How to Get Your White Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
It’s not easy by any means. Here’s what I did.
You might be wondering why I am writing about how to get your white belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
You just go in and sign up, duh.
I agree that it does seem that simple — but it is hard. So that’s why I’m gonna tell you, how to get your white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
First Step
Find a friend.
01See if you know anyone that trains. A friend can go a long way and going in alone is a recipe for disaster. It’s surely possible to succeed on your own, but having a friend is always better.
Of course, you’ll make tons of new friends when you arrive because you will meet more people and forget more names than you ever have, trust me. This is what I did and it helped me out a lot.
I’ve gotten much closer with the friends I had and even the friends I made. There is good around every corner when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll soon get it.
Second Step
Find a gym.
02 Location is the name of the game when it comes to choosing a school. In bigger cities you will have more options, but, the more rural you get it may become difficult.
If you don’t have more than one option I would say still give it a try. I was completely unaware of the caliber at the academy where I train and it’s only about 15 minutes away from me.
There is much to look into when choosing a gym like culture, style, competition, the instructors, etc. It has to be right for you if you want to enjoy yourself, so this is a big decision.
Most academies will let you train for free during one class to see how it goes. Take advantage of that, they want new students coming through their doors.
Third Step
Expectation management.
03 Manage your expectations. See what you want to get out of this. Do you know anything about Jiu-Jitsu? Maybe do some due diligence first. This is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage, perseverance, discipline, and a slew of other traits. If you don’t already possess them though, Jiu-Jitsu can teach them to you. I promise.
Many factors will contribute to what you take from Jiu-Jitsu. Age, physicality, sports backgrounds, current goals, and lifestyle are all some limiting factors that could affect your journey. Everyone will have different needs and it’s up to you to define what that is in your case.
For me, I am in my early twenties with a background in soccer and sprinting for track and field, so I am looking to stay in shape and push myself to the limit.
Additionally, I can feel how Jiu-Jitsu keeps me grounded. It’s a feeling that came from starting Jiu-Jitsu and I want to hold onto that dearly. I say, you should begin whenever it feels right.
Fourth Step
Sign up!
04 The fourth step is arguably the most difficult. This is the part where ya start, the send in the end. I know it took me a couple of weeks to get in the gym and train — even after I said I’d go a few times before.
Just like me, I think most of us will have no combat experience when getting into Jiu-Jitsu. This is okay, just go. I know it’s daunting, but one thing I’ve noticed is that most people who train are extremely zen and gentle.
Honestly, you should worry more about the white belt whose been training for 3 months and thinks every roll is a death match. I kind of still fall into that trap sometimes I will not lie.
The more experienced practitioners have been around for a while and they know how to treat us noobs, they know what they’re doing. Your professor won’t let anyone go crazy on you.
Fifth and Final Step
Please stay!
05 I know I said step four was the hardest… I lied. The fifth and final step is by far the most difficult and unfortunately, most people don’t get here. Heck, I’m not even sure if I’ll make it past this step. I like to think I did since it’s been about eight months of training so far, but who knows.
They say only around 10% of white belts make it to blue belt. Then, only about 1% of blue belts make it to the black belt. The black belt is the highest honor most can receive in Jiu-Jitsu, and it is a very long process. In my gym, you have to spend three whole years just at brown belt!
The order goes white, blue, purple, brown, and black in case you didn’t know. I hope we can all be at least part of that 10% because a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a fantastic achievement.
It represents many things — if you stick around the mats and these articles, you’ll certainly find out what that is for yourself.
Now go train Jiu-Jitsu!
Thanks for reading! If you have a question leave a comment, I will respond!
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