FRAT....
So I was talking to my dad the other day and I told him I had to go because I was teaching class that night. He asked me "oh so your still doing that grappling thing?" and I told him yeah.
He then asked me if I was a black belt and I told him no I'm still a blue. He was like what, your only a blue belt?? I then tried to explained the belt system and this only validated his point. If it goes white, blue, purple, brown and black, why would any one want to learn from some one that isn't even half way there? This got me thinking
Ok so here's my question, at what belt is it ok to teach? I only teach from Pedro's white to blue and once in awhile I'll throw in a sequence from Blue to Purple.
Our school is small and we have 3 active purple belts, and a bunch of blues. The three purples, myself and another blue belt rotate teaching. I usually teach on Thursday nights. Our class size is 20-25 people and we don't have begginners/adv etc. It's just all one class.
So here is the question for you guys, is it ok for a blue belt to be teaching?? In my case I think it is because of the school location and I don't profess to be a BJJ bad ass, just a guy trying to help out.
I will say yes. If people don't want to take class from you because they think they can't learn its up to them. I helped teach when I was a blue and Relson ran late. Hell, he'd call me up to ask me to teach until he got there. It was only whites and I just told them up front they can wait for Relson or take class from me until he comes up to them.
I will also say that I heard a un confirmed rumour that a blue belt has opened a underground bjj gi only school. Don't know if its true or not. Up to the students that are taught if its any good.
I learn from everyone even though I'm a purple.
jjmtg - I will say yes. If people don't want to take class from you because they think they can't learn its up to them. I helped teach when I was a blue and Relson ran late. Hell, he'd call me up to ask me to teach until he got there. It was only whites and I just told them up front they can wait for Relson or take class from me until he comes up to them.
"I will also say that I heard a un confirmed rumour that a blue belt has opened a underground bjj gi only school. Don't know if its true or not. Up to the students that are taught if its any good."
I learn from everyone even though I'm a purple.
I heard the same
The guy opened an underground school on Oahu? Holy moly, the market is saturated, why not go to one of a dozen kick ass black belts? I WISH WE HAD A BLACK BELT HERE!
If a Pedro or Relson brown belt or higher moved to Corvallis, they would probably be the head instructor no questions asked lol..
NECKCRANK808 - "I will also say that I heard a un confirmed rumour that a blue belt has opened a underground bjj gi only school. Don't know if its true or not. Up to the students that are taught if its any good."
I heard the same
Must be someone who knows. Weird how that happened.
its crazy isnt it
i had no problem learning from a blue belt. as long as they can teach and explain the move, why not. of course, everyone wants a black belt to teach, but as long as the person doing the teaching is a good teacher, i'm willing to learn. i'm only a purple blt and i've learned from white ad blue belts. remember that even though soemone is a higher rank, that doesn't make them good teacher. some people just can't explain a move.
nalupono makes good points!
But hanging out your shingle w/o some credentials or oversight by at least a brownbelt is sketchy IMHO.
Closes up my "underground bjj gi only school" out of fear of dojo storm
I teach stretching, but only under the close supervision of a 2 stripe brown belt and a handful of purples.
^^Jelqing??? Where can I lern these techniques??
Anybody with experience can always teach those with less experience. When I was a judoka, I learned as much from other brown belts as I did from the black belts.
But I do feel that a school should have a "master" instructor overlooking the entire operation, and generally one must be a black belt in order to be considered a "master."
In Brazil its purple belt and above that teach.
But with that said, if there is no one else to teach than why isn't ok for a blue belt?
Tangy - I teach stretching, but only under the close supervision of a 2 stripe brown belt and a handful of purples.Tangy, sincere gratitude!!
teaching is an art. if you are a blue belt who has been mentored to teach then i say it's all good. if not then you are just not going to know if you are passing on the jiu-jitsu the way your teacher would want it to be taught. at blue belt you think you have a lot to show but you may not know if what you can do can be taught and applied by someone who is not of your body type and skill.
i also agree that anyone can teach anyone but like i said above. if youre gonna advertise yourself as "so and so" style of jiu-jitsu then you better know your stuff.
underground school.... what the hell are you thinking?
I started with the Onzunka's when they were still purples.
PapaKaleo A. was a long time blue belt @ the time. He was
able to show us useful techniques as a blue so I'll always consider
him one of my bjj teachers.
But on the other hand, what Alphadogg posted is
truth. Having a brown or black belt is ideal and
there is no substitute.
Considering your circumstances in Corvallis, you are probably
making due. Btw, all of Shane Agena's blues are solid IMHO
Shane gave me my blue! ... and then he left me that slut.
chuckles
Mr Anaconda - I started with the Onzunka's when they were still purples.PapaKaleo A. was a long time blue belt @ the time. He wasable to show us useful techniques as a blue so I'll always considerhim one of my bjj teachers.But on the other hand, what Alphadogg posted istruth. Having a brown or black belt is ideal andthere is no substitute.Considering your circumstances in Corvallis, you are probablymaking due. Btw, all of Shane Agena's blues are solid IMHO
I agree, one of Shane's blue belts trains with us when he has school and he's really good. Hopefully I get a purple soon so it won't be that big of a deal.
I also agree with Todd they're are teachers and students and I definetly fall more into the student category. I have to put in some time to prep before class to ensure that what I teach is the pedro way. Rylan on the other hand is a teacher. I would learn how to play Tennis or anything from him because he has a good way of explaining things
armlok - ^^Jelqing??? Where can I lern these techniques??
hahaha go to BJpenn.com they teach techniques lol J/J
I was supposed to teach tonight but we had a BB show up at class and he decided to teach so I went from teacher to student that is always a good thing
Lucky for all those white belts that come to the beginner class we were all very fortunate to have him teach class