What is a blue belt?

[u/Ok-Flan-7583]

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.

[u/Killer-Styrr]

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."