Promoted too fast - what would you do?

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Oldguy

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I train at a very well known studio in Brazilian BJJ. I have to say it is the best place I have ever trained in my life. I could not be happier with the instructors. The students have great attitudes. And, I am becoming a better grappler.

The only problem I have is that it is my opinion that they promote too fast. I am currently a brown belt. In in about a year or so I will probably receive my black belt. Realistically, my grappling game is that of a beginning purple belt. I am not particularly gifted and tend to be a slow learner. I just stick with things a long time.

I can not express how bad I do not want a black belt. I would be humiliated to put it on. I am perfectly content to wear a blue belt for the rest of my life if that truely represented my abilities. I have tried to talk to them about it several times. No luck. It essentially is a system that awards belts according to a set time table.

What would you do in my situation?

I don't want to be the guy with the belt just because he put in his time. I also don't want people who I respect at the studio to think I actually believe it. The whole thing puts me in a bad spot. I have been doing this since 1993. I love Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Except for the above, I love my studio. But, there is no way my skills would represent this rank. I have even thought of quiting before the belt is given to me.

What would you do?
 
I've heard that's the way they do it in Brazil ... if you put in enough time, they give you the black belt. You've apparently been training for 15 years. Nobody is going to care if they give you a brown belt at that point! Particularly since your screen name indicates you are an older guy, who is not expected to be as competitive.

Don't worry about it, I say. The belts tend to be much more weighted towards time served than combat results for older guys .... so what? Leave it to your instructor's discretion.
 
What makes you think your level is "beginning purple belt"? You've been doing it since 1993, so you probably have a LOT more knowledge and ability than you give yourself credit for. If youve been doing it that long and havent reached the black belt, thats a sign that your instructor ISNT rushing you along (even if he hasnt been your instructor the entire time).

By your screen name, you are obviously someone who is older than the average age in class. No one is expecting you to perform like the younger guys, and if they do, that is their issue. It sounds to me like you would be a great candidate for the black belt.

Why do you feel your school promotes too quickly?
 
Id humbly turn it down. I would put my foot down and tell them if you try to promote me I will have to quit your school. If you are THAT adament about it....but I think you are overreacting a bit and are probably being hard on yourself!

I am a white belt (4 stripes) and I will most likely be my schools first blue belt (along with the kid I partner up with) so I am PRAYING that I get held back long enough that it sets a high standard for the school.
 
Oldguy said:
I train at a very well known studio in Brazilian BJJ. I have to say it is the best place I have ever trained in my life. I could not be happier with the instructors. The students have great attitudes. And, I am becoming a better grappler.

The only problem I have is that it is my opinion that they promote too fast. I am currently a brown belt. In in about a year or so I will probably receive my black belt. Realistically, my grappling game is that of a beginning purple belt. I am not particularly gifted and tend to be a slow learner. I just stick with things a long time.

I can not express how bad I do not want a black belt. I would be humiliated to put it on. I am perfectly content to wear a blue belt for the rest of my life if that truely represented my abilities. I have tried to talk to them about it several times. No luck. It essentially is a system that awards belts according to a set time table.

What would you do in my situation?

I don't want to be the guy with the belt just because he put in his time. I also don't want people who I respect at the studio to think I actually believe it. The whole thing puts me in a bad spot. I have been doing this since 1993. I love Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Except for the above, I love my studio. But, there is no way my skills would represent this rank. I have even thought of quiting before the belt is given to me.

What would you do?
Click to expand...

Ed O'Neill?

I say trust your instructor. I'd talk it out with him but ultimately trust his decision.
 
I'd take the word of your school and if they feel you should have the belt then under them you should have the belt. Different acadamies promote differently some promote quickly others slowly. The belt just holds your pants up so look at it that way.
 
Trickster said:
Id humbly turn it down. I would put my foot down and tell them if you try to promote me I will have to quit your school.

I am a white belt (4 stripes) and I will most likely be my schools first blue belt so I am PRAYING that I get held back long enough that it sets a high standard for the school.
Click to expand...

I think running away from this by quitting or refusing the belt is a huge mistake. I would just enjoy the experience and not worry about what the others might think.
 
Who else thinks Oldguy is Montanha in disguise? I heard Caesar promotes WAY too fast :icon_chee

But seriously, to the OP - your instructor knows much more than you. If he believes you are a black belt then that you should be. If you have been training for 15 years consistently I think you should be too. You are probably better than you think you are and need to get a bit of confidence!

Plus, you didnt even get the belt yet but you are already complaining about it? Buck up, old chap. If your instructor thinks you are ready for a belt be gracious, accept it, and move on with your life.
 
Keep in mind, if you really are an "old guy" they may have slightly different standards on what you are capable of atheltically then if you were say 23. If you are in your 40's or 50's and are holding you own with purples in their mid-20's (their athletic peak) you are not just "at a purple belt" level.
 
you have the skills of a purple belt in what age division? and whats your age division?


sounds to me like you deserve it
 
If you are an older gentleman, you are most likely being graded on your time, experience, and attitude. They don't expect you to be as agile or mobile as a 24 year old blue belt, but they do expect that you have forgot more about BJJ than he knows. and that is what grants you a brown or black. Do you think Helio can take a super athletic 24 year old blue belt in a match? Probably not...Should he lose his rank? Absolutely not.
 
anaconda said:
Who else thinks Oldguy is Montanha in disguise? I heard Caesar promotes WAY too fast :icon_chee

But seriously, to the OP - your instructor knows much more than you. If he believes you are a black belt then that you should be. If you have been training for 15 years consistently I think you should be too. You are probably better than you think you are and need to get a bit of confidence!

Plus, you didnt even get the belt yet but you are already complaining about it? Buck up, old chap. If your instructor thinks you are ready for a belt be gracious, accept it, and move on with your life.
Click to expand...

My guess is Ed O'Neill. An old brown belt that trains in a respected school since the early 90's? Yup, welcome to the forums Al Bundy.
 
I think I am accurately assessing my abilities by my performance against other students. I have also traveled and trained at a dozen or more schools. I have seen and grappled with a lot of people at various levels over the years. Grappling at a purple belt level is nothing to be ashamed of. I just know that my current belt does not represent my true level.

I seriously do not see age as a big deal. I have seen older guys do very well on the mat. It all comes down to ability and technique. Even when the younger guys beat me, they are not usually doing it with physical strength. They just have better technique.
 
I'd say if you have put in 15 years of consistently going to practice on a weekly basis, I would say you definitely deserve it. You still have the rest of your life to advance your game and learn and "grow into" your belt if you don't feel like you are at that level now, but almost everyone I know feels this way when they get promoted.
 
Thats not that big of a deal. If I were you I would stay a brown belt a little longer before you start thinking about getting your black belt. There are many brown belts that are actually at a purple belt level, but they will eventually get the skills of a brown belt with no problem. Where I see a problem is if you are getting a black belt and you have blue or purple belt skill set. In your case stay a brown for a little long it will even itself out.
 
They say brown belt is the best belt anyways, since you have an awesome game but you are still allowed to make mistakes.
 
How long have you been training? You have to remember not everyone with a blackelt is going to be arm dragging guys like Marcelo or throwing twisters like Eddie Bravo. Some guys are like Pedro Sauer who is mostly known for honoring Helios self defense system. If you are under a reputable black belt then he knows what you need for your black or brown. You say your technique is at a purple belt level but what exactly does that mean. Are you not filled with advanced de la riva and x guard sweeps or are you not tapping guys? If you have been around the game a long time chances are that your technique is refinded. As we all have heard a black belt is just a purple belt with more refined technique. This might be true in your case.
 
I may be wrong but in the beginning performing what you know is a main factor but once you get to the higher belts, the knowledge is more of the key element, correct? You may not be able to perform all of the techniques but as long as you are able to teach them, pass them on per say, than you are deserving of it as any. Everyone has their own style specifically because of age, flexibility, etc. It's definitely not an insult for someone wanting to promote you to a BB.
 
I would just work as hard as possible until I felt I deserved the rank.
 
It's a shame that you feel this way, Oldguy. You are adding undue stress.
 
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