What are the requirement for a blue belt in BJJ?

[@kaibe5241]

I've trained at 2 gyms: 1. First one had a really structured, easily mappable and objective-based grading system 2. The other was that the instructors would give you the belt when they felt you were ready I much preferred the 1st approach, at first - it gave me a clear set of goals to aim for, and I became focused on that. The second approach however, I have come to love. It ensures that I don't focus on the belt, I focus on learning and rolling, and practising. It took me a long while to realise this, as I'm very objective-focused as an individual, but my journey through BJJ so far has become much more than just showing up to class and putting in the work. Now it means so much more to me. And for that, I am very, very thankful to the 2nd gym (to which I still attend, regularly :) )

[@danielskrivan6921]

I am a moderately high rank in another martial art, in which everything was structured. I find the structure helped beginners, but as you get advanced and get more structured content, it just got repetitive and almost impeded growth. I've recently started BJJ, and there's significantly less structure. I do wish that, as a beginner, there was more of it. My eventual plan is to open a school in my other art, at which point I plan to do the beginner classes the way I'm used to (with structure) and then open it up for the higher belts.

[@Masa6x]

@@danielskrivan6921 I agree. I used to train traditional okinawan karate. It had the very structured system, and as a beginner it was nice. Once I got to the intermediate and advanced belts, it felt hindering. I'm happy they didn't give belts out easily, I failed my first blue belt grading, and there was a guy stuck at brown belt for 10 years because he still wasnt ready physically i'd assume. I know in karate once you reach 1st dan black belt, you get more freedom and its more about perfecting craft and learning more advanced technique, but i'm hoping to start MMA this year and a more personalised approach seems better. There is so much to master, a basic clear cut syllabus is never gonna be comprehensive with BJJ alone let alone striking and wrestling

[@CAArrazola]

Dude 💯! I got my blue Belt by surprise during Open Matt, it was a moment I’ll never forget. All the black belts discussed amongst themselves and decided it was time.

[@jeffreyg8275]

Just go to class and don't worry about it.

[@moremoney2264]

Thats how i got mine

[@adriano53071]

Until you realize how funny it was to be a withebelt

[@joejitsucomics2456]

Gotta be friends with bjj promoters

[@alo2832]

Doesn’t work

[@BillyBlanks-qm5yt]

​@@joejitsucomics2456You don't want to get your blue belt like that. If you do it that way you're going to be a blue belt that gets beat up by white belts.

[@lima_wawae6283]

If you're at a reputable gym and you've been invited to "test" for your promotion, it's highly likely this is a formality. A structured demonstration of technique is just that. Learn and absorb what you can. A promotion tomorrow doesn't make you better than you were yesterday. A belt is a token but it's value is worth more than technical understanding.

[@ray5549]

My first gym didn’t even do stripes, just trained until we got promoted

[@Kuduloka]

This is how it was done at my previous gym. Testing was a formality, due to our association. However, when I got my blue belt from another gym years prior, under the same association, we had to test. But my professor treated it as a pass or fail examination. People could fail the test. I have a love hate relationship with testing. If it's a formality, I think it's bogus and has little value. If it's an actual test it has more value, but an unnecessary hurdle.

[@ray5549]

@@Kuduloka that’s how sand baggers are created, at my first gym we had a guy that was damn near a high level blue belt but he never wanted to test. Eventually they just gave him his blue belt

[@Kuduloka]

@@ray5549 oh for sure. This just happened to a buddy of mine. Just got his brown belt. I moved and am training with a different association, and we just award belts when warranted. I like this system better.

[@algierssolja]

Testing is retarded. I will stay white till I sandbag

[@travisjones1481]

As a wrestler who came to BJJ, testing is important in the sense of showing actual knowledge. I can “hang” with blues all day and even stay safe against purples, but I can barely submit some whites because I lack that knowledge, even though I’m in control and they won’t submit me, I am severely lacking in areas that would get passed over because I can “hang” with higher belts.

[@justinkongglang7080]

Totally me, white belt

[@bespokeregent48]

My coach from day one has always said he only gives out belts when he feels you completely deserve it. That you could walk in to another gym with that belt and represent him and the gym. When I received my blue belt I knew I deserved it and worked hard for it.

[@PandasRViolent]

Must be nice, I was a white belt making blue and purple belts tap at my gym on the regular and my coach kept sand bagging me. I enjoyed the journey though

[@godeater6382]

I love how my gym does it and I would also like to hear other's opinions on it: There is a test without sparring and only showing techniques for the 4 white belt stripes. After the fourth stripe, everything is sparring and competition. I absolutely love it because you have to earn belts, but your can still get 4 stripes for the basics with a theoretical test. I find this model gives the best of both worlds

[@badxradxandy]

Which affiliation?

[@godeater6382]

@@badxradxandy six blades

[@Philip-dy3ww]

I just started two weeks ago. I love your school model!

[@lordad]

i think its kinda funny to do a test for stripes >-< back when i started in 2008 Stripes didnt exist ! They got introduced many years later simply for the reason that people wanted to have visual progress within shorter time ranges.

[@bobbydabutcha]

Blue belts should know all the basic positions, have a basic premise for BJJ itself; take down, pass the guard, pin/defend, sweep, but most of all DEFENSE AND ESCAPES.

[@NextScamdemic]

Been training a year, I'm fine being a white belt at least another year. Nothing changes when you get a belt, I'm no hurry

[@EllenMalone-ry2qu]

before I got my blue belt it was the only thing I thought about but now that I have it, it's kind of like whatever. So many white belts try to chase belts and I feel like that's not the best way to go about it

[@Pavel7771]

I was a white belt during 3 years

[@Swanmaster123]

Knowing techniques doesnt mean you can hang with the blue belts, but also vice versa. Dont wanna be that blue belt that has never heard of e.g. single leg x. Imo a combination of both works best - coach thinks you're ready through watching you roll/rolling with you, comps etc., and then tests you as a formality. The test shouldn't be too hard to pass. Stripes i feel like you can give out. Belts, should be a combination of that and also a test. Theres a bit of dilution in belt skill level nowadays - this maintains the integrity of the belt system.

[@bane3991]

That's what I'm saying. A guy who is very physically athletic can hang with blue belts day 1. But that doesn't mean they have the knowledge which is most important. I knew a few physical specimens. 1 guy specifically I remember we working back escapes. This guy didn't known his right from his left but did very well. He was beating blue belts but didn't know any of the basics. You can't award him a belt just because he has the strength of a silver back gorilla and the speed of a cheetah.

[@TC_Personal]

At Alliance BJJ schools there is a testing "guide" and it's like "Show me 2 ways to escape from bottom mount" or "Show me a double attack from side control", but at the end of all the testing requirements there's a little line that says "At the discretion of the head professor of your gym" I like it because it kind of sets some standard "ideas", but it's ultimately up to your coach/professor still.

[@The_Vinegar_Jim]

At the gym I started at, it was kind of a mixture of three things. Time on the mat, proficiency in rolling, and knowledge of technique. Belt promotion was more of a tradition and ceremony type thing. And each ceremony they did they would have the group who’s testing out just drill specific techniques for their rank they’re being promoted to while the rest of the class does normal training for about a month. Then at the promotion they have everyone get in line and demonstrate techniques and then do a light rolling session at the end, and then they do the whole take your old belt off and tie the new one around you and your family is there and whatever. I liked that because it gives it some sort of structure that can be universally applied so that everyone has a good idea of what the rank actually means, but also allows for the student to actually get good at the skill without really worrying about what rank they are and just kind of trusting the judgement of their coaches.

[@shrimuyopa8117]

Students can simply train the moves specified then their movement will look fluid and beautiful. Then they receive their new mint blue belt and everyone cheers for them. However they still have no idea how to actually execute those same moves during sparring or competition and have never done so. When they roll they become embarrassed and try to stick to rolling with smaller, older people that are still white belts. Eventually they quit because they realize that what they "earned" was a scam. Receiving a belt is nice and the moment of honor is fleeting. In contrast, day in and day out training, with constant failures in sparring, and the reward of hitting a new move, detail, or transition in sparring or competition can become a consistent basis of joy. This is where true self-esteem comes from in regards to training jiu-jitsu. If your gym is doing belt promotions based on the number of days you have trained and a belt test, leave immediately. If your professor doesn't know who you are, hasn't rolled with you, and hasn't paid attention to your sparring rounds, than he isn't your professor. He is the guy that collects money from you.

[@badxradxandy]

We have a test but it's more of a hazing than what you'd think of as an actual test. You demonstrate techniques then there's non stop movement for two hours then an hour of rolling with fresh people, no breaks the whole time. Look up the Rodrigo Vaghi blue belt test. He's a Rickson black belt. You guys have probably heard of Daisy Fresh, they're also a Vaghi affiliate.

[@Zhaitsev]

And then people wonder - why are people dropping off the sport? No wonder that it happens with this level of abuse :D

[@badxradxandy]

@@Zhaitsev I'm mid 30s and did it. It helped me be tougher. I'd train at barra if I wanted my hand held.

[@kiintro]

​@@badxradxandyI am a psf blue belt, I feel it undeserving because I have not won a match in competition, also my blue belt test was subpar. I will continue to compete at white belt for the foreseeable future.

[@badxradxandy]

@@kiintro lmao you better not be a blue belt competing at white, get after it

[@kiintro]

@@badxradxandy thank you Andy I feel like it was given to me as pity not merit. I get smashed at white I will not be competing at blue belt anytime soon I can't be sandbaging if I'm not winning.

[@stefanoviviani6064]

Provided the blue belts in your gym (if there are) are actually at blue belt level. For me the best ground for testing is competition. Even black belts. If you are a black belt (or a blue, purple and brown) but get smoked if you competed, then maybe you are not really worthy of that belt.

[@Arcadianx98]

That only works if other people compete besides serious athletes and competitors.

[@stefanoviviani6064]

@@Arcadianx98 true, but if you compete at least every now and then you will face all kinds of opponents and will have a good assessment of your level. What happens in gyms on the other side, is not always the reflection of your ability

[@moisesdos1990]

Going to open mats in other gyms is a good way to know where you stand too and to see how your gym's style does against others.

[@stefanoviviani6064]

@@moisesdos1990 Absolutely

[@richspel-dr6oo]

I'm 53, out of shape and had a major reconstructive ankle/leg surgery 3yrs ago. I've never been involved in any fighting discipline before. I know there's no clear-cut answer but your input would be valuable. I'm gunning for GSP..😂

[@AnthonyDonnellyTT]

Hey man... I started Jits at 49 - still training at 55 - go for it... GSP is waiting. 😊

[@richspel-dr6oo]

@@AnthonyDonnellyTT my leg was snapped once- slipn fall. That's the hesitation..

[@AnthonyDonnellyTT]

@@richspel-dr6oo I hear you, but nothing ventured amigo, nothing gained... Go easy at first - The human body is an amazing thing...

[@dodgesportsman772]

Get some knee support... anaconda are best. And enjoy... 53 here both knees replace

[@Geelee1029]

Guy at my gym is a white belt but said he’s been training on and off over a decade but just 3-4months at a clip then moves gyms due to work or takes a few months off for travel over seas, Usually. Now he’s been here for a year and still hasn’t belted up. He’s smashing white belts and smashing most blue belts. Smashing not just beating. Shit he’s even caught me in some nasty shit as a purple belt a few times. He wants me to belt him since our coach hasn’t yet. Obviously I’m not going to. Any advice for the guy?

[@user-ei4bn9t]

What if you're the smaller guy in the gym and all the other blue belts have 20+ lbs on you? Or conversely you're a heavyweight and hanging with the blue belts because you have a significant size advantage?

[@slayerbot1394]

Black belts just know

[@MrNickW123]

Ours does tests for stripes, each getting harder until you need to come up with your own sequence, then you get the next belt when you can hang

[@MichaelStanwyck]

The problem with moves only is it doesn’t consider timing, weight, pressure, sensitivity, etc. Only a live environment can test it. Sure, you’ll need those moves, but if when your live you just muscle and smash, no bueno. . And in my gym we do the Iron Man (roll with everyone) after the belt is awarded as a kind of celebration

[@Imbetterthanyou22-iz3qj]

What my gym does is the professor will recommend you for the belt test based on your skill and then you need to pass the test to get the belt after your reccomendatjon

[@brianhunsicker1590]

I think it comes with great responsibility for every blue belt to have an understanding of BJJ ENTIRELY History Rolls Respect for other training partners Awareness during roll It’s not just the technique imo I’ve trained everyday for a year 1/4 And it comes, you have to put the time, pain, and dedication

[@aamirkhan1654]

I know lots of people who can demonstrate techniques with a noncompliant partner who get regularly destroyed in rolling. I think testing is cool, but as part of a promotion approach for some objectivity. But what do I know, I'm just a purple belt...?

[@golddee2040]

My gym is very much the based on how you do when you are rolling and place in competitions. Comps are not needed but certainly show that you are better than other belts and ready for the next level. I am a big fan of having my cake and eating it, too, so I favor BOTH! You need to know a handful of basics. I.E. A way to open, pass, and submit when on top, and escape, sweep, and submit from bottom. Same for back. At least be able to escape back more than not. Not to mention knowing how to defend a whole host of submissions. Then for sure you should have some stripes on your white belt. But can you apply it all during sparring and rolling? That's where blue comes in. Can you set traps and capitalize? Purple is on the way.

[@jedsanford7879]

you either read this title that you think you should be promoted or that you are afraid they'll take it away.

[@AJonVolk]

Is it wrong that I want the blue belt specifically for the aesthetics? regardless of if it's a black, blue, white, green, tan colored or whatever Gi the Blue belt looks so much better than the white.

[@BiggieSmalls946]

Can u do requirements for purple belts?

[@tededo]

I am actually preparing for the purple belt. The first thing my instructor asked me to aim for is to roll with purple belts. Roll as much as possible, not holding back from the shark tank sessions. If you prep for purple, when you roll with white belts, it becomes easier and easier to do whatever you want. When you roll with blue belt, you can take the lead, or counter offense, or pick your strategy and dominate them. We have a guy here who comes from time to time, he,s from the tristar of Firaz, and what he teaches us is remarkable: purple belts got to know how to handfight, head snap down, decent leg lock game, name it. Its the very first tough belt to earn. The blue belt is the Disney land belt.

[@KNIGHT-T1ME]

To me, the belts are just a formality of sorts. They really don't matter as much other than to the individual.

[@LOUIS-g4l]

Lol i have over 350 mat time and i am still 3 stripes white belt . I thought they promote how many hours you have in mat time ? I am 49 years old does it have to do my age it taking so slow to get blue belt ?

[@The10532124]

Got to make a video on Kron Gracie and bjj guys witht the same mindaet going ro mma

[@NazKuwat]

How many people have a black belt in the gym?

[@ginofrancisco]

0:10 first step to a blue belt, work on your grammar, thanks Frias!

[@chasingmypinnacle]

I train regularly 4 times a week since 2022. I’ve won every bjj tourney, I tap our colored belts regularly, I also have a one hour private every week, I am decent at all bottom and submission escapes and I don’t feel good enough to be a blue belt.

[@CatDaddySteve]

Grabbing your bicep when blood choking out a NYC subway psycho and not killing him with an airway choke

[@bane3991]

I think testing is good as long as the academy has a good cirruculum because knowledge is most important. Being able to hang with other blue belts doesnt take into consideration injuries and physical abilities. John Danaher is very limited but his knowledge is everything. What about a 50yr black belt who is 90yrs old and cant even hang with blue belts but has much more knowledge? What about guys who come off the streets beating blue belts right away due to extreme athleticism. Id rather take advice from the 2yr blue belt who was defeated by someone with no experience. Perhaps the best way is being able to demonstrate the techniques. Plus, classes you attend. Usually, the more you roll the better you are. So this way you have the proven knowledge and it takes injuries and disabilities into consideration.

[@Jiu-Jitsu-Robot]

Blue belts usually tap the white belts - but in my lineage we have to demonstrate effectiveness in fight simulations with punching opponents. Purple belts continue that sword sharpening and usually tap the blue belts and white belts. Brown belts are uncommonly heavy and make everything misery. I’m a brown belt now. I’ve enjoyed brown belt the most for some reason.

[@dominiknowaczyk9633]

Tests are useless, at my gym we have a promotion night (once a year) when we all just roll for 2 hours straight, coach observes and takes notes and then decides who is promoted by the end of the practice.

[@Arcadianx98]

So if you are out of town for work you miss promotion and have to wait another year? That’s crappy

[@78logistics]

​@Arcadianx98 on the other side of the coin , a great way to sand bag, just miss the session.

[@dominiknowaczyk9633]

@@Arcadianx98 you just get promoted on the next training session when you're back

[@Jr-tr5km]

Great Prodessor and gym. 🙏

[@triocha24]

Anyone can get a Blue Belt !! Try get a Purple.. that’s the great divide between ordinary & extraordinary.

[@jarenbigelow8606]

Advanced Hugging for the win.

[@thefpjman506]

I have trained bjj for 6 years and its my biggest passion and on my last stripe at white belt My dog passed away in January and it turned my whole world upside down. Spending time with her and doikg bjj were my 2 favourite things to do. Im considering dedicating my blue belt to her and am debating to post it on social media in case it seems shallow. Would this be a shallow thing to do? I was going to post about the new belt but debating about my dog- i WILL dedicate it to her but not sure to do it privately or not

[@jigneshkhamkar1017]

If my opinion matters. Nothing seems shallow. Don't care what others think. You are a good person who cares about everyone around you. Do what your heart says. I guess i am a little late to comment. Apologies for that. Hope you earn your black belt and dedicate it to your beloved furry friend

[@SuperBlake89]

Can you do more videos like this for each coloured belt coach?

[@fosyay1780]

Who cares what color your belt is? Just work hard, have fun, and be a good training partner.

[@khairt1731]

A real BJJ school rewards you with a blue belt only after 2 years maybe even 3 IF you train 4-5x a week. You'll stay a white belt for a good 2 or 3 years.

[@Frankcohle]

What have you won to speak in this way? Are you an accomplished competitor?

[@yew2oob954]

Wow...why not 10 years...shouldn't a black take 100 years to get? No one should EVER get a brown belt unless they are immortal and live a 1000 years!! 🙄

[@khairt1731]

@@yew2oob954 it takes 11-13 years to get a black belt in a real BJJ school

[@khairt1731]

@@Frankcohle Team Vaghi, whos Rickson Black Belt, doesnt give out belts like that. It took my coach 12 years to get his black belt and he was a world champ brown belt division. Seems to me you guys are training at McDojo's. Your belt came free with the Happy Meal

[@khairt1731]

My friend became a Black Belt after 12 years at a Nova Uniao affiliated school

[@stevena8719]

I figure if you aren’t sure you should work harder. When I got my blue belt it was incontestable that I should have it. Many clean sweeps in competition, holding my own against blue + purples, no one had a question.

[@RyanJamesOfficial]

White belts need to learn defense and to hang Blue Belts need to learn attacks and have some threatening capability Purple belts need to be able to use their legs, have fundamentals learned, and chain attacks Browns need to be able to apply pressure from everywhere Blacks are where the true game begins

[@nevertakeadayoff]

i have a pitch black belt. /elite

[@AdamAnderson-y2q]

Definitely not

[@A.aj8]

Who the hell is this guy

[@sirchompsalot4967]

2:27 Among us

[@kaizen_monk]

1) as per Qur'an, allah is omniscient ,i.e he knows everything past present & future.. when he already knows the fate of each one of us , what's the point of testing in this life when result is already fixed & we have no control over it ? -- If allah already knows what's gonna happen with u in next 1 hour, there's no free will ,as u are just acting on the already written script. But Qur'an says we do have free will.. 2) if there is free will & allah doesn't know what's gonna happen with u in next 1 hour , then allah isn't all knowing/ omniscient as claimed in quran.. -- These 2 can't go together as it will create contradiction, only one of the 2 is possible..

[@RandomBananaSalad]

i vote to increase requirements for belts, bjj getting soft

[@lapermits6193]

"Don't use as much strength."

[@pijota02]

Brother tomorrow I got adcc open Mexico and my opponent has a white belt since 2017 hahahahh I have been training for a year but ima finish that mofo

[@vincemoran587]

No.

[@adammcnamara5027]

Please speak up and stop whispering.