What Do BJJ Belts Mean?

[@mattc1447]

Probably the most articulate viewpoint on BJJ I've heard on youtube, and your view on belts rings true in my experience. Love the format and I am sure your channel will prosper in due course. Keep it up!

[@otrshark]

I agree

[@notschramm3461]

Blue belt was rough because it was the first time I felt like I had a target on my back. Higher belts would stop taking it easy on me and white belts would always go hard when rolling. If tough love had a picture in the dictionary, it would be a picture of a blue belt. Great times.

[@jrcuevas777]

Haha. Nice. Keep it up brotha 🤟

[@chrism2609]

Lmao as a white belt so accurate 😂 I go all out on the blue belts

[@k.p.b1991]

Just got blue...you speak the truth! 😅

[@alexstercomp]

@@k.p.b1991 good job man

[@austinman1712]

I 100% feel this as a new blue belt lol

[@julesk6380]

At white belt I focused on just surviving and understanding my attackers through defence. At blue belt I focused on guard passing and movement, position over submission. I loved rolling just working on being in a better position. At purple belt I’ve been focusing on setting up my attacks, baiting my opponent and thinking 3 steps ahead. Man I love this sport.

[@rksdmf]

“You must get the position to get the submission!” This is what I tell my students all the time!

[@julesk6380]

@Greg Lurik in it for life bro

[@Sam-tg6ee]

@Greg Lurik yeah 182 at 6’1. I barely see any wrestlers as tall as me

[@theidk1776]

@@Sam-tg6ee wrestling and jujitsu is very different but there some things that from you wrestling knowledge will help you but it’s gonna be way different, tips when a guy is on top of you keep your arms close don’t let him get a hold of your arm, breath don’t wast all your energy for something thats not getting you anywhere. For gi grips is very important.

[@miguelbermudez5426]

My professor says that white belt ia the basics, blue belt is where you learn to survive, purple belt is where you learn technique, brown belt is where you truly learn guard pass and sweeps, and black belt is where you put it all together.

[@martialdisciple]

Time marks White belt 0:00 Blue belt 7:16 Purple belt 16:30 Brown belt 20:15 Black belt 23:49

[@jonathanjohnson5216]

🎉🎉

[@alialmuhanna4938]

Thank you.

[@s.s4597]

Oss🤙

[@1lovelucas]

1:10 for white belt

[@paulivy9535]

Thank you

[@Stu939]

'Your energy expenditure goes way down at purple belt'. Isn't that just because they skip the warm up? :p

[@Clarkarific]

As a player that's been purple for four years -- yes! But seriously, BJJ has become less of a workout for me, particularly if the class has a lot of newer students, just because I'm so much more efficient. It dawned on me about a year ago when I moved (military) and found myself at a newer school with a less experienced student base.

[@Stu939]

@@Clarkarific True, it is certainly something I have found as a purple belt.

[@tpolo2050]

It’s light that at my school purple belts come after warm up 🤣🤣🤣

[@royoroz]

lol. lazy purple belts, they just want to roll and roll

[@Nova-qn9se]

Hahaha too true! We do advanced class with live drills as a warmup, then the fundamentals class starts later. So we have the built in excuse of "I'm already warmed up"

[@bananapatch9118]

59 and went to my second class today and rolled for the first time, twice. I am overweight besides being old. I am addicted to watching MMA and starting to enjoy watching grappling matches and watching Roger Gracie and Gordon Ryan. I just hope to drop some weight, get in better shape, learn some self defense, be a good student and a great training partner, and have fun. The guys there are super nice and I hope to form good friendships. I love the chess match, just wish I had started when I was younger, but so far I LOVE IT ! Thanks for the great videos !

[@andrewkarl5174]

Hey dude, good for you don’t get discouraged, don’t compare yourself to anyone else, just to who you were last week. It’s a very hard path to walk, but doable. I started Judo at 58, added BJJ at 59, now 64, brown & blue belts respectively, it’s very hard but extremely rewarding. Some advice, yoga, lots of it, and collagen supplements, both are great for your aches and pains. Also, tap early, tap often. A big benefit, hanging with young guys, you will make good friends, where I train it’s like family. Driving to class I would have an angle & devil on each shoulder, the devil would say, wtf you suck turn around, quit, loser: the angel, wtf you suck, but are you going to get better by quitting. Hope this was a little helpful. Roll on my friend

[@hausmeister3695]

You will :) a team mate of my was a really big guy and it took a while but he is now in a very good shape. Keep on rolling! Grüße from germany

[@MJFUYT]

I think it takes guts to get involved with any hand to hand combat sport. At any age! You are now doing what 99% of ppl won't ever do. Respect to you. 💯

[@andresmanzo1182]

I wanna be your friend

[@simontan9950]

The hardest part is arguably is making that commitment to step on the mat. Just keep showing up, train with a purpose, listen to your professor(s), and most important have fun the rest will follow. Oss

[@encisonico]

White belt - 2 years. Blue Belt - 3.5 years. Just got my purple belt. Thanks for the video

[@mattocallaghan9893]

U worked hard 🤙🙏✌

[@encisonico]

@BEAZTA7 I would say the first 6 months was primarily 2x/week. Then for the next 12 months after that, 2-3x/week, then at about the 2 year mark at least 3x/week, sometimes 4. Granted, my school at the time was known for not giving out belts that easily, really had to earn it and commit to the "lifestyle". About the last 6 months of white belt was when i really started to give blue's and some purples a hard time. And then right when i least expected it, i was given my blue. It really just comes out of nowhere when you stop thinking about when the belt is coming and when you fully "accept" being where you're at. Such beauty in the struggle. Good luck, always here for any more questions anyone has. I can talk for hours about the journey.

[@kodyhill985]

@AyQueNico I recently quit smoking and just actually trying to live a better life for my children , Ive never been the weight lifting type but have always thought bjj was interesting as hell along with the discipline it teaches that I lacked as a kid myself , just never committed to walking in a class and asking how to join or anything o guess I’ve just always been nervous of how accepting the community is , but I’m at the point where I really wanna try it out and give it an honest try , so I guess my question is is that just me sykeing myself out , should I just nut up and walk in and ask questions but I also don’t wanna go in and waste everyone’s training time to just ask questions

[@encisonico]

@@kodyhill985 go for it my friend. I too had social anxiety and anxiety on all the uncertainty. My biggest advice is 1, go in there , be nice, be respectful, be genuinely curious and don't be afraid of asking questions, a humble question asker is 10x better than a spazzy newbie try hard. Many gyms offer a beginner class, which i didn't have the luxury of having at my gym, and yet i was still welcomed with open arms. Don't worry about questions, just worry about keeping your attendance consistent and everything will fall into place. I've never met a higher belt that frowned on helping out new people. They got to where they are with questions themselves. The jits community is generally an accepting one, we all were brand new at one point. And 2, don't settle after your first gym visit/week long trial. As accepting the community is, different cultures exist at different gyms. If you think you found your gym, sit on it, and visit a few other ones first. You never know what could be better for you unless you first browse.

[@Solairethedarksoul]

2.5 at white belt 4.5 at blue belt lol

[@SuperBlake89]

Here's some video time stamps for those who would like them. WB = 0.00 BB = 7.16 PB = 16.30 BRB = 20.15 BLB = 23.49

[@goleft4088]

Nice!

[@claycoppinger2983]

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[@claycoppinger2983]

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[@claycoppinger2983]

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[@A11i3c4t]

Notes I took directly from this video... White Belt - most underappreciated of the belts. Most important belt in some ways, foundational belt. Critically important with everything learned. You will learn more at white belt than any other belt. Think about everything you must lean at white belt- you don’t know anything. You must learn the four major positions: mount, side-mount, guard, back. You must learn defense and offense. Like being a fisherman and casting your net as wide as possible, trying to catch as many different kinds as possible. You can’t go deep into the technique yet, but the broad strokes of each thing. You are learning big, new things. Concepts and new positions. As your belt gets darker, you learn smaller and smaller things- details of positions. Blue Belt - The Paradox Belt. A paradox because it is the easiest belt to obtain in Jiu jitsu, but the hardest to graduate from. Signifies whether you have what it takes to get to black belt or not. If you cannot get to purple belt, you’ll never get to black belt. And not everybody that gets a blue belt can turn that corner and get the purple belt, because there is a fundamental transformation that you must make in your game. There’s a huge difference between an early-stage blue belt and a late-stage blue belt, and not all blue belts can turn that corner. A new blue belt is still an immature player, but they should have reasonably complete game, but a simple game. Still have not delve deeply into the minor positions, focusing on the major positions, and should be complete in a simplified way. A blue belt is someone who can defend themselves against someone who is bigger, stronger, and more athletic but who is not a Jiu jitsu practitioner. So, if you get attacked in a self defense situation (Assuming there are not knives or multiple attackers) you should be able to defend yourself convincingly against that. Early-stage blue belts you still don’t know a lot of things and still in “sponge mode”, trying to take everything in. Always looking for that next technique. At some point in your blue belt journey, you will realize is what you need is not more technique but deeper into the techniques that constitute your game. You need to master details of the techniques you know so you have the set-up, timing, and sensitivity. Half-way into blue belt you will have this epiphany and stop casting their net wide. Not many can make that transition. Late-stage blue belt/Purple begins stringing techniques together, no longer one-dimensional to resolve patterns or positions. Puts game together in a much more effective and connected way. It can be a belt that takes a long time to get out of. You will struggle. Most people quit at blue belt because of “blue belt blues” which is when you are coming to class, night in and night out, and you’re feeling like you are waging the same battles repeatedly. You’re hitting this “Wall” and you don’t know how to get around it, and it can be frustrating. You must keep pushing through until your break-through- which will happen. Sometimes when you are at the worst stage of that wall, you are on the cusp of breaking through. “Nothing feels like its working” because you need a detail or go deeper into the technique instead of strength and muscle. There are always technical answers to physical problems. You are too one-dimensional yet. DO NOT GIVE UP! It’s a badge of honor to get through the blue belt blues! When you make that break-through, it is the most amazing feeling. KEEP TRAINING! Purple Belt - An immature advanced player. If we can agree that Jiu jitsu is a continuum, there is a point in that continuum where it can be said you are an advanced player, and a purple belt is an early-stage advanced player. The purple belt is the gateway into the advanced game. You might get a black belt in three or four years in other martial arts, but not in bjj. You utilize momentum and combinations and timing. Energy expenditure goes way down by being more effective by doing less. Less energy and transitions are fluid. What took you four or five steps as a white or blue, purple does it in fewer. You are starting to learn to apply pressure. You don’t master it but learn how to occupy space or go light and fluid. You can play a slower, pressure based game or light fluid speed-based game. At purple you start to play both and get glimpses of that. Mostly the purple belt is the belt of refinement. You throw away a lot of your game, learning all these things, and taking and picking what you use and create connections at what you’re good at, and mapping out an interconnected game. You don’t need a gigantic game, because you realize being effective is having more skill at a subset number of things than bunches of stuff. Brown Belt - Where you really learn to apply pressure and try to balance out your game. In bjj no one is perfect in balance, or equally effective from every position in defense/offense. At purple you are still unbalanced, where you do incredibly well in one area and not so well in the other. You look at your game as a brown belt and balance yourself out. If your top game is good, at brown belt you play your guard. You want to be as good on the bottom as the top. Brown belt is where you round yourself out and truly learn to apply pressure. It is a defining characteristic as a brown belt, where you think it’s something you do from the top, but at brown belt you realize pressure is something you can apply everywhere. When you roll with a brown belt, you should be uncomfortable regardless of position. Brown belts usually start teaching here and become the senior student. Teaching is a huge part of advancing to the next level. That’s where you really get into details and learn to transmit that knowledge. Black Belt - Desire to simplify your game. Maximally effective with minimum excursion. By the time you get to black belt you’ve been to war a thousand times sparred against every conceivable component, all stages of belts, and spent a lot of time on the mat. When you get to back belt, you reach a level of effectiveness where you won’t need to work as hard. Your goal I to do as little as possible and spend a lot of time in defensive positions or set goals to get out of positions by doing almost nothing or doing very little from the top to use gravity and leverage to lock my opponent down by doing almost nothing. Being more relaxed/minimizing steps/round the corners. Perfect the treachery and funnel people into places you want them to go to get better positions/submissions. And putting your signature on the art and bring other people up in your mold.

[@Jiu-Jitsu-Robot]

ZzzzZ

[@jeffjohnson419]

Why did you do this

[@jgfreer8322]

@A11i3c4t Nice! Thanks A11i3c4t - appreciated 👍🏻

[@sotiriosnovatsis4529]

Ignore the bullshit responses here. I appreciate what you wrote. I thought the video was excellent and you paraphrasing it into your own words added to the insight. Well done. 👍🏼

[@jonathanjohnson5216]

📝

[@AmateurSuperFan]

white belt: *learn everything* blue belt: *do everything better than any person who doesn't know what you know* purple: *all the above plus flow* brown: *all of the above plus pressure* black: *all of the above but using minimal effort*

[@erichlf]

I quit at blue belt because of injury. After two years I'm finally back at it.

[@martinpena4544]

What kind of injury did you have? I'm planning on getting into it, but the injuries thing kinda scares me tbh xD

[@erichlf]

@@martinpena4544 tap early and you should be fine besides bumps and bruises.

[@martinpena4544]

@@erichlf Haha thanks for the advice, i might give it a try ;)

[@richarddukard8989]

@@erichlf in my 4 years, I've had one dislocated finger and a broken rib twice. Completely unrelated to tapping or any submission. The injuries I've seen aren't caused by tapping late, they're caused by spazzing people

[@erichlf]

@@richarddukard8989 thanks... Smh

[@AyeItsXander]

3 month white belt here! 👋🏽 wish I started jiu jitsu a long time ago! Much love from Hawaii 🤙🏽

[@azurebomber1]

1 month here in my 30s wish I started when I was in my early 20s.

[@Jesus-Chuy-Moreno]

2 months doing jiujitsu and I wish I had found out about it sooner

[@Out_the_matrix]

Started BJJ two weeks ago and I love it

[@ivantarnyagin]

Same bro! Washing my gi now

[@Unknownpractitioner123]

Have you quit yet? Probably

[@Out_the_matrix]

@@Unknownpractitioner123 yea I did 😂😂😂 it’s because I moved away and became a trucker

[@DavidShort1]

As a 55 yr old black belt, I can totally identify with everything you outline in this video. You're doing a great service to our community. Please keep it up! This art is the most rewarding thing I do these days and I find it to be a sanctuary and the most therapeutic way for me to spend my time and energy.

[@MJFUYT]

Respect to you 💯

[@TheArtofSkill]

Thank you!

[@jwillofficial]

gold.

[@LIONTAMER3D]

@@jwillofficial what HE spent on that black belt is worth a lot of gold

[@alexsp1115]

OSS

[@arneilson4450]

Great insight. I remember realizing at white belt when I went from being submitted "out of nowhere" to still getting easily submitted but knowing it was coming. That was the first step towards finally being able to defend. It was like "I know that he is setting up an armbar/triangle. Not sure how to stop him but I can feel it coming." I felt like my progress sped up significantly after that.

[@sokol1213zip]

Yes, it's just as you said :)

[@رافضالرجس]

I’m just going through this right now .. I have a class tonight and I feel very motivated by the fact that you sped up your progress after this point

[@Readthebible7x77]

Congrats! Purple Belt is a huge deal! I’ve been doing BJJ for 16 1/2 years and it is definitely one of the best journeys of my life. The biggest personal accomplishment of my life was receiving my Black Belt two years ago from Nino Schembri , And I swear that I feel like a white belt all over again, starting the journey fresh. My goal is to stay humble and never stop learning, congrats again!

[@skunk12]

You think youre so cool with that black belt, dont you? How much you wanna bet I will TAP YOU...😠 ...a beat on my drum sticks. Ive got decent rhythm.😁🥁

[@ALECTHEVIK1NG]

Get it, Kat!

[@ericmojave6061]

Dude, I used to love watching Nino Schembri back in the day. Such a personality.

[@freddymars2014]

NG+

[@idontknow5148]

I’m a wrestler about to start bjj got any advice for me starting my journey as a 15 year old

[@herminiocortes8114]

I’m 23 and I’ve taken 2 classes of jujitsu, I’m excited to learn and keep at it.

[@rickprins6921]

How are you doing now?

[@MaitreEtherion]

I'm in a early purple stage. After around 10 years old of practicing. I go slowly, because university and I had some cardiac issue, but I keep going. I have this passion of this art. I'm not the best, and probably never be, but playing the jiu jitsu game is just so relaxing for me, and I'm proud to be in this big family with you. :)

[@sandbaggersmma]

This is a really comprehensive view of the belts, and really reflects what you experience when you roll with the different belt levels. It is so true that the white belt is underrated. Starting from scratch is so difficult! It's like learning a foreign language while everyone is having conversations!

[@Kali-8]

Hahah yeah

[@TridentLion]

Great take! I am a white belt for 14 months. Won 2 comps lost 1. 4-1 record. I feel significant change in my game now vs my first month. Keep at it

[@sherlockhobbes423]

What Rick talks about with the wall at blue belt can be very similar to achieving success in other realms of life. That one small detail that breaks through all that pain is what makes the journey so beautiful.

[@salvatorezagra864]

As a Purple belt I learned to cut steps out of techniques, by knowing other ways to accomplish the same thing and shortening the process. I learned what works for me and what doesn't work for me, what is used for advancement on the mat and what is effective in the real world

[@Mike-tr6km]

If you don't already have a podcast I think you should!

[@CharlieCachoeira]

An old school cat from Brazil turned me on to your content a few months back. Nothing that you have said in your content has been wasteful. I have been able to apply all of it in some way or another. You continue to give away FREE knowledge that you could totally charge a price for it. Oss

[@d_ruggs]

ive found the further up my rolling partner was, the more laid back almost the roll was, and the more precise they became with everything. Blue are the most athletic almost, like they rely on strength and speed and aggression most, and fly at every opening they see and try and finish. Purple is similar but with traps now, a lot of them, they fly at something, to get you to defend, and set up the move they really wanted. Brown is really where it slows down a lot, with just perfect positioning and their weight always felt 50 pounds heavier and the always posted on the worst spot. And then black was like they knew exactly what was going to happen at every moment, and they could lay there, doing next to nothing, and still get the dominant position and get the submission. Even if a black belt lets you start on his back with seat belt grips, its incredibly unlikely you'll be there long (from a blue belts perspective)

[@CraigTravis]

This is beautiful, thank you. I'm 10 years in now and still a 4 stripe blue. I Was 5 years a white under a purple belt and we didn't care about belts. Now I've been a blue for 5 years after hopping around McDojos and avoiding an "attendance purple"... I've found a great club with a great Black Belt and started training again after covid feeling like I'd forgotten everything I'd learned before. Last week it dawned on me that I have been trying to show off all of the many techniques I know in rolling without any great success, after falling into the familiar old butterfly that used to be effective for me and feeling comfortable there. I realised that I need to go back to focusing purely on that butterfly game and 'forget' all the distractions to move to the next level. This speech of yours solidified that conviction, thank you...

[@georgescarvalho2482]

I’m from Brazil. I am a white belt 4 stripes. (Stripes ? I don’t know how to call in English. Graus we say in Portuguese. ) Found your video to be very accurate and also very respectful. Was a good experience to watch your video. I am now 47 yeas old. Began jiu Jitsu trading at 46 and I am loving it. It’s a mind changer. In Brazil is normal for every kid to learn jiu jitsu a little. And then afterwards you choose to go on or to stop training. In Rio is almost same as football. Jiu Jitsu is a source that can change your life and way of thinning. I love it.

[@NoObKiLlerS117]

Im a 2 stripe white belt I started in march, the toughest thing so far is retaining the vast amount of situations and solutions shown to you and bringing them up at the right time actually going through the motions of a move is usually not the tough part in my experience

[@cowboyoutlaw2444]

I really appreciate you being so articulate about each belt. As a blue belt I took a 4 year hiatus from my academy to finish college and work. When I came back I got 2 more stripes and restructured my game. Just got my purple the other night my promotion from blue to purple took nearly 8 years. The hardest part is going back. One thing I learned late as a blue belt was playing open guard and learning to invert. If nothing else it's fun to spin. Much love

[@DeeEm14]

I love how BJJ experts are such gentle killers. It’s poetic

[@jiujitsu94]

Black belt here, 46 years old. Took me 11 years to get my black belt. 3 surgeries later and switching schools a couple times etc. I've probably been choked out over 5,000 times. Every journey is different. That was my journey. Hang in there guys.

[@Robytsu]

What helped me a lot to upgrade my advance white belt skills was constantly rolling against purple and brown belts. It can be tough the first couple of months, but you learn a LOT and pumps up your game like crazy.

[@Blinkz]

I just started rolling with purple and brown belts every Sunday. Learn so much so quickly.

[@drjasonhughes]

Great video. I’m a judo black belt that recently started BJJ. I’ve really been thinking recently about “emptying my cup” so that I can get the most out of training... and not just rely on what I already know. For some reason this video hit a chord with me... thanks!

[@anselmvantil7328]

I did Japanese Jujitsu and did alot of throws I had a similar experience when I started. They told me to not rely on what I knew during the white belt fase. It was good advice for me. Also I found throwing white belts can be a bit hard on them 😂. Hope it goes well for you man!

[@jedijudoka]

It can be tricky! I was a nikkyu when I started bjj, and at first relied heavily on my newaza. Now I just take i treat it as a separate thing, empty cup like you said.

[@matushova1779]

How are injuries in judo?

[@luizhfranca]

When you started as a black belt in judo, you started as a white belt in jiu-jítsu? Thanks

[@ruscombejim]

@@matushova1779 Awful, it's the most physically punishing and damaging sport I've done (which includes full contact karate, muay thai and some bjj. You can't tap a throw. Still if you can do it its beautiful.

[@catilopes2235]

From a late starter at Jujitsu (51) and being a woman. Thank you for taking the time to explain all the intricacies of this art. OSS From Portugal

[@piranhaandthedirtplantedta4210]

I am 42 and on the verge of turning to purple belt. I started bjj about 6 years ago and definitely had moments when I thought about giving up. But I am still rolling because I truly love the art. I think the key things are passion and consistency. If you enjoy training and you keep showing up, you'll get there.

[@alitaladar]

Damn and I'm here thinking it's too late to start BJJ at 22. Good job, sir!

[@sugardaddy2157]

@@alitaladar never too late, i have one on my gym that got blackbelt at 50, black belt just a guy who never qiut

[@nizer7147]

Currently experiencing el blue belt blues. This was comforting

[@vision3691]

The color of my belt is the last thing I look at. What I care about is coming to class and see what I can do to submit the next person, or at least defend as much as I can. That's my fun!

[@asankasanlk]

The greatest video explaining the BJJ belt structure is one that is clear and well-explained. Thanks!

[@benbeckwith2532]

My blue belt blues was that just as I got my belt and felt like I was making great progress, Covid and lock down happened, along with some caring responsibilities that ment I couldn't train at all. A couple of months back in now and God it feels good to be learning again! Even with the belly and no core muscles I developed over the last 18 months to two years!

[@coolaxe-dw4840]

I was going to comment to you this: "sounds a lot like improvising in music", but you covered covered this part, too. Great Job. You know what you are talking about, and you are a great teacher.

[@rogerbloxham4621]

I’ve been doing Bjj for about a month or two now and just scored my first stripe the other day. I’m trying not to be to hard on myself, keeping in mind that simple going to Bjj is good for fitness and health etc. but it is nice formally gaining progress as you go. Here’s to the future 🤙🤙

[@mctransportation9831]

How are your joints doing? Did you ever have knee or other joint problems prior to starting BJJ?

[@zekerios9257]

Just got my first stripe as a white belt ! Felt great can’t wait to learn more

[@liamwalsh1985]

This is great for a brand new person to hear. I'm weeks in and have no problem waiting as long as needed to progress. Thanks for a great and thorough video.

[@davidsteinke1]

have fun man. 1.5 years in, and honestly I miss that feeling of my first roll! Beautiful thing is, to enjoy the journey

[@davane7882]

15:22 "the cusp' I just went thru this at the end of last year. To get through it, I got on my back and made myself escape from under everyone in the room. I slowed my game down and learned to feel rather than just do. Now all of a sudden rolling is fun, rather than life and death.Controlling pace is key. Great channel and advice

[@baloo1522]

This was an absolutely phenomenal listen. I've been looking for high-level BJJ content that explains the game, helps me develop myself, but it's something I can listen to without having to watch (like say a technique video) while I work or do chores. Love this video;

[@blakegundry]

Amazing video. I like the BJJ belt system because it's about proving yourself in friendly or real competition and you can't just get a black belt in 3 years or whatever. It's similar to my system. I just got my black belt in competitive sport karate after nearly 14 years of training. I started in a martial art called Mo Duk Pai at the age of 7 and became the senior student in the kids program around 14, then I started in the adult program and reached purple sash until my school shut down in 2019. I started training with my current teacher/coach around 2016 training for point fighting competitions on top of my Mo Duk Pai training. He also teaches kenpo which I am currently a blue belt in. I just got my black belt in point fighting which is what I love most and I agree with your video, it's cool to see how BJJ is becoming so popular in pop culture now! Martial arts is my passion and lifestyle and I love to see people like you represent and spread the love for martial arts ❤️

[@GSMillion]

Of all things you just gotta keep showing up. Keep stacking days and don’t worry about the next belt. It will come. There’s a lifetime of technique and knowledge ripe for the taking

[@markhenderson3771]

VIDEO REQUEST: Thank you for all of your content. Very helpful and provocative. I am very interested in the belt testing that you do and I would like to see a video about the anatomy of a test: 1) what you require for each belt test, 2) how a person choreographs their demonstration, 3) who chooses the partners for the rolling portion, 4) how long a person takes to prepare, and whatever else is involved. I especially liked Jordan Ellis's purple belt demonstration. It moved at a faster pace than I could catalogue. Thank you, again. I really enjoy the content, and it's obvious that you put a lot of time into making quality videos. I hope you are encouraged and that you continue what you're doing.

[@duarte189x]

this was great. ive been a blue belt for over 10 years. still wont quit.

[@burner3214]

All good I was a blue for ten year aswell. I took alot of breaks doing no gi. When I got my purple my school had to move so I could not train. I went to another school and was taping out browns and I could hang with new black belts.

[@matthewcrawford4216]

@@burner3214 that sounds like a school that isn’t promoting people. I’ve rolled with guys who came from other gyms who were white belts for 3 years! Now that same guy can crush blues and is most likely a purple just from his ability to set up chains and bait people into his traps. Sometimes you need to find a different school.

[@geaves762]

I really dig the content. I’m a white belt old man 51. Thank you

[@Rayja3]

I am on the cusp of blue belt (4 stripe white) and the way you articulate the experience levels and mentality of each belt has really helped put it into perspective! Great video. Also, as a guitarist of 14 years, the music analogy really brought it home. Thank you sir!

[@KristopherBaker]

huh - I thought it only went up to three stripes?

[@Rayja3]

@@KristopherBaker not as far as I’m aware. it’s four strips on every belt color to Progress up until you reach black belt ( some places don’t strips the colored belts at all from some video I’ve seen)

[@AntonKeith]

As a inspiring filmmaker and bjj athlete, I enjoy the cinematic flow and technique of your videos.

[@jamesmejia2955]

I’m an early blue belt, the youngest in my country (we have only 13 blue belts here in Belize) and I legit feel like my offense is trash. Thanks for the advice mate.

[@NobleVagabond2552]

Keep at it champ

[@TristanBehrens]

Belize is a beautiful country, I'd love to go back.

[@vitorpereira5461]

Cheers from brazil mate!

[@highlydigestible1719]

Where is there a spot to train in Belize I would love to stop in while I visit your country. I’m a blue belt as well

[@Darksphere101]

Keep going! Some day you will be training blue belts.

[@Firas-R]

I love your insightful talk about BJJ. As a newer white belt (almost 4 months in) its been both a thrilling and frustrating experience at the same time. Just had a similar experience to what you described that blue belts go through in their blues, plateau of progress, not knowing what to do to break through, and my coach's advice was simply to "keep showing up and be present". It was frustrating at the time to hear that as I like to "know and plan" where I'm going, but doing just that helped me breakthrough of the rut I was in and earn my 2nd stripe to boot. I'm seeing glimpses of a lot of what you described in the belt progression in my brief experience (slowing down, simplifying, being more technical and proficient in fewer techniques, etc.). Looking forward to seeing and experiencing those in a deeper and more profound way. Thank you for your inspiring talks 🙏🏼👊🏼

[@jstorey6226]

I love that ur making more content

[@bravelilspidey]

Im a 43 year old 2 stripe white belt, and this was intriguing to hear from beginning to end.

[@66maelstrom]

Rick your last 2 videos have been just awesome! Keep the content coming as it just evokes an absolute understanding from my end. When you build a house you don't start with the fine finishes.... You start with the foundations, make sure they're strong, and build from there.

[@Ranni]

I’m pretty early in my BJJ journey and it’s so interesting how training in martial arts mimics life. Just gotta keep moving forward and adapt!

[@christulloch3473]

Ha, white been a white belt for over three years plus, only got two strips on my belt. I had constant back issues that prevented me from training and eventually had quite a serious back injury where i ruptured disks in my back. I constantly feel like I'm being left behind by students who started after me but are on their way to blue belt while i have barely progressed. Still i battle on, worked on my PT until i was good to train again. And i just keep trying that's all i can do but it makes my laugh when people talk about the struggle of getting past blue belt. I feel like that feeling of frustration won't be an issue for me. The main thing is to just not give up that part i feel ive got down.

[@christulloch3473]

@Greg Lurik Honestly mate, i don't actually feel like i'm ever going to make Blue belt. But I keep striving it's either that or give up. And I don't do quitting. At the very least I want to be that white belt people look at funny because they don't believe your just a white belt.

[@shanks_1908]

I'm in my early thirties and had a herniated disk injury in my lower back 4 years ago. I never had the micro discectomy surgery that was offered to me and he pain prevented me from doing anything for years and resulted in a significant loss in fitness and muscle tone. After 3 years I found the pain reducing significantly and I began doing light muscle isolating exercises and walking, next came running for short durations. This year has been my best yet and scans revealed that the herniation has apparently resolved. After years of having regrets of never having trained a martial art and being physically unable I began training karate. Initially I was concerned that this would send me backwards but it turned out to be incredible for strengthening my back. I've earned my yellow belt in karate and have started to train BJJ as well as it is offered at my dojo. Long story, but the thing is that back injuries heal slow. Take your time and run in your own lane, don't worry about the other guys who might be progressing faster, you are on your own journey. As long as you are improving and testing your limitations (whatever they may be) then that is enough. Oss!

[@OrangeUtan1]

Also been at White belt for 3 years becuase of constantly moving around and changing clubs. Oh well. Also I quit for a year.

[@kylacolom7380]

I had watched this as a white belt now I have recently gotten my blue belt two years later and rewatching this made me realized I’m early stage and I been doing what won’t help me make that turn and I’m happy to refresh my mind with this video every chance I get when frustrated or have a new color around me ❤

[@thedopesickshow]

I've been training judo for almost 4 years and recently started back training bjj. I trained 5 months twice daily getting 4 stripes before moving and training at another gym for 8 months, and then moving and starting judo. I used my basic bjj for the past years in the hour of newaza for the past years and thankfully advanced technically on the ground. I give bigger more experienced guys in judo trouble when standing, and newaza (groundwork) in judo I'm one of the top guys at our club. Standing in judo, I'm alright. Groundwork in bjj, I'm alright. The combination has given me an edge though.

[@nintendad2099]

Thanks for this video. Got my first stripe on my white belt couple of weeks ago. Still have a long way to go but I’m loving the journey and learning from folks like you. Thanks and God bless.

[@annadavids3282]

I’m currently a white belt. Thank you so much for making this video. It was a reminder for myself and what I need to know for my own foundational skills.

[@Jknudsen0523]

I believe so much of the technique is learned through osmosis - mat hours. Sure we can learn guards, positions, submissions, but getting those feelings of weight, pressure, timing, these things just come from repetition. These are the thoughts I hold on to when I don’t feel like I’m progressing. Thanks. Fantastic video.

[@Loopedtime]

6months in. Iv seen amazing improvement. I realized staying alive, I get the best rolls. And watching tournaments I see what works best. I was able to tap out a higher belt this week using a armbar from triangle. Never even tried it before and it worked. But I’m still working on being harder to tap and it’s a great goal. FYI, I’m 30y/o and workout daily. In good shape but conditioning is tough. My ribs have been bruised for 6months straight it feels lol

[@FormidableOne]

I must admit this is a very clean video. The audio and the picture quality is just crystal, this is very rare on youtube these days, even with the super expensive cameras and mics.

[@edwinberroa9201]

Professor. You are dropping those jewels 💎 of knowledge. Your breakdown definitely has me understanding where my level is currently. Very humbled by the info. Thank you

[@Bonetwister-G]

This is great. Blue belt. My professor is old School from Rio. Blue belts only job is to smash white belts....and they learn to smash back 😂

[@backattackjack3857]

The music to this is so good. It’s like a Jedi Master explaining the Jedi code to a Padawan

[@matthewcain2880]

That’s so funny, Roy Dean also teaches at our dojo Coachella Valley BJJ

[@TheArtofSkill]

I've trained there too! Great academy!

[@tomsalati1027]

Im on a lovely dark evening on my walk home from my first lesson. Everything hurts, I loved it

[@tomsalati1027]

update 01.02.2022 - I got my first stripe

[@tomsalati1027]

update 2 - 14.06.2022 , I got my second stripe

[@jstang34]

Current 3 stripe white belt under Rob Lewis, who is also a disciple of Moreira as well. Thanks for the video.

[@returnfreedom]

Moreira is and was known as a sell out who sells black belts to people who never received theirs. Look it up but I’m not saying all his promotions are shit, this is what I have read, heard and learned from a guy who got his from joe.

[@jstang34]

@@returnfreedom can you point me in the direction of where you read this and who this guy is?

[@rougeegamer98]

First lesson tonight 24m nervous but keen AF

[@prodigalbrock]

I am 1 removed from Helio training with the Valente Brothers and you're right. Your view about the belts come from the view of your teachers.

[@yew2oob954]

Here's a pretty interesting take: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYe0dGCcrqtoY8U

[@blairfranklin7320]

Great video. I'm focusing on breathing, not spazing out and keeping calm so as not to panic.

[@anotheropinionplease]

Thank you for this breakdown. I'm a current blue belt and really appreciate your insights. Currently I'm still learning new techniques, dominating white belts in sparring and on par with my peers at blue belt. Recently I rolled with some purple belts at an open mat session and it was clear to me there's still some way to go!

[@Yammmz372]

You can replace bjj to any craft possible. This was amazingly described that it applies to all practice.

[@ericgutierrez8028]

This is definitely an interesting view on belts. I've been training Jiu Jitsu regularly and competively for over 8 years now. I believe this is my 3rd yr as a purple belt, could be 4 lol. So far blue belt was the hardest. There was definitely times I didn't want to train, never thought about quitting but just tired of the grind. Then in that process it felt like no big progress was made, yet I kept training. Now being a purple belt for a couple possibly few years, the art has become really fun again for me mentally. I see things differently, almost as if it were in slow motion but I am moving at full speed. Concept's are making sense and alot or opportunities are inviting themselves. Injuries can happen and make people quit or lose interest. The same goes with funds. I've had a couple major injuries already but that hasn't stopped me from training. I am 37 now and feel like a new fire has been lit. Dealing with adversities inside and outside the gym can be tough, but if you push through it and persever it will be rewarding. Showing up to class is if not the most important part it's "the" part to making Jiu Jitsu desirable. Keep pushing and go train

[@blacksaibot6158]

Glad you said what you did in the first 10 seconds. Saved myself 30 minutes.

[@sunfan007]

As a guy who took Taekwondo lessons, my teacher told me that the colors on the Belt are chosen in order to show your experience, just like it would have been if when you start learning, your belt would be white but as time goes by and your belt is drenched in sweat and blood it would go to, yellow from sweat, green with mold, blue when mold completely progresses, red when drenched in blood, brown when old blood oxidizes, and black is right at the end of the journey. So, I guess the colors on the belts of BJJ are just a variation of these.

[@Kanklord]

No bro you are supposed to wash that thing......Lol....I ain't rolling with nobody that has mold on their belt.

[@muddbrothers1708]

@@Kanklordit was a metaphor wise guy

[@otrshark]

Outstanding job explaining the difference. I’m a 6mth white belt. It has surely humbled me. Looking forward continuous growth and maturity in the sport.

[@hausmeister3695]

Great video! I agree with all that you say. I am a 37 year old guy, 58 kg, 1,73 m and since 5 years white belt. I am a little afraid to be a blue belt but at the same time im happy to get forward. I had many problems with my health and i had to take 1 year off + 1,5 years pandamic, that means i am a active white belt for about 2,5 years. I am doing pretty well (my girlfriend does bjj too, my secret weapon to grow fast...) and i guess in 1 year i will be a blue belt. It will make me happy but man, there are no excuses anymore and "they" will get after me! :) Grüße from germany

[@InfiniteQuest86]

This is so true. I literally did everything at white and blue. At purple I basically centered my entire game around a handful of things that really fit my size and game. You still can do everything, but the way you beat advanced players is by amplifying your strengths.

[@Capn_crypto_crunch]

Such a great a clarification on the belt system and where practitioners should expect to be at each progression. Great job Rick, keep it up!

[@KuroiXHF]

I'm a two stripe white belt and this is just such a great video. I'm both scared, in awe and excited for this journey.

[@onefatchicken]

This is such a great video! I’m a brand new white belt and this was so helpful.

[@FR-ty5vn]

Fantastic video!! 4 stripe blue belt under a Royce black belt - martial arts since ‘87 - best video I’ve seen explaining the Jiu jitsu belts…Roy Dean is smooooth…

[@dragonballjiujitsu]

One of the best videos I've seen on the subject.

[@Ledfists]

If not THE best!

[@R2Rj204]

This is absolute gold (says the 1 1/2 year white belt) I’m saving this and listening to this to keep it fresh. Thanks for that! Everything my best partners and instructors say is in this video. Love the way you lay it together for us in this comprehensible format. Very interesting!

[@lpsh0rty]

Just got my blue belt and still feel like I know nothing. I feel BJJ isn’t about the end goal. BJJ IS about the journey. In class and in life!

[@samstephens3351]

Nothing keeps you more humble than looking down and seeing that white belt. Reminds you to learn inside and outside the gym…. Every day

[@KristopherBaker]

44yo in Tallahassee, FL. Started about 5 weeks ago. Am excited about the future! This video leads me to believe that at white belt I shouldn't be trying to muscle through offense so much as letting people get offense on me and practice my defense and escapes more. I get winded trying to fight for control (when I don't even know what to do/where to go once I gain the upper hand yet) and tend to get submitted more because I plain run out of air to gulp. Cardio is already getting better and I've learned to go slower and sorta rest inside of the moves more which keeps me from being winded so quickly. I wonder if I would learn more by being more of a practice dummy for others to get their offensive workouts in...?

[@alonzourzua2028]

Listen to John Danaher talk about Garry Tonon, one of the best jiu jitsu and judo practicioners of our time, on practicing this way. It's an episode of the Lex Fridman podcast.

[@aaronmorris5461]

What school in Tallahassee? I’m local and curious

[@Z_Welch]

Just came across this video and everything he said about being a blue belt is true. I looked to find sneaky or gimmcky quick subs that might work once instead of focusing on my deficiencies. Currently been on a deep dive on improving my half guard and passing. I've had alot more success in producing scrambles and openings to attack.

[@F1REWOLFSA]

I got to blue belt fairly quick. I think largely due to the fact that I started BJJ after spending 5 -6 years in Judo. But I've hit that blue belt wall. It's felt like I'm not getting anywhere but I persevere

[@kage755]

Analysis helps, look at what you do well and what you don’t do well. Balance everything up to the same scale and keep improving. Learn every move step by step and then make those steps more effective.

[@jonathangirard2274]

Thank you for taking the time to explain... I just started practicing BJJ and I'm surely feeling quite overwhelmed but this was very informative as to how I should view the journey. Much appreciated.

[@Luckybjj614]

This was profound. Thank you for your deep teaching. Worth watch periodically.

[@EternalCitizen]

Wow! Thank you for such a wise and deep teaching. This is your ministry for sure.

[@jameslyons6655]

The healthiest way to look at your belt rank is that they represent road marks in your personal journey. Nothing more.

[@badassoptic]

After 6 months of BJJ, I also discovered how I learn. It's interesting that my body BJJ motor skill and how I get fixated on a particular movement directly affect how I communicate and do things outside of BJJ.

[@RicoMnc]

Our training lineage stresses old school, "rice and beans", slow, pressure game: establish base, then connection, then position, then submission. I have discovered some others call this old man BJJ, heh... It's for me.

[@kevinhayden9030]

Oss. Respect that game. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@TheArtofSkill]

As you get older that's definitely the game you have to play!

[@Bonetwister-G]

Deliberate, unstoppable, pressure.