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Do many BJJ Blackbelts suffer from a God Complex?
2 year(s) ago • 2407 views • 48 replies
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Was just talking about this with a buddy.
I know it is common in academia, science, politics and the medical world but is BJJ just as affected in that regard?
What say you good people of Beltchecker?
I know it is common in academia, science, politics and the medical world but is BJJ just as affected in that regard?
What say you good people of Beltchecker?
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Wait are you saying I might not be god???
Seriously I have seen a lot of god complex in the arts and BJJ people running their schools like cults.. Hell take bowing and titles the whole industry is ripe with subtle setups that guide people in that direction.. I always tell my guys I am just a fuck up who fights better than they do
Seriously I have seen a lot of god complex in the arts and BJJ people running their schools like cults.. Hell take bowing and titles the whole industry is ripe with subtle setups that guide people in that direction.. I always tell my guys I am just a fuck up who fights better than they do
Edited 2 year(s) ago
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I always tell my guys I am just a fuck up who fights better than they do
I like this pragmatic approach to bjj.
Edited 2 year(s) ago
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I imagined this post would gain more traction.
SEBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
…only the gods know that.💁🏻♂️
MBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
I imagined this post would gain more traction.
I did as well, but then again we did scare Randy Lasso Rogers off the site!
PZBlack beltVerified
JCPurple beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
I have seen it, but it isn't nearly as prevalent in BJJ as it is in other arts. Taekwondo for example. We did that for 2 years before switching to BJJ and those guys worship their masters. Full tilt cult god worship. In BJJ it often seems that the self perceived godliness of the black belt in question is typically inversely proportional to their actual level of skill. The more legit the black belt the more grounded they seem to be.
DBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
I'd argue Bjj has less god complex than other traditional martial arts. For sure it's there, but due to the nature of competition and sparring, it gets toned down. We're constantly questioning what works and evolving, or at least should be. God complex leads to this is the only way to do things. I started in Aikido and man was there ever god complex there. All the black belts would brainwash you into "attacking" the right way etc. Hell, is there anyone with a bigger god complex than Steven Seagal?
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I have seen it, but it isn't nearly as prevalent in BJJ as it is in other arts. Taekwondo for example. We did that for 2 years before switching to BJJ and those guys worship their masters. Full tilt cult god worship. In BJJ it often seems that the self perceived godliness of the black belt in question is typically inversely proportional to their actual level of skill. The more legit the black belt the more grounded they seem to be.
Yes I have seen that as well.
MBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Should this topic be limited to just Black Belts with the God Complex? I mean I have seen it in many different belt levels. The more I think about it, I have seen more lower belts with this than Black Belts.
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
Should this topic be limited to just Black Belts with the God Complex? I mean I have seen it in many different belt levels. The more I think about it, I have seen more lower belts with this than Black Belts.
By all means. Any level can be discussed for sure.
Edited 2 year(s) ago
MBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Maybe not a God Complex.... BUT CLOSE..
https://www.bjjee.com/art[...]lt-in-bjj/
https://jiujitsucraft.com[...]-crap-god/
https://www.bjjee.com/art[...]lt-in-bjj/
https://jiujitsucraft.com[...]-crap-god/
SZBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I think it's less common in BJJ. i would think it would be more prevalent in academies where black belts refuse to roll with lower belts. I feel rolling keeps us humble.
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I think it's less common in BJJ. i would think it would be more prevalent in academies where black belts refuse to roll with lower belts. I feel rolling keeps us humble.
these folks would insist on being referred to as "Professor" at all times even at their wedding. LOL
GJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I sure don’t have that problem. I feel like I shouldn’t be wearing the thing half the time.
ANBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
I have seen it most in traditional martial arts - won't name them but you know I know - not so much in BJJ unless there's also something else wrong with them (pedo/con artist/ cult leader wannabe, criminal, etc.) then it's another layer to their shady personality that shows up when needed. Having said that I've only encountered the god complex cult leader and con artist types so far *thankfully*
CBBrown beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
I see it pretty much all the time. I've personally lost count of how many times I've heard, he's a "black belt" as an argument about something, especially when it's a topic the black belt knows isn't educated in or is saying something just objectively wrong.
I had this once with a Black Belt at my gym who just was telling people the 3 penalties is a disqualification in the IBJJF. I corrected him that it's 4. He told me he's a black belt and I don't know the rules as well as he does. I tell him I've taken the ref course every year for the last three years and the most recent class I took was a week ago and I'm pretty sure I'm up to date here. Then he starts saying that those classes are for black belts and I must have misunderstood something. 🙄
Honestly, I sometimes want to stay a purple belt because I've met so many Black Belts who think they're some kind of divine being. I mean, it's a piece of cloth. It doesn't mean you're a leader, it doesn't mean you're a genius, it doesn't mean you're a good coach, hell, a blue belt team mate and I have completed against and beaten black belts in competition on more than one occasion, so it could even be argued that it doesn't necessarily mean you're good at Jiu-Jitsu. It just means you've done a hobby long enough to be given 5 belts.
I had this once with a Black Belt at my gym who just was telling people the 3 penalties is a disqualification in the IBJJF. I corrected him that it's 4. He told me he's a black belt and I don't know the rules as well as he does. I tell him I've taken the ref course every year for the last three years and the most recent class I took was a week ago and I'm pretty sure I'm up to date here. Then he starts saying that those classes are for black belts and I must have misunderstood something. 🙄
Honestly, I sometimes want to stay a purple belt because I've met so many Black Belts who think they're some kind of divine being. I mean, it's a piece of cloth. It doesn't mean you're a leader, it doesn't mean you're a genius, it doesn't mean you're a good coach, hell, a blue belt team mate and I have completed against and beaten black belts in competition on more than one occasion, so it could even be argued that it doesn't necessarily mean you're good at Jiu-Jitsu. It just means you've done a hobby long enough to be given 5 belts.
PZBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
The fact that we believe that bjj is somehow superior to the other martial arts ("god complex isn't that common in bjj as it is in the traditional martial arts"), should tell us that we may have a problem 🤔
The fact that I beileve jiujitsu is the ultimate martial art, should tell me that I have a problem 🤔
The fact that I beileve jiujitsu is the ultimate martial art, should tell me that I have a problem 🤔
Edited 2 year(s) ago
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
The fact that we believe that bjj is somehow superior to the other martial arts ('god complex isn't that common in bjj as it is in the traditional martial arts'), should tell as that we may have a problem 🤔 The fact that I beileve jiujitsu is the ultimate martial art, should tell me that I have a problem 🤔
That took a turn and I love it!! LOL
DBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
The fact that we believe that bjj is somehow superior to the other martial arts ('god complex isn't that common in bjj as it is in the traditional martial arts'), should tell as that we may have a problem 🤔 The fact that I beileve jiujitsu is the ultimate martial art, should tell me that I have a problem 🤔
Whoa ... I should have stuck to Aikido.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
2 year(s) ago
The fact that we believe that bjj is somehow superior to the other martial arts ('god complex isn't that common in bjj as it is in the traditional martial arts'), should tell as that we may have a problem 🤔 The fact that I beileve jiujitsu is the ultimate martial art, should tell me that I have a problem 🤔
Back up the bus..
The man has hit on it no matter how effective BJJ is he is right on the money.
Let’s face it the scheme of things is the fact you are good at BJJ even that meaningful
The man has hit on it no matter how effective BJJ is he is right on the money.
Let’s face it the scheme of things is the fact you are good at BJJ even that meaningful
PZBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Whoa ... I should have stuck to Aikido.
We talk a lot of crap about aikido in bjj and how unrealistic it is but 90% of jiu jitsu and judo community could learn how to be a good co-operative uke from aikido guys. i get that we need to train with resistance to get good at something but a number of times I have to remind people the difference between drilling and sparring is nuts.
Also those ukemis are so graceful and the wristlock game, whether realistic or not, is a great introduction to grip fighting.
Aikido is getting more bad rep than it deserves inmho.
Also those ukemis are so graceful and the wristlock game, whether realistic or not, is a great introduction to grip fighting.
Aikido is getting more bad rep than it deserves inmho.
DBlack beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
We talk a lot of crap about aikido in bjj and how unrealistic it is but 90% of jiu jitsu and judo community could learn how to be a good co-operative uke from aikido guys. i get that we need to train with resistance to get good at something but a number of times I have to remind people the difference between drilling and sparring is nuts. Also those ukemis are so graceful and the wristlock game, whether realistic or not, is a great introduction to grip fighting. Aikido is getting more bad rep than it deserves inmho.
Agreed, it has it's place, but having trained it for many years, there's too much brainwashing that goes on about it's effectiveness. And boy did the blackbelts have serious god complexes.
AKPurple beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
Was just talking about this with a buddy. I know it is common in academia, science, politics and the medical world but is BJJ just as affected in that regard? What say you good people of Beltchecker?
1. BJJ isn't as bad (overall) as academia, science, politics, aikido / judo / TMA.
2. Blame the white and blue belts for the aspects that are bad. The amount of weirdos that have some overwhelming need for a sensi, creeps me out. I meet them all the time, these people that want to believe in their omnipotent professor who has to know everything from Gordon Ryans leg lock game to Rodger Gracies mount game, the entire history of the Gracie challenge, plus all rulesets, plus weigh in policies, plus nutrition, plus S&C...
I've literally seen people miss weight / get DQ'd / enter the wrong division because they were too sycophantically in love with professor, to clarify the tournament rules with the actual tournament organisers. I swear some of them see it as a betrayal of their dear leader, to actually pick up the rule book and check it themselves.
2. Blame the white and blue belts for the aspects that are bad. The amount of weirdos that have some overwhelming need for a sensi, creeps me out. I meet them all the time, these people that want to believe in their omnipotent professor who has to know everything from Gordon Ryans leg lock game to Rodger Gracies mount game, the entire history of the Gracie challenge, plus all rulesets, plus weigh in policies, plus nutrition, plus S&C...
I've literally seen people miss weight / get DQ'd / enter the wrong division because they were too sycophantically in love with professor, to clarify the tournament rules with the actual tournament organisers. I swear some of them see it as a betrayal of their dear leader, to actually pick up the rule book and check it themselves.
JCPurple beltVerified
2 year(s) ago
The fact that we believe that bjj is somehow superior to the other martial arts ('god complex isn't that common in bjj as it is in the traditional martial arts'), should tell us that we may have a problem 🤔 The fact that I beileve jiujitsu is the ultimate martial art, should tell me that I have a problem 🤔
Have you been involved in other martial arts? They are laughable in this area.
As far as BJJ being superior to the other arts, I don't find any martial art to be superior to another. When people ask me which one they should do I tell them to do whichever one they will work at and stick with. BJJ is useless to someone who doesn't want to do it, hates it, and quits after 3 months because of that. But if they happen to love something else and will make it a life long activity then they should do that. It doesn't really matter which art it is, the increased physical fitness, body awareness, and coordination they gain from it will make them better equipped to deal with an untrained aggressor than sitting at home on the couch.
As far as BJJ being superior to the other arts, I don't find any martial art to be superior to another. When people ask me which one they should do I tell them to do whichever one they will work at and stick with. BJJ is useless to someone who doesn't want to do it, hates it, and quits after 3 months because of that. But if they happen to love something else and will make it a life long activity then they should do that. It doesn't really matter which art it is, the increased physical fitness, body awareness, and coordination they gain from it will make them better equipped to deal with an untrained aggressor than sitting at home on the couch.
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
