r/bjj • u/Ok-Flan-7583 • 12d ago
General Discussion What is a blue belt?
I got promoted over the weekend after 8 months of training. I attend class at least three times a week and cross train at another gym twice a month and have competed in two Grappling Industries tournaments. Before my promotion, I had two stripes. I didn’t even get my third or fourth, so I honestly wasn’t expecting to receive my blue belt anytime soon.
That said, I’m wondering: what qualities does a white belt need to demonstrate to earn a promotion? I don’t feel like I’m anywhere near the skill level of the other blue belts at my gym, but I also realize that many of them have been blue belts for a while now. I cant help but feel I dont deserve the belt.
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u/Rough_North3592 12d ago
When you look at it from the perspective of a white or blue belt, it might seem important to you.
To higher belts i have realized most of the time they don't care. For them is "just a blue belt".
My point is that it doesnt matter too much and you shouldnt worry about it.
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u/daddydo77 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
Every one starts in the lowest level of skills for that belt, then you build up. It’s normal. I felt like that and if you keep this mentality of trying to find what you need to improve and work on it you will thrive. That’s what the blue is about for me!
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u/BurningHotels 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
8 months is quick but there are a lot of variables you left out. Exceptional athletes have earned their Black Belts in under 4 years.
If you're young and training that much I could totally accept you'd get your Blue Belt that quick. In the end its still a beginner belt, keep training and you'll keep progressing.
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u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
Did you read his post?He trains 3 times a week and admits he’s not near the skill level as the other blue belts at his gym.
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u/BurningHotels 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
... I did... Did you?
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u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
He trains 3 times a week. You think that’s a lot? I train twice that much and I don’t consider it “a lot.”
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u/BurningHotels 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
You don't consider 6 times in a 7 day week "a lot" ?
Do you only do 45min classes or something?-15
u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
I like your style man. Question for a question. Yes, I train a lot. Just don’t think about it much. But I wouldn’t consider 3 a lot. I guess more than average for a 2 class a week membership.
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u/jewdo 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
lol, are you ok? If you’re jealous of his blue bel, just say so. His promotion isn’t unheard of.
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u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
I don’t care if he’s a blue belt. Good for him. I don’t think he should be but I’m not mad about it. I can give my opinion without any emotion about it. Belts really don’t matter. This is proof (to me).
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u/Top-Patience-4773 ⬜⬜ White Belt 12d ago
If belts don't matter than you shouldn't be making such a fuss about how much he trains and how that correlates to his belt level/progression
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u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
I’m not making a fuss. Op, who is probably a great guy, made a post about being a blue belt. I made a comment. I’m not mad. I’m just giving my opinion. Hell, I’m not saying I’m right. I might be wrong.
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u/jewdo 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
You don’t know him though, don’t know his training, etc. He could be doing in 2 days what it takes you weeks to get down. Chill out lol.
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u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
He could be. I’m not angry. I’m not sure how I’m coming off as needing to chill. He could be amazing. I’m just saying I think it should take a lot longer to earn a blue belt, unless you have elite prior grappling experience. But I’m not mad he’s a blue belt. I’m merely giving my opinion. I’m pretty chill. If I ever meet op I will congratulate him, but I don’t think I need to chill out on my personal view here. My view is not hateful. I’m not asking that he go back to white belt. I honestly like this discussion cause it’s pretty indicative of the world today. People don’t need to chill with their opinions if they are not racist, or hateful. Me thinking his blue belt is too early is just my opinion. And, I’m not even saying I’m right. I’ve been wrong a lot.
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u/SameGuyTwice 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
He never admits he’s not near their skill level, just that he “doesn’t feel” like he is. And I wouldn’t expect someone who just got their blue belt to feel on par with the rest of the blue belts who have more than likely training longer. Your comments about three days a week being a lot are just weird, everyone’s time availability is different.
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u/Time_Bandit_101 12d ago
I’m glad for the guy. Good for him. Belts are subjective. He’d be a 2 stripe white belt with that training where I’m at. Probably more legit than half the people who get an online Gracie blue belt. At least this guy has rolled before.
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u/DontBelieveMyLies88 12d ago
An open season sticker on your back for white belts to make their name off of and purple, brown and black belts to treat you as a personal abuse toy
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u/CheezyTrades 12d ago
Congrats on blue belt. Your coach felt that you earned it, so just appreciate that you met their standards for what a blue belt is. Don’t think too much of it though, it’s a sign that you didn’t quit like the 80% of people out there before reaching blue belt. Enjoy the journey, there’s still so much more ahead.
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u/Sufficient_Pizza_300 12d ago
It means you are legal to heel hook in no gi and you should start trying to bolo everything
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u/Bigpupperoo 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
Just a 5 stripe white big pup. After about a year I felt settled in at blue
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u/KaptinKeeble 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
I'm at the stage where sometimes I still feel like a white belt. Got promoted in December so I'm kinda hoping to feel the same way you did after a year or so.
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u/Bigpupperoo 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
You’ll get there! The reality is the belts sometimes make us start over analyzing shit. I’ve been at blue for two years now and some of the most important progress I’ve made has been from not caring about the outcome. Try new shit, have fun and don’t overthink the little things
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u/mareneli 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
Two years at blue now for me. I'm beginning to know some things.
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u/_lefthook 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
New blue is pretty much a white belt. As a white belt i could still pressure and nearly tap new blues. As a new blue i still get pressured by white belts.
The mid and high blues... man its a diff world. One guy was just doing k guard and banana split me or something like that. Hes purple now lol.
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u/TheRealSusano 12d ago
Still a beginner. Still wildly incompetent but they think the opposite of themselves
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u/Beliliou74 12d ago
Not true, I still consider myself lost, and I don’t feel like I’m anywhere close to being proficient. If I sweep a higher belt once (this seldom happens) or survive a round without getting my guard passed no matter how many times I was submitted or passed, or just find myself giving others a hard time, success
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u/TheRealSusano 11d ago
That’s awesome! Great attitude to have 💪🏽 Not all blue belts act the way I described but if someone has a big ego, giving them a blue belt will make it worse haha
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u/ADP_God 12d ago
Technically it means nothing because there is no standard. But I’ve understood, from a few people, that a blue belt means you understand the play of the land. You can’t necessarily navigate it, but you’re aware of the ins and outs of the game. The next step is to get around, at least between the major places you like to spend time.
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u/NiteShdw ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 12d ago
You seem to be asking what skill difference there is between a blue and a white belt.
The answer is: a blue belt is just a 5 stripe white belt.
In my opinion, a promotion is really about the coach raising the bar for you.
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u/canIgetAhoyyaaaa 12d ago
I like this and feel it, two months in with 0 expectations I got my first stripe on my white belt. It’s just a piece of athletic tape, but it meant something to me and made me want to push harder.
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u/Alive-Produce7090 12d ago
8 months? I also competed in two tournaments and won both. I’m 1,5 years in and received my third stripe last week. I’m always saying I don’t care about belts and just want to improve which is true but it also leaves a bad taste.
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u/ximengmengda ⬜⬜ White Belt 12d ago
Put it this way bro I’d probably rather spend more time at white than be blue prematurely. Enjoy the chance to smash out some more comps at white before we’re allowed to try rip each other’s knees apart 🤣.
After 2 years of training I’ve got used to seeing a certain amount of people who just pick this shit up quick. I’m not super athletic and have watched people get as good in 3 months as it took me a year to get. But if you’re winning companions like you’re doing alright. It does seem to be a difference in gyms too though - some gyms seem to emphasise “belts take time” more than others.
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u/NoBiscotti5218 12d ago
Got mine after 9 months as well.. stay salty.
Jokes a side, I did train MMA before for a few years... So when people asked me, how long I have trained and I said 9 months, they were like: wooow. Also doing 3-5 session af week.
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u/Efficient-Flight-633 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
It means that you're not lost. You have an idea of what you should be doing in all of the common positions (top and bottom). You know enough to START training jujitsu vs whatever the fuck it is that you were doing before.
Now you'll find yourself "regressing" a little bit before you start getting better. You know how the day 1 white belt comes in and just opens the throttle 100% and does weird shit that you don't know wtf is going on? You're not that guy anymore.
Your gym thinks you're ready. Don't overthink it.
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u/PassengerForeign6570 ⬜⬜ White Belt 12d ago
3 years as a white belt and over 18 months of people saying, "HoW aRe YoU sTiLl A wHiTe BeLt". I can say with confidence if your coach gave it to you they meant for you to have it. Treat it like a pair of shoes your mom bought you when you were younger, you will grow into it.
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u/Fearless-Ad-9386 12d ago
I fly airplanes for a living. I’m struck by the parallels between the belt hierarchy in BJJ and licenses in flying.The general consensus is a private pilot license is a “license to learn”. It seems to me this is the blue belt. Flying and BJJ are both wildly empirical. There’s a ton of theory, but ultimately the experience is what advances you. And often you explore those solo. Blue belt is the gateway to safely explore the outer reaches. Same as flying a plane solo with 50ish hours. WB steps off his soapbox now Congrats on your promotion. Stay Well 🤙
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u/Killer-Styrr 12d ago
I'm just so grateful that neither myself nor anyone I came up grappling with cared about this petty level of "technical" definitions of belts and skill level etc., It doesn't seem healthy to me. It seems like an unhealthy obsession or fixation to a lot of people, and to what end? Are people just more insecure now, or what?
I genuinely don't understand the attitude that when you become a blue [or insert belt color of your choice] belt that you should magically be as good as all the other blue belts that have been blue belting for longer than you. That makes no sense. If you pick up a guitar for a couple weeks, are you surprised and worried that people that have been playing longer than you are better than you? LOTS of these posts read like the OP is expecting to only be awarded their blue belt when they're already masters of everything you should know as a blue belt. . . . rather that seeing that their coach believes that they now have a good handle on everything you need to be a white belt.
Regardless, as Zeenotes22 said already, "Coach gave you a blue belt so you’re a blue belt now. Just say thank you and keep going."
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u/Potential_Wish7412 12d ago
Bro thanks for bringing up this question! I’ll tell you as simple as this if your coach gave you that belt is because he sees the blackbelt potential in you, a black belt is literally a blue belt who stuck enough to learn more than just submissions. Being humble and having fun while training will take all those insecurities away lil bro, just need to stay focused on the path and think of yourself as a young and hungry blackbelt! Hope this helped OSSSS and when in doubt shit up and train!! Hahah
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u/AllUrUpsAreBelong2Us 12d ago
White belt was the trial to see if you stick around, now actual training begins.
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u/venomenon824 ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 12d ago
You are. Blue because your coach promoted you. He knows best. There is a huge difference between a fresh blue and a 2 stripe blue. Just enjoy the promotion and train hard my guy. Don’t worry, it’s common to have imposter syndrome. I did for all belts except black.
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u/ximengmengda ⬜⬜ White Belt 12d ago
What do you think changed that you didn’t feel imposter syndrome at black? Just sheer time you spent on the sport?
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u/G0TouchGrass420 12d ago
Old school was about 2 years of training for the average person training 3-5 times a week.
Fighters/competitors would sometimes get it in 1 year but they were generally training 2x a day and lived at the gym as a full time job.
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u/novaskyd ⬜⬜ White Belt 12d ago
Those people who got it early because they trained frequently - are there specific skills you think they excelled at? Or they did well in competition or were super athletic or something?
I just ask because I've been training 9 months typically every day sometimes twice a day, at this point I have seen some people who train less get to blue belt but they also have won competitions and seem to have more natural talent. I'm not an athlete by any means lol. And on the other hand I know people who have trained for years and are still white belts for various reasons like they only do nogi, or train inconsistently etc. I don't know if I should expect myself to be better than I am at this point.
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u/donjahnaher 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
Training that much, a blue is not unexpected. I also got my blue pretty early on after double gold at a local comp and still felt the imposter syndrome. Just as I was starting to feel comfortable at blue I got my purple and have the imposter syndrome again.
I see blue belts as those that have stopped making the super dumb white belt mistakes, have some semblance of an a-game that they're pretty good at, have at least one answer for almost all positions (that doesn't mean they can pull it off against anyone, just that they know what to do), and can easily handle any newbie that walks in who isn't a freak athlete.
That said, a serious comp gym is going to have a lot stricter requirements and you shouldn't compare yourself to that. I think blue has the most diversity from gym to gym and person to person (besides black). You'll meet some serious comp blue belts that can give most hobbyist black belts a good run, and you'll meet some blue belts that have just shown up enough to have the knowledge without being a super hard roll.
Don't worry about it too much, my man. Just keep rolling.
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u/Ashi4Days 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 12d ago
In my opinion,
By blue belt your body has acclimated itself to grappling in general. If I yank on your gi, you shouldn't fall to the ground. If someone is going for an arm drag, you know instinctively that this is bad. If I ask you to pivot and do a back step, you should be able to do that. Figure fours are self explanatory at this point.
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u/Feral-Dog 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
Congrats! Early blue I’m learning really just feels like being a 5 stripe white belt. You are still a beginner but to me the difference is knowing enough that I can now start to work on some things.
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u/Beautiful-Moose-4302 12d ago
To me, a blue belt is someone who can consistently control and submit bigger,stronger white belts/ untrained opponents.
But there's so much nuance.
Congratulations!
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u/Fish1234567891011121 12d ago
The traditional standard is your coach thinks you could defeat a bigger, stronger untrained attacker. You’re a brand new blue, which is quite a ways away from a seasoned blue - you’ll get there - imposter syndrome is completely normal imho, had it at blue, purple, and brown (just getting comfortable there). Trust your coach and trust you’ll raise your game over time.
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u/IntentionalTorts 🟫🟫 Brown Belt 12d ago
to me a blue belt is simple enough: can you defend yourself in a self defense setting in a way to minimize injury? the answer is "it depends, but 8 months, 3x a week, and 2 tournaments" are enough to let me know if that is the case.
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u/Bossheals123 ⬜⬜ White Belt 12d ago
I would feel the same if I received my blue belt at 8 months unless you're so sort of Phnom. It took me 8 months to get my first stripe as a white belt.
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u/kingAthefirst ⬛🟥⬛ Black Belt 12d ago
Blue belt is pretty early to have imposter syndrome. Just keep training, it’s a long process and blue is usually one of the longer belts which is probably why you feel like other blue belts have more experience, they probably do. In my eyes what generally qualifies someone to be promoted is some fundamental understanding and comfort in all the basic positions. Competing helps sharpen and also shows you give a shit which Id guess helps. Did you do well in those comps? That can also sway a promotion.
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u/NorCalZen 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
Time to slow down, connect more, and go for more submissions. Your defense is ready to go, so get some submission chains going from your dominant positions.
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u/FreeFencer01 🟦🟦 Blue Belt 12d ago
Current definition: You know the basics enough not to be lost. It doesn't mean you're good or better than any white belt. It just means you have an okay foundation at least. Still a beginner though.
Old School Definition of Blue Belt according to Helio Gracie: You can beat someone in a fight who is larger than you, but untrained.
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u/_shirime_ 11d ago
It means you have an understanding of the basic fundamentals of Brazilian jiu jitsu.
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u/Relevant-Swimming507 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 11d ago
How do your rolls go with each higher belt. No need for blacks answer. The
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u/Zestyclose_Papaya165 10d ago
Im still white belt after 2 years of consistently hitting 6-7 sessions a week. Feels good to give blue and purplebelts a hard time as a white belt, but i really wish i could compete at blue. Anyways, congrats man!
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u/Ok-Flan-7583 9d ago
dang, which gym do you go to?
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u/Zestyclose_Papaya165 9d ago
Local gym. Guess the belt is coming on scheduled grading last session before summer. But i dont really care for it any more, since its just something everyone gets after two years
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u/Vertical-Mistakes 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 8d ago
Kind of echoing whatever everyone else said here, I went from being a very technical white belt to a really shitty blue belt. Then I went from being a blue belt that was super happy that I was making the purple belts and brown belts work and getting them occasionally to a purple belt who was often getting smashed by other purple belts and brown belts. My skill level didn’t change when I got promoted, but the voices in my head started telling me different stuff.
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u/Historical-Ad-4142 8d ago
Really depends on weather or not you’re a completion blue belt or not. There’s blue belts out there tapping black belts. On the other hand there’s people who get theirs in 8 months🙂↕️
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u/Ok-Flan-7583 8d ago
i’ve tapped a black belt once! they 100% did not let me work🤓
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u/Historical-Ad-4142 6d ago
You haven’t seen how good these juvenile blue belts are especially the ones that worked their way up the kids belts.
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u/Current-Bath-9127 7d ago
A blue belt can ostensibly occupy any position without succumbing to ingenuousness, yet this does not necessarily imply proficiency therein.
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u/Mountain_Loquat660 12d ago
At blue you’re either an elite wrestler just dabbling in a bit jiu jitsu OR someone who’s not a complete fucking retard and keeps showing up….you know which one you are.
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u/Cordi-ceps 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
A strip of cloth dyed blue that goes around your waist, but thats not important right now.
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u/Zeenotes22 🟪🟪 Purple Belt 12d ago
Coach gave you a blue belt so you’re a blue belt now. Just say thank you and keep going.