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Favourite explanation of BJJ ranks.
6 year(s) ago • 7372 views • 17 replies
DCBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
It's inevitably a question we have been or will be asked to explain by 'the guy/gal' at the club.
My question is what's the best/favorite way you've heard it explained?
I've heard a few but this is the one that sticks out in my mind (because of its simplicity I believe).
White belt= You do a lot of stupid shit.
Blue belt= You've tidied up some stupid shit... But you still do stupid shit.
Purple belt= You capatalise on stupid shit.
Brown belt= You make people do stupid shit.
Black belt= You tap people with stupid shit.
Made me laugh when I heard this and it has stuck with me ever since. Undoubtedly there are better ways to break it down and there is definitely more to it than tapping or submitting people but this isn't a serious conversation.
Tell me yours...
My question is what's the best/favorite way you've heard it explained?
I've heard a few but this is the one that sticks out in my mind (because of its simplicity I believe).
White belt= You do a lot of stupid shit.
Blue belt= You've tidied up some stupid shit... But you still do stupid shit.
Purple belt= You capatalise on stupid shit.
Brown belt= You make people do stupid shit.
Black belt= You tap people with stupid shit.
Made me laugh when I heard this and it has stuck with me ever since. Undoubtedly there are better ways to break it down and there is definitely more to it than tapping or submitting people but this isn't a serious conversation.
Tell me yours...
Edited 6 year(s) ago
EWPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
White belt: You Probably haven't been training very long
Blue belt: ?
Purple belt: ?
Brown belt: ?
Black belt: You've probably been training for a long time
Blue belt: ?
Purple belt: ?
Brown belt: ?
Black belt: You've probably been training for a long time
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
I've always liked the description in Kevin Howell and Saulo's seminal book, Jiu Jitsu University, where they divide up the chapters by themes related to belt levels.
White belt = survival
Blue belt = escapes
Purple belt = guard
Brown belt = passing
Black belt = submissions
I'll often trot that out to the white belts who are complaining they can't submit anybody, or blue belts upset that they aren't slicing through everybody's guard like butter, etc.
White belt = survival
Blue belt = escapes
Purple belt = guard
Brown belt = passing
Black belt = submissions
I'll often trot that out to the white belts who are complaining they can't submit anybody, or blue belts upset that they aren't slicing through everybody's guard like butter, etc.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
JJBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I made this picture on my 1 year of jiu jitsu anniversary in May, 2019 and posted on my Instagram. Not sure how it holds up now to what I think now...but still it looks kinda cool. lol
AKPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Just speaking for myself here, but as a new white belt i was primarily interested in learning a submission and an escape from all the major positions. Once i achieved that, i then became more interested in which submissions and escapes were 'high percentage'. I think of that phase as gathering 'test data'.
I expect to get my blue belt next month, i'm now focused on the concepts behind what make things high percentage (or not). I now see why Rob Biernaki calls BJJ 'the study of principles of human movement'. I don't think it's obvious to a new white belt why that is. I needed the 'test data' to be able to properly interpret the concepts. You can understand the words, but without experience then you can't grasp the meaning. As an almost blue, i'm learning concepts but not yet able to fully execute them. The higher belts always seem 1 second ahead of me.
In my head, a purple belt would know multiple submission and escape from each position, they would also understand the first movement their opponent would make to initiate either of those and they would also know a counter to that movement, that allows them to impose their own game.
At some point, the grappler should be able to apply the concepts in real time, to unfamiliar situations. I've seen people who have drilled certain flows to an incredibly quick and high standard, but come completely unstuck by someone who it attacking / defending the meta.
I expect to get my blue belt next month, i'm now focused on the concepts behind what make things high percentage (or not). I now see why Rob Biernaki calls BJJ 'the study of principles of human movement'. I don't think it's obvious to a new white belt why that is. I needed the 'test data' to be able to properly interpret the concepts. You can understand the words, but without experience then you can't grasp the meaning. As an almost blue, i'm learning concepts but not yet able to fully execute them. The higher belts always seem 1 second ahead of me.
In my head, a purple belt would know multiple submission and escape from each position, they would also understand the first movement their opponent would make to initiate either of those and they would also know a counter to that movement, that allows them to impose their own game.
At some point, the grappler should be able to apply the concepts in real time, to unfamiliar situations. I've seen people who have drilled certain flows to an incredibly quick and high standard, but come completely unstuck by someone who it attacking / defending the meta.
JJBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
As an almost blue, i'm learning concepts but not yet able to fully execute them. The higher belts always seem 1 second ahead of me.
A simple concept would be controlling the opponents biceps/shoulders with inside position and making sure they never get inside position on your own elbows or underhooks and just start doing these things naturally instinctually without even thinking about it from every position. will prevent getting flattened out by crossfaces and underhooks for example in one position but in another the same thing might prevent getting triangled/armbared or swept.
If I have my back taken or let someone take my back and workout of it and I somehow start to end up in close guard I naturally will make sure through the transitions that I am still aware of getting my hands on the inside controlling their biceps/shoulders or under armpits working my way down while my elbow are in a safe positions to control them while also preventing them from gaining inside position on one of my posts to be able to set up a submission or sweep without even thinking about it...just doing it and then naturally doing the next part of the process of braking the close guard itself and then setting up the guard pass or reset button back to open guard either or without even a moment of pause in my brain about what to do next.
And when your mind and body is using less energy to process information it's amazing how much easier it is to problem solve in real time and chain submission or sweep attempts together in such combination that it's hard for your opponent to figure out what to defend.
If I have my back taken or let someone take my back and workout of it and I somehow start to end up in close guard I naturally will make sure through the transitions that I am still aware of getting my hands on the inside controlling their biceps/shoulders or under armpits working my way down while my elbow are in a safe positions to control them while also preventing them from gaining inside position on one of my posts to be able to set up a submission or sweep without even thinking about it...just doing it and then naturally doing the next part of the process of braking the close guard itself and then setting up the guard pass or reset button back to open guard either or without even a moment of pause in my brain about what to do next.
And when your mind and body is using less energy to process information it's amazing how much easier it is to problem solve in real time and chain submission or sweep attempts together in such combination that it's hard for your opponent to figure out what to defend.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
ANBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
white - just a grappling dummy
blue - actual human being, knows nothing but thinks he does, dont listen to them !
purple - actually knows a few things, can even teach you a few tricks
brown - knows some jiu jitsu, should be able to fight and use it in a fight
black - understands some jiu jitsu
i will leave it open if im serious or just joking here ;)
blue - actual human being, knows nothing but thinks he does, dont listen to them !
purple - actually knows a few things, can even teach you a few tricks
brown - knows some jiu jitsu, should be able to fight and use it in a fight
black - understands some jiu jitsu
i will leave it open if im serious or just joking here ;)
BWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
6 year(s) ago
Stolen from R. David Gonzalez on another thread ;)
White Belt : Non Believer - Heretic - constantly demands proof and ponders the eternal question of "what if?"
Blue Belt : Full Convert: True Believer and Fanatical Monk - Missionary spreading the word of Jiu Jitsu - still manages to get a "what if?" in occasionaly
Purple Belt : Warrior Class Monk not interested in converting the non believer - only interested in punishing them - fully self absorbed and breaks every conventional rule
Brown Belt : Much like a "maester" - seeks deeper bjj scientific knowledge and refinement- willing to share with the other classes of Monks - realizes he knows nothing
Black Belt : The Jedi of BJJ - knows he knows nothing - seeks an even deeper refinement of technique and seeks the secrets of leverage - shares everything.
White Belt : Non Believer - Heretic - constantly demands proof and ponders the eternal question of "what if?"
Blue Belt : Full Convert: True Believer and Fanatical Monk - Missionary spreading the word of Jiu Jitsu - still manages to get a "what if?" in occasionaly
Purple Belt : Warrior Class Monk not interested in converting the non believer - only interested in punishing them - fully self absorbed and breaks every conventional rule
Brown Belt : Much like a "maester" - seeks deeper bjj scientific knowledge and refinement- willing to share with the other classes of Monks - realizes he knows nothing
Black Belt : The Jedi of BJJ - knows he knows nothing - seeks an even deeper refinement of technique and seeks the secrets of leverage - shares everything.
PBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
mmm what about
white: maternity, creche
blue belt: elementary school level
purple belt: high school level
brown belt : bachelor degree level
black belt: master degree level
white: maternity, creche
blue belt: elementary school level
purple belt: high school level
brown belt : bachelor degree level
black belt: master degree level
AKPurple beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
mmm what about white: maternity, creche blue belt: elementary school level purple belt: high school level brown belt : bachelor degree level black belt: master degree level
Doesn't work like that. BJJ is front loaded. A blue belt should be able to beat a bigger, untrained fighter. Blue to purple is a major jump again. A typical purple belt should be toying with a typical white belt, but i don't think a typical black belt can toy with a typical purple belt. GSP used to train with blue belts when he wanted to practise entirely new skills...
JJBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Doesn't work like that. BJJ is front loaded. A blue belt should be able to beat a bigger, untrained fighter. Blue to purple is a major jump again. A typical purple belt should be toying with a typical white belt, but i don't think a typical black belt can toy with a typical purple belt. GSP used to train with blue belts when he wanted to practise entirely new skills...
I've also noticed purple belts sometimes tend to have the biggest egos and are the most likely to injure someone outside of a brand new white belt.
PBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I've also noticed purple belts sometimes tend to have the biggest egos and are the most likely to injure someone outside of a brand new white belt.
depends of the teachings and the academy, sorry if you had bad experiences with purple belts. At my side I am very careful about the beginners especially those who don't have athletics attributes nor martial arts background so I spend time to explain and drills concepts. I would rather notice egos at all belts especially those who are screaming to get tapped repetitively or telling the others they deserve the next belt but the professor is the only one to decide.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
PBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Doesn't work like that. BJJ is front loaded. A blue belt should be able to beat a bigger, untrained fighter. Blue to purple is a major jump again. A typical purple belt should be toying with a typical white belt, but i don't think a typical black belt can toy with a typical purple belt. GSP used to train with blue belts when he wanted to practise entirely new skills...
I told it because each belt is a stage of apprenticeship and learning process all different and empirical at the same time
JJBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
depends of the teachings and the academy, sorry if you had bad experiences with purple belts. At my side I am very careful about the beginners especially those who don't have athletics attributes nor martial arts background so I spend time to explain and drills concepts. I would rather notice egos at all belts especially those who are screaming to get tapped repetitively or telling the others they deserve the next belt but the professor is the only one to decide.
Mostly just the insecure competition purple belts that care to much about what other people think. lol
Outside of White belt I see more insecurity at Purple then Blue, Brown or Black combined.
Outside of White belt I see more insecurity at Purple then Blue, Brown or Black combined.
Edited 6 year(s) ago
PBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Mostly just the insecure competition purple belts that care to much about what other people think. lol
hahahahahahahaha good one, possibly because they put too much pressure on themselves for nothing
GFBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
Language acquisition metaphor:
White : Alphabet
Blue : Words, grammar
Purple : Full sentences
Brown : Fluency
Black : Eloquence
Something like that
Advices for each belt :
White : Relax
Blue : Relax
Purple : Relax
Brown : Relax
Black : Keep learning
White : Alphabet
Blue : Words, grammar
Purple : Full sentences
Brown : Fluency
Black : Eloquence
Something like that
Advices for each belt :
White : Relax
Blue : Relax
Purple : Relax
Brown : Relax
Black : Keep learning
DCBlack beltVerified
6 year(s) ago
I've heard that metaphor slightly different.
White: Letters
Blue: Words
Purple: Sentences
Brown: Paragraphs
Black: Stories
I like Chewie's buffet analogy also but that's less about the ranks understanding and more about what the focus should be at those ranks.
White: Letters
Blue: Words
Purple: Sentences
Brown: Paragraphs
Black: Stories
I like Chewie's buffet analogy also but that's less about the ranks understanding and more about what the focus should be at those ranks.
