Belt Promotions

[John Sheridan]

In 1993 I started out in Jiu-Jitsu at the Gracie Academy as a white belt. 19 years later I train, when I have the time, at 10th HQ, and I am still a white belt. Hang in there bro.
By the way, in all that time I've had numerous "street and bar fights" haven't lost one yet, white belt and all.

[Art "ART OF WAR" Belarde]

.......Ok I have to put my 2 cents in. It sounds like you are being a whiny bitch....... This is what I got out of your post and the reason why I said that (in my whiny voice) This guy has only been training 6 months longer than me.... I sub him all the time... My instructor doesn't like me..... he is only a purple belt what does he know about who should be promoted and who shouldn't.....

Ok on any other forum I would leave it at that. This forum has a nice and gentle tone. So I will keep this nice.

- Don't compare your self with others just do you.
- Never stop moving in practice You will get noticed for your hard work.
- Ask your PB instructor for advice after every roll with him. It shows the willingness to learn. Chances are he knows what he is doing or he wouldn't be teaching the class.
- Enjoy yourself

Oh and if this post you created was sent to your instructor what do you think his reaction would be??? I look forward to hearing from you.

[Clinton lawrence]

i had a few guys get promoted last week at my gym 2 of them to blue which the night before i ran through like i have many times before i asked my coach why and he explained to me why he did (super nice guys who's game has advanced heaps ) and where i stood end of the day for my juijitsu is a life long obsession try not to stress to much and just enjoy it

[Sam Sales]

Also worth noting, IMO, with some instructors if you compete it is a much harder/longer way to get your belts. Guys that don't and never will compete tend to get promotions simply for their attendance, losing some weight etc etc. When you compete your instructors always have to make sure you are 100% ready as it is their reputation/name on the line as well.
No point in getting hung up on it. TBH the fact that you are so hung up on it could be perceived to show you are not quite ready for the next step. It is not all about belts. Fuck i don't even want my blue until my instructor is 100% sure i can protect it from all the gnarly white belts coming up LOL.
Moral of the story, be patient and it will come. :-)

[Slick Rick]

Also worth noting, IMO, with some instructors if you compete it is a much harder/longer way to get your belts. Guys that don't and never will compete tend to get promotions simply for their attendance, losing some weight etc etc. When you compete your instructors always have to make sure you are 100% ready as it is their reputation/name on the line as well.
No point in getting hung up on it. TBH the fact that you are so hung up on it could be perceived to show you are not quite ready for the next step. It is not all about belts. Fuck i don't even want my blue until my instructor is 100% sure i can protect it from all the gnarly white belts coming up LOL.
Moral of the story, be patient and it will come. :-)

Sam, I feel that when one competes, it's the fast track to getting promoted.. Not because of the medals one gets, but from the leaps and bounds that are made in that person's performance. If one doesn't compete, s/he will get promoted eventually... But competition shows where one is as versus others of the same belt, and just preparing for that competition hones the attention on winning, or learning. Just my experience tho. I guess I like competing just to learn more about my own technique.

But, there's no question that prepping for war, gets a person bulletproof.

[Sam Sales]

Sam, I feel that when one competes, it's the fast track to getting promoted.. Not because of the medals one gets, but from the leaps and bounds that are made in that person's performance. If one doesn't compete, s/he will get promoted eventually... But competition shows where one is as versus others of the same belt, and just preparing for that competition hones the attention on winning, or learning. Just my experience tho. I guess I like competing just to learn more about my own technique.

But, there's no question that prepping for war, gets a person bulletproof.

For sure, i was just saying, for guys that don't compete, they kinda get graded for other things. Not saying they are less competent on the mats than the guys that compete or anything like that. But it is a different mentality for sure.
I guess its a case of different instructors/teams and there varying methods etc.

Plus i think in my case, i will take a little longer to belt up anyway, as i am pretty much the only guy with a 10p style game at my school. :-)

[Slick Rick]

For sure, i was just saying, for guys that don't compete, they kinda get graded for other things. Not saying they are less competent on the mats than the guys that compete or anything like that. But it is a different mentality for sure.
I guess its a case of different instructors/teams and there varying methods etc.

Plus i think in my case, i will take a little longer to belt up anyway, as i am pretty much the only guy with a 10p style game at my school. :-)

Ahhh true. Yes, when there's no competition, there's the other things like attendance, ability to teach, ability to execute the technique(especially during sparring)... These are definitely factors that get looked at.
Man just impose your style on your sparring partners, and as long as you can do that, you'll be in good shape for advancement.

[Sam Sales]

Ahhh true. Yes, when there's no competition, there's the other things like attendance, ability to teach, ability to execute the technique(especially during sparring)... These are definitely factors that get looked at.
Man just impose your style on your sparring partners, and as long as you can do that, you'll be in good shape for advancement.

haha yes first post wasn't as clear as it should have been. By harder i meant the added pressures of competition and all that comes with it, the stress, pressure you put on yourself, nerves, cutting weight etc. The not so fun parts of jiu jitsu LOL. :-)

Thanks for the advice mate. Yes i am sticking with it and playing/developing my own game. Started working on my strength etc lately too. Just working hard as possible. Just trying not to get too hung up on belts. They will come eventually. :-)

[Slick Rick]

haha yes first post wasn't as clear as it should have been. By harder i meant the added pressures of competition and all that comes with it, the stress, pressure you put on yourself, nerves, cutting weight etc. The not so fun parts of jiu jitsu LOL. :-)

Thanks for the advice mate. Yes i am sticking with it and playing/developing my own game. Started working on my strength etc lately too. Just working hard as possible. Just trying not to get too hung up on belts. They will come eventually. :-)

This is true Sam. Good post brotha. Man, the beginning portion is so crucial. The more disciplined you are up front goes a long way. Better to not have to worry about belts early on, rather have trust in the instructor to prepare you for what's to come.

[Psylo]

I do ask questions after every class and when rolling with the hands on instructor, I love BJJ and am always looking to learn something every training session and attempt it if I can when we roll and it's always successful. I was just left confused... I acted respectful and congratulated person who got his promotion, I was genuinely glad he got it. I wanted your guys' take on belt promotions because if I went up to the instructor after and asked why I didn't get one that would be very unprofessional. So I'm asking you guys and have got a lot of good advice.

And to Art, what I meant from he's only a purple belt is he cannot give out belt promotions, we can only get them at seminars from black belts. I know nothing compared to them and I'm always looking to learn. And I know I sound like a whiny bitch, it was just after it happened and I was somewhat venting... A lot better to do it on here then in front of my instructor or the person who got the belt promotion right?