In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), your white belt is the first step on a long journey. It’s daunting work, but the rewards are very satisfying. You’ll want to start training right away and improve as fast as possible, but it’s more important to take your time. When you’re first starting out, you’ll find it frustrating to be continually thrown to the floor by more advanced students. However, if you stick with it, your fighting skills will improve dramatically.
If you are a white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that is looking to rise the belt ranks faster, here are some recommendations:
1 – Train diligently
The No. 1 attribute of the great BJJ practitioners is that they are extremely hard workers. They don’t spend time chit-chatting about techniques. They hurry to class early and work hard until the time is almost up. If you can bring this kind of focus to your training sessions, you’ll keep improving and get promoted to higher-ranking belts in no time.
2 – Practice positional training and sparring
White belts will generally have a hard time sparring against more advanced and more experienced students. That’s ok. Sparring can be an intimidating activity, and you may have to overcome your fears before you can start clashing with other students. As soon as you can, start learning the positional aspect of the sport. Positional training involves submitting your partner without allowing him to move to a dominant position. This is a great way for you to learn and grow your knowledge of the sport.
3 – Join competitions
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is famous for its submission-only format. Competitions allow you to showcase your fighting abilities. There are also some injuries that happen during competitions. It’s important to note that major competitions are really tough, and you’ll need to be in great shape before participating. To succeed in such events, you’ll need to have a solid game. If you want to compete, prepare for it 12 months before the event by practicing and improving your stamina and technique.
4 – Train with people who are better
White belts tend to stick with other white belts. It’s great to help others and make friends, but if you want to improve, you should train with people who are better than you and beat you very comfortably. Don’t be discouraged by this. As you get better, you’ll have an easier time taking on their techniques and submissions.
5 – Don’t compare yourself with others
It’s a bad idea to compare yourself with others. If you’re doing well, you’ll feel good about yourself, but if you are losing, you’ll start to think about whether you’re training hard enough. Don’t make comparisons. Focus on your own development, and don’t worry about other practitioners.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to earn a black belt, you’ll be spending years on the mats before you get there. On the other hand, it’s possible to get a nice promotion at the white belt level if you’re willing to put in some hard work.
Start your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey by booking a class at Marcus Soares Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Let us help you reach peak performance and rise the ranks until you attain your black belt!
