How I gave up my Purple Belt at a New Gym (And Why You Shouldn't)
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- Опубліковано 16 січ 2017
- Should you have to give up your rank when you join a new gym?
If you're a Blue, Purple or Brown Belt should you have to restart over if your instructor thinks that you don't know enough about their system?
What do you think?
In this video I answer that question.
The question comes from someone who has been training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu for a number of years and received his Blue Belt from a legitimate affiliation. I did not list any of the details of this person or his training to keep it private for him.
Because of work he's had to move all over the place and hasn't been able to train consistently at one Brazilian Jiujitsu gym for a long time.
Recently he started training BJJ at a new gym and really likes the instructor and the gym overall.
The problem he's running into is that the instructor wants him to start over because he doesn't know his system as well.
Our friend feels that this is a bit unfair and doesn't want to restart his BJJ journey all over again. He adds that the frustrating part about this is that he's doing very well during rolling against the instructors students and feels fine with the techniques he's showing.
In this BJJ video I share a story about how I personally gave up my Purple Belt when I came to a new gym to train Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. It was a new instructor who didn't care for me or felt threatened by me.
I've also had students who I didn't quite think were up to par with our Blue Belts. And I share whether or not I made them give up their rank. If you watch my BJJ videos you probably know what I did.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the video. And if you're in the process of changing BJJ gyms. I hope this video is helpful to you or gives you some insight into any problems you might have.
Thanks!
-Chewy
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Im primarily a boxer and its like saying "Ohhh your ammy boxing record is 20 wins and 2 losses. You haven't fought in 2 years so im gonna have to ask you to wipe those last 10 fights off your record."
Your belt is a record of your accomplishments, nobody has the right to wipe your record.
20-2 nice not bad
its more like having a degree in one country, and not being able to transfer it to another country (e.g doctors, nurses). they gotta take an exam to show theyre as qualified to standard. same shit
@@anonoumos i think medical things are more serious than personal martial arts. Like the only danger really of me not being up to standard is mainly myself. If a medical person is not up to standards its going to hurt other people.
A language translation of your skillset is not the same bro.
@@anonoumos so an olympic record holder only counts in the country he got it in then, according to you.. Then again, following your logic, that person would not be able to compete in the Olympics, since he/she did not practice his/her skill in the country that holds the Olympics.. Or, then competitions should all be banned, since, one might compete as blue belt, (blue belt in his gym) but it wont be recognised in another gym, so 2 blue belts of differents gyms, dont exist in your point of view.. 🤔🤔Interesting...
I took three stripes off my purple belt when I went to my current school. I hadn't rolled in 2 years, and I wasn't consistent prior to that. I figured I'd be happy to just have them let me wear the purple. When my instructor found out he told me, "you never lose rank. You earned those stripes and that belt. Maybe you're not back to where you were, but you still earned those."
yeah. not really true. a belt is a representation of skill level and understanding of how that particular school does things. in a school. seminars and tournaments are different.. did you notice that late in life, Helio was not wearing his red belt? he was wearing a purple belt. if he can wear a purple belt, you can be ok with it.
Helio does not dictate appropriate etiquette amongst the BJJ practitioners of the world. If that's how he retains his integrity, fine, but it isn't entirely honest to me. 60+ years of BJJ, he can teach anyone anything, that's not a purple belt accolade. Purple belts are not masters.
I know of one guy who travelled and stopped at a BJJ school in the Philippines. The school wanted him to take and pay for an introductory white belt BJJ classes for a couple of weeks. He asked to roll with the guys at the school to prove his skill level was at purple belt, but the school denied his request, and was adamant he had to take introductory BJJ classes first.
That is a shitty school. Like what others have said, if a person has earned their belt and stripes, that cannot and should not be taken away. Blue belt has a high drop out rate, that does not mean if anyone comes back, that their accomplishment should be taken away. They just have to train real hard to catch up, upon returning.
Heilo believed you had to wear a different colour belt from your instructor, when people started wearing red belts, he started wear a blue one.
Not really an expert, but at some point we all get worse. Belting seems to me to be a symbol on skill, but also a mark of accomplishment alltogether. Downranking is nonsense. They dont take away your gold medal if you lose the next fight either. And Helio could wear whatever he wants cuz he's boss.
I say put on the white belt and then ask him why a white belt keeps choking out his blue belts! LOL
VERY satisfying!
Thats what i did
Bit of an advantage in competitions too..
Lol right
@@chadmichaels1896 haha
Plot twist, his real name is "Bob"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪🤪🤪
Only Bob. You gave up his entire government name.
I was thinking that hahaha
No. His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson.
"I had a friend that took a belt ..."
never never never give up a belt you earned legitimately
Give up that belt. Beat your new classmates. Pretend it's beginner's luck.
@LION TAMER wow ok kool . I didn't know
Here in Miami you wouldn't do that
But that's kool I'm all about respect
@LION TAMER actually here in Miami if you showed up with a white belt and you were ,let's say a purple belt and didn't say anything , they wouldn't like that .
Again I'm about respect . whatever is expected as protocal is ok with me
@LION TAMER I guess if I went to another school I would just ask the instructor what was the proper thing to do in his school..
TEKNOMOGUL no
If you earn your rank from a legit professor you should keep it. It would be disrespectful to ask someone to demote themselves. I would say just let them know what the knew requirements are to get promoted
I like what your saying, Really, it would take the instructor who gave you the rank to take it away. I don't think you can demote yourself anymore that you can promote yourself.
Just say they have to catch up on his little things he doesn't know and he can't move up until he catches up on certain things
and if they are below standard, they'll potentially be wearing that belt for a long time
Agreed, he should just have to learn the details needed in the new curriculum got get next stripe.
My coach told us all to wear our belts with pride in new gyms. Fight to prove we earned them and fight to keep them if someone wants to de-rank you.. so that's what I will do.
That’s easy when your in shape
@@abaddon4823get in shape
Never give up what you allready achieved, if you have earned your rank - this is disrespectfull to the former teacher.
Disrespectful to the new teacher tho.
Wow, I didn't know Dan Blizerian did Ju jitsu.
:P
GOAT comment. :'D
The man is everywhere 😆
I didn't know Boosie commented on youtube
i know this is a joke...but chewy would wreck dan bilzerian.
I have started to take up Judo again after a 25 year absence. I was brown belt prior to leaving. I've decided to start my 3 children at a club and start beginning class with them. The sensei doesn't know I was ever in Judo. In the class I'm considered a white belt and like my kids haven't even started to wear a gi. I admit I'm very rusty and have forgot many names of throws plus my body just doesn't move like it use to. One day I will tell my sensei but right now I'm just enjoying watching my kids play.
I wouldn't want to start over, I've been training for over 7 years (3rd degree purple belt) I've earned some IBJJF medals at large tournaments (Pans, master worlds) and I'm 52 years old. It's not like I have all the time in the world to spend on the mats trying to be the next Buchecha, I do this for fun not to "win." While my focus is not on belt colors I do plan on earning my black belt someday. I don't want to train for 20 years as a purple belt.
What belt are you now?
Update he went to a new gym and is a white belt choking out the instructor
Jeff Cordero What belt are you now Jeff? Still Purple? At 10 years in, I would think of you wanted, you could have your black by now. Just curious
Jeff!???? Update sir
We need an update Jeff!?!!?!! :P
You encountered a Narcissist (Brazilian guy).
Yes, narcissism is one of the dark triad traits. Watch out for those types of individuals.
Most of them are
This guy sounds cocky, probably got what he deserved...Pay your dues before stepping in front of a black belt...lol
@@2277ize Why? Because it took 8 years to get your belt?
vcash nah brotha , that’s on me , won’t blame anyone else , but I’ve rolled under some Brazilians and their vibe can throw you off sometimes
Great advice. Very well put.
Hi Chewjitsu,
Thanks for sharing your story. I started BJJ last November and am new - I don't dispute that at all. Your story spoke to me because I have had this experience outside the martial arts world. And before I get into that I want to express my sympathy for you and Bob experience poor leadership.
I served in the U.S. Army and deployed for a full year and a half before electing to try out for the 75th Ranger Regiment. I crushed the fitness and technical standards in selection and graduated at the top of my class. I was assigned to a Battalion on the East coast and was sent to a leadership school. Again I graduated at the top of my class. The day came when I met my platoon sergeant and the first words he said to me were, "Your kind usually doesn't make it here." By 'your kind' he meant Rangers who are 'imported' from having prior service in other units. There is a big attitude of 'if you didn't do it here, it doesn't count.'
So after having proven myself in a combat battalion for 15 months, in country, in an active war zone, I had this guy with a superiority complex tell me I was no better than the green kids who just got out of basic training. I tolerated it for as long as I could but I never got out from underneath that leader. He made sure I was the last to get any relevant training opportunities after that and he made sure that I got the weakest privates assigned to me.
We live and we learn. Because of the experience and feeling completely hopeless under my leadership I gave up on my aspirations of becoming an operator at a higher tier. I got out of the Army and got on with my life. It's by far one of the worst experiences and feelings of betrayal I have had to this day.
Empathetically,
A
That really sucks.
I recently read a book about Robin Olds, a fighter pilot. And in it, he talked about a conversation he had with a 4 star. The general told him to watch our for people in the service who were out for themselves or to cut down on others.
I was always surprised to hear that. Seems like everyone would be trying to work together in a situation like the military. Not cut each other down. But I guess as you've seen. People suck.
Dang I’m not reading all that.
Congratulations though
or
Damn, that sucks
@@themaker2475crazy how Chewy took the time out his busy schedule to make a genuine replay because the guys experience is a teachable moment. Way to go bud, not being able to read quickly is not the flex you think it is.
this is awesome. great to see someone really into the art and enjoys what they are doing. the excitement about the mats were cool.
Chewy, your videos are the best. Thanks, man.
I wouldn't give it up. When we have student's from other schools come through, they remain the rank they are at until they are caught up, unless it's obvious they bought the belt on-line and are a complete novice...
Jason Johansen Yup,that's the best way to handle it.
Jason Johansen this.
As an instructor I would honor the belt level unless he does not hang in there with other belts that are the same size, age, and physical abilities as him. I would let him know the next belt requirements and award him when he is capable. I personally woud not give up my belt and would request to hold me in rank until I "caught up" to my peers.
@Capone, do you not find any irony in your comment? There's quite a disconnect between the big picture of what you're trying to convey and they way you're conveying it. Try not to teach humility with arrogance.
e. david yes, just ignorant people who choose to be offended and let their anger get the best of them. then they say that you don't know the spirit of martial arts, it's quite hilarious
Lootroq you seem like a very wise dude. keep up the positivity bro
I took an extended break from training a long while ago when I was a blue belt. When I came back I did not feel like I was still blue belt skill level, I asked my instructor (a friend from high school) if I should wear my old white belt. He told me "Only if you want to, you earned the blue belt." I kept training and earned my purple belt, I got hurt and had to take a few months off, when I came back, I didn't even ask about belts. It's my purple belt, I earned it, I keep it on unless my instructor that awarded it to me tells me I should take it off. The belt really doesn't make much of a difference other than maybe intimidation factor, and that really only effects lower belts. Once you learn to gauge someone's skill based on their rolling they can wear whatever belt they want, the rest of the guys in the gym know what his skill level is.
Man, I really dig your bump music. Sound providers is so chill.
Chewy I enjoy your talks, thanks for your stories and advice.
Going from a blue belt in no-gi to a white belt in gi was a 100% necessity. I had no idea how the Gi worked, it changes the entire game, you can't brute force anything technical, and people can catch you slipping really fast!
I don’t think there is such a thing out side of 10th planet Jiu Jitsu. To give color belt rank to students that don’t train in the Gi is kind of bogus in itself. If you’re training no gi only then you’re either beginner, intermediate, or advanced; no belt rank for no gi only practitioners.
Yea no belt class in no gi all we care about is technique but I agree training in gi is a boon.
New bjj gym asks you to lose your belt, tell them to get a premission from the person who gave you that belt.
Man that was some awesome advice. Thanks for sharing it with us.
You always give good advice. Well done.
I feel this talk is so awesome. I train in a gym where I totally understand the judo talk. I have one goal to grow and learn. So now I am coming to the end of my 3 months of this place where Im doing too well. So I need to change because of your story thank you man.
Thanks for the advice Bilzerian
. . . really funny. . . ;)
haha all in good fun! really enjoyed watching your video :)
This is the first video I've watched of yours, but damn. Your and humble and motivating and I guarantee it helps people grow. That's probably why so many people come to you for help because they know you will lift them up.
Thank you Chewi for being the voice for us all in this sport.
"Next time break fall?" A proper instructor would have gave warning and give you a pull up, any judoka would.
Agreed. I would have gone hog wild on him and embarrassed him in the dojo and then never showed up again.
I think that you handled those situations perfectly. When you were asked to surrender rank, you did so even though the instructor in question was just making a power play. And when it was in your hands to make the same call, you built your new student up. Giving him the chance to live into the rank. Train to gain skill, not rank. Rank can be given or taken away, skill can’t.
I would also advise you to go back and learn those Judo throws. Not because you need them necessarily, but because you’ll learn things that will make your technique better in other areas. I learned that the hard way about skills that I ignored in my first 20 years of training. You don’t have to forget how to wrestle to learn something new. Just advice, and like nostalgia, it often means more to the person giving it than the person receiving it.
Good guy. Nice to know there are people out there like you. Excellent story.
Subscribed man. Really entertaining, positive guy. Some good advice too. Totally respect your approach of allowing the student to keep their belt as they no doubt rolled well against your own blue belts, but focusing on strengthening key areas you think should be strong for anyone with a blue belt in your gym. Best of both worlds.
Thanks for subscribing. Glad you enjoyed the video.
This has been a very long time ago, but I can relate to this issue. I tried for several years with an instructor that I really respected and he was tough and would not advance me to another belt until I absolutely deserved it. Anyway, long story short, I was a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do when he had to relocate. It took me a month or so to find a new gym and when I joined the instructor said I would have to drop back one belt and when I asked why he said because he does not believe that new students that join his dojo are as good as his students. I dropped the belt and stayed. A month later he told me he was wrong, I was very good and I should take the Black Belt as soon as we could get it scheduled.
He should have evaluated you prior to your start before requesting you demote
Yikes. I think not giving up a belt is even more important as a blue belt than any other. To me, the first earned belt (blue for BJJ, yellow for judo, whatever) just means "I know what I am doing and know how not to hurt myself or my partner". I am a blackbelt in judo and a blue belt in BJJ but I would rather demote myself all the way to yellow in judo than white in BJJ. I don't need a blackbelt to help someone improve a technique I can do well, but no one really knows how much mat time you have put in and to me, a colored belt shows just a little bit of that.
Where I did BJJ for a while, I came in as a judo brown belt but no "actual" BJJ experience, but that white belt bothered me. I didn't really think I "deserved" a blue belt, but I wasn't allowed to roll because I wasn't high enough ranked (they wanted you to have 2 or 3 stripes to roll) and that really bugged me. It also bugged me how they awarded belts- if you came consistently enough ( I think 2 classes per week), you got a promotion after a certain amount of time. No skill requirements, no rolling/mat time requirements, just "show up for x months".
I don't think I'm even close to being on topic anymore, so tl;dr: Unless it keeps you from training all together, keep the belt.
Sounds like a lame gym, I rolled in my first class, it really sounds bizarre to require 2/3 stripes in order to roll.
deathByStupid
Yeah, but it was the only one less than about an hour away. The people there were great and the Gym was pretty nice (exclusively BJJ/Judo too). But little things always just didn't feel right. Sucks not having an awesome gym right around the corner anymore. =/
Who needs to be on topic anyways? Rambling is welcome here James. ;)
I agree with the comment about he blue belt. It at least visually shows the people around you,"I'm not a brand new beginner."
Bummer about the not rolling part at the BJJ gym. I can maybe understand it for a brand new person. But from someone with a Judo background already it seems a bit odd.
I have trained on and off since 2007. A couple of deployments, a couple of instructors who left my gyms, and just inconsistency has prevented me from receiving my blue belt. I roll with blues and I'm fine. Higher level blues going into purple is obviously difficult for me but I've never cared about belts. If someone told me to demote - sure. If you enjoy training enough who cares?
Craig Laidlaw
It doesn't really matter (like I said, don't refuse if it keeps you from training), but in the same regard, because it doesn't matter, no one should force you to be demoted.
You touched a great point, the environment the coach creates does impact your drive in class, my coach is moody at times and temperamental with his delivery, I found that focusing on me and not relying on him to be part of my motivation has helped a lot and I stay at my gym because the other people in class are awesome so take the good with the bad, pushing extra hard to move to blue belt and change coaches.
This is just great advice for any social scene, Chew. Don't let people who haven't given you something just take it from you.
I would just tell my coach, "cash me ousside how bout dat". Problem solved....
I gave you a thumbs up.
Shaun S then you fight them on an aeroplane! hau bow dat?
Shaun S Epic!!!
LMFAO...Perfect timing bro
Shaun S very topical. Well played!
Rank DOES mean something...... if it didn't we would even have rank. Rank is like rank in military it represents knowledge and skill level. It also gives a structured order of things. I agree with Chew, don't give up the belt you have earned and be respectful of those ranked above you. While at the same time it is only respectful to direct questions as to" how to this or that" to the instructors unless they trust the lower belt enough to answer those questions.When it comes to fighting, I agree with Helio because nothing matters in a fight there's only one victor..
crazyhorse True Martial arts belts are only white and black. You are a student or a teacher. Colored belts came about for western culture, which needs more physical signs of their achievement rather than knowing their skill
You’d be surprised the kind of people that hold rank in the military. The two are apples & oranges
@Sergio Díaz Nila thanks for going into detail on how I am correct. BTW jujutsu and jiu jitsu are both correct spellings for different martial arts. Many Japanese martial artists were taking their systems west, which is why they were translating their languages to Latin.
Just want to make sure... were you there when Jigoro Kano invented colored belts? Or are the black belts that filled you in on this bit of history named Google and Wikipedia?
Chewy you are the man! my Professor and I were having this conversation a few days ago because he saw a guy get stripped of his rank and that made him furious, he said exactly what you said that it is his job as an instructor to build the guy's game up and make him a solid purple belt. I was of the same opinion being that I have taken many beaks in training and was demoted a few times, three to be exact, although it was few stripes each time and not a full real rank but I know what it feels like. Great vid, awesome info and insight... I need that shirt btw, lol!
awesome video. i think my fav one yet. If I were in the area, I'd train with you. Mostly because of your mindset and humbleness. keep on it.
Glad you liked it Mike. Thanks for the comment brother.
Too many guys out there focus too much on ranking. The belt. You should be in any school or gym to learn. So what belt one has around their waist shouldn't matter at all.
Philip Rhee's "coach"..."Sensei"....when he started learning a new style put on a white belt. Yet I think he was already a "master" I think in TKD/Hapkido.
Belts. Some schools hand them out like coupons. Giving kids black belts at age 10. :) Other schools you have to be at least 18 to even go for testing. Standards vary too much in the US.
I took the stripes off my blue belt when I attended a new school, but the teacher promoted me to purple belt just a few months later so I guess it didn't really matter.
Good advice, thank you Chewy
first time i've watched your channel and would like to say great vid!!!
Nailed it. There isnt a single instructor who could demote me. If I dont hold up against their standard, so be it, still not taking my belt. Hold me there until I meet the standards.
For the record, that is one epic T-shirt.
:-D
Great advice!
Chewy, you're such a legend. Just wanted to say that. Cheers.
I earned my bluebelt from my master that I respect and got a really god relationship with. He is a brown belt. I would say a really high lvl brown belt. I moved to a different city to go to university and I now got a really good black belt couch. But, if a new couch told me to take of my belt and go back to white i would never done it. I earned that belt and would look on it as disrespectful against my old couch that gave me the belt to give it up.
Sindre Eide That *couch* sounds pretty interactive for an inanimate object!
Sindre Eide hope you took remedial English classes at your university 😂
This nigga really learned BJJ from a couch.
Sounds like an ego thing🤣
Chew, you are a good dude!
Good video/message, Chewy.
Thanks for this advice!
I'm a purple belt myself and think that too many school or BBJ practitioners focus too much on the belt. The belt only represents the time you put on the mat. Too many people get caught up on how good your are supposed to be just because you have a certain color dye on your belt. BBJ is mainly for self defense, health, and fun.
Sawbucks23 how long did it take u to get a purple belt?
Agreed. It wasn't till Judo put belt rankings into the mix that martial arts started adding belts really. It's like just focus on getting better.
Exactly!
You got a purple belt in BBJ?
"I think too many people focus on the belt"
**literally the first thing he mentions is his belt**
No one should ever demote themselves or others. Here's why!
If you get a black belt, take a vacation for 5 years, and feel like you don't remember anything and it's been too long since you fought and decide to demote yourself to yellow belt(or any other belt for that matter) and enter a tournament, you'll fucking wreck everyone because even if your mind doesn't remember it, your body still remembers how to fight.
I've seen this happen, and when you see a yellow belt beat every brown belt at the "under black belt division" at a national tournament you know something is wrong, and everyone that was there looked at this guy holding the trophy at the top of the podium and thought either that he was fucked up in the head for getting any satisfaction from this, or they thought it was amazing that a yellow belt could win, because they didn't know any better, which just made it more disgusting.
Now for the reason that someone else cant demote you is simple, there isn't any organization that determines who's worthy of what rank, the coaches are given this power for good or worse but that's how it is, there are guidelines for what you need for each belt, but in the end there is more than one curriculum and if you pass in one, the other's cant demote you even if they want to because they don't have the authority to do so, if the coach feels all his students that have certain rank need certain skills that's his problem not yours, so if you are lacking in his eyes he should just make sure to teach you what he believes you need for the next rank and every rank up to it.
Where I'm from when we go up in rank we need to show that we also can do(remember) all of the things required in the ranks below the one we're aspiring to.
a yellow belt?
Interesting story Sir. Thanks for the insight. OSS!
You're welcome! Thanks for the comment.
Solid advice as usual!
I have also been on both sides.
As a student, I transferred as a 2nd Dan black belt in taekwondo, I just kept at my rank until I learned the new curriculum and tested for my 3rd.
As an instructor, I have had color and black belts transfer in. I follow a simple rule, I recognize prior ranks, but they will need to meet my requirements to test.
Bottom line, I agree with him, NEVER GIVE UP AN EARNED RANK! Be respectful about it, but be firm.
BELT = Competition. Don't get demote and bully the competitions... Belts lives matter !
All I really wanted out of belts is to know the person I'm throwing down won't die because he knows how to fall and he won't go use unrefined techniques that could cause injury to training partners.
"Belt lives matter"
Just spit up my orange juice! 🤣
but what if they are bad and end up hurting themselves
I love your 'make him a real blue belt' approach. Working with him and building him up gives a guy confidence. Telling him he sucks and taking his belt away cuts him down. Nothing is worse in a fight than doubting yourself and thinking that you suck. If I went to class, and was told, you suck you need to start over. I would doubt everything I know until something else happened. Think about being jumped in the street after that, or having your boss give you the business after that. I'd probably cave in or give up after a self-esteem blow like that. You're totally right. Let people keep their accomplishments but quality control is just as important. Thanks for the video
Great advice Sir
Some people are puny, they do that because they feel insecure that you soon would surpass him. Kid mentality.
great video. even getting one stripe on your belt takes lots of your time, its all time driven as well as experience and skill driven, and you can't get the time that you've spent back, so I would never give my belt up. it's a stupid thing to ask someone to do and that instructor should have known better.
thanks chewy! good advice man
You're welcome Dave!
dude you are a bad ass keep up the great work
I have a 3rd dan rank in japanese jujutsu where i am the head instructor under the shihan, and just recently took up bjj for new skills, meet people, and challenge myself.
When i was signing up the guy offered to let me start at blue belt bc if my previous experience but i decided to start at white (obviously wasnt there for long) bc to me its a matter of respect.
I may kniw exactly what im doing in my style but to come.to a new school i aim to learn and i cant let my ranks elsewhere cloud that mentality
You are a gentleman and a scholar
Great Advice!!
I was fortunate to have a great instructor who allowed me to keep my TKD red belt rank after eight years of blood, sweat, and tears at another school when I changed Dojangs and started to learn the nuances of his system. I have often said a great instructor is more important then a certain style. If a teacher is to insecure to recognise my prior efforts I would question their discretion. Interesting video. Thanks! Peace from Minnesota. DB.
Ps; at the same time, I do not get hung up on rank, and asked my new instructor where he wanted me to start.... Its just fun to train with people that care about the process more then testing out!
Hopefully I can train in BJJ some day... My rural area does not offer many options.
I’ve a question and would appreciate advice.
Been a blue belt for 4 years. Missed my purple belt promotion due to an injury. Then had to move and started training at a new school about 3 months ago.
Former professor invited me to test for my purple belt but idk if current coach will accept and honestly I’m embarrassed to ask. I feel my skill level is at purple level as I kill every blue at new school but I can’t promote myself. What’d you think?
Any suggestions?
Help appreciate it.
So how did it go?
Fill us in, what happened?
@@juanmontoya7324 fr
another MMA fighter who loves sound providers👍
Haha happy to meet you Marco!
Chewjitsu good to meet you too. I fight under Afro Samurai👍
It was awesome meeting you and training with you @ Team Shawn Hammonds Training in Nashville! Big fan from Auburn MMA and JJ
Awesome. I'll be down in Auburn in April!
oh hellz yeah! that side control reversal is sooooooo money for me!
Great topic and video .. I have also noticed a thing in the BJJ community that some are concerned with everyone else's rank or the belt they are wearing .. It appears to be a type of jealous thing .. I also notice it is also among the millennial crowd .. You do not know if the guy you are judging may have a physical disability or it may be just age itself .. It is not your place to decide on whether the guy is up to the belt he is wearing, it is your place to focus on your game and mind your own .. Just focus on being better than you were yesterday both in the gym and out ..
Great video and advice. In my Dojo, I will honor the belt someone has earned from a previous Dojo...however, in order to progress, they must learn all of the kata, weapons, self-defense, etc. leading up to their current belt, and rank test for each one under my curriculum.
Osu!
I have had a similar experience in TKD. Not that TKD compares at all with BJJ (which I love and trained in for some time as well), but the situation itself was identical. YEARS ago, I had trained under a TKD organization and left when I was a green belt - simply due to the location of a nearer school. I trained and earned my black belt under an instructor who taught the exact same system, only he added more to the requirements. He passed away, and I then went back under the previous organization. The master instructor visited the class that I was training in, pulled me aside and told me that, in his organization, I was still a green belt. Back then, I was young, in shape, flexible, etc... I could do all the cool jump spinning kicks, flashy kicks, etc... and people noticed that AND also new that I had come from another school. And again, similar to this story, I think he felt threatened from a business stand point. That is, I feel he wanted to be able to say that I earned my black belt under his academy, so that he could take claim to what was accomplished in my training under my previous instructor. I'm not claiming to be a badass by any means. The techniques were just flashy. But I think this can be a huge factor in situations like that. I think for some instructors, it's about them wanting to repackage your abilities with their brand on them. If you think of it in those terms, it is a compliment.
A green belt isnt a rank. Its a small step in a long walk. Any legit martial art would tell you that.
Uff thanks God you brought up this issue. I went through the same thing but after beating every blue belt for over 4 months and not being tap by any of them I was recognized as a purple belt who just came out of training 7 years of judo in Japan 🥋🙏
Great advice.
Hmm.. I have a very mixed feeling on this.
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See.. When I was fourteen I started to take Taekwondo (It was the only thing in my area) did if for a year and moved. (Military family)
Took Jujitsu for three years and then moved. (College)
In college I took Judo (Judo Team) Wrestling (College) Kendo (Jude Team) Fencing (Umm your seeing a pattern)
In military I took combative. I took some Shotokan. Took some Aikido. Arnis.
Took martail arts in Japan. And in China While working over seas.
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And...
I never once carried over a belt.
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But I never really knew a reason to.
I have seen yellow belts that can run brown belts off the mat.
I have a brother who is a phenomenal fighter with no REAL training.
And I'm not really comparing or saying that some things are not worth it.
I'm just saying that belts are more or less a measure of "Progress" not really much else.
Its kind of like you can find two Lawyers who are very different in skill. But they both passed the bar.
I know a great deal of Black Belts. That are all very talented. but there are some pretty marked gaps in skill/ability.
_
I don't know that I would ever say "I wont go to this gym / judo" because I don't get to keep my belt... but..
There are gyms that 100% are not worth that.
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Note on author: After twenty years of martial arts. In what ever I had around me in the area I was. I have a brown belt. A few blue belts. a BUNCH Of yellow belts. A wall full of training equipment. And no black belt. I might at some point. (Most likely not, but only because I have leaned away from forms that give belts. Mostly because of health problems)
And.. I don't really mind. I know a pretty good about most anything you can run across. (Not great at anything)
But some people can be better in 5 years then other in 20. Some people never learn to fight. (There really is such a thing as a killer/fighting instinct.)
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AND Now I"m rambling.
But what is a one eyed internet pirate to do I suppose.
Great Response to the question Chewjitsu.
And if you don't mind me saying so. That... Is a Damn fine beard...
This sounds like an episode of Seinfeld lol
It would make a good episode wouldn't it?
Chewjitsu Yea lol
Chewjitsu Has anyone ever told you you look like Dan Bilzareian
"what... Is the deal with belts?"
NO BELT FOR YOU!!!
Just discovered your channel and am definitely loving it. Quick question, where do you receive questions through? I have some things I would like to send you. Thanks brother!
Thank you for being my coach!
I think once you earned it, it's yours and a good coach will bring out the best of you even if you are not up to there level in terms of skills. There is a huge difference between BJJ schools all around.
Demoting someone when they come to your gym is pretty disrespectful to their last coach, especially it seems like, for a blue belt. At my current school, rank, especially for white belts, is largely a product of coming everyday, working hard, and using technique when you roll. If you do the right things consistently for long enough, you get promoted. I'd see it as an insult to my last coach if someone said I was so inadequately prepared that I needed demoted, especially if rolling was going fine.
Thanks for sharing. I have been doing kempo for 4 years, kyokushin karate for 6 and hopefully will pass my brown belt grading soon (in kyokushin). I have just signed up to BJJ and will be happy to wear a white belt. The concept of belts awarded by a coach without any examination is a bit foreign to me, but I guess that's part of the reason why each gym might have a different interpretation of the meaning. I am looking forward to the next years or months until I would be awarded by a new belt ; unlike karate it's not like you might be ready, let's grade so you know exactly when that moment comes, making it all the more exciting
GREAT video Chewy!! where is your gym, seems like a great place to train!!
Louisville, Kentucky. If you ever find yourself nearby. Stop on by.
Belts keep your pants and Gi together, nothing else. Train and learn.
Weird story. I got some guys in my gym who don't really like me due to my being kind of playful ( cause that's who I am). I figure as a white belt, who cares? But I wish they'd get over it.
mike harvey thats normal. it'll work out over time. just proof that ur tough
define "playful"
jockim lol he's grabbing guys' asses 😂
He sniffs penises longways like a Cuban cigar and goes "no homo bro". Seriously though I like to be goofy too and I hate people who think they're so high, mighty, and important.
I just smile all the time, and yeah, my favorite move is choking the guy with his own belt. I probably shouldn't do that, but when i happens, I think it's hysterical, so I guess I'm an idiot. I'm in Japan, as well, maybe doesn't help. :)
Wow, that is the best way to go about a student who u feel is not at a level u feel comfortable for a belt. Great work man!
You are a smart guy Chewy. Learning lots from you >;-)
belt belt belt. thats all anyone cares about anymore. i have my black belt, and i wear anything i can get my hands on when i train if i forget my black belt. it is what it is. if you're good, you're good.
BibleAsFireWood absolutley not you know nothing about bjj if your saying this. Why have belts in the first place if no one cares about them. Take your black belt off and put a white belt on if you dont care. A new belt is what people train for I shouldn't have to give my belt up just because I go to a new school
And you wear any belt you can find? If that's the case your a schmuk then
If you don't have the skillset of a black belt you shouldn't wear that. There are so many BJJ/JJ/MMA gyms who're complete McDojos. Back at my gym my Wing Chun teacher who was a purple belt BJJ did teach BJJ, but the combat version not the sport version. We didn't have any belts. Belts really don't represent the skillset.
If you train for just belts you'll become a product of a McDojo. Most of those guys don't focus on great techniques just on the exams. Bible is right, screw belts they mean nothing.
I hear you! If people just want a belt, they can buy plenty at Sears.
obviously YOU have no idea what you're talking about. any true judo or jj practitioner is there for the sport. Belt colors are only there to vaguely represent your skill level and for people to be able to visualize their progress. I do the same thing, I have done judo and bjj for 20+ years (since 6 years old) and to this day, ill wear a white belt if thats all i can find. You never actually play against 'blue belt' or 'purple belt', you are rolling with the individual in front of you. enjoy the sport for what it is and spare us the pissing contest
Belt just means time invested in the gym
Skills really mean everything
In a fight, no dudes gonna ask your belt rank
Bingo, a gym! Different place, different rules, get over it peeps.
totally agree with you on this subject brother....I've known some dudes that have encountered this very predicament and it definitely seems as though it is generally about domination and pride when it comes to new instructors striping their students of rank
It is strange isn't it?
Great Video!
Funny that a BJJ practitioner thinks he could set the standards for throwing. I'd prefer wrestling throws over BJJ throws at any time. Sincerely a judo coach
Lol, yeah.
Reminds me of a Karate school I walked into many years ago. I was a black belt in both Taekwondo and Hapkido yet they demanded I wear a white belt which I did. One day during sparring class, a brown belt told me that he wouldn't kick because he didn't want to hurt me but I can do whatever. Well I'm sure you guys can guess how the rest of the story goes.
pmartialartsx
🤔Being a black belt in hupkito or whatever and Taekwondo don't make you a black belt in karate they're different arts
Call me pedantic, but I need it spelling out. What happened next?
@@threethrushes The entire class started clapping. And the name of that brown belt? Albert Einstein.
@@B3Band Good one.
It's a different art. I'm a black belt in jiu-jitsu. If I show up to karate I am now a white belt and will wear one, no problem
This sucks... I’m super sorry that you had to go through this.
Well spoken,
You will always be hazed to some extent
I was a purple belt when I moved to a new city and gym. I went in as a white belt an told the coach that it is his gym and his rules, if he sees fit to promote me to his standard so be it. I trained as a white belt an just kept showing up it didn't matter to me. That was 6 years ago and I am now a brown belt an still there. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's their house their rules.
Roger del Campo
I agree with you. If someone doesn't want to respect the school rules, they don't belong to that school. Experienced students from other schools are seldom happy with a new school. New school has new style, new people, new rules.... Not quiet happy with the new school. One of the martial arts spirit should be humbleness... By the way, BJJ is not a martial art. By definition, it is a Brazilian system of soft techniques.
Stfu! Did you grow up with two dads? Who the fuck does this!
Must have been fun smoking all those other white belts
Isnt that a bit unfair towards the other white and blue belts?
Exactly, empty your cup. Great story.
no belts, no ranks, no problems with egos.
you are right. although ranks and status is a wide spread society problem. one exception: the fake black belt series on youtube, because these guys are funny.
I'll take a look at it
thats what wrestling is lol
To be fair they do serve some.purpose. helps break thibgs into segments to work towards, gives a rough immediate estimation of ones skill, and as an instructor helps you keep pace of where everyones at if you have students who are in and out.
We used to only have 3 belt colors that were pre black but it gets tricky when you have someone take tine off and come back and trying to remember where they left off when a green belt for example covered 3 different ranks
holmganghamburg
This is why the jiu jitsu gods created no gi jiu jitsu.
I appreciate this, I havent rolled in about 4 years other than playing with my son and want to start again but at a different gym and was wondering if I would have to start over.
Great video I love your channel, keep it up if your gym was closer I would love to train with you guys! My story I started training no-gi jiu jitsu, kickboxing and wrestling in 2008 we started gi Jiu Jitsu around 2010 and trained strictly BJJ, Boxing and MMA 7 days a week until 2017. We had a falling out with our BJJ professor because we would be told to drive to the main school for belt testing but the professor was the only one who could increase your rank. So we would make the three hour drive and the professor would not show up to be honest this hurt for some of us who were working our butts off 7 days a week and were white belts smoking blue belts and having good rolls with purple belts. To make a long story short the schools fell out over this issue and two weeks ago I started back at a new gym which was the first time on the mats since the falling out and split in 2017, they made me start back at a white belt but I’m sweeping and tapping blue belts and the purple belt’s, but as the professor says my gas (cardio) is sh*t basically I came to the conclusion that yes I’ve earned and worked, grinded and put in my time over the years and no matter what belt I have to wear I’m there to grow my knowledge of jiu jitsu and help those who ask for help to grow. I learned from the old days before we had a gi that rank is irrelevant it is the intent to gain knowledge the belts in my opinion seem to be motivating tools and can be not always but can be symbols of work ethic therefore idc I’m just as motivated with a white belt as I would be with a purple. That’s just my thoughts from my experience.