HOW LONG ARE YOU A WHITE BELT IN BJJ?

A white belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the first belt that a student will wear, it signifies the very beginning of a long and eventful journey. The hardest part about starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is finding the right academy that suits the students needs. Some academies are very strict and adopt an age-old sense of tradition, where other academies are more laid back. Once a student finds the right fit for them they should dive straight into the deep end. 

What This Article Covers:

• Where Do White Belts Start
• How Long Is the White Belt Process
• What BJJ Goals Does a White Belt Need to Set
• What Is the Importance of Stripes
• Why Do Some Students Struggle to Move Up in Rank
• Competing At Tournaments
• Earning That Next Belt Level

Once a student begins their training they will encounter an amazing atmosphere, as a BJJ academy rates extremely high in terms of community and camaraderie. Starting off as a white belt definitely has its challenges, as most students are there to get fit, lose weight or fill the void in their lives. As a beginner they can be quite tentative and unsure of how to approach the art, once they come to terms with the close proximity they share with their training partners, they will begin to understand how to progress. Students will begin learning a series of fundamental movements and control positions that will benefit their ability to improve at the beginners stage.

Renowned black belt instructor Joel Bouhey has your back in his new WHITE BELT DEFENSE series--check it out at BJJFanatics.com!

WHERE DO WHITE BELTS START 

At the beginning it can be extremely tough on a new student, it is always hard to fit in at a new academy when they are unsure of what to expect. Luckily for beginners a BJJ academy is full of humble and respectful people, it is one of the most honourable and integral Martial Arts that a student can undertake. BJJ has a way of weeding out the hotheads or the arrogant students, leaving only the ones that want to inspire or be inspired.

A good place to start is to focus on the warm ups and try and master them, as all of these traditional movements directly link to techniques that students will learn along the way. Beginners will often discover what percentage of bjj white belts quit, as they look to endure through the tough first year. White belts should just keep their heads down and concentrate on one thing at a time, focusing on staying postured and keeping their balance. It's all about the little things at the beginning like where they should position their leg or how they should keep their elbows in. High level practitioners will expose a beginner's mistakes, but that's okay, that is how a beginner will start to see where they can improve.

White belts will often question whether they are ready to compete or not. Most beginners can jump straight into competitions, as the divisions are separated by rank, age and weight, meaning it is relatively safe for a beginner to try it out. Some students may have to spend a certain amount of time becoming accustomed to the art of BJJ before they are ready to tackle a competition. The best decision a white belt can make is to talk to their instructors about it, as they will know if they are ready to take on the responsibility of competing at a tournament.

HOW LONG IS THE WHITE BELT PROCESS

It can take anywhere from twelve months to several years for a white belt to be ready for the next belt promotion. Some students are just natural athletes or have a high intellectual capacity, this will make it easy to execute many of the techniques they will learn. These kinds of white belts will compete from the outset and find themselves learning at a quick pace. It is these exceptional students that will question everything, they will want to know how to reach the next level, how to reach the black belt level or how many black belts are there in bjj. The only way to get answers is to ask questions, so this is a good methodology for these kinds of students.

Other students will have to spend a lot longer trying to grasp the underlying principles in Jiu Jitsu. They may also be dealing with heavy weight loss or trying to improve a poor level of fitness, in these cases it is going to take time jumping those initial hurdles before they will begin to see significant improvements. In this instance it will take some serious dedication and consistency on the mats for students to progress. Some students have spent five years or more at the white belt level, the problem is an instructor cannot give out the next belt unless a student is comprehensively ready to wear it.

WHAT BJJ GOALS DOES A WHITE BELT NEED TO SET 

It is a good idea for beginners to set goals for themselves, sometimes if a student sets them too high then they are destined to fail. Setting smaller and more achievable goals is a much more efficient way of progressing through the belts. Once a beginner is rolling with other members in the gym they will learn how good is a bjj blue belt, sometimes that is all the inspiration they need to earn themselves a blue belt promotion.

Beginners should be setting themselves goals like trying to master the warmups for a start, as that will enhance their technical movements exponentially. Once they have wrapped their heads around the initial movements they should be looking at simple goals like;maintaining control positions and transitioning between positions while keeping pressure on their opponent. Another good goal is to pick one sweep or submission and during a live roll just try to execute that, this can also work with passing the guard or just simply working on guard retention.

One of the most important aspects of building a good foundation in Jiu Jitsu is defense. Students must spend a significant amount of time learning how to escape from positions, escape from submissions and defend submissions. The old saying goes "a good defense is a strong offense" and this couldn't be more true, as students must learn how to turn a submission escape into a submission attack. Beginners will also need to relax and breathe, as some white belts will often be too aggressive which leads to running out of breath and lactic acid build up in their muscles. Once a beginner works out how to stay calm and not use all of their strength in the first minute they will be on the right track towards a promotion.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF STRIPES

Stripes are an extremely important component that a BJJ coach uses to track the progression of their students' skill level. Each stripe is awarded once a student accumulates a certain level of skill, and after four stripes are awarded the student will then earn their next belt rank. Stripes are also handed out in kids Jiu Jitsu as the youth Jiu Jitsu belt ranking system helps the child track their progression easier. Kids get distracted easily, so coaches will usually have regular gradings to keep the children engaged. 

Some academies have a different standard of criteria for handing out stripes. Some students will receive stripes for simply showing consistency on the mats, where others will have to go through a more comprehensive series of movements in order to gain promotions. Some students will ask if stripes are handed out in No Gi or does no gi bjj have belts, most coaches will explain that stripes and belts are handed out in the Gi and are transferable to No Gi. It is important not to get too hung up on being awarded stripes, as they will come when a coach decides a student deserves them. The best action a white belt can take is to stay focused, keep practising techniques and roll with as many high belts in their academy as possible, this is the best way to be noticed by a coach.

WHY DO SOME STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO MOVE UP IN RANK

There are a few factors that will prevent a white belt from moving up to the next belt rank. One of the common reasons is attitude, a coach will be extremely reluctant to award promotions to a student who is arrogant or dangerous in any way. When a student goes up in rank it is a reflection of their coach and their academy, so students need to be humble, honourable and integral. Another reason is poor consistency, students need to be frequent in the gym and constantly seen on the mats by their coach, this is the only way a student can build a bulletproof Jiu Jitsu game.

Some students will be too aggressive and use too much strength, this will only make a student wear out quicker. When a student uses too much strength their bodies are rigid and easier to sweep, it is important to learn how to fight calmly so they can capitalise on dominant positions. The more common reason for a student being held back in the beginner phase is purely for their skills. If a student's skills are not up to scratch then a coach will not promote them. That's why repetition is vital, students must spend a lot of time mastering all aspects of what they are taught, it is also a key component to then battle test these movements by rolling as much as possible. 

COMPETING AT TOURNAMENTS

A good way to fast track a student's progression is to enter the competition scene. The white belt divisions at competitions are usually stacked with beginners, as many of them are excited to give it a try. Coaches will often use the competition process as a way of grading their students. If a student is dominating at the white belt level it can be an indicator that they are ready to wear the blue belt. Experiencing BJJ competitions is a great way to see if a student's game style will hold up, it is extremely important to battle test everything they have learnt.

Although the competition process may sway a coaches mind in terms of promotion, it's not the most important aspect. Competing is not mandatory within an academy, but it can be highly encouraged and many of the high level students are extremely supportive. Competing will also teach a student how to make decisions under highly stressful situations, as it is the closest aspect to a real life scenario. The competitive scene is a humbling experience and any student that takes that brave step will be better off for it. 

Children can also compete at the white belt level, this is a great way to help the child understand how they need to engage in the Martial Art. It is also a great experience for them to make friends and learn valuable lessons in sportsmanship. If kids are winning medals that can also have an amazing impact on their outlook, as it will give them confidence and help to inspire other members in their academy.

EARNING THAT NEXT BELT LEVEL

As a student is promoted to the blue belt level it can be a big step up. At the next belt level a student will realise that every high belt in their academy was just playing with them, as they start to feel their real skill level. It is a good transition for students as they are no longer a beginner and can start to put in some serious development into their technical application. Becoming a Blue belt also comes with some expectations like representing the academy with honourable and sportsmanlike behaviours. 

Staying safe when someone is attacking your back is a skill that must be learned early.  Joel Bouhey is here to help protect you from back related submissions.

A blue belt will also have a significant step up in the competition arena, as the new division is usually full of killers on the mat. At this level it will be time to focus on their technical abilities and look to increase their overall knowledge of Jiu Jitsu. The student must embrace their new level and begin to grow as a Martial Artist. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a highly complex sport and must be taken seriously. If a student can endure the first two years of the beginner phase then they will reap the rewards and move up to the higher ranks of BJJ.

If you enjoyed this piece, consider checking:

• Youngest BJJ Black Belt
• Fastest BJJ Black Belt
• White to Blue Belt BJJ
• Jiu-Jitsu White Belt Moves
• BJJ White Belt Tips
• BJJ White Belt Goals
• BJJ White Belt Stripes
• BJJ Black Belt White Bar
• BJJ White Belt
• Everything You Need to Know About BJJ Belts
• BJJ Belt Meanings
• BJJ Stripes
• How Long to Get First Stripe BJJ?
• Kids Jiu Jitsu Belts
• How to Tie Jiu-Jitsu Belt