Bad Bad blue belt

[Ronin50]

Aahaa, now I know the guy you are talking about! I had no idea what his name was until now... I heard that he is a purple belt, and that was a long time ago. I guess he was a white belt at the time... haha! What a loser.

But I still don't understand the comments about the rape choke. Okay, if you squeeze the windpipe I understand. But I put pressure there always when the bottom guy is trying to sit up. I also use it to provoke my opponents to move. It's the same function as if I'm in sidecontrol and the guy is just defending, I will grab his gi by the shoulder and give him pressure with my forearm to the throat, a counter reaction is guaranteed and then I will continue to attack the opening that is given..

I agree with you, I don't see what the big deal is about the rape choke. I get that applied to me all the time, that and a forearm while trying to escape the side mount. If anything I would encourage its use since over time you get more "comfortable" dealing with it. The first few times I was like "WTF" this really sucks, especially if they are really big and have a monster grip.

[Ronin50]

This discussion reminds of your basic kung fu movie plots. Rival schools going around challenging each other and representing their teachers. I like to keep in mind that its the fighter that makes the belt, not the other way around. Every school is going to have a different philosophy, tempo, etc. I don't get wrapped up in belt color, all I want to know is whether or not I am learning and growing. I visit other schools often and they all have as different personalities as there are instructors. Besides, BJJ has the ultimate litmus test that well never really allow too much Mcdojo, either you can successfully apply the techniques against resistance or you can't. Also, we have tournaments to weed out the weak teachers and students which in turn will accurately represent their reputation and the market will decide. Do your research and ask around about the school and its rep and choose wisely. maybe we should adopt a non color belt system until black like Aikido? That way you are either better than everyone else or you aren't, would certainly eliminate this discussion, LOL.

[lparnes]

I actually think he just bought a blue belt and wore it. the gracie's give a certificate for every belt, did he have one for his blue belt?

[crackjack49]

it was royce who gave it to him which is even worse puts shame on a few gracies

[eod1286]

There is a problem about Royce giving out blue belts for simply the cost of a seminar (and no experience needed). The only thing is that there is no way to controll it if someone is doing that. Everyone wants to be a good grappeler and some people associate good grappeling = high belt rank. That is normally true, but obviously some blue belts are not up to par. The problem is that there is no way to correct the problem because schools are (partially) independent so there is no overriding quality control for the sport of bjj.

RedRobin and Victor are right. Rolling is the only "local" quality controll you have and it is the best way to discourage this type of behavior. Send every last white belt with some experience against the guy and he will soon get the point that he doesn't deserve the belt.

i can promise you one thing, Royce doesnt give out shit. i have watched him with my own eyes tell a guy that has been a blue belt for five years that he sucked. the blue was due to be promoted and Royce to him no because he was no good. Royce is considered to be the most olde school and hardest person to rank under in the world.

[Avenged]

i can promise you one thing, Royce doesnt give out shit. i have watched him with my own eyes tell a guy that has been a blue belt for five years that he sucked. the blue was due to be promoted and Royce to him no because he was no good. Royce is considered to be the most olde school and hardest person to rank under in the world.

While Im sure its not true for all Royce\s guys, Ive definetly met more than 1 that are very weak at the blue belt level. I think part of it is that hes all over the world training and doing seminars so often that if someone is even close he'll give the belt and let them grow into it, as he has no idea when he'll ever see them again. That being said I have never met a Royce purple or brown that is not solid. So maybe hes a little easier with the blue, and expects them to grow into purple? Just my observation.

[eod1286]

While Im sure its not true for all Royce\s guys, Ive definetly met more than 1 that are very weak at the blue belt level. I think part of it is that hes all over the world training and doing seminars so often that if someone is even close he'll give the belt and let them grow into it, as he has no idea when he'll ever see them again. That being said I have never met a Royce purple or brown that is not solid. So maybe hes a little easier with the blue, and expects them to grow into purple? Just my observation.

Not at all! Royce refuses to promote anyone he sees as not fit for the belt. There is a very blurry line between some high level whites to mid level blues. people seem to forget that there is more to a belt than just the athletic competitor that most people envision themselves as. in reality, most people are not on the level they think they are. you may be the best in your gym, then show up to worlds and get smoked. Are the people in these threads telling me the fifty year old that is damn good at self defense, but cant hang while rolling with white belts isnt worthy of a purple belt? Good and Bad is relative. i know blue belts that can tap brows all the time. that doesnt mean he is ready for purple. there is more to it than be able to be a better athlete than someone else.

[Insidious]

Not at all! Royce refuses to promote anyone he sees as not fit for the belt. There is a very blurry line between some high level whites to mid level blues. people seem to forget that there is more to a belt than just the athletic competitor that most people envision themselves as. in reality, most people are not on the level they think they are. you may be the best in your gym, then show up to worlds and get smoked. Are the people in these threads telling me the fifty year old that is damn good at self defense, but cant hang while rolling with white belts isnt worthy of a purple belt? Good and Bad is relative. i know blue belts that can tap brows all the time. that doesnt mean he is ready for purple. there is more to it than be able to be a better athlete than someone else.

But how would you measure that persons ability to handle a self defense situation? Jump them in an alley and see how they handle themselves? Yeah your going to get the gym junkie athletic types who will have an advantage over the office worker whose only exercise is BJJ classes twice a week but I figure that's just another thing stressing the importance of technique other strength.

If you can be a high level belt but cant actually pull off any of the moves you know then do you really deserve the belt?

[eod1286]

But how would you measure that persons ability to handle a self defense situation? Jump them in an alley and see how they handle themselves? Yeah your going to get the gym junkie athletic types who will have an advantage over the office worker whose only exercise is BJJ classes twice a week but I figure that's just another thing stressing the importance of technique other strength.

If you can be a high level belt but cant actually pull off any of the moves you know then do you really deserve the belt?

i agree completely. we have more than a few 50 plus year old purple belts. they have great self defense but there is no way for them to hang with the power of someone half their age for more than a few mins. those guys do deserve the belt is what i was trying to say. there is more to it than just who you can tap. i will use me for example. i tap browns and purples every time i train. i am only a blue belt though. that doesnt mean i am ready to be a purple. i have a great memory and can put a lot of techniques together the same way it was taught. i am also big , strong, and athletic. but i am still far from a purple belt in my opinion.

[Loopchoke80]

Hey Guys,

I know we have talked about this before, but it happened again. Saturday this guy shows up for a bjj class, wearing a blue belt. Student instructor asks him were he got it from and the guy says at a Royce Gracie seminar. This guy is big too, probably 6' 2" 190lbs, anyways he rolls with some of the 3 and 4 stripe guys at the club and I am seeing this guy get destroyed. I had to roll with him at the end, and he wouldn't even be a one stripe at our club. There was no common sense with his rolling, I didn't feel any techniques.
Awhile ago (when I was a two stripe) we had some guys come in and roll and the guy was alright (probably a one stripe maybe getting close to two) anyways destroyed that dude and a week later he get a blue belt at a Royce Gracie seminar. The guy starting instructing at his school right after.
I know Royce is the man, and he had been training jits longer then I have been alive, but I am starting to wonder if bjj will get a more McDojo feel if this continues.
Any thoughts?

Well apparently they only train street defense for the entire time they are white belts , no live sparring then on e they master the techniques to survive a street fight they get a bluebelt and only then do they begin any type of sparring ..so makes sense why he wasn't doin good..I personally don't agree with that method but that's why I don't train gjj