Promoted!

[Enrique "Kiko"]

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to share an update on the progress in my jiu jitsu journey. I've been promoted to green belt! If you're wondering why green, my coach uses the kids color ranks for teens and adults to differentiate time in and skill level for pre blue belt. Now to stay consistent and keep the learning process going till blue =D.

Thank you everyone who's helped me either in person or on the forums with advice. All of you have been a part of my journey. I know I'm not even a blue belt yet, but the difference is night and day with where I was and where I am now.

Thank you all,
Kiko

[Tony "The Goods" Garcia]

Congratulations!

[Chris Herzog]

congrats again brotha!

[Ericp]

congrats bro

[Mike Dewitt Jr]

Congratulations Kiko!

[milojitsu]

Congrats!!

[Craig Murray]

Does your academy do white stripes 1-4 then yellow, orange, green? This is what the Ribero brothers do, and what Lovato does as well.

I have to say I like this. There is a BIG difference in my gym between an orange belt and a 2-stripe whitebelt. So if there are large and discernible differences, why not break things down further? There are 8 steps before bluebelt at my gym, and it seems to make sense when I train with them.

At Lovato's there is a curriculum that goes along with all the ranks until blue. So white stripes 1-4 yellow orange green each has a page full of techniques they are responsible for. This really helps people set realistic and attainable goals.

When I hear about gyms where guys just show up, get a whitebelt around their waist, and get their faces smashed for a couple years, I feel really bad for them. Especially for the guys who need Jiu Jitsu the most, the non-athletic, non-coordinated, shy, weak types. Those guys get the most benefit out of Jiu Jitsu from what I can tell. But only when it's a program where they feel like they have clear goals and know what they need to work on. When the only thing you are learning is "how to survive" many people who would benefit from Jiu Jitsu are smashed and quit.

Also, congrats!

[RobertGarza]

Congrats brotha!!!!

[Enrique "Kiko"]

Does your academy do white stripes 1-4 then yellow, orange, green? This is what the Ribero brothers do, and what Lovato does as well.

Yes, exactly. I think it can be a motivator since one can pass a test for a specific set of skills for a stripe or belt and also helps when mixing, matching size/skill for good rolls especially in the huge classes. Also thank you!

For my blue I have to work on aggression, improving my finish % on solid sub/sweep attempts, and my positional control/pressure from side mount and full mount. Tall order, but I am taking it one day at a time.

[Marty McLaren]

congrats mate