or open mats at other gyms would be a way to go. Test your self when rolling with other guys like no legs only arms or vs versa, or only chokes… put your self in really bad situation & get out of it. 🤘🏻🔥,☝🏻👌🏻🌎

[@JesusGonzalez-tu2nr]

Open matt other gyms as much as you can.

[@scottmatheny9514]

Danaher says that his top students (including Gordon) do 90-95% of their training with blue/purple belts. I think the theory behind it is that the higher belts can work on attacks and details without everything being defended every time. And to work on defense they put themselves into the worst positions possible and then escape or work out the details to make the defense better. Teaching is another way to get better faster. Ask your professor if there is an opportunity to start teaching.

[@marcobala9284]

What about if your professor was fired and don't have anyone to guide you. Also our coach is a purple belt now and is so frustrating for me...

[@tededo]

20 years of grappling, i realiazed there is no such thing as plateau , there are literally hundred plateform of work. Its an grappling open buffet for high level guys.

[@solvablesea4093]

Rule #1 Have fun. If you’re not enjoying yourself where you are then go to another gym. This stuff doesn’t need to be anymore complicated than that.

[@sugardaddy2157]

Fr

[@ethanlee8895]

Hey chewy, kind of off topic from the video but I’ve been off of jiu jitsu for about a year, i was there for about 4 months and felt i was doing well but I’m going to be quite rusty and out of shape, any tips for getting back on the mats after awhile?

[@kylefee4822]

Eat well and understand that you are rusty don't expect to be as good as you were start slow and then ramp it up

[@edmondlau511]

Hey! I have one of those t-shirts!

[@samartypants1330]

Chewy, I often run into the situation of being one of the smaller... of the big guys in the gym. They are often paired with me as I'm a big guy too. How do I handle not having the speed of the smaller guys, while being smaller and weaker than the big guys?

[@prandz420]

Get a better guard. Preferably de la riva, K guard and high knee shield if you want to use it against people bigger than you. Exact same deal as any other person wanting to train with someone bigger

[@lunchbreak1792]

Hover around the small guys before it's time to pair up

[@ryanweiss1721]

Hmmm. I have a purple belt named Jason at my small gym that watches this channel. 🤔

[@TheGreature]

Hey totally unrelated but I have a question if anyone could help. Just competed this past weekend and I think the ref misinterpreted the 50/50 sweep rules. In one of my matches I entered 50/50 from open guard and swept my opponent, meaning he is now in bottom 50/50 and I am on top, I controlled for about 15 seconds and the match ended. I didn't get any points and afterwards the ref told me that it was a stupid rule; but no points are awarded for any sweep from 50/50. Anyone have any idea what he was talking about?

[@phobowl]

Go to your gym’s HQ. Typically that’s where all the toughest guys train. Bring back the best techniques.

[@ayurvology3334]

not all gyms have hq

[@TapOnToeKnee]

This is why BJJ (as well as many widely practiced martial arts) but I personally think it rings loudly with bjj because it's a very common problem it the past couple generations those of us that have a drive have been moving up a little fast and to fill a gap between tye top and the learners but then the guys at the top are too far removed to teach you anything anymore and there'd no one between you and them but there's a bunch of guys coming from the place you felt like you just were yesterday asking you all these questions and you're like dude idk I just kinda figured that out last week. Imo it's called imposter syndrome and it is the theme of the millennial generation. Just relax guys. It's our planet now and even if we're not prepared well do our best.

[@kc270352]

cant blame the gym lmao, gotta level up your training