10 Tips Towards Earning Your Blue Belt

Dear White Belt,

As you may or may not have discovered by now, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a wonderful journey of self-discovery. It’s not the easiest thing in the world and some people are more natural than others but it fits all of us, and will ultimately make each and every one of us better. With that in mind, let’s talk about rank for a few moments. Your belt means something. It signifies the relationship between you and your instructor. It is also the barometer that indicates where you are in your BJJ tourney. It dictates where you compete and it tells others in BJJ about generally what to expect from you on the mats. And it will also tell you, most of all, where you are in your own personal BJJ journey.

The first goal you will be reaching towards is your BJJ blue belt. It’s been said that almost half the people that start BJJ don’t even make it to their first belt promotion so achieving your blue belt can be considered a huge step for anyone. It shows others that you are committed to Jiu Jitsu and will reinforce both externally and internally that you are well on your way.

Here are a few tips as you make your way down the path towards earning your blue belt:

1 – Check your ego at the door

Our first piece of advice is the most cliché but it is really true. BJJ has a funny way of showing everybody exactly where they stand. As the saying goes, “the mats don’t lie” and neither should you, especially to yourself. As a white belt, you will consistently be one of the newer people in the room. Now that doesn’t mean that you have to suck or think you do. You could very well be a beast in a very short time. But guess what, it doesn’t matter. Like we mentioned previously, this journey you’re going on is with yourself as your primary companion so it’s important to be wary and not get inside your own head as it relates to wins, losses, progress or lack thereof. All that will come in time. Just let it all happen, take it with grace and go train.

2 – Immerse yourself in your academy

The BJJ culture is one of fun, lots of hard work, and some sacrifice. Your teammates, coaches and support team are your support group and thus, a big part of your journey. If you plan on making it to black belt one day, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with these folks so you should embrace all the positive aspects of that with open arms. Don’t be a wallflower. Contribute to your academy. Whether that means volunteering to mop the mats after class or helping an even newer person than yourself, be a presence and make sure you’re a positive one. There will be lots of ways to contribute and add value in due time.

3 – Pay attention to what your instructor is teaching you

Compared to other martial arts, BJJ can be a pretty relaxed environment, at times. We talk and joke around. It is to be expected since we BJJ’ers are a pretty tight community. With that being said, there’s an appropriate place and time for everything. In the middle of class, when your instructor is showing a technique, is not the time for any of that. It’s the time for listening intently and absorbing knowledge. Listen to the move(s) of the day and then do all your reps as your instructor intended. Dutifully performing what is required is how you will get better. And if you want to get even better than that, go above and beyond. (see next point)

4 – Never miss an opportunity to drill

“Drillers make killers.” I don’t recall who to attribute that quote to but it is really true. Those who practice a move a thousand times will get really good at it. Call it common sense but your body will be more in tune with your mind with repetition. So the more you practice something, the better you will get at it. This will happen naturally just by going to class and doing what your professor tells you but imagine if you came in early and/or stayed late to drill even further. You will get way better, way faster.

5 – Take your beatings

No matter how much you drill or how much you train, you’re still going to get beat up sometimes. In fact, probably most of the time. Welcome to being a white belt. But are these beatings (rolls where you feel like you’re on the losing end) all for your opponents’ benefit? Believe it or not, your opponent is not the only one who gains something here. You will actually get better through these situations, whether you realize it or not. Being put in bad positions hones your defense and lets you recognize the danger of those situations, and that’s pretty much one of the most important aspects of BJJ. By being put in tough spots and gradually recognizing them, you will subsequently learn how to beat them as well. So take your lumps and be willing to be the nail because, guess what? One day you’ll be the hammer as well.

6 – Help your teammates

A lot of what I mean here has already been covered above. Being a positive part of your academy, a dutiful drilling partner, someone who pays attention in class, and a good person to roll with… It’s all part of it. And there’s a lot more but the gist of it is that by helping your teammates get better, they in turn will help make you better. “Rising tides raise all ships.”

7 – Be open to all techniques but focus on fundamentals

In this day and age, there’s nary such a thing as “hidden techniques” anymore. Back in the old days, it wouldn’t be out of reach to have to pay $100 to attend a seminar to learn a certain technique but nowadays, most everybody is a lot more open. They’re sharing techs on YouTube and there are more open mats than ever so you’ll be exposed to a lot more than you would have 10 years ago. With that in mind, it’s not all about fancy submissions, berimbolo back takes and the like. Fundamentals are still the foundation of everything, and hence you need to develop those as your primary objective – especially as a white belt. After all, a house can be built as fancy as possible but without a solid foundation, it can crumble at any time.

8 – Absorb everything, learn to recognize your mistakes

Like above, we mean to be open to all techniques and whatever anyone decides to teach you that can help but we also mean this in terms of wins, losses, and positives and negatives of any situation. If you’re being put in a very bad spot, then learn how you got there in the first place so you’ll know how to avoid it next time. Similarly, if you find yourself having some success, also recognize what you’re doing well so you can retain that and apply it towards your future rolls.

9 – Don’t be afraid to ask questions

“Does anybody have questions?” and “Who wants me to show this again?” Those are two common and nearly universal questions you’ll hear from Jiu Jitsu instructors all over the world. If you have a question or want to see a repeat of a demonstrated technique, don’t be afraid to step up and ask. It will only benefit you and help you retain important knowledge. Likewise, this applies to training and after class as well. Especially when you’re rolling or around more experienced people than yourself, don’t be shy. A good teammate will always want to help you when it’s appropriate. Ask a question if you have one.

10 – Be consistent and keep showing up

The main and most important piece of advice we can give you, white belts, is to just be consistent and keep on showing up. You know your class times. Be on time and come in to train, even (and especially) on days you don’t feel like it. Like anything else, training is a habit. The more consistency you build, the better you will become. Good days, bad days, all days that will you get better. And it might even help you in other aspects of your life as well. For when you are on the mats, the stress and worries of everything else tends to go away.

Good luck, have fun, and we look forward to seeing you earn your blue belt one day!