Thinking about quitting bjj

[TSO]

hi , I have been training bjj now for 12 years and still a brown belt. I started out my bjj training under an instructor who rarely ever promoted people to new belts and took two years to reach blue then another 4 to reach purple and this was training 4-6 days a week and competing actively. It then took me another 4 years to reach brown after moving and training under a new coach and now I’ve been brown for the last two years.

I feel like I’m not progressing and sandbagging against many people. Additionally, I really find it frustrating going to some classes and learning from guys who are not as experienced as me. Not sure how many people are in the same boat as me but its hard to keep going at bjj when my goals can never be achieved.

I've run into the same shit dude. I'm 15 years in and been wearing a 4 stripe brown long enough to have to get a new belt to be allowed to compete...twice.

I've stopped carring about promotion, and I kinda quit since I moved too far out to train regularly.

 

[BJJ_Rage]

To say “I don’t care about getting my black belt” after a long ass time of training I don’t thinks is being honest, may be when you are younger but after some times specially for us old folks getting the black belt is something that most would love to. It’s like graduating from college.

But to quit because your not getting one ... I don’t see why would you do that... you should be doing bjjj for fun if your not making a living out of it... it isn’t going to get more fun once the belt your wearing changes from brown to black, it exactly the same shit...

 

[FighterTwister]

Go for Black and get that "Black Belt" and finish this don't wimp out now!

But after you complete this try another art for variety and skill building or give it a rest then go back at it.

But get that BLACK-BELT............ dood

Its all about personal achievement........... discipline, accomplishment, determination not quitting!
Dana says............ "FINISH IT"!

 

[yetanother]

[QUOTE"FighterTwister, post: 151470005, member: 530899"]Go for Black and get that "Black Belt" and finish this don't wimp out now!

But after you complete this try another art for variety and skill building or give it a rest then go back at it.

But get that BLACK-BELT............ dood

Its all about personal achievement........... discipline, accomplishment, determination not quitting!
Dana says............ "FINISH IT"!
[/QUOTE]
Belts as goal seem Uber lame to me.

 

[randomg1t]

you want the black belt so you could teach, and that is the only way to progress?

teaching can improve your own game, but it isn't somehow superior to training. besides, you don't magically become better when you get your black belt.

if you aren't making a career out of it, there are only two good reasons to train bjj as far as i'm concerned: having fun, and getting good at bjj.

neither one of those reasons has anything to do with belts. i used to wish for promotions, but that passed when i got my purple belt. i'm a brown belt now, i'm 32 years old, and i have absolutely no issue with staying a brown belt for the rest of my life. i swear i'm not trying to be condescending here, but getting frustrated over not being promoted is childish. it's a piece of cloth, it doesn't matter. if you're competitive with black belts, then you are on their level. if you're getting killed by them, then you aren't. the rope tied around your ass has nothing to do with it.

now if you're having issues at the gym and don't like your training partners or the vibe of the group, that's another thing entirely. but quitting the sport only because you're not getting the acknowledgment of a promotion just sounds... dumb.

sorry if i'm coming off too blunt or condescending, i'm a grumpy guy.

 

[efficientjudo]

teaching can improve your own game, but it isn't somehow superior to training.

When I first started coaching, I found it incredibly frustrating to be packing my bag, travelling to the gym, putting on my gi, then not actually doing any training!

While I find coaching a rewarding process over the long term, its much more enjoyable to be the student, getting on the mat and getting a sweat going.

 

[Forceof1]

Plus one for talking to the instructor.

FYI- I've been a brown for 18 months, and probably have another 18 months before black belt. 2 years isn't unheard of, but if you are winning competitions and training that often- it is worth a question. Just make it "what areas are you looking to see me improve in prior to getting a black belt" vs "when am I getting my black belt".

 

[ShindoNinja]

hi , I have been training bjj now for 12 years and still a brown belt. I started out my bjj training under an instructor who rarely ever promoted people to new belts and took two years to reach blue then another 4 to reach purple and this was training 4-6 days a week and competing actively. It then took me another 4 years to reach brown after moving and training under a new coach and now I’ve been brown for the last two years.

I feel like I’m not progressing and sandbagging against many people. Additionally, I really find it frustrating going to some classes and learning from guys who are not as experienced as me. Not sure how many people are in the same boat as me but its hard to keep going at bjj when my goals can never be achieved.

I'd say I'm in a similar situation. Almost 11 years in and a 2 stripe brown. I came to BJJ a little later in my martial arts career. I was 30'ish when I abandoned standup training for the ground. Started Judo and BJJ at that point. I've had 3 instructors and have spent 2.5 as a white, 3 as a blue, 3 as a purple and now 2 as a brown. I've had injury set backs through this - cervical spine and lower lumbar disc issues to name a few. A slap tear in the shoulder near the start and I just recently blew out my other shoulder.

I definitely don't feel like a sandbagger. I have lots of BJJ knowledge but I am an "aging" grappler at this point. I can have competitive rounds with blacks but at the same time some young competition purples are a handful. I would say another difference in our situations is that I am an instructor at my academy. I've been doing this since I was a purple and I'm finding more and more satisfaction in seeing my athletes grow on the mats. If you can transition into this type of roll I would recommend it.

About belts, I was kinda scared when I got my brown. Purple was comfortable and there was low pressure, you have your way with the blues and if a brown or black catches you, somehow this was expected and not a big deal. I imagine that feeling will be amplified when I get promoted again as I'm feeling comfortable where I am. The beauty of BJJ is that it really does come out on the mats. Belts are a symbol of your experience and if you feel like you are sandbagging, I'm betting your peers think pretty highly of you as a practitioner and don't care that you are "only" a brown belt. I think we all doubt ourselves from time to time, that gut check is pretty natural. As another poster mentioned, I'm thinking you are pretty close to black. At the same time, what is the hurry? I would be quitting once I get there.

 

[Deltafarce]

Who cares what belt you are Jiujitsu is good for you and fun I am not good at all but I like rolling and learning new things. I’m a purple but could care less about belts as long as I’m having fun, give me a pink belt I could care less