- Joined
- Oct 2, 2012
- Messages
- 973
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In both the recent black belt threads, there were some backhanded "thats fast" compliments - with the implication being they were given out to quick.
Those really pissed me off tonight for some reason. Here's how I see it-
If it takes you more than 2 1/2 - three years to reach a blue belt level and you were training consistently - either you or your instructor sucks. Period. It doesn't mean your gym has higher standards, it means with all the advances in teaching methodology and resources they still suck at teaching (or you suck at learning).
If it takes you 7 years to get a purple belt- again- either you suck at BJJ or your instructor sucks. 7 years of consistent training is a long ass time.
Stop bragging about it. You sound stupid when you say "my gym is conservative with belts". What I hear is "my gym still does the random 3 moves of the night and spar, without any methodology or curriculum designed to expedite the students learning process".
If you are training 8 years at 3-4 times per week plus- there is no reason you can't earn a blackbelt with all of the learning advantages you have today. This doesn't mean we should have McDojo's dropping the curve down to 2-3 years- I think 8 is about as low as it should go (with the rare exception).
If it takes you 5 years to reach blue because of injuries, moving, kids, etc- then props to you. I would still you rather not say it like it is somehow more justified than the one another guy got in 18 months by training all the fucking time.
End Rant.
TLDR- if it takes you a ridiculous long time to advance in rank- don't be proud of it- it means you our your instructor sucks
Those really pissed me off tonight for some reason. Here's how I see it-
If it takes you more than 2 1/2 - three years to reach a blue belt level and you were training consistently - either you or your instructor sucks. Period. It doesn't mean your gym has higher standards, it means with all the advances in teaching methodology and resources they still suck at teaching (or you suck at learning).
If it takes you 7 years to get a purple belt- again- either you suck at BJJ or your instructor sucks. 7 years of consistent training is a long ass time.
Stop bragging about it. You sound stupid when you say "my gym is conservative with belts". What I hear is "my gym still does the random 3 moves of the night and spar, without any methodology or curriculum designed to expedite the students learning process".
If you are training 8 years at 3-4 times per week plus- there is no reason you can't earn a blackbelt with all of the learning advantages you have today. This doesn't mean we should have McDojo's dropping the curve down to 2-3 years- I think 8 is about as low as it should go (with the rare exception).
If it takes you 5 years to reach blue because of injuries, moving, kids, etc- then props to you. I would still you rather not say it like it is somehow more justified than the one another guy got in 18 months by training all the fucking time.
End Rant.
TLDR- if it takes you a ridiculous long time to advance in rank- don't be proud of it- it means you our your instructor sucks