Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I often wished I wasn’t promoted so quickly! I competed a lot; that is probably the reason I progressed relatively fast. Even though I wanted to stay “one more year” to try to win more at that rank, I trusted my instructor’s judgment too. And I didn’t want to sandbag (to the point that I did advanced or expert nogi before my years of experience caught up).

It’s up to you to take control of your own progression. You need a good relationship with your coach. They can help guide your progress, but your skills are ultimately your responsibility. The rank always lags behind your skills. If you aren’t making progress, then you gotta figure out what’s stopping you, and how to overcome that.

Part of me feels the same way. I do miss competing at white belt. Competition was fierce but there was a lot of leeway for mistakes and a bit of experiment under pressure with a randomer. Competing at blue now there's a lot less of that leeway when I'm in the lower end of the bracket.

But I just see it as the fact that when I'm on the higher end of blue I'll get that luxury again as I'll have got the skills necessary to buy me some more time under pressure.

Definitely don't like seeing sandbagging though. There's someone I see in competitions who competed at white belt before I joined and he's still competing at white belt now. He's winning most of his competitions and only losing against his brother. Just makes it very unfair on the other white belts.

I just see it as the coach knows best on where you are. I don't really like chasing belts to be honest, just take them as they come, feels great getting promoted but at the same time happy to stay blue until I'm sure I've mastered the basics.

I really enjoyed reading your post. If I could tell my white belt self one piece of advice it is to compete more. I can't change my past, but I can use it to inform my present and future. Planning to compete again, which I avoided once I became a blue belt in BJJ, and also I think in styles where I am truly a novice. I enjoy winning and happily accept losses, but I'm beginning to realise I can learn more from my losses.

Oh absolutely. There's a cheesy saying about you either win or you learn when you compete but I do stick with it.
That last competition where I lost all my matches, I knew I needed to handle nerves better and get more gas in the tank. The first gi match exhausted me and the second gi match capitalised on it 😜.
Nogi I finally lost the adrenaline dump but was simply outplayed.
Loved all the matches anyway, great having a chat with the opponents afterwards, sometimes they invite you over to train at theirs and that's a good sign they seemed to enjoy the match too haha.

But absolutely, no matter the result, it's always a learning experience. Always been a friendly vibe at competitions too. You just need to really tell your brain that it's less scary than it's making it out to be.

I thought in my first freestyle wrestling comp. Pool of 12. None of my club there. I thought I was going to die. Tge matches got harder and I could tell that the skill levels improved. Back in the seats at the end I was amazed to get a bronze. Secondary benefit, I didn't die. It was the Gay Games which is really about participation. I've done normal comps since but it is a fond memory that sticks with me.

I agree.

With the first paragraph I competed a bit but always regret not having competed more. Partly as I’ve seen it accelerate growth and second, to me, it’s fun to compete.

With the second I read it with interest and it made reflect. I agree with what you’ve said. I wasn’t sure about rank lagging behind skills but wherever I’ve trained you could the belts when awarded where clearly earned, which I love about BJJ and I think I must therefore agree with you on that point too.

While I do agree that competing is very helpful what if you cannot compete for very legitimate reasons. Tournaments are very expensive for some and I would rather be able to pay my reduced dojo fees and transit pass to get to bjj than pay more than a month worth of the above just to compete. I have yet to see a tourney that makes a fee adjustment for those of low income even with verified proof. The second issue is that I have severe rotator cuff issues and while training at the dojo (I am on the bus home from the dojo as I write this) my partners are very understanding as well I can easily tap early if I sense danger of aggravating the injury, thus competing is just not possible nor safe for me. If I can demonstrate the skills, effort, and respect why should a promotion be delayed when earned merely because finances or injuries (or both) keep me from competing? The article I referenced in a prior post I feel is quite relevant to this situation. Thanks

This is just my experience.

1. No need to compete.

2. Some dojo offer free in-house friendly competition. As you are competition against your fellow students I would expect them to roll in a way that protects you from further injury, if you are rolling.

3. Your body has to last you a lifetime. Treat it with care and don't do anything that has high risk without seeking medical advice where appropriate. I'm not a physician so can't give any useful advice about specific injuries. There are risks in any activity, it is up to you to choose, ideally in a fully informed way.

4. Whilst competition is a route to promotion in my experience a good coach will promote with competition. In my experience you do earn your belts in BJJ but I've seen guys who don't compete promoted.

5. Promotion is nice though to me the most important things are developing my skills, as best I can, enjoy the rolling and the camaraderie doing something I love.

I hope this helps. It is just my opinion.

Some tournaments allow you to compete for free if you work a table or referee. You can't be a ref but you could work a table. I competed a lot because I was a ref.

I do want to qualify as a ref and realize that until I get promoted to purple (have been a blue for 13 years, 328 days but having 3 stripes it will happen I presume) . It is possible at some tournaments to do as u mentioned but it is moot point due my shoulder rotator cuff issues. I can ask my partners to be careful with those areas at the dojo but not in a tourney. I even put a gofundme page in my profile for the procedures for my shoulders (PRP) that are not covered by insurance. This way I can still pay the dojo my discounted rate as well as the senior rate on the bus to get there.

Can you stop begging for 5 minutes?

You’ve got your go fund me, constantly hocking it is basic.

Constant whining about “I’m not promoted, people won’t come to meet me”

Go to an open mat for god sake, you are on a fetish website no one owes you a meet.

Maybe some self respect and TALK. TO. YOUR. COACH.

Try living in a system that is so rigged against the poor, where insurance companies deny treatments, where credit cards charge up to 36% interest, where ageism is out of control, where the landlord increases your rent annually faster than inflation, charges you for things that were included before.

You live in the USA, you are incredibly privileged compared to many on this earth, your mindset is wrong.

You’ve ignored advice and you whine, you just say life is unfair, you are over 70 you lived through the best decades the western world has had to offer people, I’m sorry for you that it didn’t turn out as well as others but you’ve lived your life you made your decisions.

If you were 30 I’d have a lot more sympathy.

In short:

1) Speak to coach about promotion and why you’ve stalled.

2) give thanks you made it this far a lot of people don’t

3) it’s a fetish site, no one owes you Jack on here.

4) open mats allow you to meet lots of people, go investigate them.

5) speak to a debt charity, stop paying the credit cards, if you don’t own assets what they going to do? Set up a payment plan for $1 a month because that’s all you can afford, use your age against them, improvise, adapt and shove the middle finger to a system that doesn’t care, I believe that’s what Helio Gracie woudl have done.

I competed and got better even when I was still under the poverty line. PRP isn’t magic. I have shoulder issues too. You got to take responsibility for your own progress. The obstacles you face are hard, but you can’t approach them as insurmountable. Otherwise you never will.

Thanks. That’s what I mean about rank lagging skills. The athlete will always demonstrate that they are at that level before they get promoted. At least that’s been my experience.

How do you do on the mats? How do you do against purple belts or even blue belts with a few stripes? Is there anyone who is similar to you in terms of body and age?

To answer your questions while on the bus going home from the dojo. I do well against most of the other blue belts. Against the purple belts I usually lose but not quickly. This is all despite a severe rotator cuff issue on the right side and a less serious issue on the left side. Will be getting PRP treatment despite limited income and insurance not covering the procedure for which I have a gofundme page listed in my profile. As to someone my age at the dojo when I am there is no one. The closest is a female blue belt of about equal weight that I guess is in her 50's. I did well against her. Thanks to the excellent 24/7 bus service am able go to all evening classes Mon thru Fri. I only miss when medically necessary (had weak Covid infection 7/8-7/15 and isolated per protocol) otherwise try to make all Mon theu Fri bjj classes. Hope this explanation helps. Thanks

Do instructors have a responsibility in helping their students advance? This article, (sources shown below it) has an interesting and I believe very true perspective on this situation.

If a BJJ instructor observes a student is not progressing towards a promotion, they should engage in open communication, provide constructive feedback, and potentially adjust training strategies. This involves assessing the student's technique, understanding their learning style, and addressing any attitude or behavior issues that might be hindering progress. [1, 2]
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Open Communication and Feedback: Schedule a discussion: The instructor should initiate a one-on-one conversation with the student to discuss their progress and identify areas for improvement. [1, 1, 3, 3] Be specific: Instead of vague feedback, provide concrete examples of areas where the student needs to focus. For instance, "Your guard retention needs work" or "You tend to get stuck in bad positions when rolling." [1, 1, 4, 4, 5] Explain the criteria: Clearly outline the criteria for promotion at the student's current belt level, including technical skills, sparring performance, and overall attitude. [1, 1, 6, 6, 7, 8] Set goals: Help the student set specific, achievable goals for improvement, with a timeline for re-evaluation. [1, 1, 3, 3]
2. Adjusting Training: Identify weaknesses: Work with the student to pinpoint their weaknesses and tailor training sessions to address them. This might involve focusing on specific techniques, drills, or sparring strategies. [4, 4, 6, 6, 7, 9] Explore different learning styles: Consider whether the student learns best through visual demonstrations, hands-on practice, or verbal instruction, and adjust teaching accordingly. [6, 6] Consider different training partners: If appropriate, suggest training with partners who can challenge the student and provide different perspectives on their game. [3, 3] Encourage consistent attendance: Stress the importance of consistent training to build muscle memory, improve technique, and develop a strong foundation. [10, 10, 11, 11]
3. Addressing Attitude and Behavior: Respect and etiquette: Emphasize the importance of respecting instructors, training partners, and the overall culture of the academy. [2, 2, 12, 12] Positive attitude: Encourage a positive and open-minded attitude towards learning and improvement. [2, 2, 7, 12, 12] Avoid ego: Help the student understand that BJJ is a journey of continuous learning and that ego can hinder progress. [3, 3, 7, 13] Address disruptive behavior: If the student is consistently disruptive or disrespectful, address the behavior directly and set clear boundaries. [2, 2, 12, 12, 14]
4. Long-Term Perspective: Time and patience: Remind the student that BJJ is a long-term journey and that progress takes time and consistent effort. [1, 7] Focus on the process: Encourage the student to focus on the process of learning and improving, rather than solely on getting promoted. [1, 7] Celebrate progress: Acknowledge and celebrate small victories along the way to maintain motivation. [1, 3]
By taking a proactive and supportive approach, instructors can help students overcome obstacles and continue their journey in BJJ. [1, 3, 15]

AI responses may include mistakes.[1] https://www.busybjj.com/post/2014/04/18/the-complex-job-of-promoting-students[2] https://sensobjj.com/blogs/graciemag-1/10-reasons-you-wont-get-promoted-in-bjj[3] https://www.bjjee.com/articles/excuse-me-professor-but-you-forgot-to-promote-me/[4] https://www.bjjee.com/articles/this-is-how-your-instructor-decides-who-to-promote/[5] https://educationwalkthrough.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-giving-feedback-to-teachers-after-an-observation/[6] https://www.quora.com/As-a-BJJ-coach-what-do-you-consider-before-giving-your-students-a-new-stripe[7] https://www.bjjee.com/articles/why-your-jiu-jitsu-instructor-wont-promote-you-yet/[8] https://agjiujitsu.com/blogs/how-do-belt-promotions-work-in-bjj/[9] https://www.safetyharborbjj.com/new-blog-1/2024/2/17/are-you-using-the-correct-teaching-methodology[10] https://www.facebook.com/groups/733553463659020/posts/2246373272377024/[11] https://www.facebook.com/groups/133293784064105/posts/1659299181463550/[12] https://www.bjjreport.com/post/not-promoted[13] https://medium.com/@stage6isd/rolling-with-doubt-how-to-choke-out-imposter-syndrome-on-the-mats-851f527f6df2[14] https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/youre-faced-student-distress-how-do-you-balance-empathy-ti1qe[15] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw2pG7DMEVg/

I feel the frustration and I have felt it at times too.
I don't think I've been passed over though I have felt that when I wanted the promotion was the time it didn't come. I've trained BJJ since about 2002 in a few gyms in a few countries. It does vary by gym to a degree how people are assessed and some factors in some places seem to be varied, sometimes gender or how well someone likes you may be a factor. I've decided that as long as I enjoy training there it is the only thing that is important to me, though I know this is a personal thing.

Since I only started in April of 2023 and was off for a couple months in late 2024, I haven’t experienced those feelings where I felt passed over. Most upper belts can still counter most of my pass attempts. On the bright side, they can’t submit me as easily and I can counter now :) However when I get anxious over the possibility of promotion, I remind myself why I’m doing it. And it’s not to put a certain color belt around my waist. It’s to understand and learn techniques such that can adequately defend myself while also having fun in a safe environment. If you are not progressing, that can mean a few things. One of them is being passed over. Another could be not knowing required concepts. But if you have been there for years, it may be more of a teaching issue (assuming regular training sessions (3ish times a week)

For me, I’m learning how to enjoy the journey and realizing that I’m on my own path. I have to start implementing concepts that work for my age group (40 and up) and not just the 20 year olds. And that’s where it gets interesting and fascinating. The basics became the basic for a reason. They aren’t flashy but they do work.

If possible, see how other gyms are and cross train. You can see how much you learned in comparison to people at other gyms. It’s healthy. And if your gym prohibits that, #redflag. At that point, you should probably find another gym

I used to feel that way, and looking back, it was a really stupid way to approach class. It didn’t help me learn anything, it actively undermined the enjoyment of class thinking about who got what belt before I did, and it has the potential to really suck up a lot of time and energy. It’s something I wish I had spent LESS time on or none at all.

To the extent you can put this feeling (jealousy? Frustration?) back in its box, do it.

That said, if your instructor says something like “I’d like you to improve (this aspect of your game) to help you get to (That Belt)” pay attention.

If you’re not learning anything, it’s ok to discuss with instructors or change schools if need be.

But you are describing a belt rank anxiety that isn’t helping anything.

Very valid points but there are other issues as well. Not being promoted in 13 years, not even a stripe, or even an honorable mention of your efforts is a problem. No one ever seems to look at this issue from the viewpoint of the person being denied the promotion. Here are some very relevant points. This happens is a lot of places, not out of malice or deliberate intent but it happens. When the instructor finished showing a technique different schools have different methods of partnering individuals to for drilling. In many cases people just find partners. In some cases when there is an odd person out the instructor will have them work with a group of two becoming a group of three. Often this is done just conveniently. But I have noticed that just like in many other pursuits the partnering is not the fairest. No malice is shown by the coach but even he r she may be unaware of the following. If you are just a "regular" student you get paired u with whomever they see available. Other students who they see a more likely to succeed are paired with higher belts and as a result learn more. While this is not an intentional oversight it does increase the progress of those being favored. An incident at the Sin City Shootout that happened tome years ago is why I will never go back to it even if I could afford the fees. I found someone good to partner with for the wresting seminar and we were all set to go when one of the people (not the head coach) from the San Diego group decided that my partner should be given to another and I should be repartnered with someone else. I thus had someone who did not feel comfortable doing takedowns and thus lost out. Apparently some students are more important than others and this goes on in bjj gyms as well. Not fair, but reality. You actually learn more from your training partner than anyone else as he or she works with you to perfect the technique and someone who really cares rather than just passing the time waiting until the fun part of the class (the rolling) comes along. Inmost cases this is unintentional but the effect is nevertheless the same. If a person is going to compete they get more help as well. Did it ever occur to anyone that some can simply not afford to compete? Those saying that the belt is not that important are correct in most cases but it is interesting that those saying that already have their promotions. What about the feelings of those who are passed over for years?

If you think your coach is not taking your training seriously, consider changing schools.

You can explore other schools without saying you're leaving (which you should NOT do until you have somewhere better to go.) Even then, "taking a break" or similar language is better than blame. New schools don't work out sometimes, and sometimes you go back. But it sounds like a change would do you some good.

I am in a different school now and things are definitely better but all that time lost where I just plodded along without anything to really show for it cannot be recovered. While i did learn techniques where I was before it took me quite while to finally realize what really was happening, thus I guess I have only myself to blame for stagnating so long. I guess the question is, why was I the fall guy?

Maybe you should have engaged your coach, it’s a martial art, you need to speak to him and see what your deficiencies are and how you can overcome them.

Ju-jitsu is hard but it’s supposed to harden you too!

If you don’t communicate with your coach how does he even know what your mindset is?

Any members here who feel that they have been passed over for a promotion, especially if it has happened to them multiple times over the years?