WHITE BELT TIPS | things I wish I knew when I first started jiu jitsu

The beginning of my jiu jitsu journey was incredibly confusing (lol) and there were definitely some things along the way that I just wasn't expecting.
If there's anything that I didn't include, feel free to share :)
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Instagram : @kimberlyannkinch
TikTok : @kimmymuck
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[@shawng746]

To any of the ladies out there, I would like to say that if you're wanting to roll with a guy please ask us. Especially if we don't know one another well. Sad to say that the way society is going men are worried about being made out as creepy for approaching women. And that translates onto the mat as well. Once I know you well enough, I'll ask you to roll because I'm comfortable with the fact that you know I'm not trying to "hit on you". But until then, I'm probably going to make you approach me first. Alternatively I might approach new people and ask them, is there anything you want to work on. Not necessarily ask for a roll. Don't be afraid to do the opposite and ask someone to help you with something even if you don't want to roll. Overall you'll meet a lot of great training partners. Way more than bad ones. Just keep showing up. We should all strive to make one another better. Even though it's not a team sport, we all should want the best team possible.

[@rozy2cool]

I've been training for a couple of years and didn't think of this! Thank you for sharing

[@kimberlykinch]

THIS is such a helpful comment, thank you for sharing! I think sometimes we (us women) have to also take a step back and think about how the guys in the room might feel about training with us, just like we always talk about what it's like training with them.

[@rozy2cool]

@@kimberlykinch Sofia McDermott has done some interesting stuff to this angle. Like about rolling with men, which I thought was cool for the same reason. Men are always being pushed for these expectations for rolling with women but we don't often think about it. Since I'm usually the exception as a woman it's not rolling with men so much as it's just rolling

[@mitchellwarner1526]

or dont ask us i hate training with girls

[@RadicalTrivia]

I always take it as a huge compliment and honor when a woman (or anyone) who I've rolled with previously asks me to roll again, or when they've been told by someone that I'm a safe person to ask to roll.

[@kimberlykinch]

SAME! It's a huge compliment when any one who's injured, or new or whatever, feels safe rolling with me.

[@TrishCanyon8]

"You will suck for a very long time" fits me at 10 months still. Thank you.

[@kimberlykinch]

Still fits me at 7 years in haaahha

[@coloradoclif]

Plateaus You're going to suck. Then suddenly things will click and you'll feel like you've figured out this jiu jitsu thing. That'll last for some finite amount of time and then suddenly you'll suck again. All the stuff you had figured out suddenly doesn't work and you don't know why. And you'll be stuck back in suck mode until the cycle repeats. And man does that feeling SUCK. It happens to everyone, but the good news is you will eventually get out of the plateau and feel like you're progressing again.

[@kimberlykinch]

Yes, THIS! the journey is always going up and down lol.

[@DK-lt2fv]

Yes! Also, I hadn’t trained with one of my blue belt training partners in a long while and she told me after class that she was going harder on me because ive gotten better. I was so thrilled for the compliment and also to understand that as you “progress” you’re going to get better and worse at the same time. lol. You get a couple skills and then learn something brand now and then you feel like you’re taking a step back, etc. (I’ve been a white belt for 7 months)

[@cheesealtar]

love your videos! i usually watch one before every class!

[@kimberlykinch]

Best comment ever! Thank you so much for watching ❤️❤️

[@Skywalker96214]

When I first started BJJ I trained hard every single day, 6 months into it I've already accumulated several non-permanent injuries that affected my ability to train and compete. I was already athletic and strong before I started training, but I underestimated how much damage my body was taking. I'm now a 10 month white belt, still very competitive, but I've since learned to value my health more. Taking a much needed break both physically and mentally from time to time can be very helpful, BJJ is a marathon not a sprint, be kind to yourself, preserve your body.

[@kimberlykinch]

100% agree!! I think mentally and physically it’s healthy to take a break sometimes 🙌🏻

[@jlodomauthor]

Yeah, the highs and lows are a big one for me: one day I walk away feeling like I just couldn't get anything right and I'm making no progress...next day I go home feeling like I'm on top of the world. I'm a late stage blue belt, so I've been feeling pretty good lately, but whenever that purple comes it's gonna hit me like a ton of bricks.

[@kimberlykinch]

Yes for sure! Or one day I feel great training and I’m on fire and the next day I feel like a potato 😅

[@kelleyradke2531]

I think I needed to hear number 1 today.

[@kimberlykinch]

I need to tell myself all the time 😅😅😅

[@saraperez8171]

And I love your hair so much, goals 🥰

[@kimberlykinch]

THANK YOU!!

[@saraperez8171]

Ohh so excited to watch this! As a new white belt 2 months in 🥰

[@kimberlykinch]

How have you been liking classes so far?!

[@saraperez8171]

I love it! I had a class last night 🥰

[@shawng746]

Kim, I was just thinking about you the other day. Glad to see a new video. :-). How are you feeling now that you're back at it? How is married life treating you?

[@kimberlykinch]

I've been feeling really good!! I'm getting to a point where I'm rolling pretty hard again, but still being careful. My game is also changing to accommodate the situation, which is pretty cool! And married life is the best! :)

[@FG-fn9fx]

Definitely did more laundry with a newborn 😜

[@DK-lt2fv]

First, I love your calm energy. Below post edited from my previous post to better convey my thoughts. I’ve never been told no to training or rolling with someone before- but I feel like I would be crushed if that did happen. Like I would be questioning myself: am I doing something wrong, am I not being safe, am I coming across creepy, or spazzy or annoying? (Que inward spiral!) I’m trying to be the best training partner I can be. I often feel like it takes me a while to get moves so, sometimes I feel bad about training. I’ve told two people “no thank you” before because they were men and I was brand new and not used to training with anyone one let alone men at the time. Nobody said anything about it - and it had everything to do with me and not them. But if it ever happens to me and someone says no, should I check in with them after the fact? I think this may apply more to my female training partners than the men because I understand that’s a completely different dynamic.

[@kimberlykinch]

You’re so kind 🥹 And I 100% hear you - I would question myself too (that inward spiral is toooo real). But if that were to happen, I’d probably look for a moment after training and just politely ask why. Maybe there’s a way that asking could also help you/me/whoever improve in certain areas :)

[@DK-lt2fv]

@@kimberlykinch thank you so much for the reply. I really appreciate your content. I’m a beginner white belt and everything you post is so helpful.

[@kimberlykinch]

Aw this made my day! I appreciate your support and happy that the videos are helpful :)

[@trirail812productions8]

what submission whould you use if you had to to make a video on that

[@DinDesuDB]

Hi! I've been watching your videos the past couple of days and I've been loving them. I started BJJ last month and I just kept saying OMG YES lol I've been experiencing pretty much everything. I'm actually wondering if you have any recommendations about mat burn on the top of the feet? Also do you use any ear protectors? I haven't really made up my mind whether I should get some or not, then I'd get my ears crushed sometimes and think maybe I should lol. Would love to know what your thoughts are on that. And do you recommend any mouth guard brand?

[@kimberlykinch]

Oh my gosh yay thank you for watching!! Mat burn on the feet is the worst! I would just tape it up - definitely keep it covered so that the raw skin doesn’t have a chance of getting infected. I don’t use ear protection - although it’s painful, I’ve always wanted to have a little cauliflower 🤣🤣 And as for mouth guards, the one I’m using now is from Venum (bought it off amazon) and I like it :)

[@Emma-nm1qk]

Any advice for people wanting to start but are concerned about being spazzy?

[@kimberlykinch]

Aw, every one's a spaz in the beginning! Lol. We all hate on the spazzes, but it happens. I'm sure I was. I would just try your best to focus on getting to the move that you learned that day and not using all of your strength to gas yourself out. It just comes with time :)

[@hentaisailor5951]

I have a question for all the ladies practicing BJJ. How the hell do you do your hair for rolling? I'm a long-haired dude, and I can't for the life of me figure out the best way to do my hair. I usually just do a ponytail, but it comes undone during rolls, and I have to keep redoing it. I don't know how to tie a bun, but would that be the most optimal hairstyle for those of us with long hair (mine is about chest length)?

[@ReDuVernay]

I do a braided ponytail. If I could, I'd do french braids or dutch braids, or cornrows, any braid that's flat to the head is from what I understand considered optimal, but since I don't know how to do those, a braided ponytail also works well.

[@kimberlykinch]

I second this! A high braided ponytail is usually my go to. Sometimes a tight bun too.

[@rebeccaolmstead4404]

The Jiu-jitsu toe pain is real 😂

[@kimberlykinch]

Right?!? 🤣😭 And it takes forever to go away lol