How many lower belts are better than you at your academy?

Just start using the BJJ No True Scotsman like everyone else.

Got tapped by a lower rank? That would never happen if he was a TRUE lower rank! Instead he must be:

Sandbagging
Bigger
Stronger
Faster
More flexible
Training more because he doesn't have a job like you do
Younger
A phenom competitor
Etc
Etc
Etc

Just keep going until you find a good excuse you can tell yourself. Now you can sleep at night once more. All is right in the jungle.
 
Why is he tapping you consistently? And is it just one guy? If all the blue belts are catching you often, are they all catching you the same way?

If it's one guy, especially if he has significant physical advantages, then don't worry about it. BJJ is a physical ability multiplier, but if they guy has a large enough advantage you're not going to overcome it. Even as a bigger guy, I've run into one dude, pro MMA fighter and strongest man I've ever met, who would literally just bench press me off him if I got into side control. Not much you can do about that.

If it's a bunch of guys beating you consistently, are they beating you the same way ever time? You might just have one or two really gaping holes in your game that you need to patch. I'd try to make a mental note of how you're being caught, not just the sub but also earlier on...are they all passing your open guard really easily, or are you giving up your back without a fight?

Finally, if you haven't already just ask your teacher. He'll probably have a better idea of what's up than any of us can provide.
 
I've had my blue belt for about a year, and honestly none of the white belts (and we have a lot) can tap me on any consistent basis. I got ankle locked by one because I got lazy and wasn't expecting it a couple of months ago, but that's about it.

I don't roll to smash white belts just to clarify, I let them work, pass my guard etc etc, but once I feel like it I'll start countering and going for the finish.
 
As a new blue, I'd been dreading the first time I got tapped by a white belt. I was so relieved when it finally happened and my new rank did not disintegrate into dust.
 
never been tapped by lower belt. I don't believe in the "if you're not tapping, you're not learning" philosophy. I work my holes on lower belts, I just don't let them tap me out, or put myself so deep in trouble that I can't get out. I have many character flaws, and this is but one of them.
 
i'm a relatively new blue belt, and there have been times that i've tapped to a white belt. i will make no exceptions to the tap...they got the best of me during that session.

saying that he was "bigger, more athletic, or a wrestler" is taking credit away from whatever hard work they put in, and also not addressing what you're doing wrong or could be doing better as a higher ranking belt.
 
I'm a purple and none of the folks ranked "below" me in my gym are more skilled overall than I am in my opinion....but that doesn't mean they don't catch me here and there especially if I'm being playful or trying new stuff. Hell, I routinely play the roll of tacklling dumby for the newer guys so they actually get to go through the motions of submissions in something a bit above drilling speed.

Same applies to me with the more experienced purples, browns and blacks. I'll catch them here and there but have no delusions that I am "better" or more skilled than they are.
 
Meh, can't say I care much one way of the other. I've been training for awhile now and I've come to the conclusion that certain styles trouble me more than others. Whether it be white, blue, purple, brown or black.

Belts don't bestow magic powers.
 
There are 3 of them that give me hell...1 Silver medalist Blue belt at Worlds, 1 a tru student of the game and I think coach is sandbagging him a little (will promote after worlds...only been training 2 1/2 years), and 1 hoss of a person. His Abs have abs...
 
kimble09 said:
i'm a relatively new blue belt, and there have been times that i've tapped to a white belt. i will make no exceptions to the tap...they got the best of me during that session.

saying that he was "bigger, more athletic, or a wrestler" is taking credit away from whatever hard work they put in, and also not addressing what you're doing wrong or could be doing better as a higher ranking belt.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I roll with our females & teens knowing that I have a big advantage in terms of size & strength. I try not to exploit it, but I know they're still at a disadvantage. I don't read too much into my ability based on what I can do against them.

Likewise, if an athletic 300lb catch wrestler comes in, I know I'm going to have my work cut out for me much more than I would against a true newbie of my own size.

That's not saying you treat it as an excuse, it's just acknowledging the reality that they've got some advantages going into the roll that may be more than your technique can overcome. You should still analyze the roll and understand your mistakes, but it's silly to beat yourself up about getting tapped by a lower rank in such a case.
 
The only times I get caught by a person of lower rank is when I don't respect their game and let them get too far ahead with the grips before I do anything.

The lesson for me is to respect everyone.
 
It happens especially if you're working on something specific and trying to work through the learning process. It's easy to get tapped that way.

However, if you're both going at it "full speed", it probably should not happen a lot.

There is one lower belt in particular at our school is really really good and he taps upper belts on the regular. Good for him. I'm trying to help him as much as I can. Eventually, he will pass me and he will be the one helping me through.
 
I have been a blue belt for two years now and I got tapped by white belts here and there. I am 26, skinny, unathletic and routinely train twice a week. Some bulky athletic 19-20 year old who are due to get their blue belt are a pain in the ass.

It happens, but its no big deal. Just keep training!
 
At CSW, it took the person an average of two years to get their blue belt. Since I came from GB, they were noticibly better, p4p. Even some white belts were crazy and could tackle GB's Advanced (three stripe) students. Very humbling. Haha
 
I can't remember the last guy to tap me and couldn't care less about the last sub I got. I think that treating each roll in class as some sort of competition is a disease. If you think getting tapped by a bigger, stronger teammate with a lower belt is a big deal, then it will be a big deal. If you come on Sherdog to confirm it is a big deal, you'll definitely think it's a big deal, and if you listen to people who tell you it's a big deal, well, you might be an idiot.

Your instructor gives you your belt when he/she feels you're ready for it. You will grow into your belt with time on the mat and the right attitude towards your progress. Ditch your ego, relax, work the techniques, drill the techniques and you WILL see that pay off when you roll with those same young bucks.

But yo, I can TOTALLY tap this one brown belt I know. FUCK YEAH! :icon_evil
 
BJJ_Rage said:
a green belt is a white belt.
Click to expand...

Wrong. A child green belt is NOT a white belt. Most children's green belts are actually considerably better than the adults at their gyms. A green belt that turns 16 is typically promoted to, at least, blue belt. I've seen green belts go directly to purple belts.

Think about it, regardless of age, a green belt has gone through white, yellow, orange to green so they've spent many years training compared to your 1 year blue belts.
 
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