Gi and the belt system ...

[stlnl]

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.

You are not concerned, but seem to make a rather large point of a guy having higher rank than you , that you clearly feel is inferior to you. Am I understanding correctly? I think a better way to approach it, is to be honest with yourself. You think you should be recognized/promoted and dont understand why you are not. I dont know why this is (promotion) but I do know who you can talk to about it, and have all angst removed. Just go to your instructor and ask him. Be respectful about it, and frame the question in terms of how you can advance in JJ and heighten your skills. Bad idea to ever directly ask about being ranked IMO, but if you ask correctly, you will at least have an answer and not have to let it worry you.

[Muhammad Abdou]

the reason why he got graded and not you, probably had to do with attendance. people don't grade up very fast if they only train once a week as far as i'm concerned. even if they're dominating the rest of the class and whatever, the instructor will find an excuse..

[Eric "Tiger Blood" Safier]

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.

Yeah I wouldn't be training Gi at all but it's all we offer at our school...It's a "Gracie Barra" . But I want to train as much as I can so I take the Gi once a week. But have been training more 10th planet's system and it's made the biggest difference in my game.No Gi is a lot quicker then Gi ,So the No Gi has actually helped my Gi jiu Jitsu . Good luck at Grapplers Quest I'm sure you will be taking home dem golds

[John Hickman]

I tapped a a stripped blue belt the other day with a darce. I train at a Relson Gracie gym, and have only been going for about a month or two. I'm a white with no strips, but I know my time will come. Yours will too, homie.

[Brian Morency]

You shouldn't worry about comparing yourself to others where you train. Test yourself at tournaments, the dojo is where you teach & learn. So what if you "Tap" or "Get Tapped" by some one in the gym. How else would you learn, btw them higher ranked over you probably just let you tap them so they could learn as well as help learn you. No point on always trying to look for a "Tap", the position is more important. IMO. White Belt is the best rank anyways.

[MegFTB]

Yeah I wouldn't be training Gi at all but it's all we offer at our school...It's a "Gracie Barra" . But I want to train as much as I can so I take the Gi once a week. But have been training more 10th planet's system and it's made the biggest difference in my game.No Gi is a lot quicker then Gi ,So the No Gi has actually helped my Gi jiu Jitsu . Good luck at Grapplers Quest I'm sure you will be taking home dem golds

Thanks Eric. Gabby and I will send you pics!

[Josh Passini]

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

+1