A while back, there was a lot of discussion about rank and belts. Coming back from another bout of back suckage, I’m beginning to feel better, and sparring at closer to full speed (which for me is still pretty slow).
Sunday, I sparred almost exclusively with blue belts. I didn’t have a lot of trouble holding my own and had a lot of success working my game.
Tonight I sparred with several white belts, all of whom worked really hard. I would work slowly, move them around, let them work and tried to give them ample time to counter any submission attempts. I played a lot of catch and release, and I tried a lot of techniques I’ve never really used before.
Then I spent the last 10 minutes or so rolling with Bing, who just kicked my ass. All of the things I did for the white belts, he did for me. It was grueling, and what sucked is that he was catching me with all of the same stuff I catch white belts with. It’s always a blast rolling with Bing, but I’ll be damned if it seems like he’s always 10 steps ahead of me. Even when I try to mix up my game and work different stuff, he sees it a mile off.
All in all, it was good to roll hard, and I have to say that it makes it pretty clear to me that the belt system works. The purple and brown belts are as much better than me as I am better than the white belts. And so it goes.
On a similar note, someone made a remark about the stripes on my belt and I told him I’m very, very happy being a blue belt. That means I know some stuff, but am also expected to have gaping holes in my game. 
AMEN to that. I especially resemble the “gaping holes in my game.” God bless you for writing that.
You and me both, Dev! HA!
Thanks Steve. I always enjoy your perspective. When I feel confused , overwhelmed, frustrated or generally insufficient, you bring understanding to the forefront. I realize that it is a long and arduous journey, and you get what you put in it, but like everyone, I wish it could happen faster.
Karl, that’s extremely flattering. Like everyone else, I wish it could happen faster, too. Like in the Matrix.
Just out of curiosity, how much time did you spend as a white belt? It seems like some people move to blue belt in a matter of months, but many are at white around 2 years. Also, what do you see as the difference between you and the purple belts at your academy?
For me it’s easy to see the skill difference between belt ranks but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what distinguishes them, if that makes sense.
SkinnyD, I was a white belt for about 18 months and have been a blue belt for just over 2 years now.
Difference between me and purple belts at my academy? That is an excellent question. I’d say that it’s about the intangibles. And bear in mind that this is my own opinion!
I don’t collect techniques like some people. I just don’t have the capacity to remember them all. But I like to think that I have good fundamentals, and the techniques I do use, I do well. So, it’s not that a purple belt simply has better technique (although they might). It’s that they set their techniques up and chain them together better. If that makes sense.
I’m finally starting to realize this, too — that being a blue belt doesn’t mean I have to have it all figured out yet and that it’s okay to make mistakes.
The impression I’m getting, Leslie, is that this is a lesson everyone has to relearn at every belt level. I have heard purple belts say it, and brown belts, too.
I REALLY like my white belt. Little to no pressure. Just fun. See you tomorrow night! Looking forward to getting schooled.
Hey, cool! Bing teaches on Wednesdays. Should be a fun class. See you there.
Bleh…went on a hike up toward Ranier with a bunch of kids earlier today. One of the kids was soooooo slow. She was too big to carry or I would have. Had to take the directions from my sister in-law’s navigation system. Then ran out the door. Pulled up to the OLD address right at 5:30p. Nav system apparently didn’t have the new address. Then took a while to have my wife look up the correct address and relay directions (I have a 20th century cell phone). Pulled up at almost 6pm…wasn’t about to walk in 30 mins late… But now I know where it is and I’ll try to make tomorrow morning’s class. Hope to catch you on Friday night or Sunday afternoon.
Hey, no problem. Bing makes late people do ropes (which suck). 1 for each minute you’re late… 30 ropes would kill me. If you don’t know what they are, show up 10 minutes late on Friday!
I’ll be there Friday, for sure. And should be in Sunday for the 3:30 class, too. Take care.
I hope you enjoy your class tomorrow.
all off yas moaning about belts makes me sick my dads a blue belt graded by carlie gracie and all my dads friends are blue belts 2. my coach is a purple belt and was world champion who is amasing at bjj. i am only a white belt and ive been doing it for years i train everday for 2-5 hours. i could kick all your asses and am a white belt i wish i was a higher belt me and a lot of other people think i deserve it but me seansai osent therefore i trust him as my seansai and get on with tapping out men at between 26 and 48 and am 13 so stop complaining about belts because they do not matter
You sound like a badass. Where do you train?
i train where brazilian jiu-jistiu started in a room with a few mats two or more people and a person who has a enough knowledge to teach bjj.am from ireland so i dont think you would know it