Why it’s so difficult being a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? For anyone who has never trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), the belt system can be confusing. There are a total of 8 belts in BJJ, each representing a different level of proficiency. The first four belts (white, blue, purple, and brown) are considered the student belts, while the last four (black, red/black, red, and coral) are considered the master belts. Don't forget the 4 stripes in between each rank if applicable. The blue belt is often considered to be the hardest belt to achieve because it requires a good understanding of the basic techniques and a reasonable amount of skill to execute them effectively. This can take between 1-3 years. In addition, blue belts also must deal with the pressure of living up to the expectations of those who have already achieved higher ranks. So why is it so difficult being a blue belt? 1. You're no longer a beginner, but you're not quite an expert yet. 2. You're often matched up against opponents who are more experienced than you. 3. You should be able to execute the basics perfectly before you can move on to more advanced techniques. 4. People will expect more from you now that you're a blue belt. 5. You'll need to put in a lot of hard work and dedication to progress further in your BJJ journey. (getting to purple belt can take years) 6. Its known that blue belts quit more than any other belt. 7. You have to be on time for warm ups until you’re a purple belt. 8. Its discouraging to see people you were once competitive with at white belt advance faster once they become a blue belt. It almost seems unfair that a person gets to purple faster.
9. There are more people in blue belt divisions at tournaments than any other belt rank. This worsens the odds of winning tournaments.
What you have to do to become a blue belt? There are a few things you need to do in order to achieve a blue belt: 1. Become proficient in the basic techniques. This means being able to execute them correctly and effectively. (Most important). 2. Show good sportsmanship both on and off the mat. 3. Attend class regularly and put in the extra effort outside of class (such as drilling and practicing at home). 4. Demonstrate a positive attitude and willingness to learn. 5. Be patient! The journey to blue belt is not an easy one, but it will be worth it in the end.
What you have to do to become a purple belt? There are a few things you need to do in order to achieve the purple belt: 1. Be proficient in submissions 2. Be able to transition in between techniques 3. Have a game! You should have a set of sequences that make up what your known for. For example, a good guard game or passing game. 4. The ability to defend attacks 5. The ability to escape submissions 6. Chaining techniques I.E., one pass to another, take down to pass to submission 7. The ability to work from any position 8. Assisting other students with technical issues
Here is some friendly advice for Blue Belts,
"Work on defending everything, I know submissions are cool and fun to learn but when you actually know how to defend everything, that will actually open up your game when you become a purple belt because you won't be afraid of losing positions" - Brian Hummel (BJJ 1st Degree Black Belt).
This will help you advance because your confidence level will be heightened. If you're currently a blue belt, don't get discouraged! Remember that everyone goes through the same struggles when they first start out in BJJ. With enough time and effort, you'll eventually be able to overcome the challenges of being a blue belt and progress onto the next level.
Train safe and Train Often Matthew Tropp | BJJ Report
Article Contributors: Brian Hummel - 1st degree Black Belt | Kaiju MMA | Carlson Gracie Lineage