Judo: Underserved Belt???

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bulldogfire

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Hi All,

***Sorry title should say "UnDESERVED Belt"***

I do judo in a very poor foreign country. The club I am at does grading once a year. I didn't do it last year since it seemed too soon to me and now it is coming around again this year again. I've been a white belt for a long time and so have many other white belts... thus we are allowed to test more than one belt level on testing day. The sensei told everyone what belt we could test for.

Ok, well I was wanting to test for lower than what he said. Some people were told to test at the level I am testing for and they seem like a lot better than me. I was very confused. I feel embarrassed like... people are looking at me like.... YOU??? testing for the same belt as... INSERT OTHER PERSON. To me it is bizarre too how things went down.

I dunno. I feel embarrassed like even though I don't feel ready other people are also looking at me in shock too. One person already looked at me surprised. Two others said that I am actually at that level... but I know others would disagree especially since other people who seem more worthy will be stuck at the same level as me (assuming we all pass).

Has anyone ever dealt with this... like not feeling worthy AND feeling like fellow judoka questioning your worthiness too???

I think that he said which belt was the highest we could test for... but he said I am at that level to test for that belt. Should I just test at a lower belt... since ultimately I know he would allow me to do that??
 
Trust your instructor. If other folks have issues with you testing for a belt they don't feel you deserve they should take it up with the instructor, not you. I would also not read into the way people look at you too much, a lot gets lost in translation. Also when you are not confident in yourself you tend to always interpret comments or looks in a bad way. But that's internal stuff to work out.
 
bulldogfire said:
Hi All,

***Sorry title should say "UnDESERVED Belt"***

I do judo in a very poor foreign country. The club I am at does grading once a year. I didn't do it last year since it seemed too soon to me and now it is coming around again this year again. I've been a white belt for a long time and so have many other white belts... thus we are allowed to test more than one belt level on testing day. The sensei told everyone what belt we could test for.

Ok, well I was wanting to test for lower than what he said. Some people were told to test at the level I am testing for and they seem like a lot better than me. I was very confused. I feel embarrassed like... people are looking at me like.... YOU??? testing for the same belt as... INSERT OTHER PERSON. To me it is bizarre too how things went down.

I dunno. I feel embarrassed like even though I don't feel ready other people are also looking at me in shock too. One person already looked at me surprised. Two others said that I am actually at that level... but I know others would disagree especially since other people who seem more worthy will be stuck at the same level as me (assuming we all pass).

Has anyone ever dealt with this... like not feeling worthy AND feeling like fellow judoka questioning your worthiness too???

I think that he said which belt was the highest we could test for... but he said I am at that level to test for that belt. Should I just test at a lower belt... since ultimately I know he would allow me to do that??
Click to expand...

In the US, I'd say anything below brown is more reflective of time in your dojo, a combination of service/competition and attitude than inherent skill per se. I've seen judokas of equal randori ability separated by two belt colors and I didn't think much of it.
 
Imagine the long game. The only use of the belt is to line up in front of class. If you care about that, just write a story in your head that explains why you deserve it. It doesn't have to be for skill. If you love martial arts, you will pass all your belts behind one day until no one's black belt means shit to you. If you just love awards, picture the belt sitting in a box in storage with your science fair ribbon and baseball trophies.

The only thing the belt MEANS is that your instructor thinks you have a decent personality and that you are becoming a better you. Just take it for what it is. If your instructor is a good guy then that should be good enough.
 
Honestly bro, you sound a bit nervous about things, so if you want to, it's ok to talk to your instructor. Ask him to explain why you're getting the same belt as people you think are better than you, and explain your anxiety. But overall, so long as you are humble about it, no one will judge you. You might even be better than you think you are
 
bulldogfire said:
Hi All,

***Sorry title should say "UnDESERVED Belt"***

I do judo in a very poor foreign country. The club I am at does grading once a year. I didn't do it last year since it seemed too soon to me and now it is coming around again this year again. I've been a white belt for a long time and so have many other white belts... thus we are allowed to test more than one belt level on testing day. The sensei told everyone what belt we could test for.

Ok, well I was wanting to test for lower than what he said. Some people were told to test at the level I am testing for and they seem like a lot better than me. I was very confused. I feel embarrassed like... people are looking at me like.... YOU??? testing for the same belt as... INSERT OTHER PERSON. To me it is bizarre too how things went down.

I dunno. I feel embarrassed like even though I don't feel ready other people are also looking at me in shock too. One person already looked at me surprised. Two others said that I am actually at that level... but I know others would disagree especially since other people who seem more worthy will be stuck at the same level as me (assuming we all pass).

Has anyone ever dealt with this... like not feeling worthy AND feeling like fellow judoka questioning your worthiness too???

I think that he said which belt was the highest we could test for... but he said I am at that level to test for that belt. Should I just test at a lower belt... since ultimately I know he would allow me to do that??
Click to expand...

any belt below brown in judo is inconsequential and doesnt really mean shit. i get embarassed when i remember i thought i was badass cuz of my yellow belt in judo.
 
Citrus belts are good for showing you that you're making progress but don't put them on a pedestal.

I've known clubs that give yellow for learning Ukemi.....

When you get green (aka pain belt) that's when it gets real....you are trusted not to die and the dark belts can go full speed with you.

And I don't mean to discourage, every journey stars with a step, and you're more accomplished than those who have never bowed on.
 
Last edited:
At lower belts you have so many holes that your ability seems random. Don't worry about it.
 
Honestly belts in judo don't mean shit.

At least where I live in Germany.

You know how belts are awarded here ? They do tests. Like once or twice per year.

So for 3 months before the exam they pull out the judo book and practice the list for each level. Most people end up getting their belts even if they hardly remember the names of the throws and half - ass the techniques.

The belt grading in judo,as far as I can see, is a ridiculously bureaucratic and kafkaesk process, at least until blue / brown belt.

So don't worry so much about it.
 
So let's say someone can execute several techniques but has a harder time with randori. At what belt should someone be able to be decent at randori at least with people of their same belt level???
 
bulldogfire said:
So let's say someone can execute several techniques but has a harder time with randori. At what belt should someone be able to be decent at randori at least with people of their same belt level???
Click to expand...

Brown
 
You didn't say what belt you went for but if you've been there more than a year then why are you still white? Sounds like a belt or two's jump is well overdue.
 
Codger said:
You didn't say what belt you went for but if you've been there more than a year then why are you still white? Sounds like a belt or two's jump is well overdue.
Click to expand...

Well, my sensei says I should do green... skipping yellow and orange. So I would have to do the yellow test first, then orange and if I did good on those the green test. By the time of the test, it would be 15 months or so for me in the club. I also did some BJJ and MMA wrestling in the past. I tend to shine more on the ground but not as much in standing randori. Though I can do several throws.
 
That all sounds fine. Not sure what the problem is. You either trust the coach's opinion or you don't.
 
Trust your coach and say "fuck you" to everyone griping about you going from white to green.

Belts really don't mean much until you get at least brown belt anyhow, so don't worry about them.
 
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