Gi and the belt system ...

[stlnl]

How often are you actually attempting the techniques your instructor is teaching you? Your instructor sort of has to evaluate you based on strengths and weaknesses and application of what he teaches you. I also have to say, every story like this I ever heard (but I tap so and so and so and so cant tap me) looked a whole lot different in the gym, and the complaintant was usually very, very deficient in some area that was very important (side control escape, moving the hips when in a bad position, etc). If this isnt the case, stick with it, but if you are not attempting the things you drill and are taught with these guys while you are there, why bother?

[Dave "Houdini" Simons]

Don't listen, don't do things you aren't familiar with? That's the most narrow minded approach you can have. Just keep doing your thing!

+1

[AJ Camacho]

Each persons belt rank is a journey between that person and their instructor. For example, there was one guy that used to destroy me on the mats who had been going there longer than I had. I was no where close to his level but out of nowhere I got ranked up before him.

I remember him not being that stoked about it. He didn't lose his shit but he definitely wasn't congratulating me multiple times like everybody else. A week or so goes by and then after class I see him asking our instructor what he needs to improve on. The issue wasn't that he wasn't good, the issue was that he was exploiting the exact same route to beat everybody and he had been doing it for the past year. My instructor sort of used the belt as a way to get him to re-examine his game beyond just being able to tap out most of the class. As a way to push him outside of his winning comfort zone.

[Mario Lopez Alvarez]

I just got my blue belt recently after 4 over 4 years of training BJJ. I was at a Gracie Barra when I felt I was ready for a blue belt, but they didn't promote unless you did the gi (which I didn't). I've trained all over, but I was always my goal to get to HQ. When I finally did, Eddie promoted me after he got to know me and my game.

While it's great to get a belt, its true that the most important part is just to enjoy your journey! It doesn't matter who you can tap or who can tap you, just that you keep on getting better and having fun. Don't be afraid to try new techniques. There isn't one "sacred way" that is the only way things should be done (not just in BJJ, but in life in general). Keep learning and keep training!

[Art "ART OF WAR" Belarde]

How often are you actually attempting the techniques your instructor is teaching you? Your instructor sort of has to evaluate you based on strengths and weaknesses and application of what he teaches you. I also have to say, every story like this I ever heard (but I tap so and so and so and so cant tap me) looked a whole lot different in the gym, and the complaintant was usually very, very deficient in some area that was very important (side control escape, moving the hips when in a bad position, etc). If this isnt the case, stick with it, but if you are not attempting the things you drill and are taught with these guys while you are there, why bother?

+1 So so true

[Dean Nowling]

just wait till you get your blue belt, it takes 75 classes to get 1 stripe...
pretty gay ass way of belt promoting imo...

[robert gero]

belts dont mean crap and stripe are even a bigger piece of crap...just have fun and learn everything else will come...anyways what a belt or stripe more than something for your instructor to hold of your head as bait...dont be a sucker just wipe ass and he will be forced to give u a belt or stripe..

[Eric "Tiger Blood" Safier]

I'm not really concerned with the belt system . I just find it strange how someone is promoted when they can't even tie there belt correctly? And obviously wearing the Gi correctly in the Gracie Barra system is a big deal ...Plus the person doesn't know the basic stuff. But I'm more focused on no Gi and the 10th planet system which I train every Sunday now. I enjoy the Gracie class for what it is but I'm not expecting a promotion and will continue to take the class once a week to pick up what I can from it.

[FRANK BARCA]

It doesn't mater what others think about you at all. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS WHAT 'YOU' THINK OF 'YOU'.
All these politics and mat issues are so typical in MA's its really just ego and whether you like it or not, its going to reel its ugly head time to time. Yeah it can piss you off, but I used to always get amped and go submitting those guys asap. Do the things that make you happy and enjoy the process of improving little by little

[MegFTB]

Eric...I've been training since October of last year...consistently. But I refuse to train gi. Did my first tourney - won ALL of my matches and even took home a gold in absolute division as well. I try and cross train as often as possible to learn as much as possible. To me, its all about experience. My gym is having a belt ceremony this weekend...guess where I will be...Grapplers Quest, competing, takin home dem golds. I will be a white belt lifer. I could care less.