Why some students worry about when they will change belts? FORGET that! Focus on improve your skills and gather knowledge! That REALLY doesn't matter, it's not only a beautiful speech to look good, the belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is NOT important!
When the belt doesn't matter to you, it will come before you think you were ready for it!
It happened to me as purple, brown and black. Don't get me wrong, I was super excited to get my yellow belt, I was only 12. I have to admit it was a bit painfull, as a kid to wait the next 3 years for my blue belt without any stripes, since that was not normal in Jiu-Jitsu when I started, but I never dare to ask or mention any belts (I could have got orange and green in the mean time).
This whole time I always was focused in becoming better, so much that after another 3 years in my blue belt, I got the purple and felt like "WHAT? Are you serious? Im not ready for that", another 3 years same happen, I was so surprised to get my brown (3 years and it was a BIG surprise for me).
Can you imagine that? No need to say that When Comprido told me he wanted to give my black belt, I almost beg him to wait an extra year.
It almost make you think that Im against belts in BJJ, right? Not at all, don't get me wrong. I think both belts and stripes are very important and I like the idea of some academies who make more belts, such as white&blue or blue&purple... What I hate is the idea of getting the belt as fast as possible, I see people who are not interested on improving their skill, learn new techniques, try it while rolling, not changing their game. What goes on the mind of those people?
Even worse, I see people changing teams and teachers trying to get belt faster on the proccess! (???) What is going on?
Let me tell you one thing and remember my words:
- You can not fake Jiu Jitsu. You can not pretend to know Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I don't know enough about other martial arts to assure its the same or not, but I do know BJJ and if you pretend to have a level you don't, it will show on the mat, sooner or later.
I have a student who told me: "Felipe, don't give me belt, give me level!"
He is a genius, I have no doubt he will reach a great level in our sport, he has the perfect mindset and made me relax about the most important thing, which is the technique, not the belt.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is for real! Find the best teacher for you, follow his advice and hit the mat! There is no shortcut, no secrets!