I felt like I didn't deserve my first white belt stripe. I was in utter shock when my coach gave me my first stripe because I knew I had two left feet and progressing slower than my peers. What my coach said has stuck with me since. He told me "You've been coming in here every week and you've been one of the most consistent new white belts we've had. I know this stripe is just a piece of atheletic tape but I think you've earned it. Jiu jitsu is a long journey but just keep comin and you'll keep learning. Just keep comin man you're doing great"

I love the fact you've addressed toxic people as something impending promotion

The fun in Jiu Jitsu for me didn't come until about a year into my blue belt. When I first started I was addicted right away, really enjoyed being at the gym, loved how I was getting into great shape, appreciated all the amazing people I was training with, etc. BUT when I first started, my mindset was way too results-oriented (plus, I didn't have very many tools in my arsenal) to be able to just play around and have fun on the mats. Now as a purple belt, I am enjoying my time with my training partners so much more than before. My mindset has really changed the past couple years to just seeing Jiu Jitsu as it is: a cat and mouse game. Sometimes you're the mouse, and sometimes you're the cat! What's most important is that you learn to enjoy the process. It really is a marathon and not a sprint so you really have to embrace the long, arduous journey that WILL lead you to becoming a good Jiu Jitsu player. Stick with it and the fruits of your labor will come :)

i love how you will not promote someone to purple belt who is an asshole. agreed 100%

I've been training since late 2012. Received my blue Belt September 2015 been training three four days a week since I began training I no longer care about the belt it's my skill level that shows on the matt. Blue belt lifer

I really agree with the concept of pulling up your teammates along with you. This is what separates a martial artist from a mere fighter in my humble opinion.

I am currently at purple belt. Here is my experience: White belt for one year mostly learning new techniques and getting to know what BJJ really was. I rarely tapped anyone and purple belts seemed too far out of reach to even think about tapping. At blue belt I learned more techniques, but it was mostly about surviving, escaping, and defending: headlock escapes from all positions, side control escapes, mount and back escapes, choke defense, and some punch and knife defenses. I did occasionally tap purple belts. At purple, I am refining all my techniques to make them work against wrestlers and aggressive/fast/strong athletes. I am focusing on leverage, efficeiency, and being a couple of steps ahead. I tap brown belts regularly and survive black belts efficiently. Th as t has been my personal experience for the pat 11 years (yes, I am slow and took two years off).

For me, the saying "once you get your black belt you start over" is LITERALLY true. Since I just got my black belt before corona-virus. And now the gyms are all shutdown probably through the summer. By the time I get back on the mat, I will have been without jiu jitsu for at least 4 months.

Love ❤️ your philosophy because martial arts are about so much more than fighting...

I feel like it depends on the person's background, a D1 wrestler as a white belt is going to be pressuring purple and brown belts in a short amount of time while someone who has never done grappling is going to take years.

Pleasure to hear your point of view chewy. Been amazing following you the last 4 years. Such a solid bloke with a straight down the line, humble attitude. Legend mate!

Great podcast, awesome points Chewy. Much appreciated.

This is a great accompaniment vid to another similar presentation titled WHAT BJJ BELTS MEAN from “The Art of The Skill” where the black belt instructor speaks about his lineage from Roy Dean to Hélio Gracie and the progress through the belts, the essential/ necessary mindset and emotional maturity go through as well as surpassing each belt. It much about character as well as physical master. Your vid is a great addition, it’s about character as well as how one’s progression also inspires/ motivates others. Thanks for sharing, Chewie

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing the wisdom Chewy!

Man your content has been so nice to watch as I’m getting back into bjj!! You’re the man Chewy 🤙🏽

I’m picky as hell about the podcasts I listen to. But after watching this clip, I’m going to start listening to you from now

You're awesome, Chewie. 100% agree about promoting a positive mat culture. Good analysis overall.

Thanks for this, I've been meaning to change my attitude and mentality during my gym seshions. It's hard but I'm glad I watched this. Thanks chewy

That Charlie Parker quote hits home, makes sense can't wait to go through the whole process

Beautiful video! Gives me focus to see where I'm heading as a white belt. Gracias!

I'd like to thank you for these type of videos. I'll start with BJJ in few weeks and till now I've been doing boxing for good two years. From your videos I could learn more about BJJ guys "thinking" and gym etiquette as some of the things are bit different from what im used to and I think they could find me a bit cocky in first classes.

I was different in regards to blue belt. I focused almost entirely on what I gravitated toward during my blue belt. I just got my purple a few months ago and decided I would dedicate this belt to strengthening the parts of my game I neglected

Best explanation I've heard of belts.

Very well said. I enjoy this guys outlook on the culture related topic.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu brown here Learn takedowns from white to black Bexause you don’t wanna be a black belt that can’t throw. This is my Ted talk, thank you 🙏🏽

This is red belt advice IMO you seem genuinely decent it's gotta be said. I love your videos and this kind of content. I'd love to roll with you someday if it were ever possible! stay safe dude

I'm a white belt and I have been for a while. I know why now - I've been too focused on trying to beat people instead of actually learning the techniques. I've been relying too heavily on smashing.

I so much agree with you, Chewie 🙏

Love Chewy! Awesome knowledge bombs!

The podcast clips are great 👍🏼

Very nice explanation. Thank you for this 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Well said. I'm a Judo player and I feel a lot of similarities

You're the best, man. Keep it up!

This is why I like jiujitsu. Most places and teachers are very positive influences on your life. And there is a brotherhood/sisterhood there that is lacking in a lot of other arts.

I love your point about building others up. True leadership defined and demonstrated regardless of "rank." I did not always have that kind of leader in the Army, the few amazing leaders I did have, concreted the idea that you're only as good as your weakest link. So, you build up everyone, physically and mentally, the end result, an unstoppable team that continues to grow. This carries over to my current job providing security overseas. My team trains BJJ, in the gym and at the range. Everyone doesn't show up with those skills ironed out, but they learn fast and become part of the team and family because there's no ego. Sadly, the gym I formerly trained at was the opposite of a safe training environment because of that kill or be killed mentality. My wife had her ribs broken by larger men, several friends I still have from that gym have been seriously injured(knees torn, broken back, torn muscles). The coach literally said he wouldn't teach people certain counters, so he wouldn't lose matches during training. Comically that "coach" was just given his brown belt, even though he did no training under anyone during that time... So, we switch gyms, end up driving about 80 miles each direction. Which ended up being a great decision. Coaches are very skilled and want people to learn, the students aren't trying to maim each other. Even the kids have a different mind set when training with smaller opponents. I watched my son actually enjoying rolling because he was learning and not having kids 30lbs heavier than him put him in WWF style back and neck cranks. Anyways, big rant because you hit the nail on the head. Toxic people ruin BJJ for people, especially when they are in charge. As always, solid video!

Great info. Love the Nikki Sullivan shirt as well!

"Brown belt is a polisher." You find that special turd and make it shine.

I'm still a white belt and just read about that topic in the book from Saulo Ribeiro. And to that character-theme at the end I really like that idea. I think it helps keep a welcoming atmosphere at the gym. That's good especially for beginners

Rising tides raise all ships! Great video.

Excellent!

Thanks so much for this brutha.

Good stuff brother

@Chewjitsu you should definitely do a cross with Sensei Seth - I think you guys would drop knowledge bombs

White belt - Beginner Blue belt - You can beat a bigger, stronger opponents who are untrained. Purple belt - You can beat a bigger, stronger, trained opponents. (Massive learning curve) Brown - Noticeable efficacy in energy, speed and movement from a purple belt. Competition ready Black - Master; you are the competition.

can you make a video where you go DEEP into the specifics? :)

Love it

Love CHEWJITSUUUUUUUUUUUU

I had no idea you had a podcast!

Thank you for this video, I greatly appreciate it. I've been into it for 9 months (2 stripe white belt). I'm going 4-5X a week. I like it but don't love it yet...I fight myself sometimes to go and other times I look forward to it. I personally think is my Ego because more often I get smashed and other times I survived...or rarely get someone to tap...My question...is this normal? not being in love with it yet? btw...the people at the academy are phenomenal and so are the instructors...just wanted to know if this was normal. Thank you.

I'm a white belt, due to some extenuating circumstances i have been for over 2 years. I'm always unsure about what I should be focusing on. This was helpful.

White belts shouldn't have to drown. If white belts are offered quality fundamentals class there is no need to drown. What Chew is describing is a Sports BJJ survivors mentality!

I have a strange question: Early jiu Jitsu practitioners in Mma only used rear naked chokes, triangle chokes, and arm bars, with all of the different techniques, omoplata, gogoplata etc. Why do you think they only used the four they used, is it possible they were instructed not to use others early in Mma (Ufc1-5, K1, Pride) Love your channel, keep up tue great Q&A's

Currently a white belt but I'm not too bothered in mastering techniques after already learning the basics and typically I'm just doing whatever makes sense based off of the things I already know. Is it bad to do this? Because I mean obviously taking Dunning Kruger into the mix even though I feel like I slightly know what I'm doing that might not be the case...

Does it matter if the player is a competitive player vs self defense player. I know there is an overlap in both cases. I do believe that the master him self said that a blue belt will be able to take care of a bigger opponent that has not done Brazilian jujitsu. Beyond that I don’t know. I am a white belt with one stripe. Chew, where can I get one of your t-shirts, and where it during my next KZfaq channel? I always enjoy you content. Got along out of your teachings. 👍👍

Chewy, where can I email you a topic/question for podcast discussion?

As well as training in bjj I also instruct in a striking martial art and I'm just curious as to if you have any tips to pass onto students about bringing people up with them because I really like that mentality of "we are getting really good" as opposed to "I am great" but im sure you've had asshole students too and it is difficult to teach them about respect (especially in striking i think) so do you have any words of wisdom to pass onto an inexperienced instructor

It’s awesome to know what Chewy looks for but the best thing for a white belt like Chewy says is to ask your coach/instructor what he/she is looking for!

A famous MMA team here in the Northern part of the Philippines with no actual rolling experience promoted their players from no belt or white belt to purple and even brown belt. What can you say about that?

What about training at gyms and Mcdojo associations like killerbees and others. Known for teaching with a cult vibe and focus on flashy moves from the beginning to white belts while black belts who don’t really roll with each other get worshiped by lower belts they dominate ?

Ive been a white belt for 4 years and my grading is Monday. I had goal of blue belt at start of year and I'm 60/40 that I probably won't get it but it is possible I trained very hard all year and enjoyed every second of the journey. Around 2 months ago I decided to stop obsessing over belts and focus on improving and ive loved journey more and improved more as result There were times until recently where I'd be annoyed if I got smashed but recently decided it does t help and focus more on having fun I feel like I've grown mentally and physically but for some reason I think if I do get my blue belt I will feel somewhat guilty and that I should've enjoyed being a white belt more Why do you think I feel this way?

What about the kids belts? Grey thru green?

In about a month I'll be 14 years a white belt!

BJJ is a very slow proses, its far slower than most if not all martial arts, for example, I did judo for a long time, then stopped for a while and forgot some stuff, then got onto bjj, I focused on relearning some judo stuff during bjj sparing, i get about 1-2 opportunities to do a good throw during a 45 min rolling sesh, about 20 opportunities for a submission, yet i felt that my judo and BJJ have progressed at the same rate after I've been doing it for 3 months. and FYI, it took about 3 months for me to realize that i even progressed, that i belonged and was not total shit at it, so be patient

With your logic I’d be a white belt, which I am still after 3 years

I was wayyyy better at white belt, I was consistently subbing higher belts and having them tell me how good I was etc Now at blue belt I suck, I literally can’t do anything, sometimes I have classes now where I don’t even get submissions on white belts.. I’m getting dominated by two stripe white belts now. Like how does that make any sense

no Adam?? thumbdown! :D

It’s funny when I don’t know a move someone is talking about I say let me see . And let them do it on me . But really it’s let me feel

People need to forget about their belt color and just train hard.

I'm at the, I suck real bad as a blue belt phase. It'll pass 😭😭😭

I got a big head when I tapped a purple belt as a white we went a few more time and he destroyed me the rest of the time I watch alot of jiu jitsu so he didn't expect me to know what I knew

Bird's words ;)

Where steel sharpens steel

All these people saying they are blue belts tapping the occasional purple belt and im over here still getting tapped by white belts. They are all 30+ pounds heavier than me that I get tapped by, but still, I get tapped by them. I get tapped by mostly all of the blue belts at my gym even when they are lighter than me. I've had my blue belt for almost two years now. I try to train 4 days a week. I definitely feel like a white belt still. Is that normal to some people?

Yeah, as a purple belt I was a complete monster at guard passing, taking back, and clock choking. I would literally use mount or knee on belly as a transition to back. I did not care about submissions from there. I had my thing and I knew how to do it.

White Belt: Crawl Blue Belt: Walk Purple Belt: Run Brown Belt: Fly Black Belt: JOHN WICK

Suggestion: don't exit without saving this video somewhere. You may want to see it again . . .

I recently joined a school and at the school the worst guy is me and then theres another white belt with 1 stripe but he’s been coming here for 9 months. My instructor won’t give you stripes for shi 🤣

Never be negative in the gym

What about toxic manipulative black belts and favoritism?

I have been a blue belt for almost three years. I am 40. I can roll with anyone safely except maybe the 200 lb plus spaz (I am 171). I think I contribute positivity to the culture in the gym. I try to help people etc. Occasionally I submit higher belts. Still stuck looking at this blue belt. Its discouraging.

As iron sharpens iron student sharpens student

the part where you have to feel jiu jitsu is why gracie university online sucks

Am I coward for using headgear

Someone actually cares about the belts????? Whaaat???? I suck at BJJ right but I've seen so many times judo black belts or good wrestlers come in and smash or submit purple or brown belts and they are technically white belts. It doesn't really work that way. Besides my coach promotes everyone at the same time in order not to discourage nor offend anyone which is worthless imo, so belts don't matter. What matters is your ability to win matches and to help other people that are worse than you. I can throw my belt into a garbage bin and be fine with that, it's just a piece of coloured cloth or whatever that thing is

This is a big part of what’s wrong with jiu jitsu is these cult like critiques yes if someone is being harmful they need to leave but saying they need to be a leader they need to convert I’d never step foot in his gym for these reasons.

Then you got those pesky red boi grandmasters. No living grandmaster as of 2020 as far as I know. But damn what an achievement

Im on the 4th year of my white belt....Its my own fault as Ive found every excuse to not be consistent. Last night was my first class in 2.5 years, Worse last night than the day I left lol.....But I hope when I look back on this comment in a year I can laugh

Until Purple belt you are playing checkers after Blue you are playing chess

I can’t imagine trying to hinder my teammates progress. That’s pure EGO.

I like a lot of what Nick has to say here but I disagree on the whole "they're negative" thing. There is a lot and I mean ALOT of toxic positivity in jiu-jitsu. This whole "we're a family" bs for one. Yes, a family who pays to partake in an activity together that is mostly a hobby for the majority of them. What when they stop paying, no longer a family member? There are some cult vibes with things like that. Not everyone shits rainbows all day, some people are fantastic jiu-jitsu practitioners whether they do MMA or they have a desk job, that doesn't mean they should be required to fit a certain mold of personality trait expectations.

lm

Violence can be used for good.

he looks exactly like steven crowder

i am the only one who don't give a crap here ? he can be rainbow belt if he wants , let's roll

@7:50 I think the part about pulling people up with you is bullshit. Some people are busy and I don't get paid to be an instructor. I'm paying for a service.

Imagine if boxing also had a colored belt based rating system of all fighters. LOL #nogi