Been training bjj since 05, off and on (trained 2 months on, 6 off, muay thai for a year, took year off here and there) Now I've stuck to bjj for about one year consistently under a legit world class black belt. Yesterday he pulled me aside and told me that he wants me to test for my blue belt next month.
Thing is, I feel I'm not ready. My defense is solid, but my cardio is shit and that once I'm gassed, my bjj level drops drastically. That and I have high standards for myself that make me feel like a 3 stripe white at best. Maybe my instructor sees something I don't? Is there something's I should really be efficient in to justify my rank?
Thanks!
easy answer, and I honestly not trying to be a ass, but shut your mouth and go by what your instructor thinks. Him = black belt and you = white belt, so know your role in this. If he feels you are at a certain level, you are. Your thoughts and feelings on the matter don't count, just keep on improving and training. You are just putting too much thought into this and are making standards you prob will never achieve in your own mind.
and if anything, this should actually make you want to train HARDER to rep the rank itself proper. So if anything, use it as a new mini goal along on your journey in training.
Test for a belt?
Hunter V - easy answer, and I honestly not trying to be a ass, but shut your mouth and go by what your instructor thinks. Him = black belt and you = white belt, so know your role in this. If he feels you are at a certain level, you are. Your thoughts and feelings on the matter don't count, just keep on improving and training. You are just putting too much thought into this and are making standards you prob will never achieve in your own mind.
this.
he's the black belt, he knows what a blue belt looks like, while you, do not.
would you really argue with him about whether someone else is a blue belt or not? probably not. he sees your game better than you do.
go for it.
All good points. Regarding something else you said:
Unless you weigh 350 lbs, chances are your cardio is just fine for a blue belt. Most white belts I've seen who think they're significantly deficient in cardio tend to approach every action with 100% intensity and gas themselves out. They're so used to relying on their physicality that they push it too far. Try to relax your breathing, be calm most of the time, and explode when you need to.
omoplautistic -Hunter V - easy answer, and I honestly not trying to be a ass, but shut your mouth and go by what your instructor thinks. Him = black belt and you = white belt, so know your role in this. If he feels you are at a certain level, you are. Your thoughts and feelings on the matter don't count, just keep on improving and training. You are just putting too much thought into this and are making standards you prob will never achieve in your own mind.
this.
he's the black belt, he knows what a blue belt looks like, while you, do not.
would you really argue with him about whether someone else is a blue belt or not? probably not. he sees your game better than you do.
go for it.
Thanks all for the responses and yall hit me with the correct. I was putting too much thought into it, when I should just train hard and go with the flow. I'm 5-8, 215 and mostly muscle, so I tend to gas quick. All very valid points, look toward to blue!
How is your limp arm?
Seriously the majority of guys NEVER feel they are ready for promotion. Belts are subjective. Don't compare yourself to others, it's about your ability to represent the rank. Your instructor knows this.
How is your limp arm?
Seriously the majority of guys NEVER feel they are ready for promotion. Belts are subjective. Don't compare yourself to others, it's about your ability to represent the rank. Your instructor knows this.
Double
Dude listen to your coach. How do you think that you know what a blue belt is better than a black belt would?
Maybe he's low on cash and needs to get some "testing fee" or "belt fee" money in.
Belt testing that is in any way connected to money is an unethical conflict of interest.
tubuku,
can you chime in whether there are fees associated with the test, and if there is, how much? There was a thread on sherdog discussing testing fees (but for stripes). Testing for belt is more acceptable for belts, but i wonder the amount.
I think that almost evyryone thinks that they are not ready for belt. I think that I have some bad escapes but I still got my blue belt. Believe your instructor. If he thinks that u are blue belt then u are. Someday u see that u are blue belt and then purple etc.:P
Dude, you've been training off-and-on for 6 years, and you're doubting you're ready for a blue belt? Jeez.
Had a guy that has been training for 3yrs at another place and was a 2 stripe white belt and after his 5th class our instructor told him to take off that white belt because he is now a blue. I thought that was pretty cool. He more than deserved it IMO. 
dont worry about it. blue belts are pretty awful at bjj. towards the end of my blue belt i would be winning matches by atleast ten points when i would submit my opponents (one mach was 19-0 when i got the armbar...).
Around the time i got my fourth stripe i would go to tournaments and just be shocked at how far i had come. i didnt medal for my first few comps at blue belt but all of a sudden it seemed blue belts made tons of mistakes and just gave up positions and submissions too easily.
<blockquote>JiuJitsuBeans - tubuku, <br /><br />can you chime in whether there are fees associated with the test, and if there is, how much? There was a thread on sherdog discussing testing fees (but for stripes). Testing for belt is more acceptable for belts, but i wonder the amount.</blockquote><br /><br />
Lol no this guy's the coolest dude ever. Other than class fees, he doesn't charge for belts, stripes, etc. In the past he's told the class that testing will be done once a year, usually when royler comes to town, but on occasion, he'll promote as he sees fit. I was just unsure about myself. Like you guys said, he's a 4th stripe black (under saulo ribeiro/royler gracie) and if he deems me fit for a promotion I'm not gonna argue. lol
You're talking about Saulo Ribeiro? Or a 4th stripe black belt under Saulo Ribeiro?
Never mind I see your edit.
Tomato Can - You're talking about Saulo Ribeiro? Or a 4th stripe black belt under Saulo Ribeiro?
Never mind I see your edit.
Sorry edited my post. It's actually rodrigo pinheiro. Blackbelt under Saul ribeiro. Crappy editing feature we have here.