After Blue Belt Funk/Plateau/Burnout

Did any of y'all have this and what did you did to get out of it, or avoiding hitting it?

I haven't hit a plateau or anything, I've tried to pick up the pace and refocus since I got my blue belt two weeks ago, but I've seen people leave/quit after they get their blue belt, or just get in a funk. I don't wanna be that blue belt. I've got a drilling partner & we just started drilling for 30 minutes before class, on stuff we're already good at and after this next tournament more of where we're weak. I just finished reading this 30 Day Protocol book so that's why I decided to do that.

But...I want to know how everyone else dealt with it or powered through it. I would rather avoid the situation entirely if possible.

Uhhh yes! (blue belt in the gi, but the psychology is the same.)

Actually I started doing no-gi to challenge myself in new ways, found it very difficult to implement my closed guard gi game and so picked up a copy of mastering the rubber guard, which kick-startred a revolution. I also switched schools from a recreational academy to a competitive academy. Fwiw...

Just keep training. It will all fall into place

I've never stopped training, but my diet definitely fell off. After my comp this weekend, its back to the diet and back down in weight lol :D

Just keep going harder and harder in the gym, compete in everything you can and eventually shit wil fall into place. The other that can happen in a smaller school(not sure the size of your guys) everybody is progressing together including the instructor so it can be hard to see progress.

I actually got sick right after I got my blue and was off the mats for a month (between work and school it's already hard to make it in). But since then I have been right on track back to learning and getting tapped. Something new for me is to do the fundamentals as much as possible and help new people with the basics while reinforcing my knowledge.

Same as above, try to change the way you think about progress in BJJ from achieving belt ranks to more of an endless ongoing process. Something fluid and developing. Yes, it feels great to get the recognition of a belt, but you must know internally that a belt only means as much as you rep it. I have rolled all over purple and brown belts who slowed down and stopped developing and been crushed by hungry hungry blue belts. What I know is that we are all on a journey and the journey never ends. When I get my black belt some day, I will keep going. I have heard many people say that black belt is only the beginning. The more you stay on the grind the farther you will go and the faster you will get there. :)

Nathan and I were talking yesterday about the difference between the "two tracks of BJJ" i.e., the people who grind hard and are hungry to advance, and the people who see BJJ as a hobby/passtime and are happy just to go to class and roll a bit. Nothing wrong with either way, some people aren't built for competition, some people dont like aggression, either way, whats important is to own your path. Recognize what you want, where you want to be and what it takes to get there.

I have been on and off since I got by blue based on the increase in skill at comps. Here when you hit blue is when it starts to get serious. I get the same girls at a lot of tournaments and some have had their blue longer than I've been training. This past weekend I even got thrown in expert and although I thought I didn't do well since I lost on points, my coaches and teammates said I did great considering she was a pro MMA fighter and that my guard recovery was on point.

It helps to have supportive teammates who help you see your improvement and progress even if you can't. I think the reason a lot of people quit is because they aren't the best of their belt anymore like they may have been as a white. I have ever really been challenged with sports or school so jiu jitsu is very humbling and shows me it takes hard work to understand. I love it and do not plan on stopping!

I got my blue belt almost a year ago, but I have been battling injuries since then that put me in a funk from time to time. I have a harder time keeping my overall health and fitness under control if I don't have a competition lined up. I last competed in August and have only been able to train for a few weeks since then due to injury, so I'm struggling a little bit to stay motivated right now while I can't be on the mats.

Some days I can hold my own with guys that used to smash me, and then next day I struggle with a guy that I usually don't struggle with. It's just all part of the journey to me. I still have fun regardless of how things go.

I just try to focus on the journey and the big picture like a few others have said. In the grand scheme of things, hitting little plateau's here and there is nothing. Just keep pushing.

From what I've seen, you have nothing to worry about.

The one thing I hear often when one 'platues' or gets 'burnt out', is to pull back and take a break. I disagree. Keep showing up, just regulate you're intensity level. If you feel good, train hard. If you feel bad, stretch, coach, light drill, talk tech.. but hands down consistency and injury management are the keys to longevity and success. The only time you should take a break is if you are truly injured when a high level of jj is your goal.

Good, so everyone just kept on the grind and maybe refocused some. I don't plan on stopping. I know it's a journey, and the belts matter, but don't necessarily mean anything. It is what you make it.

Amber, I think you're right about once they're the best at their skill level they stop. It just blows my mind, I've seen such talent in people and at blue belt a lot of times..just boom, like that they're not coming to class anymore or move on to other things.

Bobby, I agree. No breaks.

There's always something to work on.. Even while injured. If you hurt your leg work you squeeze. If you hurt your arm work guard retention etc.

It's impossible to hit plateaus if you are rolling and drilling consistently.

It may only seem that way because most everyone else in class is also progressing along with you.

Just keep training and don't trip. If Jitz is truly your passion quitting would never be considered. Always remind yourself how awesome it is having the ability to kill people in self defense with your bare hands :-)

While just a blue myself, I have been going mostly no stop for 11 years. I wasn't able(didin't want to) to progress through belts like most, so I was forced to base "progress" on other things. When I start to feel a bit of a rut start I try and visit another gym. Something out learning something different, stomping people, or getting stomped with a new look, gets my blood going again. Try not to get stuck in the same old four walls, it will help, trust me. When you come back to the familiar four walls, they will seem familiar but just a somehow little different.

Second what you all have said.
Tori, here's my POV on the matter.
Jiu Jitsu will become a way of life for you beyond the belts. I mean even if ther weren't belts, you'd still train because there's no other sort of physical fitness like this on the planet. Physically fit while learning to defend yourself- this is a way of life.

I have gotten burned out before so I would tone my training down to two days that week. As a matter of fact, I feel 2 days is a minimum number of days you need to sustain your current level of technique(you will still progress, however). Any less and you tend to say, "Oh shoot I forgot about that option." Any more than 2 days in a week, you're progressing at a faster rate than those in sustain mode.

I came up with some numbers a while back that I have used as a rule of thumb:
1000 5 minute matches ~ blue belt
3000 5 minute matches ~ purple
5000 5 minute matches ~ brown
8000-> whenever is black belt level

Again a rule of thumb based on my own calcs, but if you run the numbers at 2 days a week and 5 matches a day, that brings you to about 2 years to reach a blue belt. That seems about right to me.
So in your plateau periods, think about the bigger picture and keep a log of all the matches you've had, all the times you've tapped, why you've tapped, what body types gave you trouble, why they gave you trouble, keep a log of techniques you've drilled, take note why you like the techniques that are your go to techniques, etc. Learn about yourself along the way and have fun playing with the numbers. Then if you get bored, go choke someone out.

I’ve heard what you’re referring to called “the curse” or “the blue belt curse” and it happens. My opinion is that it happens because your train for the belt exclusively. So, for 1 to 2 years (usually) your goal is that blue belt. And then you finally get it. And that next belt is potentially 4+ years away (it happens, I was 6 years in to training getting mine.). It’s hard to wait that long for “progress” if only belt ranks are progress to you. In addition, everyone is moving upward with you so you don’t see much progress many times. It never really affected me because early on I embraced the fact that because of my training choices and options around me, I would never get a belt. Thanks to Eddie and others that have helped me, that turned out not to be the case. Try to measure your progress based on changes in your game rather than the belt. And remember, nothing “entitles you to it”, you just get it when your instructor says you’re ready :) Best of luck Tori, you can do it!!!
P.S. “You” in this paragraph just meant the “generic blue belts” I have observed and not anyone person and definitely not you Tori. I just wanted to be clear :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eddie Bravo

It's impossible to hit plateaus if you are rolling and drilling consistently.

It may only seem that way because most everyone else in class is also progressing along with you.

Just keep training and don't trip. If Jitz is truly your passion quitting would never be considered. Always remind yourself how awesome it is having the ability to kill people in self defense with your bare hands :-)

---

I want to be one of at least the first ten or twenty 10P women black belts. I don't plan on stopping!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slick Rick

Second what you all have said.
Tori, here's my POV on the matter.
Jiu Jitsu will become a way of life for you beyond the belts. I mean even if ther weren't belts, you'd still train because there's no other sort of physical fitness like this on the planet. Physically fit while learning to defend yourself- this is a way of life.

I have gotten burned out before so I would tone my training down to two days that week. As a matter of fact, I feel 2 days is a minimum number of days you need to sustain your current level of technique(you will still progress, however). Any less and you tend to say, "Oh shoot I forgot about that option." Any more than 2 days in a week, you're progressing at a faster rate than those in sustain mode.

I came up with some numbers a while back that I have used as a rule of thumb:
1000 5 minute matches ~ blue belt
3000 5 minute matches ~ purple
5000 5 minute matches ~ brown
8000-> whenever is black belt level

Again a rule of thumb based on my own calcs, but if you run the numbers at 2 days a week and 5 matches a day, that brings you to about 2 years to reach a blue belt. That seems about right to me.
So in your plateau periods, think about the bigger picture and keep a log of all the matches you've had, all the times you've tapped, why you've tapped, what body types gave you trouble, why they gave you trouble, keep a log of techniques you've drilled, take note why you like the techniques that are your go to techniques, etc. Learn about yourself along the way and have fun playing with the numbers. Then if you get bored, go choke someone out.

---

Great advice, I train 4 nights a week, and I just started adding reps for (starting tomorrow) an hour every night before class with a drilling partner. Come July 2014, I gotta be the best girl in blue belt 135 & below..in the world. :-) like the tip on starting a notebook on issues and breakthroughs in training. That's golden. :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brian Debes

I’ve heard what you’re referring to called “the curse” or “the blue belt curse” and it happens. My opinion is that it happens because your train for the belt exclusively. So, for 1 to 2 years (usually) your goal is that blue belt. And then you finally get it. And that next belt is potentially 4+ years away (it happens, I was 6 years in to training getting mine.). It’s hard to wait that long for “progress” if only belt ranks are progress to you. In addition, everyone is moving upward with you so you don’t see much progress many times. It never really affected me because early on I embraced the fact that because of my training choices and options around me, I would never get a belt. Thanks to Eddie and others that have helped me, that turned out not to be the case. Try to measure your progress based on changes in your game rather than the belt. And remember, nothing “entitles you to it”, you just get it when your instructor says you’re ready :) Best of luck Tori, you can do it!!!
P.S. “You” in this paragraph just meant the “generic blue belts” I have observed and not anyone person and definitely not you Tori. I just wanted to be clear :)

---

To be honest if you would have asked me a year ago I would've been plenty happy with just getting a blue belt some day...I didn't expect to get my belt. That's awesome everyone helped you get ranked!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tori Applegate

I want to be one of at least the first ten or twenty 10P women black belts. I don't plan on stopping!

---

I'm right there with you!

Blue Flu. I've seen it a lot. Even from people who are serious about their training.

The key to me is never stop showing up. The nights that you don't really feel like training are the most important times for you to be there. Even if you don't wanna roll hard. Just be there. Put on your rash guard, close your eyes, take a deep breath and think about how amazing it is for you to even be blessed enough to participate in something like this. Sit down stretch and train as hard as you feel like!

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

Keeping having fun in your training! Enjoy the journey. Believe in yourself :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eddie Bravo

It's impossible to hit plateaus if you are rolling and drilling consistently.

It may only seem that way because most everyone else in class is also progressing along with you.

---

This also what I meant by there's always something to work. If your training partners are shutting down your go to stuff, it's that they're progressing with you and you have to work new things or else the frustration / plateau mindset sets in and sometimes you wanna quit ..just keep pushing through that thought process. It'll be worth it in the end :)

I spent so long unranked that getting my blue last year still hasn't completely sunk in. The excitement is still there 100% every time I get to roll.

I kinda wonder how many people's goal it is to get there blue belt vs. just not wanting to be a white belt. Thats why they quit afterwards.
Do you know what I mean?

Seems like a lot of people quit once they feel like they could handle the average person that doesnt know anything. Seems like that with mma anyway. Especially younger guys. Once they can take their friends grappling or fighting and they become the top badass of their group of friends then that is good enough for them. Their ego will surf that wave for years

I remember someone at the gym who was fucking DEDICATED, like they practically lived at the school. Then one day, POOF, they were gone. It's crazy, but you know, people have shit to deal with in their lives, some may hit a 1 month funk and some may miss training for 1 year.

I use to believe more training was always better. Now though, I don't see anything wrong with taking a break. In sports psychology there is a phenomenon called the reminiscence effect. Its proven that taking breaks can actually inprove skills. Now obviously taking a year off would be bad, but a week of training ever so often can actually help. Before anyone flames me for saying "less training is better" let me clarify that that's not what I mean. What I'm saying is this: I believe every serious athlete should read about the reminiscence effect. I believe the psychology of sports is more than enjoying your sport...

What always helped me when I would start getting burnt out is changing up my training routine. Instead of jiu Jitsu I would concentrate on wrestling for couple of weeks. If I am getting tired of drilling basics all the time (which in my very humble, white belt opinion is the most important thing in JJ), I would look up some fancy technique from Mendes Bros or whoever else and drill that instead. Or I would go back to my kickboxing roots and spend a week hitting pads till I get that unstoppable urge to choke someone out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brandon Mccaghren

Blue Flu. I've seen it a lot. Even from people who are serious about their training.

The key to me is never stop showing up. The nights that you don't really feel like training are the most important times for you to be there. Even if you don't wanna roll hard. Just be there. Put on your rash guard, close your eyes, take a deep breath and think about how amazing it is for you to even be blessed enough to participate in something like this. Sit down stretch and train as hard as you feel like!

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

---

Gospel! Consistency produces epiphany :-) And I quoted this mainly because I'm officially stealing "Blue Flu" !!

Either Jiu Jitsu is a part of you or it isn't. My jiu jitsu is. So it thrives when I thrive, and it stagnates when I slump. My life isn't always smooth so of course my jiu jitsu life isn't always going to be perfect. Some months I train nonstop, some months I barely train. One things for sure though, jiu jitsu is a part of me, and I will never plateau. The same way I will never stop growing as a human being, my jiu jitsu game will never stop evolving either. It just depends on how fast you wanna climb this mountain. Because its tall as fuck, and even when you do reach the top, there's still a hundred unexplored paths to be climbed right back down at the bottom.

The main thing to remember is to have fun! As for hitting plateaus, keep on drilling, drilling, and more drilling. Drillers make killers!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eddie Bravo

It's impossible to hit plateaus if you are rolling and drilling consistently.

It may only seem that way because most everyone else in class is also progressing along with you.

Just keep training and don't trip. If Jitz is truly your passion quitting would never be considered. Always remind yourself how awesome it is having the ability to kill people in self defense with your bare hands :-)

---

Always taking it back to murder lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SmokeyBJJ

Drillers make killers!

---

Love this...stealing it!!

It has been almost a year since i got my blue, before i got it i was pushing hard to get it, i work alot of hours as an auto technician and three days a week is pushing my limits physically but i was doing four or five days a week and i would wake up barely able to walk some days. After i got my belt i fell off to about one day a week for a month or so, and i felt like a quitter. I took a week off and got my head right and came back ready to work. Since then i have done that same thing again about two months ago. I dont fear quitting because i never will, but sometimes i just need to hit the reset button

I feel like the blue belts that quit after they get their blues are the guys that trained so hard to get their blue and can't imagine what it'll take to get to purple. Or the guys who treat jiu jitsu as just a hobby. The lifestyle jiu jitsu guys never quit.

I really don't understand how people plateau. There's way too much to learn and jiu jitsu is always evolving. I never once felt like I didn't progress after training. There's a bunch of ways to get better like drilling, rolling, stretching, cardio, strength and conditioning, dieting, watching instructionals ect... There's no reason to be plateauing unless you choose to like those guys that only bother learning what their instructors teach them, rather than constantly searching the web for answers to their own problems.

As for burning out, this isn't too much of an issue as long as you have a goal. If you have a goal, you can be burnt out and push through. I get burnt out every 3-4 months and I just keep training, business as usual and eventually that fire will spark again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Justin W.

I feel like the blue belts that quit after they get their blues are the guys that trained so hard to get their blue and can't imagine what it'll take to get to purple. Or the guys who treat jiu jitsu as just a hobby. The lifestyle jiu jitsu guys never quit.

I really don't understand how people plateau. There's way too much to learn and jiu jitsu is always evolving. I never once felt like I didn't progress after training. There's a bunch of ways to get better like drilling, rolling, stretching, cardio, strength and conditioning, dieting, watching instructionals ect... There's no reason to be plateauing unless you choose to like those guys that only bother learning what their instructors teach them, rather than constantly searching the web for answers to their own problems.

As for burning out, this isn't too much of an issue as long as you have a goal. If you have a goal, you can be burnt out and push through. I get burnt out every 3-4 months and I just keep training, business as usual and eventually that fire will spark again.

---

I really like your viewpoint. I'm gonna keep all this in mind. :-)