So my buddy has been training at this place in Phoenix for 3yrs now and trained elsewhere for 3yrs before that.
They have only given him 4 stripes on his white belt. He owns all the white belt divisions when he competes and taps most of the Purple belt in his classes.
Yet they keep him a 4 stripe purple.
I told him to go to a different school as I personally believe he is a good Blue Belt.
Should he bail on that school?
No one should be a white belt for 6 years. Sounds like there is something going on we don't know about, this is beyond sandbagging.
emotion #13 -
Yet they keep him a 4 stripe purple.
Just trying to clarify, he is a 4 stripe white right?
Sounds like a great deal of sandbagging. I mean if you are tapping purples you need to be at least a blue. I mean what is more important in a rank? Time or ability? BJ Penn's super quick track to a black belt comes to mind here... I mean if the guy is tapping purples he should be at least a high blue, right?
Not enough information to make a decision. The instructor could have good reason for being patient with promoting him. Or, maybe he doesn't.
The bigger issue: Does your friend enjoy training and like the school he's at? If so, I'd say don't worry too much about the belt and enjoy the art. If not, move on.
Yes he is White belt still. 4 stripe.
He loves the guys he trains with but feels the instructor does not like him. The guy who started the school was a Brazilian BB and now he is never there, a brown belt has been running the school for the past year.
The brown belt instructor is probably either not allowed to promote anyone or is uncomfortable doing so. He should either talk to him and ask him why he has been a white belt for 6 years (is he missing something or are they unqualified instructors) or he should just leave and go to a different school. It seems like he needs to be in a more productive environment with less baggage (now 6 year white belts and disappearing instructors). He should be some place that works to help people improve and is open about what people need to do to make themselves better.
i agree. which is why i told him to leave
its weird...but at the same time he must be getting good instruction if he is good enough to tap purples. i for one don't really give a shit about what color my belt is...just how good i am on the mats. so if he's getting better...isn't that the most important thing?
Zenoplata - I wore a blue belt for a few years until I found out the guy that gave it to me was a fraud.
Gene Simco?
Is he training with Ralph?!
On a side note, i would love to be a 4 stripe white belt owning purple belts
Number of fucks I give: 0
Even though a being promoted shouldn't be your top priority, you still want the recognition you deserve. Being a white belt for 6 years is pretty wild. If he's as good as you say with that much time invested in the sport he should already be a purple. I currently have zero stripes on my belt, and don't feel I deserve any yet. But I can definitely see getting better without any recognition being a deterrant to the sport.
Maybe the guy doesnt know or care about the curriculum the instructor requires to get the next belt? I have seen strong wrestler roll up more advanced guys and tap them with a choke or armbar and never learn anything else.
does he say he taps them or were you there to see it?
do you believe him 100%? could the purples have been going at 60%?
is he much bigger/fitter than them?
is the bb not there to do it?
he should just ask what's up? but in the way of, "What do i need to do to get my blue?" or "What more do i need to work on for blue?"
only have him ask it after he tears it up on the mat at end of that class.
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he's obviously doing well there skills wise. might see what's up prior to bouncing.
Time for a change.
How your friend put up with that for that long is beyond me.
Personally I would have been frustrated to no end, would have asked about my 'status' to the instructor and if got some bs, I would have left a couple of years back.
Unless I only train once every week or 2 weeks.
that's true as well.
he could be a phenom like ryan hall and triangling everyone's ass, no matter the belt level, but what if everyone else is not up to snuff?
you can vouch for this guy?
w/ your life?!!!!
this is serious business!!!!
If he's been owning the white belt division for years, then the tournament organisers should have wised up by now and be telling him and his instructor he's sandbagging.
He could enter at blue belt level - if he wins that, that's got to be a wake up call for somebody.
Does he enjoy training there; is the instructor good, are there good training partners; is it close to his home or work; is his objective to compete at black belt one day or open his own school?
There are usually more important matters to consider with your choice of school if you have trained there for three years than a promotion to blue belt.
The guy was a solid white belt when we trained together 12yrs ago at MEgatons. He quit for a few years then started again about 6yrs ago. He was good then, better than most White Belt. He trains 4x a week. I have little doubt he is at least a solid Blue Belt.