Reader Question: “I was a a white belt at my old academy, however my coach was extremely abusive both verbally as well as physically with many students having quit the gym and it having a poor reputation in the area.
The coach would sand bag at tournaments quite often, but the jiu jitsu was good technically despite the environment.
I was cross training with a Gracie Barra purple belt and recently after leaving my old gym, my purple belt friend gave me a blue belt (his old one).
I don’t feel I deserve it because I have never performed that well in tournaments.
He says I roll very well with him and can identify arm bar, triangles, have escapes from different positions, and am a leader for some of the new guys that roll at our weekend group.
Do I wear this belt when I join my new academy?
Or do I just remain a white belt and only wear my blue around him?”
Jiu-jitsu Times: This is a tricky question.
1) It is good that you left the school with the abusive instructor. Life is too short to train in an environment run by people with personality problems.
Just because someone is adept at arm bars and chokes doesn’t mean that they are of good character.
read also: on Jiu-jitsu Times: Reasons You Left Your Old Bjj School
2) As there is no universally adopted system for belt promotions, awarding a blue belt is largely a subjective thing.
The Gracie Barra organization for example recognizes that not all cities may have a resident black belt and stipulates that a highre belt may award belt graduations/ stripes to belts below their ranking.
If there are black belts around to train under, generally most people would look to a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsui to award the belts.
It sounds to me that you don’t have 100% confidence in either the belt being awarded or your skill level to deserve it.
read also: A Reader Question: “Feeling like I don’t deserve the Blue belt I just got.”
A Reader Question: “Feeling like I don’t deserve the Blue belt I just got.”
It is not uncommon fcr people to question whether they deserve a belt promotion.
In most cases it is a just an internal voice of insecurity talking.
My advice is to wear the blue belt and respect the instructor that awarded it to you.
If you feel that you fall a little short IN YOUR OWN EYES then use that feeling to fuel your training to get better and really feel like you deserve the wear that belt.
The most important thing in all of this is to find a solid training environment and keep training jiu-jitsu!
read also: A Reader Question on Jiu-jitsu Times : “Do other gyms find it offensive when a new guy wears wears patches from another gym?”
A Reader Question: “Do other gyms find it offensive when a new guy wears patches from another gym?”
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