How long have you been a blue belt? Thanks for your support! Please give this video a like and subscribe for more content! Click the bell icon to be notified when new content is ready! Check out my podcast - Chasen Life Podcast Available on Apple & Spotify Social Media! Facebook - facebook.com/chasen.hill.9 Instagram - instagram.com/chasenhill/ Why White Belts Quit ruclips.net/video/-NXmeEiXpAE/видео.html When Will BJJ Click For Me? ruclips.net/video/ZJm8p-lkoM0/видео.html Make Your Guard Passing Better ruclips.net/video/A3f_tCFRk-8/видео.html
Since 2005. We are a bunch of bjj blue belt over here, inthis heavy rural area, and we seldom get visits from BJJ black belt instructors, so promotions are rare if not non existent. We're like blue belt mat beasts. Another issue is the money for bjj gi classes, so most of us embraced the less expensive nogi class for years. So ya blue for 16 years, but remember, I stopped doing the gi and done lot of nogi. Our instructor is a 7 year white belt high level. He rolls nogi a lot, but never had an instructor to commit to him to award him his blue. The guy is a mat beast that hangs with blue and purples. He did his Gracie University too, crazy story ! As for me, each time I get to nearly submit a purple over here, he literally calls it a day or switch partner, or stop the drilling. F&%$ that, I hate it. Most of our purples have ego larger than life. But, I am not the boss, so I dont make the calls.
@@tededo Yes, training in rural areas can be tough. As long as you guys are training, that's all that matters! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
My journey white to blue in 15 months, blue to purple in 21months. Currently 1 stripe purple been training a little ove 4 years now. From my personal experience purple belt has been the most difficult belt...
@@jasonaddison9401 Agreed! Blue and purple are the hardest! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I'm a 4 stripe purple belt. I train 2, 3 days a week, I was a white for 2.5 years, then blue for 4 years and been purple for a little over 2 years, probably 1 to 1.5 more years at purple. My advice at blue belt is to just STAY AT IT. Blue (for me) was more MENTALLY tough than anything. Being at blue helped me tremendously mentally for the grind of the "advanced" belts, purple and up. Purple has been WAY EASIER mentally than blue. After 2.5 years at white I thought "no problem gonna take me a minute at blue but I got this", man was I so wrong. It was a LONG JOURNEY BUT I learned MORE at blue than any belt so far. I'll be 50 in February and have had 2 right knee surgeries (currently need another one + no acl in that knee) and a right shoulder surgery so if I can do it most people can, keep hitting class people. Hopefully this helps some people. Stay safe and good luck. 😁👍🤙
Awesome! Great advice. Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I spent two years, two months as a white belt and almost six and a half as blue belt. I’m currently a purple belt and have been for almost 5 years. That being said, we only train two days a week in gi and one day nogi. I’m a Police Officer so my schedule isn’t always the most accommodating so I can miss a class several times a month if we are busy. Best martial art for LE hands down!!
Thank you for keep our streets safe! Congrats on your training success. I agree with the LE comment. I teach a lot of LE officers myself! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Took me 8 years and 2 years of mat time to get my blue. My coach says I was ready after a year but kept not showing up. Been a blue belt for about 7months now. I sure hope it doesn't take me that long to get a purple belt.
Sorry for the late reply! Congrats on the purple! Future black belt! If you are open to it, I'm working on a project to better help students stay on the mat longer and minimize frustration. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon.
@@Booossterr There are few exceptional white belts and some with a grappling background, they tend to get a new belt earlier. As i see it's 3-4 years for an average person like myself to get blue (at my place; with consistent training; some camps and seminars).
@@cecanbasescu 3-4 years? 12-16 years for your black belt? I am not there but I heard that on average it should take 10-12 years to get your black belt.
Been a blue belt for 6 months still not over the imposter syndrome. Kind of ok with knowing it will be awhile for purple. I feel I'm going to need that time to really strengthen my game. Thanks for your videos. Great content.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@ChasenHill Ya, absolutely! It boils down to two thing: (1) I took a long time off, and (2) I just really didn't have enough time put in at a single school in order to advance. My first three years were REALLY consistent, and then the school I was going to closed. I then went and trained elsewhere for a while before that closed as well. Then came marriage and a loooooong break with some intermittent training sprinkled in, with only one semi-major injury (broke my big toe doing a guard pass). Fast forward to now, and I've been consistent enough, and at one place long enough, that I was FINALLY able to get the bump. So, I think the skill has been there for a while, but it was a "you need more time" thing, as you talked about. That said, I feel like I'm ACTUALLY at that level, and I don't feel like a massive target is on my back that I can't handle, so the timing was definitely right. Never once did I bother my instructor about promotion... I just kept showing up and improving, and trusting that he knows what's best, which he does! Also, purple belt (as I understand it) is the school's official "stamp of approval" on your technique, and how you interact with the rest of the school and community... That's another reason why time spent is important, if just to get to know the person.
Been a blue belt for six years . I've seen so many others promoted ahead of me that I'm thinking of handing my blue belt back and just sticking with white for life. I'm at the same level as most of the brown belts now so it's a bit depressing seeing new comers promoted to purple . What I've learned is that colours are meaningless.
Thanks for sharing and that is frustrating. So you've been training 2 -3 days a week consistently for 6 years and you are also tapping all your brown belts in the gym and still havent been promoted?
I am a newly promoted blue belt. It took my approximately 18 months to achieve this milestone. At 46 years old I welcome the challenge of the blue belt blues. I am setting life goals to keep on the mat for as long as I can physically perform. BJJ is one of the hardest things I have ever done and I love it. Great video.
Fantastic! I'm happy to hear this! Keep that mindset! I would love to speak with you and hear more about your journey so far. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon! Keep training hard!
I’ve been training since I was 12 (now 18) and I was a white belt for 3 years and blue belt for 2 years. Just got promoted to purple (today!!)and I can say blue belt (despite being a full year shorter) felt wayyyyy longer than white belt ever did. Not only that but mentally and technically was far more challenging than I expected it to be. My coaches told me very similar things to your points and why it takes a while for them to feel comfortable promoting people to purple. Glad I could meet their expectations, knowing how tough it was and what they looked for. :)
Congrats on the purple! You have put in a ton of work. Usually, if you make it too purple, black is just around corner. Thanks for checking the video out and sharing!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
2 stripe blue belt. I've been training for a little over 3 years and have been a blue belt for 2. Some of the students say I should be a purple belt but I know I'm not quite there. I honestly appreciate my Coach not promoting me too fast. I want to enjoy being a decent blue belt for a while!
That is a fantastic mindset to have. I'm not sure why students feel in such a hurry to progress. Jiu-Jitsu is a lifelong journey. When I received my black belt, I felt like a white belt all over again. So having the white belt mindset and expectations is the number 1 key to staying on the mats forever. A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Started June 2019 I’m a 3 stripe blue belt , 7 months at white belt little over a year at blue belt . I compete at featherweight . I spend 5 hours a day at my gym , from helping with kids classes and adults I do this 6 days a week . I dropped everything for jiujitsu bad habits,girlfriend,regular friends, all my free time , family time. I’m 28 years old if my word is worth anything to someone here my advice is to just have fun and to compete . Everything is about creating memories and I cant remember a thing that made life as enjoyable as jiujitsu has . Ride that wave and forget about the belts 🤙🏻
Fantastic! Glad you are able to be in the gym this often! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Dude , you need to make more time for yourself. Get a girlfriend. Spend some time with your friends and most importantly, find other interests . One day jiujitsu will be done with you and that day always comes sooner than we'd like. Make sure you still have a life to fall back on .
Awesome! Keep it up! 100% understand! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I’ve been a purple belt for right at 2 years and have been training for about 6.5 years. It took me 2 years to get my blue belt and another 2.5 years to get purple. I think my instructor wanted to put pressure on me to step up my game with the promotion (it worked) because I don’t think I was completely up to standard at the time of promotion. He knew I was moving internationally and the new belt brought a higher expectation of performance at the new school. In his words “nobody takes it easy on the purple belt”.
Love, love, love bjj and received my blue belt in 2016. However, life circumstances stopped me from practice all together. I must say, the time I practiced was absolutely the best I’ve ever felt physically, mentally, and emotionally. Thanks coach!
I'm a white belt who started my Jiu-Jitsu journey three months ago. I have a lot of respect for blue belt practitioners because I feel that they're on a much higher level than I am whenever I spar with them. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to achieve the blue belt level and maybe even eventually reach the black belt level as well. :)
Congrats on the new blue! Well earned! Now it's time for the next chapter! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I have been a white belt for 5 long years & am just now getting into the blue belt curriculum with my professor. Honestly, I used to care. But now that I can tap good grapplers in mma, I just wanna get better😌 whatever belt it is. Let’s just roll😅
Just got my Purple Belt and been coaching for 6 months. White belt for 2 years 10 months ( 3-4 times a week training) Blue belt 1 year 6 months (4-5 times a week) Total years of training 4 years 4 months 4 times a week on average. Hope this helps.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I got to say I love your videos! They are so helpful, especially this one. I've been a blue belt for about a year and a half now, its a tough one mentally for me. Thanks dude I appreciate it!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@Bhanna4d Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
excellent perspective....this coming from a 6yr blue to purple. one thing that also affects progress is age....as a 49yr old....i focus on training smarter....so in between a hard round I may do a positional round to keep it technical as my endurance may not be as good as the 20 year olds.
Yep. That’s pretty true. I was a white belt for just under 2 years, blue for 3-1/2 years (dec 2010-august 2014), purple for 3 years (august 2014-sept 2017), brown belt from sept 2017 till may 2021. The black belt was delayed because of time we couldn’t train/compete due to covid. One thing I will add to what happens during the blue to purple transition is at blue you learn the “what and when”, what do I do and when do I do it? At purple, you start to understand the “why”..why is this grip important vs a different grip..why is it important that I push here vs here? You start to learn which details make or break a move and why those details are important, because you’re at a level where other people are actually good enough to stop moves that are done sloppy..but you’re also at a level where YOU are good enough to execute a game plan on other people.
I got my blue belt in 2012. But then basically spent the next ten years doing on and off training. Only have I gone back doing three/four sessions a week for the last year. I'm more than happy to wait a few more years to purple.
Started June 2017 (Out collectively for 8 months due to few bad injuries including Achilles tear, herniated C-5/C-6, a torn groin and ACL which healed on its own). Each time I would come back and eventually got blue in June of 2019. Then have been relatively injury free since I learned how to roll properly. Got purple in Feb 2022. About 4.5 years of mat time if you take out the injury time offs. I think it helped that I kept mentally in it during the off times with videos and just thinking about it all the time. Spine doctor and chiropractor said to quit. What do they know. I'm 100% now and the journey continues. Blessed to be a part of this community.
Great story! I'm happy to hear you are back on the mats! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Two striped blue belt here and thank you professor I need this a lot. Just got back to training two months ago after getting vaccinated so I'm super excited to keep coming back to class. Oss!
Awesome! Welcome back to the mats! Just ease back in! Good luck training this new year! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I'm soon to be 63 years old and started BJJ about 5 and a half months ago. My school uses a green belt in between white to blue, I just got that about 2 weeks ago. I thinks its more a motivational belt but I am having a great time. Maybe I can test for blue next year, but I'm enjoying the training. I like your channel. Very helpful information. Thanks.
Great video Chasen thank you! 44yo here, been training and competing at white belt for 16 months - but about 5-6 classes a week and just got my blue belt today! Funny how much more aware of how little I know today than I was last year…. Definitely need many years more work to feel anything close to those wizards in purple belts
I received my blue belt January 20th of 2020 right before the pandemic. A huge break happened there. Once vaccinated I returned and got some good stretches of regular almost daily training in for quite a while and then my daughter was born. Things have slowed to a crawl right now with training for me but I’m in it for the long haul and will go at whatever rate I need to to keep it in my life. I love the growth and the development BJJ brings to me and I’m focused on learning the techniques and fully understanding them. I love rolling of course, but my major focus at this point is drilling and thoroughly grasping the lessons in class. I am constantly amazed by the Jiu-Jitsu magic you can feel from the higher belts and I know there is only one way to develop it in myself. Commitment. Purple belt feels a long ways away and that’s fine. I’m loving the journey.
Fantastic insight! Thank you for sharing! Purple will come soon! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
As a 62 yr old-with health challenges (Cerebral Ataxia) & 4-stripe blue belt for nearly 5 years; I’m just soaking up my experience and now understand “why” it takes so long to go from blue to purple.
Wow, 62 and still getting after it! Congrats! Yes it does take a bit of time to make it to purple! It sounds like you're close! What's been the hardest thing for you at blue belt so far?
Starting at my Gym on Dec. 2015, I was promoted to blue on Sept. 2016 (9 months) and promoted to purple on Dec 2019 ( 3 years and 3 months from blue). It did feel quite long I admit being a blue belt and there were numerous plateaus, but just keep training and don’t give up! There are days that will feel like you are not improving and thinking about that purple belt will feel like an eternity. All I can advise is don’t worry about the promotion and it will come and try to not to put too much expectations. One thing that stuck with me is to “don’t just talk about it, be about it!”
Couldn't agree more! Purple is soon to come! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
blue belt since 2018. Switched gyms during COVID and probably have at least a year left until purple. I train 3-4 days a week and my belt is fading and shredding at the edges. There are d1 white belts and young competition blues who can handle me, but I'm 46 and did really well in 2 masters competitions. Gold both times. I started training over a decade ago but lost five years due to a spine injury, so I'm just trying to keep going without hurting myself.
I started in 2009, got promoted to blue belt in 2010, then got injured, life stuff happened and stopped bjj. In Dec 2021, I took my 5 year old daughter to a bjj class for her and I ended up joining the gym and have been training since. Still a blue belt, but my mindset is completely different this time around. I’m just enjoying my time on the mat and glad to be back. I have no expectations and just happy to be able to train. I train 2 times a week and I’m 42 years old. If it takes me to 60 yrs old to get my purple belt, then so be it. Just enjoy the ride and the grind.
I received my blue belt last February after on and off training since I was 14 years old. Finally earning my blue belt due to consistency at age 32 was an interesting feeling to say the least. At first I was annoyed that I had been so inconsistent and was beating myself up over it. I then realized that in a way, I had a big advantage over a lot of blue belts because I have learned a lot over the years and my techniques were a little more polished than your average No strip blue belt. I realized that my situation is what it is and from here on out I use it as an advantage. Any white belts seeking advice? Just stay consistent no matter what. Even if you move as much as I did… find a gym and stick with it.
Congrats! Great advice! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I started in August 2009, the gym I started at cancelled the BJJ program about a year later so I had a lull in training. I found a new school, stayed there for 3.5 years and got my blue belt there in December of 2011. Because of relocating, new jobs and even jobs relocating I had to change schools a few times which prolonged getting my purple. Got my purple in March 2015. I trained consistently 3-4x a week until late 2017 when I stepped away from BJJ again. Looking for houses and saving prolonged it further and further and then in May 2019 I moved ten states away from my home state (RI to FL). I haven't really trained consistently since.
Thank you for sharing your journey. Unfortunately, life gets in the way of training and we have to put a pause on things. The good news is you have paused before and started up again, so you know it's possible! I wish you the best and hope you start training again soon!
3 year white belt and 8 year blue belt and purple about a year. I'm 48 years old and also was plagued by injuries at blue belt having a back surgery and shoulder surgery but never quit despite time off recovering. I watched videos, helped coach a bit and slowed my game down. It isnt about tapping people as we all know but I handle most blue belts and give any purple belt a run for their money and have tapped brown belts once or twice ( never a black belt yet). My coach hit the nail on the head though, consistency has been my nemesis but I have over come that to some extent by never giving up and by extending knowledge and becoming more efficient at movement I earned the purple. I half heartedly laughed that I wanted to be a blue belt forever so I could be respected but also could have an excuse on days I felt like I sucked and now I have to work hard every day. He also laughed and said " and you should never be comfortable at any belt which you clearly are." Haha you gotta love BJJ and that's my story from a 48 year old dude.👍
I received my blue belt in Feb 2016. 6 months after that, I moved to another state and joined another gym of August of the same year. I try not to chase belts but sometimes it gets hard not to think about it.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Awesome video. I'm hoping to get blue belt soon based on my instructor and others saying I'm at that level. Once I do my goals are going to be to continue working on my submission defense, escapes, guard passes and getting better with submission attempts. Other than rolling I plan on drilling as many techniques as I can hundreds and thousands of times. As long as I can hold my own against the higher ranks and aggressive white belts then I feel satisfied.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I got my blue belt in 2002. Now Carlos Machado handed me my blue belt and I am very proud of that. I quit due to a few nagging injuries and a new girlfriend at the time. I started backup May of 2020 at the age of 40. It took about 6 - 8 months to knock the rust off and finally get my first strip. Still grinding for that purple belt.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@thisme3138 I went to Solis Martial Arts academy in Humble, TX at that time. It was a Carlos Machado affiliate gym then. Carlos was training out of Dallas and he would fly in every 6 months or so. My primary instructors were purple belts then, but now they are 4 and 6 striped black belts now. I’m still a (1) striped blue belt. I don’t think that gym is still open under that name. I think a 2 or 3 strip black by the name of Roy took it over.
New to channel, very interesting. I'm a 58yr old blue belt. I was a white belt over a year or two being off and on the Mat. Now a blue. Thank u for telling me it's a long road. Cool. Perfect for my type of personality. Slow learner. I'm hopeful for black belt before I retire from work at age 65. Guess not lol as long as I get there.
Awesome to hear that! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I 100% understand and have been their! I'd be curious to hear more and help. If you are open to chatting more, shot me a email at chasen@chasenhill.com
Completely normal to feel. Students normally spend 3-5 years at blue belt. It's way better to be the best blue belt in the gym vs being the struggling purple belt! Thanks for sharing and checking the video out! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to talking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can talk soon!
I've been a lifelong striker (Okinawan karate) for over 50 years, but the early UFCs really were a wake up call and bothered me. They showed me the huge hole that I had in my education. As a kid I tried judo but didn't like it. A good amount of time went by after the first UFCs and I finally decided to bite the bullet and start training in BJJ on the week of my 60th birthday. I did okay, tapped out guys up to 80 lbs heavier and 30-40 years my junior, got my bluebelt in a year and then after 2 years as a bluebelt quit due to a bad hand injury on the mat. I agree with everything you're saying. I think that it comes down to learning any new skill; learning curves. Learning curves are always their steepest at the beginning of learning and inevitably flatten out and plateau. I've found that in karate the learning curves can last a while and then suddenly one day you're 30% better and entering your next higher plateau. While I don't regret a single day spent training in karate I have alot of admiration for BJJ and wish I had started way earlier. It's harder to learn than striking arts (especially in your 60s) and this also contributes to the attrition rate. Towards the end of my 2 years as a bluebelt I started to see that instead of just reacting and thinking a move ahead, I was just beginning to think 2 moves ahead. That was a big step in my mind although I never achieved that smooth, effortless flow that comes with purple.
I got my blue belt in July 2018, stille there... At least I can say that the lockdowns forced me away from the mats for at least a year combined, but I'm in a total blues phase right now. I just wish I could be more technical and have less of a tunnel vision while I roll. I'm starting to understand that if I don't piece things together more efficiently I'll be stuck here forever.
100% understand! We all go threw the blues while training. That's why it's extremely difficult to achieve a black belt. Maybe speak with your instructor or an upper belt make a training game plan. A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
2 stripe blue belt here. Been blue for 4 years, have 1 year off due to Covid, then 6 months off due to injury and another 6 just getting back into it. So actual healthy time as blue is 2 years. It just depends on life and what it throws at you. Keep training
As someone who has trained four different styles (sanchin ryu, Krav Maga, wing chun and BJJ over the course of 30 years, I can say from experience that worrying about rank is the fastest way to become frustrated with a style. It’s about becoming more efficient. Focus on being better than you were 3-6 months ago and rank will take care of itself when it is time.
Try being the only person who doesn't get promoted for several years and see how you feel about it. I'm a fairly new purple, whereas my peers are browns and blacks now. I destroy purple belts whenever I visit other gyms. The rank most definitely doesn't take care of itself. Sometimes, you have to leave that gym to get your fair promotion.
I got my blue in december 2004. Quit the gi in january 2005, and did nogi till today. I am seasoned grappler in nogi. I am more studying guys like Bas Rutten, Dan Henderson, Frank Shamrock, Matt Hughes and few other grapplers like Jeff Glover (nogi), Dean Lister and Roger Gracie. I am not chasing belts, I look for the training, drilling and refining of fundamentals and new techniques. My reward is when I can use my techniques vs all ranges/nogi level of grapplers.
3 stripe blue belt. Got my blue belt Nov 2020 so the journey has been quite fun even though Covid locks downs. Biggest hurdle is learning all those different guards
Great mindset to have! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Blue belt (4 stripes) 10 years due to 5 surgeries ending with a total ankle replacement, 5 years consistant training with a blue belt, also a Judo black belt. 30 years of grappling minus the 5-6 for surgeries, like major surgeries with 12 + months of recovery time. It can be very discouraging, but I have learned through all this time and trials, you just have to not care about your rank and just keep pushing forward. There was a very long time where competition was everything, now with a fake joint and a bunch of hardware, competition is completely out of the question. I can still roll at practice, just gotta watch it... start on the knees. It is, what it is. Now I grapple just for the love of the art and to stay in shape, and by default I better myself. Stay encouraged folks!
Spent 3 days shy of a year at white, a year and 11 months at blue, been purple around 450 days(we have a thing that tells us when we check in). I'm working on wristlocks(my favorite. For some reason people get mad when I do it to them, idk) and being heavy. 6'0ft 225lbs. I want people to think about tapping to pressure. That little grunt when I get side control is music. I got a white belt I been working with. I tell him all the time that piece of tape or the color of your belt doesn't make you any better. Let's switch belts and roll, you should be able to beat me if I'm wearing white and you're wearing purple right? Focus on you, not the time to your next promotion. Just keep showing up and asking everyone questions. The coolest part being at purple/brown/black and picking apart each part of your game and saying I got from this teammate, this from that, this from him. As a white/blue in room full of purples browns and blacks, you don't understand how much knowledge is at your feet. Use it
Great advice and thanks for sharing your story! If you are open to it, I'm working on a project to better help students stay on the mat longer and minimize frustration. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon.
4.5 years at blue. Got injured tho after competing heavily, so took 2 years off and then just did no-gi (10thplanet) for over a year - so just a bit of different training than the gi. Then covid hit, and just started back up again after another 1.5 yr hiatus. So while I've spent time at blue, the start/stopping of training, you lose your ability to execute...as well as endurance. I totally get the need to have that 'smoothness' of executing techniques and chaining them together during sparring makes sense in order to really earning your purple.
Yes, covid messed a lot of things up! Happy to hear you have made it back on the mats! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Been a blue belt for about 3.5 years. I feel like I’m ready for purple because lots of blue and white belts look to me for advice in their game, but it’s really up to my coach. The big thing is he sort of poached me from his coaches gym, so I get the feeling he doesn’t want to promote me until my belt is indisputable.
Ask your coach what he's looking for :) A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
II earned my 2nd Dan Black in Kodokan Judo and a 4th Dan Black in Formal Jiu Jitsu before I started BJJ. 4 stripes on a white belt 1.5 years, I was a Blue Belt for 5.5 years, I was on the mat 3X / 4X a week, I was a 2 Stripe Purple (Took 3 years) when I had an unfortunate biking accident and had to stop mat work, I have been out for a while and am just getting going again. BJJ is not easy but I will say it is worth it. Run when you can, Walk if you have to, Crawl if you must, But don't EVER Quit.
Took me 3 years and 3 months to get purple from never training or wrestling. The first 9 months or so only was doing 3-4 classes a week and then I got obsessed and started doing 8-11 classes a week. I was a little concerned that I was promoted too quickly but I started submitting black and brown belts 4-5 months or so after I got promoted and I was able to get gold in my first purple and up competition, so I feel like I am at the right level. It all drastically changed when I started training 6 days a week and watching jiu jitsu videos at home. I know that a lot of teachers and other practitioners would not approve of getting promoted fast like that, however everyone is different with training and how they think about it. I was obsessed with belt promotions early on but purple belt was the first time I really understood that, "belts don't matter." If you are a blue belt or white belt and are submitting higher level people, does it really matter what color the belt is? Just stay humble and make goals for yourself and keep training. Go visit other gyms and see how your belt lines up there or go do competitions to test yourself. If you win every comp you're in and you are using technique then you will have a good idea where you're at. But be honest with yourself about it, hold yourself accountable, and try not to get too down on yourself when you have bad days or rolls (I suffer greatly from the last one). But all the cheesy things higher belts say like "enjoy the process" are true statements, they say all these things because they experienced them, they aren't telling you those things to annoy you or make you roll your eyes. Have fun, try to not get injured and learn.
Ha, I just got a blue belt 2 weeks ago and I'm already watching this video :) I'm so green I don't know what I don't know so I guess I should give it a couple years to wonder about this stuff. But FWIW I learned something really crazy about a month before I got blue....it doesn't matter. What does matter is what you know and what you can do.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Glad it was helpful! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
38 yo blue belt. It took 2 years to get my blue belt. I just received my first stripe after 2 years as a blue belt. I’m not chasing the belt, just trying to have fun and enjoy the process
53 year old 4 stripe blue. took 1.5 years to get blue, and have been blue for about 9.5 years now. 1.5 of those years i was out due to covid, and had a few month breaks due to ringworm and being a bit banged up. also, moved gyms a few times with moves to other locations. My teacher now wants me to demo for purple belt so i've been taking private lessons (1 today) to smooth out my game. I'm a bit afraid to demo before i'm really ready to honor the art. i know a ton of stuff but my fluidity and efficiency are horrible, and my linking between combinations of moves isn't there. i really think i'm more like 2 years away, so i'm sure i'll feel like i have imposter syndrome once i wear the new belt. at my age....i will NOT be skipping warm ups, however.
That is amazing! Congrats on all your success those far! Please keep me up to date on your journey! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I feel you 100% sounds like my story man. When you get that purple you will know it was well deserved and I guarantee you arent an imposter, you will work harder for sure. I still cant perform certain techniques that require more agility but efficient at what I do well. I am sure it is the same with you. I'll bet the day you get that purple you will want your old, tattered blue belt back like I did. Congrats brother and just keep training.
I am a white belt, training since September 2021 once a week. From what I’ve heard that unless one gets pass the blue belt blues to purple belt (the equivalent of black belt in other forms) one will NEVER make it to black belt. Let’s see in the next 2 years whether I’ve made progress ie promotion to blue belt… then that’s when the real work begins.
You are on the right path! Welcome to the art! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
In my case I started bjj after 7 years of judo (4 of which were dedicated to competition, so I used to train twice a day 6 days a week), I was a brown belt at the time, and I decided to try bjj because Ne Waza is my favourite aspect of judo, and when I got there I was doing very decently against higher belts (blue and purple), and by decent I don´t mean that I was defeating them, but at least they weren´t crushing me on the ground that badly, a very good amount of the matches could even finish in a draw, and if I sparred with the other white belts I would defeat them very easily, and I don´t want to sound presumptuous, but I could defeat everyone when the matches started standing up thanks to my judo background. Even so, for some reason everyone was getting promoted but me, I trained 5 days a week besides my regular judo training sessions, and it took me for ever to get two stripes on my white belt, and some of the white belts with zero background who started at the same time as me were being promoted to blue belts. I asked the professors (there has been several at that academy) what was I missing or how could I improve in bjj standards but none of them gave me a clear answer, I would have continued practicing anyways, but the pandemic striked and I stopped training both martial arts.
I completely hear what you are saying about being unclear about what is needed to progress to the next level. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common and frustrating obstacles students experience. This is why I highly recommend students ask about curriculum and what is expected when visiting academies to possibly make homes. I wish more academies made learning a set curriculum more a priority. The only advice I could recommend is to have another conversation about your goals and what steps are needed to achieve them or possibly look at switching academies that have a come clear path. I hope you get back to training soon!
@@ChasenHill The problem is that there aren´t many bjj academies here in my city, and this one is the most decent one because it´s the only one that has a black belt as a teacher the other ones have blue belts and purple belts as professors. The other problem is that since they´re brazilian professors, they don´t stay much time, some of them just a few months, the one who stayed the most stayed for about a year. And I agree about academies having a set curriculum, in the case of the judo schools in my city, in order to be promoted you have to know a specific set of techniques established by the state judo association, you perform them adecuately and as requested by the examiners (I´m one of them now) and you get promoted, as simple as that.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I am currently at the rank of blue belt. I have had my blue belt for two years and I am just enjoying the journey. If I am struggling with anything right now its that I only have brown belts to test myself against (which they are too good for me to get any type of advantage over) and a lot of new white belts. I have been trying to go to open mats at other gyms but its a struggle to find time to do that.
Sounds like a good topic for a future video. Play all defense with brown belts. Don't try to win, look for the small victories and survive. When training with whit belts, work your attacks and controls, but be honest with yourself. Use clean technique only. Good luck!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@hershelj7893 Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Congrats on making it back on the mat! I would be interested in hearing more about your journey. If you are open to connecting, shoot me a email at chasen@chasenhill.com
1 stripe white belt at about 8 months. At first I thought blue would be a good goal. But seeing the difference between blue and purple rolling, purple is a lot better.
I'm a blue belt with three stripes. I'm back at bjj for about a year now after an 8 year break (no promotions since coming back). Some days I feel like I'm close to purple, other days I feel closer to a white belt
I've spent 12 years as a blue belt. I've pretty much given up on getting promoted in BJJ, even though I'm pretty sure I'm more than good enough to be a purple belt considering all of the tournaments I've won. Seriously, I got my blue belt by winning silver at open weight in Nationals in China at the blue belt level as a white belt, and despite years of practice and multiple tournament wins I still can't get promoted. Now I'm more focused on Judo, which actually does promote based on tournament wins using a publicly posted point system. BJJ has nothing like it, and. it shows with guys like me.
I got my blue after a little less than 2 years (22 months) , then I have been a blue for 4,5 years now. :) I train inconsistent due to my wife is under cancer treatment , I had a knee surgery and we moved to a different place in 2023 too. I did my comeback in February and so far I have been trying to maintain the 3 sessions per week. I am not in rush however I feel my progress stopped totally. especially since in my new club there are a lot of competitive 20 year old wannabe MMA fighters and I am talentless crap compared to them . :)
Awesome! Welcome to blue! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Been training for just over 3 years. 1.5 at white belt. Most of the time I only make 2 classes a week, sometimes 3. Last week I did 4 classes in a week for the first time since burning out after sending it so hard as a white belt. Definitely starting to feel like a real athlete. It never really seems to get easier though ... Especially because I'm 5'7" 130lbs... It's normal for 75%+ of my classmates to have 25+lbs and or quite a few inches on me. ... Every round can be a level 10 death match if I let it. For this reason for the past 1-2 years I have focused a lot on trying to figure out what I'm actually doing... Even if it means being in compromised positions more often than not because of trying to relax, breath, think, and be intentional... At least I'm not relying on spazzy scrambles to snipe a sub .. and now after doing it for close to 2 years .. I'm actually playing all positions with a much greater sense of intention. .. and even as a 3 year blue belt... Starting to hit some super smooth sequences and get very good movements in. I still get subbed more than I catch people... But the fact that I can do effective jiu jitsu on people that are bigger than me, who also train, even a fraction of the time is incredibly gratifying. I have to admit though... Sometimes when i'm still not able to manhandle white belts and sub them multiple times per match I feel unaccomplished... Especially when I'm cooked and don't have the energy... then a bigger one winds up sitting on me for 4 minutes and I can neither sweep nor submit... I just transition between turtle and getting smashed in side control. Fucking shameful if I'm being honest.
been a blue belt for 8 years believe it or not..I guess with my mindset, ive even told my coach i dont care about belts. I just want to train.....doesnt really matter to me, but I am wondering what it will take. Love your videos
Congrats on your success! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Bluebelt for almost 2 years now - and Covid sure doesn't help (I was 8 months off the mat because of lock-downs). I expect maybe 2 additional years to get purple. I'm 46 years old and in no hurry. :)
@@ChasenHill Germany - yeah, we are back sice June or so. I don't think Gyms will close again, but from November 20 until spring 21 they all were closed. We trained a bit outside - but I mainly went boxing as mats in pouring rain or snow are problematic. :)
@@martialartsvocationalschoo3319 Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
The reason why is usually because the coach is sandbagging people so they make the gym look better at competitions. I was a blue belt for 7 consistent years and I smashed purple belts every time I visited other gyms. My instructor finally promoted me the day after I told him I had to leave the gym to move, then he did a whole rash of promotions in the 2 months following my leaving, which means he knew what he was doing and knew that it would kill his gym to hold everyone else back too.
Well... I've was at White Belt for 4 Years but mainly trained NoGi at First, didn't really take the Gi serious until 2018 as I didn't like it very much at first. Was Promoted to Blue Belt In 2019. About to reach 4 years soon. The Gym I have been in was Traditional and wouldn't promote the NoGi Guys, that didn't change until maybe 3 years ago. But I've been training BJJ since pretty much 2010/2011 so I have the experience and It shows on the mats when compared to other Higher Belts, and I'll leave it at that.
Over here, we live in a very heavy rural area, so lot of bjj students have come and go. Lot have gone after earning their blue belts. Many even reach some solid early purple belt skill set level, but unfortunatly, most instructors are more concern about the big city academies, so they come here and go with flash lightnins speed. I trained and rolled in the gi from 2002-2005, earned my blue, then switched to nogi from 2005 till today. If we instructors around here, we'd probably had more and more purples, browns and even some black belts. I have decided to focus on techniques, but this belt ideology is getting to me sometimes, where I even become sick for not having a purple at the least. My compensation is that each time I roll with a blue belt, I make a point of honor to have an invincible defense, and maybe submit him or her at least once, at least. Rolling with white belts becomes a piece of cake, where I have to play games when they have to roll serious. For instance, lot of em when they get my back and try to RNC me, I stop using my hands and arms, and let them work. 99% of em cant choke me. If I dont play those sick games, I'll quit BJJ. So 50 yo this, I hang in there and still love it.
Seems the theme from blue to purple, starts with i got injured......had surgery.......😢 Point is to have fun, get or keep in shape, learn to defend yourself. Not hurt yourself and destroy your joints. Im 49, 2 stripe blue belt last thing i want is joint surgery.
It took me 3 years on and off to become a blue belt. However, it only took me 2 (on and off also) years to become a purple. I don’t know if I deserve it. I feel the pressure though of getting better and going against the “easy” brown belts… 😅 im also in my 40’s
I completely understand the fear of being the "easy" guy in the gym. The best advice I can give for is forget those lame people. They are covering their own insecurities and it is about how is on the mat the longest. You are doing just fine and amazing. Keep it up! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
How long have you been a blue belt?
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Since 2005. We are a bunch of bjj blue belt over here, inthis heavy rural area, and we seldom get visits from BJJ black belt instructors, so promotions are rare if not non existent. We're like blue belt mat beasts. Another issue is the money for bjj gi classes, so most of us embraced the less expensive nogi class for years. So ya blue for 16 years, but remember, I stopped doing the gi and done lot of nogi. Our instructor is a 7 year white belt high level. He rolls nogi a lot, but never had an instructor to commit to him to award him his blue. The guy is a mat beast that hangs with blue and purples. He did his Gracie University too, crazy story ! As for me, each time I get to nearly submit a purple over here, he literally calls it a day or switch partner, or stop the drilling. F&%$ that, I hate it. Most of our purples have ego larger than life. But, I am not the boss, so I dont make the calls.
@@tededo Yes, training in rural areas can be tough. As long as you guys are training, that's all that matters! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
My journey white to blue in 15 months, blue to purple in 21months. Currently 1 stripe purple been training a little ove 4 years now. From my personal experience purple belt has been the most difficult belt...
@@jasonaddison9401 Agreed! Blue and purple are the hardest! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Going on since 2018 now but had a long time off (almost 2 years) due to the stinkin' pandemic.
I'm a 4 stripe purple belt. I train 2, 3 days a week, I was a white for 2.5 years, then blue for 4 years and been purple for a little over 2 years, probably 1 to 1.5 more years at purple. My advice at blue belt is to just STAY AT IT. Blue (for me) was more MENTALLY tough than anything. Being at blue helped me tremendously mentally for the grind of the "advanced" belts, purple and up. Purple has been WAY EASIER mentally than blue. After 2.5 years at white I thought "no problem gonna take me a minute at blue but I got this", man was I so wrong. It was a LONG JOURNEY BUT I learned MORE at blue than any belt so far. I'll be 50 in February and have had 2 right knee surgeries (currently need another one + no acl in that knee) and a right shoulder surgery so if I can do it most people can, keep hitting class people. Hopefully this helps some people. Stay safe and good luck. 😁👍🤙
Awesome! Great advice. Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@Author Falling I will, thanks for the info. 👍
I spent two years, two months as a white belt and almost six and a half as blue belt. I’m currently a purple belt and have been for almost 5 years. That being said, we only train two days a week in gi and one day nogi. I’m a Police Officer so my schedule isn’t always the most accommodating so I can miss a class several times a month if we are busy. Best martial art for LE hands down!!
Thank you for keep our streets safe! Congrats on your training success. I agree with the LE comment. I teach a lot of LE officers myself! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Took me 8 years and 2 years of mat time to get my blue. My coach says I was ready after a year but kept not showing up. Been a blue belt for about 7months now. I sure hope it doesn't take me that long to get a purple belt.
I bet it won’t! Good things come to those that show 🙂
I spent 2.5 years at white and blue, (5 year span) training on average 3-4 times a week. Just received my purple belt last week :)
Sorry for the late reply! Congrats on the purple! Future black belt! If you are open to it, I'm working on a project to better help students stay on the mat longer and minimize frustration. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon.
You must have been a really good white belt
Don't get how whites are promoted so quickly. I've been a white for 12 months training 4 times a week and am only on my 2nd stripe.
@@Booossterr There are few exceptional white belts and some with a grappling background, they tend to get a new belt earlier. As i see it's 3-4 years for an average person like myself to get blue (at my place; with consistent training; some camps and seminars).
@@cecanbasescu 3-4 years? 12-16 years for your black belt? I am not there but I heard that on average it should take 10-12 years to get your black belt.
Been a blue belt for 6 months still not over the imposter syndrome. Kind of ok with knowing it will be awhile for purple. I feel I'm going to need that time to really strengthen my game. Thanks for your videos. Great content.
Thanks for the kind words! You are on the right path! Just keep moving forward!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I just got my purple belt after 20 years of being a blue belt. Talk about being inconsistent!!!
That is awesome! Congrats! If you don’t mind me asking, why did it take 20 years? I would like to hear your experience ☺️
@@ChasenHill Ya, absolutely! It boils down to two thing: (1) I took a long time off, and (2) I just really didn't have enough time put in at a single school in order to advance.
My first three years were REALLY consistent, and then the school I was going to closed. I then went and trained elsewhere for a while before that closed as well. Then came marriage and a loooooong break with some intermittent training sprinkled in, with only one semi-major injury (broke my big toe doing a guard pass). Fast forward to now, and I've been consistent enough, and at one place long enough, that I was FINALLY able to get the bump.
So, I think the skill has been there for a while, but it was a "you need more time" thing, as you talked about. That said, I feel like I'm ACTUALLY at that level, and I don't feel like a massive target is on my back that I can't handle, so the timing was definitely right. Never once did I bother my instructor about promotion... I just kept showing up and improving, and trusting that he knows what's best, which he does!
Also, purple belt (as I understand it) is the school's official "stamp of approval" on your technique, and how you interact with the rest of the school and community... That's another reason why time spent is important, if just to get to know the person.
Been a blue belt for six years .
I've seen so many others promoted ahead of me that I'm thinking of handing my blue belt back and just sticking with white for life.
I'm at the same level as most of the brown belts now so it's a bit depressing seeing new comers promoted to purple .
What I've learned is that colours are meaningless.
Thanks for sharing and that is frustrating. So you've been training 2 -3 days a week consistently for 6 years and you are also tapping all your brown belts in the gym and still havent been promoted?
I am a newly promoted blue belt. It took my approximately 18 months to achieve this milestone. At 46 years old I welcome the challenge of the blue belt blues. I am setting life goals to keep on the mat for as long as I can physically perform. BJJ is one of the hardest things I have ever done and I love it. Great video.
Fantastic! I'm happy to hear this! Keep that mindset! I would love to speak with you and hear more about your journey so far. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon! Keep training hard!
I’ve been training since I was 12 (now 18) and I was a white belt for 3 years and blue belt for 2 years. Just got promoted to purple (today!!)and I can say blue belt (despite being a full year shorter) felt wayyyyy longer than white belt ever did. Not only that but mentally and technically was far more challenging than I expected it to be. My coaches told me very similar things to your points and why it takes a while for them to feel comfortable promoting people to purple. Glad I could meet their expectations, knowing how tough it was and what they looked for. :)
Congrats on the purple! You have put in a ton of work. Usually, if you make it too purple, black is just around corner. Thanks for checking the video out and sharing!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
2 stripe blue belt. I've been training for a little over 3 years and have been a blue belt for 2. Some of the students say I should be a purple belt but I know I'm not quite there. I honestly appreciate my Coach not promoting me too fast. I want to enjoy being a decent blue belt for a while!
That is a fantastic mindset to have. I'm not sure why students feel in such a hurry to progress. Jiu-Jitsu is a lifelong journey. When I received my black belt, I felt like a white belt all over again. So having the white belt mindset and expectations is the number 1 key to staying on the mats forever. A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Started June 2019 I’m a 3 stripe blue belt , 7 months at white belt little over a year at blue belt . I compete at featherweight . I spend 5 hours a day at my gym , from helping with kids classes and adults I do this 6 days a week . I dropped everything for jiujitsu bad habits,girlfriend,regular friends, all my free time , family time. I’m 28 years old if my word is worth anything to someone here my advice is to just have fun and to compete . Everything is about creating memories and I cant remember a thing that made life as enjoyable as jiujitsu has . Ride that wave and forget about the belts 🤙🏻
Fantastic! Glad you are able to be in the gym this often! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
sounds sad to me
Dude , you need to make more time for yourself. Get a girlfriend. Spend some time with your friends and most importantly, find other interests .
One day jiujitsu will be done with you and that day always comes sooner than we'd like. Make sure you still have a life to fall back on .
4 stripe Blue belt. 7 years in the blue belt. Have had multiple surgeries that have slowed progression. Keep grinding!
Awesome! Keep it up! 100% understand! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I’ve been a purple belt for right at 2 years and have been training for about 6.5 years. It took me 2 years to get my blue belt and another 2.5 years to get purple. I think my instructor wanted to put pressure on me to step up my game with the promotion (it worked) because I don’t think I was completely up to standard at the time of promotion. He knew I was moving internationally and the new belt brought a higher expectation of performance at the new school. In his words “nobody takes it easy on the purple belt”.
100% awesomeness! Happy to hear that worked for you!
Love, love, love bjj and received my blue belt in 2016. However, life circumstances stopped me from practice all together. I must say, the time I practiced was absolutely the best I’ve ever felt physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Thanks coach!
Yes, life can get in the way. I hope you can return in the future!
I'm a white belt who started my Jiu-Jitsu journey three months ago. I have a lot of respect for blue belt practitioners because I feel that they're on a much higher level than I am whenever I spar with them. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to achieve the blue belt level and maybe even eventually reach the black belt level as well. :)
You will be able to make it!
Just became a Blue belt, I am super excited for the journey.
Congrats on the new blue! Well earned! Now it's time for the next chapter! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I have been a white belt for 5 long years & am just now getting into the blue belt curriculum with my professor. Honestly, I used to care. But now that I can tap good grapplers in mma, I just wanna get better😌 whatever belt it is. Let’s just roll😅
Just got my Purple Belt and been coaching for 6 months.
White belt for 2 years 10 months ( 3-4 times a week training)
Blue belt 1 year 6 months (4-5 times a week)
Total years of training 4 years 4 months
4 times a week on average.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Started training 2017 five days a week until now just receiving my purple belt in 2021 of may . Just enjoy the process and never give up .
Congrats on the purple belt! Future black belt!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I got to say I love your videos! They are so helpful, especially this one. I've been a blue belt for about a year and a half now, its a tough one mentally for me. Thanks dude I appreciate it!
Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad they are helpful. I attempted to make content I would have found helpful 😊
Been a bb now for 3.5 years. Crazy long
Just keep at it! Marathon not a sprint!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@Bhanna4d Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
excellent perspective....this coming from a 6yr blue to purple. one thing that also affects progress is age....as a 49yr old....i focus on training smarter....so in between a hard round I may do a positional round to keep it technical as my endurance may not be as good as the 20 year olds.
Yep. That’s pretty true. I was a white belt for just under 2 years, blue for 3-1/2 years (dec 2010-august 2014), purple for 3 years (august 2014-sept 2017), brown belt from sept 2017 till may 2021. The black belt was delayed because of time we couldn’t train/compete due to covid.
One thing I will add to what happens during the blue to purple transition is at blue you learn the “what and when”, what do I do and when do I do it? At purple, you start to understand the “why”..why is this grip important vs a different grip..why is it important that I push here vs here? You start to learn which details make or break a move and why those details are important, because you’re at a level where other people are actually good enough to stop moves that are done sloppy..but you’re also at a level where YOU are good enough to execute a game plan on other people.
Fantastic advice! Thank you for chiming in!
I got my blue belt in 2012. But then basically spent the next ten years doing on and off training.
Only have I gone back doing three/four sessions a week for the last year.
I'm more than happy to wait a few more years to purple.
Started June 2017 (Out collectively for 8 months due to few bad injuries including Achilles tear, herniated C-5/C-6, a torn groin and ACL which healed on its own). Each time I would come back and eventually got blue in June of 2019. Then have been relatively injury free since I learned how to roll properly. Got purple in Feb 2022. About 4.5 years of mat time if you take out the injury time offs. I think it helped that I kept mentally in it during the off times with videos and just thinking about it all the time. Spine doctor and chiropractor said to quit. What do they know. I'm 100% now and the journey continues. Blessed to be a part of this community.
Great story! I'm happy to hear you are back on the mats! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@ChasenHill Sure. I'll email you.
Two striped blue belt here and thank you professor I need this a lot. Just got back to training two months ago after getting vaccinated so I'm super excited to keep coming back to class. Oss!
Awesome! Welcome back to the mats! Just ease back in! Good luck training this new year! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I'm soon to be 63 years old and started BJJ about 5 and a half months ago. My school uses a green belt in between white to blue, I just got that about 2 weeks ago. I thinks its more a motivational belt but I am having a great time. Maybe I can test for blue next year, but I'm enjoying the training. I like your channel. Very helpful information. Thanks.
Great video Chasen thank you! 44yo here, been training and competing at white belt for 16 months - but about 5-6 classes a week and just got my blue belt today!
Funny how much more aware of how little I know today than I was last year…. Definitely need many years more work to feel anything close to those wizards in purple belts
I'm almost halfway through my blue belt (1.5 years at blue) - lots of ups and downs, two steps forwards and one step backwards.
I received my blue belt January 20th of 2020 right before the pandemic. A huge break happened there. Once vaccinated I returned and got some good stretches of regular almost daily training in for quite a while and then my daughter was born. Things have slowed to a crawl right now with training for me but I’m in it for the long haul and will go at whatever rate I need to to keep it in my life. I love the growth and the development BJJ brings to me and I’m focused on learning the techniques and fully understanding them. I love rolling of course, but my major focus at this point is drilling and thoroughly grasping the lessons in class. I am constantly amazed by the Jiu-Jitsu magic you can feel from the higher belts and I know there is only one way to develop it in myself. Commitment. Purple belt feels a long ways away and that’s fine. I’m loving the journey.
Fantastic insight! Thank you for sharing! Purple will come soon! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I'm 33, got my blue belt at 22... first stepped on a jiu jitsu mat when I was 7
Wow! That's amazing! Jiu-Jitsu is a lifelong journey!
As a 62 yr old-with health challenges (Cerebral Ataxia) & 4-stripe blue belt for nearly 5 years; I’m just soaking up my experience and now understand “why” it takes so long to go from blue to purple.
Wow, 62 and still getting after it! Congrats! Yes it does take a bit of time to make it to purple! It sounds like you're close! What's been the hardest thing for you at blue belt so far?
Starting at my Gym on Dec. 2015, I was promoted to blue on Sept. 2016 (9 months) and promoted to purple on Dec 2019 ( 3 years and 3 months from blue). It did feel quite long I admit being a blue belt and there were numerous plateaus, but just keep training and don’t give up! There are days that will feel like you are not improving and thinking about that purple belt will feel like an eternity. All I can advise is don’t worry about the promotion and it will come and try to not to put too much expectations. One thing that stuck with me is to “don’t just talk about it, be about it!”
Couldn't agree more! Purple is soon to come! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
blue belt since 2018. Switched gyms during COVID and probably have at least a year left until purple. I train 3-4 days a week and my belt is fading and shredding at the edges. There are d1 white belts and young competition blues who can handle me, but I'm 46 and did really well in 2 masters competitions. Gold both times. I started training over a decade ago but lost five years due to a spine injury, so I'm just trying to keep going without hurting myself.
Thanks for sharing! You are doing absolutely awesome! Stay on the mat and keep going 👊
I started in 2009, got promoted to blue belt in 2010, then got injured, life stuff happened and stopped bjj. In Dec 2021, I took my 5 year old daughter to a bjj class for her and I ended up joining the gym and have been training since. Still a blue belt, but my mindset is completely different this time around. I’m just enjoying my time on the mat and glad to be back. I have no expectations and just happy to be able to train. I train 2 times a week and I’m 42 years old. If it takes me to 60 yrs old to get my purple belt, then so be it. Just enjoy the ride and the grind.
I was a White Belt for 2 Years, Blue Belt for a 1.5 Years , Purple Belt for 2.5 Years, and I’m currently a Brown Belt totaling 6 years.
Fantastic! Future professor!
Blue belt for 12 years! Got my blue belt in 2011.. military happened. Rolled maybe once a year after that.. now I’m 2 months back in
I received my blue belt last February after on and off training since I was 14 years old.
Finally earning my blue belt due to consistency at age 32 was an interesting feeling to say the least. At first I was annoyed that I had been so inconsistent and was beating myself up over it. I then realized that in a way, I had a big advantage over a lot of blue belts because I have learned a lot over the years and my techniques were a little more polished than your average No strip blue belt.
I realized that my situation is what it is and from here on out I use it as an advantage.
Any white belts seeking advice? Just stay consistent no matter what. Even if you move as much as I did… find a gym and stick with it.
Congrats! Great advice! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
It took me 34 years to get my white belt
We all have to start somewhere! Welcome to the club!
GREAT COMMENT! 😂 I guess I would say it took me ALMOST 41. I'll be 50 in Feb.
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I started in August 2009, the gym I started at cancelled the BJJ program about a year later so I had a lull in training. I found a new school, stayed there for 3.5 years and got my blue belt there in December of 2011. Because of relocating, new jobs and even jobs relocating I had to change schools a few times which prolonged getting my purple. Got my purple in March 2015. I trained consistently 3-4x a week until late 2017 when I stepped away from BJJ again. Looking for houses and saving prolonged it further and further and then in May 2019 I moved ten states away from my home state (RI to FL). I haven't really trained consistently since.
Thank you for sharing your journey. Unfortunately, life gets in the way of training and we have to put a pause on things. The good news is you have paused before and started up again, so you know it's possible! I wish you the best and hope you start training again soon!
3 year white belt and 8 year blue belt and purple about a year. I'm 48 years old and also was plagued by injuries at blue belt having a back surgery and shoulder surgery but never quit despite time off recovering. I watched videos, helped coach a bit and slowed my game down. It isnt about tapping people as we all know but I handle most blue belts and give any purple belt a run for their money and have tapped brown belts once or twice ( never a black belt yet). My coach hit the nail on the head though, consistency has been my nemesis but I have over come that to some extent by never giving up and by extending knowledge and becoming more efficient at movement I earned the purple. I half heartedly laughed that I wanted to be a blue belt forever so I could be respected but also could have an excuse on days I felt like I sucked and now I have to work hard every day. He also laughed and said " and you should never be comfortable at any belt which you clearly are." Haha you gotta love BJJ and that's my story from a 48 year old dude.👍
I received my blue belt in Feb 2016. 6 months after that, I moved to another state and joined another gym of August of the same year. I try not to chase belts but sometimes it gets hard not to think about it.
100% agree. Just keep the slow and steady mindset!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Awesome video. I'm hoping to get blue belt soon based on my instructor and others saying I'm at that level. Once I do my goals are going to be to continue working on my submission defense, escapes, guard passes and getting better with submission attempts. Other than rolling I plan on drilling as many techniques as I can hundreds and thousands of times. As long as I can hold my own against the higher ranks and aggressive white belts then I feel satisfied.
Great mind set to have! Reasonable expectations!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I got my blue belt in 2002. Now Carlos Machado handed me my blue belt and I am very proud of that. I quit due to a few nagging injuries and a new girlfriend at the time. I started backup May of 2020 at the age of 40. It took about 6 - 8 months to knock the rust off and finally get my first strip. Still grinding for that purple belt.
Happy to hear you are back training! 😊
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Where did you go? There’s a Carlos machado has a gym in my hometown in shreveport
@@thisme3138 I went to Solis Martial Arts academy in Humble, TX at that time. It was a Carlos Machado affiliate gym then. Carlos was training out of Dallas and he would fly in every 6 months or so. My primary instructors were purple belts then, but now they are 4 and 6 striped black belts now. I’m still a (1) striped blue belt. I don’t think that gym is still open under that name. I think a 2 or 3 strip black by the name of Roy took it over.
@@ConveyApp ok thanks man I’ve been looking into getting into it and one of the gyms in my area in shreveport was called Carlos machado
New to channel, very interesting. I'm a 58yr old blue belt. I was a white belt over a year or two being off and on the Mat. Now a blue. Thank u for telling me it's a long road. Cool. Perfect for my type of personality. Slow learner. I'm hopeful for black belt before I retire from work at age 65. Guess not lol as long as I get there.
I’ve been a blue belt for 10 years, I been back for the last year after taking 5 years off. This time I will stick it out to purple
Do it! You've put it out into the world!
I'am a blue for 2 years now(47 y old) I stopped chasing belts and stripes, just working on my weaknesses and no ego.
Awesome to hear that! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Currently a blue belt experiencing the blue belt blues. 😞
I 100% understand and have been their! I'd be curious to hear more and help. If you are open to chatting more, shot me a email at chasen@chasenhill.com
I've been a blue belt for almost 2 years, and I feel I need a couple more years to get to purple, tbh.
Completely normal to feel. Students normally spend 3-5 years at blue belt. It's way better to be the best blue belt in the gym vs being the struggling purple belt! Thanks for sharing and checking the video out! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to talking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can talk soon!
I've been a lifelong striker (Okinawan karate) for over 50 years, but the early UFCs really were a wake up call and bothered me. They showed me the huge hole that I had in my education. As a kid I tried judo but didn't like it. A good amount of time went by after the first UFCs and I finally decided to bite the bullet and start training in BJJ on the week of my 60th birthday. I did okay, tapped out guys up to 80 lbs heavier and 30-40 years my junior, got my bluebelt in a year and then after 2 years as a bluebelt quit due to a bad hand injury on the mat. I agree with everything you're saying. I think that it comes down to learning any new skill; learning curves. Learning curves are always their steepest at the beginning of learning and inevitably flatten out and plateau. I've found that in karate the learning curves can last a while and then suddenly one day you're 30% better and entering your next higher plateau.
While I don't regret a single day spent training in karate I have alot of admiration for BJJ and wish I had started way earlier. It's harder to learn than striking arts (especially in your 60s) and this also contributes to the attrition rate. Towards the end of my 2 years as a bluebelt I started to see that instead of just reacting and thinking a move ahead, I was just beginning to think 2 moves ahead. That was a big step in my mind although I never achieved that smooth, effortless flow that comes with purple.
Thank you for sharing your experience and checking out the video. I hope you can make it back on the mats one day 😀
@@ChasenHill Thanks.
I got my blue belt in July 2018, stille there... At least I can say that the lockdowns forced me away from the mats for at least a year combined, but I'm in a total blues phase right now. I just wish I could be more technical and have less of a tunnel vision while I roll. I'm starting to understand that if I don't piece things together more efficiently I'll be stuck here forever.
100% understand! We all go threw the blues while training. That's why it's extremely difficult to achieve a black belt. Maybe speak with your instructor or an upper belt make a training game plan. A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@ChasenHill sure thanks, I'll email you asap!
Blue belt here who truly feels like a blue belt, but also nowhere near purple yet. Just gonna keep training!
Mindset of future black belt there! 🤙🏻
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
2 stripe blue belt here. Been blue for 4 years, have 1 year off due to Covid, then 6 months off due to injury and another 6 just getting back into it. So actual healthy time as blue is 2 years. It just depends on life and what it throws at you. Keep training
As someone who has trained four different styles (sanchin ryu, Krav Maga, wing chun and BJJ over the course of 30 years, I can say from experience that worrying about rank is the fastest way to become frustrated with a style. It’s about becoming more efficient. Focus on being better than you were 3-6 months ago and rank will take care of itself when it is time.
Try being the only person who doesn't get promoted for several years and see how you feel about it. I'm a fairly new purple, whereas my peers are browns and blacks now. I destroy purple belts whenever I visit other gyms. The rank most definitely doesn't take care of itself. Sometimes, you have to leave that gym to get your fair promotion.
I got my blue in december 2004. Quit the gi in january 2005, and did nogi till today. I am seasoned grappler in nogi. I am more studying guys like Bas Rutten, Dan Henderson, Frank Shamrock, Matt Hughes and few other grapplers like Jeff Glover (nogi), Dean Lister and Roger Gracie. I am not chasing belts, I look for the training, drilling and refining of fundamentals and new techniques. My reward is when I can use my techniques vs all ranges/nogi level of grapplers.
As long as you are training, nothing else maters 😊
3 stripe blue belt. Got my blue belt Nov 2020 so the journey has been quite fun even though Covid locks downs. Biggest hurdle is learning all those different guards
Great mindset to have! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@ChasenHill emailed
Blue belt (4 stripes) 10 years due to 5 surgeries ending with a total ankle replacement, 5 years consistant training with a blue belt, also a Judo black belt. 30 years of grappling minus the 5-6 for surgeries, like major surgeries with 12 + months of recovery time. It can be very discouraging, but I have learned through all this time and trials, you just have to not care about your rank and just keep pushing forward. There was a very long time where competition was everything, now with a fake joint and a bunch of hardware, competition is completely out of the question. I can still roll at practice, just gotta watch it... start on the knees. It is, what it is. Now I grapple just for the love of the art and to stay in shape, and by default I better myself. Stay encouraged folks!
Spent 3 days shy of a year at white, a year and 11 months at blue, been purple around 450 days(we have a thing that tells us when we check in). I'm working on wristlocks(my favorite. For some reason people get mad when I do it to them, idk) and being heavy. 6'0ft 225lbs. I want people to think about tapping to pressure. That little grunt when I get side control is music.
I got a white belt I been working with. I tell him all the time that piece of tape or the color of your belt doesn't make you any better. Let's switch belts and roll, you should be able to beat me if I'm wearing white and you're wearing purple right? Focus on you, not the time to your next promotion. Just keep showing up and asking everyone questions. The coolest part being at purple/brown/black and picking apart each part of your game and saying I got from this teammate, this from that, this from him. As a white/blue in room full of purples browns and blacks, you don't understand how much knowledge is at your feet. Use it
Great advice and thanks for sharing your story! If you are open to it, I'm working on a project to better help students stay on the mat longer and minimize frustration. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon.
4.5 years at blue. Got injured tho after competing heavily, so took 2 years off and then just did no-gi (10thplanet) for over a year - so just a bit of different training than the gi. Then covid hit, and just started back up again after another 1.5 yr hiatus. So while I've spent time at blue, the start/stopping of training, you lose your ability to execute...as well as endurance. I totally get the need to have that 'smoothness' of executing techniques and chaining them together during sparring makes sense in order to really earning your purple.
Yes, covid messed a lot of things up! Happy to hear you have made it back on the mats! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Been a blue belt for about 3.5 years. I feel like I’m ready for purple because lots of blue and white belts look to me for advice in their game, but it’s really up to my coach. The big thing is he sort of poached me from his coaches gym, so I get the feeling he doesn’t want to promote me until my belt is indisputable.
Ask your coach what he's looking for :) A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Started bjj in Oct 2004
Blue belt in 2007
Purple 2009
Brown 2012
Black in apr 2019
Welcome to the black belt club! Learning is just now starting 😂
II earned my 2nd Dan Black in Kodokan Judo and a 4th Dan Black in Formal Jiu Jitsu before I started BJJ. 4 stripes on a white belt 1.5 years, I was a Blue Belt for 5.5 years, I was on the mat 3X / 4X a week, I was a 2 Stripe Purple (Took 3 years) when I had an unfortunate biking accident and had to stop mat work, I have been out for a while and am just getting going again. BJJ is not easy but I will say it is worth it. Run when you can, Walk if you have to, Crawl if you must, But don't EVER Quit.
Took me 3 years and 3 months to get purple from never training or wrestling. The first 9 months or so only was doing 3-4 classes a week and then I got obsessed and started doing 8-11 classes a week. I was a little concerned that I was promoted too quickly but I started submitting black and brown belts 4-5 months or so after I got promoted and I was able to get gold in my first purple and up competition, so I feel like I am at the right level. It all drastically changed when I started training 6 days a week and watching jiu jitsu videos at home. I know that a lot of teachers and other practitioners would not approve of getting promoted fast like that, however everyone is different with training and how they think about it. I was obsessed with belt promotions early on but purple belt was the first time I really understood that, "belts don't matter." If you are a blue belt or white belt and are submitting higher level people, does it really matter what color the belt is? Just stay humble and make goals for yourself and keep training. Go visit other gyms and see how your belt lines up there or go do competitions to test yourself. If you win every comp you're in and you are using technique then you will have a good idea where you're at. But be honest with yourself about it, hold yourself accountable, and try not to get too down on yourself when you have bad days or rolls (I suffer greatly from the last one). But all the cheesy things higher belts say like "enjoy the process" are true statements, they say all these things because they experienced them, they aren't telling you those things to annoy you or make you roll your eyes. Have fun, try to not get injured and learn.
Im 39. 3 years at white belt( moving to new country and new gym) 2 years at Blue ,will get my Purple in the upcoming week.
4 years going strong learning a lot!
Amazining!
Ha, I just got a blue belt 2 weeks ago and I'm already watching this video :) I'm so green I don't know what I don't know so I guess I should give it a couple years to wonder about this stuff. But FWIW I learned something really crazy about a month before I got blue....it doesn't matter. What does matter is what you know and what you can do.
100% Keep training and enjoy the journey!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Incredibly helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
11 years to get a Brown belt(2years off). I was a Blue belt for a solid 5 years.
Yes! It takes time!
Great job. Started boxing and bjj. 1 month. Really digging it . 62 white male
I’m a 1 stripe blue. I’ve been training, since 2009. Off and on never longer then 6 month break. It’s definitely been a journey.
38 yo blue belt. It took 2 years to get my blue belt. I just received my first stripe after 2 years as a blue belt. I’m not chasing the belt, just trying to have fun and enjoy the process
53 year old 4 stripe blue. took 1.5 years to get blue, and have been blue for about 9.5 years now. 1.5 of those years i was out due to covid, and had a few month breaks due to ringworm and being a bit banged up. also, moved gyms a few times with moves to other locations. My teacher now wants me to demo for purple belt so i've been taking private lessons (1 today) to smooth out my game. I'm a bit afraid to demo before i'm really ready to honor the art. i know a ton of stuff but my fluidity and efficiency are horrible, and my linking between combinations of moves isn't there. i really think i'm more like 2 years away, so i'm sure i'll feel like i have imposter syndrome once i wear the new belt. at my age....i will NOT be skipping warm ups, however.
That is amazing! Congrats on all your success those far! Please keep me up to date on your journey! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I feel you 100% sounds like my story man. When you get that purple you will know it was well deserved and I guarantee you arent an imposter, you will work harder for sure. I still cant perform certain techniques that require more agility but efficient at what I do well. I am sure it is the same with you. I'll bet the day you get that purple you will want your old, tattered blue belt back like I did. Congrats brother and just keep training.
I am a white belt, training since September 2021 once a week. From what I’ve heard that unless one gets pass the blue belt blues to purple belt (the equivalent of black belt in other forms) one will NEVER make it to black belt.
Let’s see in the next 2 years whether I’ve made progress ie promotion to blue belt… then that’s when the real work begins.
You are on the right path! Welcome to the art! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Purple belt now,
I was a white belt for 2 years, and a blue belt for 2.5 years.
Congrats! Welcome to purple!
In my case I started bjj after 7 years of judo (4 of which were dedicated to competition, so I used to train twice a day 6 days a week), I was a brown belt at the time, and I decided to try bjj because Ne Waza is my favourite aspect of judo, and when I got there I was doing very decently against higher belts (blue and purple), and by decent I don´t mean that I was defeating them, but at least they weren´t crushing me on the ground that badly, a very good amount of the matches could even finish in a draw, and if I sparred with the other white belts I would defeat them very easily, and I don´t want to sound presumptuous, but I could defeat everyone when the matches started standing up thanks to my judo background. Even so, for some reason everyone was getting promoted but me, I trained 5 days a week besides my regular judo training sessions, and it took me for ever to get two stripes on my white belt, and some of the white belts with zero background who started at the same time as me were being promoted to blue belts. I asked the professors (there has been several at that academy) what was I missing or how could I improve in bjj standards but none of them gave me a clear answer, I would have continued practicing anyways, but the pandemic striked and I stopped training both martial arts.
I completely hear what you are saying about being unclear about what is needed to progress to the next level. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common and frustrating obstacles students experience. This is why I highly recommend students ask about curriculum and what is expected when visiting academies to possibly make homes. I wish more academies made learning a set curriculum more a priority. The only advice I could recommend is to have another conversation about your goals and what steps are needed to achieve them or possibly look at switching academies that have a come clear path. I hope you get back to training soon!
@@ChasenHill The problem is that there aren´t many bjj academies here in my city, and this one is the most decent one because it´s the only one that has a black belt as a teacher the other ones have blue belts and purple belts as professors. The other problem is that since they´re brazilian professors, they don´t stay much time, some of them just a few months, the one who stayed the most stayed for about a year. And I agree about academies having a set curriculum, in the case of the judo schools in my city, in order to be promoted you have to know a specific set of techniques established by the state judo association, you perform them adecuately and as requested by the examiners (I´m one of them now) and you get promoted, as simple as that.
brown belt in judo should be a blue belt immediately tbh
Started in 2013, blue belt for 6 years. Still working on my journey.
Glad to see you still training! Stay on it!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I am currently at the rank of blue belt. I have had my blue belt for two years and I am just enjoying the journey.
If I am struggling with anything right now its that I only have brown belts to test myself against (which they are too good for me to get any type of advantage over) and a lot of new white belts. I have been trying to go to open mats at other gyms but its a struggle to find time to do that.
Sounds like a good topic for a future video. Play all defense with brown belts. Don't try to win, look for the small victories and survive. When training with whit belts, work your attacks and controls, but be honest with yourself. Use clean technique only. Good luck!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I'm a 1 stripe blue belt. Got my blue belt in Feb. Honestly I am good staying a blue belt for 10 years.
when people say "Oh you do martial arts , what belt are you?" blue... "What number is that?" the second one... "Oh thats it?" lol
Blue in BJJ is like black belt in many other arts 😊
I see it as the first belt (white being 0)
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
@@hershelj7893 Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Blue & thank you for your work Chasen!
Fantastic! Thanks for the support!
Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
Blue Belt 4 yrs. my favorite Belt. Currently a brown
Almost there!
Took a 15 year break. Back now stripped from purple down to blue.
Congrats on making it back on the mat! I would be interested in hearing more about your journey. If you are open to connecting, shoot me a email at chasen@chasenhill.com
1 stripe white belt at about 8 months. At first I thought blue would be a good goal. But seeing the difference between blue and purple rolling, purple is a lot better.
I'm a blue belt with three stripes. I'm back at bjj for about a year now after an 8 year break (no promotions since coming back). Some days I feel like I'm close to purple, other days I feel closer to a white belt
I've spent 12 years as a blue belt. I've pretty much given up on getting promoted in BJJ, even though I'm pretty sure I'm more than good enough to be a purple belt considering all of the tournaments I've won. Seriously, I got my blue belt by winning silver at open weight in Nationals in China at the blue belt level as a white belt, and despite years of practice and multiple tournament wins I still can't get promoted. Now I'm more focused on Judo, which actually does promote based on tournament wins using a publicly posted point system. BJJ has nothing like it, and. it shows with guys like me.
I got my blue after a little less than 2 years (22 months) , then I have been a blue for 4,5 years now. :) I train inconsistent due to my wife is under cancer treatment , I had a knee surgery and we moved to a different place in 2023 too. I did my comeback in February and so far I have been trying to maintain the 3 sessions per week. I am not in rush however I feel my progress stopped totally. especially since in my new club there are a lot of competitive 20 year old wannabe MMA fighters and I am talentless crap compared to them . :)
Been a white belt for 18 months (took 6 months off due to an injury). Now I have been a blue belt for a month. :D
Awesome! Welcome to blue! Random question, I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
I was white for little less than 2 years. Blue for almost 3 years. I’m at Purple now. Training 4-5x/week
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
Been training for just over 3 years. 1.5 at white belt. Most of the time I only make 2 classes a week, sometimes 3. Last week I did 4 classes in a week for the first time since burning out after sending it so hard as a white belt.
Definitely starting to feel like a real athlete. It never really seems to get easier though ... Especially because I'm 5'7" 130lbs... It's normal for 75%+ of my classmates to have 25+lbs and or quite a few inches on me. ... Every round can be a level 10 death match if I let it. For this reason for the past 1-2 years I have focused a lot on trying to figure out what I'm actually doing... Even if it means being in compromised positions more often than not because of trying to relax, breath, think, and be intentional... At least I'm not relying on spazzy scrambles to snipe a sub .. and now after doing it for close to 2 years .. I'm actually playing all positions with a much greater sense of intention. .. and even as a 3 year blue belt... Starting to hit some super smooth sequences and get very good movements in.
I still get subbed more than I catch people... But the fact that I can do effective jiu jitsu on people that are bigger than me, who also train, even a fraction of the time is incredibly gratifying.
I have to admit though... Sometimes when i'm still not able to manhandle white belts and sub them multiple times per match I feel unaccomplished... Especially when I'm cooked and don't have the energy... then a bigger one winds up sitting on me for 4 minutes and I can neither sweep nor submit... I just transition between turtle and getting smashed in side control. Fucking shameful if I'm being honest.
been a blue belt for 8 years believe it or not..I guess with my mindset, ive even told my coach i dont care about belts. I just want to train.....doesnt really matter to me, but I am wondering what it will take. Love your videos
I'm 45 and I want a purple belt and I'm not stopping til I get one
You've got this! Are you a blue belt right now?
I spent just over 2 years at white belt and then a year and a half at blue to get my purple.
Congrats on your success! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
2 stripe blue. cleaning everything up . cleaning.
Do it! 🔥
Bluebelt for almost 2 years now - and Covid sure doesn't help (I was 8 months off the mat because of lock-downs). I expect maybe 2 additional years to get purple. I'm 46 years old and in no hurry. :)
Where are you located? Are you back training now? You will make it to purple if you come back after this layoff!
@@ChasenHill Germany - yeah, we are back sice June or so. I don't think Gyms will close again, but from November 20 until spring 21 they all were closed. We trained a bit outside - but I mainly went boxing as mats in pouring rain or snow are problematic. :)
@Martial Arts Vocational School Teacher Keep that motivation up! I hope to visit Germany and train in the country one day
@@martialartsvocationalschoo3319 Hey, there! I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!
The reason why is usually because the coach is sandbagging people so they make the gym look better at competitions. I was a blue belt for 7 consistent years and I smashed purple belts every time I visited other gyms. My instructor finally promoted me the day after I told him I had to leave the gym to move, then he did a whole rash of promotions in the 2 months following my leaving, which means he knew what he was doing and knew that it would kill his gym to hold everyone else back too.
Yes, I agree this can be a problem at a lot of gyms.
Well... I've was at White Belt for 4 Years but mainly trained NoGi at First, didn't really take the Gi serious until 2018 as I didn't like it very much at first.
Was Promoted to Blue Belt In 2019. About to reach 4 years soon.
The Gym I have been in was Traditional and wouldn't promote the NoGi Guys, that didn't change until maybe 3 years ago.
But I've been training BJJ since pretty much 2010/2011 so I have the experience and It shows on the mats when compared to other Higher Belts, and I'll leave it at that.
Over here, we live in a very heavy rural area, so lot of bjj students have come and go. Lot have gone after earning their blue belts. Many even reach some solid early purple belt skill set level, but unfortunatly, most instructors are more concern about the big city academies, so they come here and go with flash lightnins speed.
I trained and rolled in the gi from 2002-2005, earned my blue, then switched to nogi from 2005 till today. If we instructors around here, we'd probably had more and more purples, browns and even some black belts.
I have decided to focus on techniques, but this belt ideology is getting to me sometimes, where I even become sick for not having a purple at the least.
My compensation is that each time I roll with a blue belt, I make a point of honor to have an invincible defense, and maybe submit him or her at least once, at least.
Rolling with white belts becomes a piece of cake, where I have to play games when they have to roll serious. For instance, lot of em when they get my back and try to RNC me, I stop using my hands and arms, and let them work. 99% of em cant choke me.
If I dont play those sick games, I'll quit BJJ.
So 50 yo this, I hang in there and still love it.
Got my blue belt 3 months ago and I also have 6 years of wrestling experience
Congrats on the blue belt! You are going to be a monster 😱
I'm 47. I was white belt 2 yrs. I was blue belt just at 6.5yrs. Been a purple for 1.5yrs now. Life happens. Do it for the love of bjj not for belts.
Thats amazing! I applaud you on your will power to stay after it!
Seems the theme from blue to purple, starts with i got injured......had surgery.......😢 Point is to have fun, get or keep in shape, learn to defend yourself. Not hurt yourself and destroy your joints. Im 49, 2 stripe blue belt last thing i want is joint surgery.
It took me 3 years on and off to become a blue belt. However, it only took me 2 (on and off also) years to become a purple.
I don’t know if I deserve it.
I feel the pressure though of getting better and going against the “easy” brown belts… 😅 im also in my 40’s
I completely understand the fear of being the "easy" guy in the gym. The best advice I can give for is forget those lame people. They are covering their own insecurities and it is about how is on the mat the longest. You are doing just fine and amazing. Keep it up! A bit random, but I'm working on a project to better help students like yourself. I'm currently collecting helpful information by speaking with students. Would you be open to speaking with me? If so, please shoot me an email at chasenhill@gmail.com. I hope we can speak soon!