There’s a really explicit sound in a BJJ health club when somebody will get promoted. It’s a mixture of clapping arms, whoops from teammates, and that unmistakable smack of a belt being whipped throughout your again in celebration. You’ve simply been handed your blue belt, and for a second, it’s pure pleasure.
However after the images are taken and the congratulatory pats fade, actuality units in. The reality is, this subsequent stage of your BJJ journey feels totally different. Generally, uncomfortably totally different.
The Unusual Phenomenon Of The Blue Belt Blues
You’d suppose getting promoted would make individuals extra motivated than ever, however the reverse typically occurs. A stunning variety of practitioners vanish inside a 12 months of hitting blue belt. It’s so frequent there’s even a reputation for it: the “blue belt blues.”
Why? Just a few causes are likely to pop up many times:
The Honeymoon’s Over: The primary 12 months or two of BJJ really feel like fixed breakthroughs. By blue belt, progress slows, and the plateaus get longer.
No Extra Free Passes: At white belt, everybody forgives sloppy escapes or missed sweeps. At blue belt, individuals anticipate you to “know higher,” which may really feel like additional strain.
Life Will get In The Approach: Promotions take years to earn. By the point you get there, work schedules, accidents, or household priorities would possibly crowd out coaching time.
The False End Line: Some individuals subconsciously deal with blue belt as the tip aim, and as soon as they get there, they cease exhibiting up.
After which there’s the psychological half no person actually talks about.
The Insecurities No person Warned You About
A variety of new blue belts quietly carry the identical ideas:
“I’m Not Good Sufficient For This Belt.” You roll with robust white belts, they usually nonetheless catch you. Increased belts deal with you with ease. The nagging feeling that your coach made a mistake can eat away at you.
“Now I Have To Win.” The second you tie on that blue belt, you’re feeling like dropping to a white belt will “look dangerous.” Instantly, rolling feels extra like efficiency evaluations than coaching.
“Individuals Are Gunning For Me.” And truthfully… some are. Aggressive white belts see you as their subsequent problem. They’ll push the tempo, and also you’ll really feel it.
“Why Do I Really feel Caught?” At white belt, any enchancment feels enormous. At blue belt, you begin noticing the gaps in your sport greater than your progress.
It’s regular. In truth, it’s an indication you’re within the thick of actual studying.
Shifting From Survival Mode To Constructing Your Sport
White belt is about staying afloat, studying primary defenses, avoiding submissions, and determining the best way to breathe underneath strain. Blue belt is totally different. It’s time to begin constructing.
Consider your sport like a home. At white belt, you poured the concrete basis. Now, you’re framing the partitions, including rooms, deciding the place the kitchen goes. Meaning:
Deepening your go-to strikes somewhat than gathering random methods.
Chaining assaults collectively so one failed try flows into the subsequent.
Testing your sport in opposition to totally different physique sorts and types, not simply your “protected” coaching companions.
Shedding The Want To “At all times Win”
Right here’s the factor: the quickest strategy to stall out at blue belt is to guard your ego in any respect prices. Should you solely roll protected, solely assault whenever you’re positive it’ll work, or keep away from greater belts to dodge losses, you’re capping your personal development.
Use this stage to experiment. Attempt methods you’re dangerous at. Begin from dangerous positions. Even let your coaching companions work submissions on you simply so you’ll be able to sharpen your escapes.
The extra you give attention to studying as a substitute of simply “successful” within the health club, the sooner you’ll develop the talent set of a purple belt.
Guarding Towards The Drop-Off
It’s virtually sneaky the way it occurs. You begin skipping a category right here, every week there. Earlier than lengthy, you’ve misplaced your momentum totally. The only safeguard? Maintain the identical schedule (or extra) that acquired you to blue.
Additionally, and this would possibly sound counterintuitive, join one thing. A match, a seminar, even a group journey to a different health club. Having occasions on the calendar forces you to maintain exhibiting up.
Discover New Gasoline For The Fireplace
The belt round your waist is simply fabric. What issues is what you do with it. Some concepts to maintain you hungry:
Focus on one guard or passing type and turn out to be identified for it.
Tackle a mentorship function with newer college students. Explaining the fundamentals will sharpen yours.
Problem your self with No-Gi should you’ve been largely Gi (or vice versa).
Observe your rolls in a pocket book or app so you’ll be able to truly see your progress over months.
The Lengthy Sport Mentality
The soar from white to blue is simply the primary huge step. Purple, brown, and black are nonetheless far forward. It’s not a race, it’s an extended apprenticeship.
You’ll have months the place you’re feeling unstoppable and months the place you marvel why you even trouble. Each are a part of the deal. The hot button is easy: don’t stop.
Each black belt you’ve ever seen on the mats? They have been as soon as a blue belt who stored exhibiting up on the times they didn’t really feel prefer it.
Conclusion
You didn’t get promoted since you’re good. You bought promoted as a result of your coach sees your potential. The belt is a reminder of the place you’re headed, not the place you’ve completed.
So tie it on, maintain your head down, and maintain rolling. The most effective a part of your BJJ journey remains to be forward.
You may additionally like:
7 Should Know BJJ Methods For Any Self-Protection Scenario
Evolve Combined Martial Arts® is Asia’s premier championship model for martial arts. It has genuine World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Combined Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, and No-Gi Grappling. Named because the #1 ranked martial arts group in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports activities, FOX Sports activities, ESPN StarSports, Tokyo Occasions, and plenty of different main authorities, Evolve MMA goals to ship one of the best martial arts instruction accessible wherever on the planet.