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5 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts

5 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts

Photo: Leon Sandoval www.heyleon.comInstagram @heyleonmedia and Facebook.com/heyleonmedia

 

Guest post by Bill Jones, owner and head instructor at Top Level Martial Arts in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. If you would like to learn more about Bill or Top Level Martial Arts, visit http://toplevelmartialarts.com

 

I still remember the first time I encountered a jiu-jitsu black belt. You see, I started training in Ohio about 11 years ago. At the time, black belts were a very rare thing in my area. The closest black belts were Saulo Ribeiro, about 4 hours away and Robin Geisler, 4 hours the other way. So i never knew what to expect. Then I met him… at the time, Pedro Sauer was “Just” a 6th degree black belt. And he was (and still is) the most skilled martial artist I had ever met. He seemed invincible. I watched him stop people from passing his guard and he wasn’t using his hands. He escaped effortlessly from any position and submitted people at will. Of course, I was watching one of the best who has ever lived, but I would witness similar things over the years. I always assumed these black belts knew things I did not. I guess I thought that, upon earning black belt, you become somehow immune to the difficulties that others have. But over a year ago, I began re-learning jiu-jitsu when I finally earned my black belt from master Pedro Sauer. I’ve learned alot in just a hear and a half since I earned it. And it turns out there are things we know that you don’t.

Here are a few:

1.We need you as much as you need us.

Even as black belts, we are constantly learning new things. Our game is constantly evolving. Just as you try out new moves on lower ranking people until you get them right, so do the black belts. I try out new things on lower ranks all the time. Once I can get it on a blue belt, I try it on a purple and so on.

2. We’re jealous of you!

The jiu-jitsu I see today is more evolved, refined and technical than the jiu-jitsu I was introduced to just 11 years ago. This is because of how the art has grown and the emphasis that’s being put on proper leverage and technique. You’re learning things at white and blue belt that we didn’t learn until purple, brown and even black belt. There’s no doubt in my mind that the average blue belt of today is far better than the average blue belt from 10 years ago.

 

black belt

 

3. We’re not always as calm as we look.

Quite often black belts are in a lot more trouble than it looks like. Just because you don’t see us wincing in pain or clawing for air doesn’t mean we’re not concerned about the technique you’re using on us. In fact, I often end up telling young blue belts to stay on the choke after finding out they let go because they thought I didn’t “look worried.” For black belts (and many advanced ranks) the calm exterior is every bit as valuable as the defensive technique we’re trying to employ.

4. Things aren’t as easy as we make it look.

I can’t honestly say I’ve had trouble with many blue belts in a while. But once someone hits mid purple and especially at brown belt, they are legitimately tough human beings. They usually have really high skill and have developed a game of their own. Especially when we’re trying new things against a purple or brown belt using their wheelhouse moves, it’s hard to win. But we don’t freak out and trust in our jiu-jitsu and that usually makes all the difference.

5. We know you’ll be better than we are one day… and it makes us happy.

As I mentioned before, you’re learning things earlier than we ever did. The inevitable end of this is that you will become more evolved and capable than we are. You simply have more time to do it. You’ll be more experienced, with better technique. The best part of this is that we, as multipliers of our culture are happy that this amazing art will not go the way of many other traditional arts and get watered down. If anything, it will become better.

For many of you, this should all be good news. You’re on the right track. So if you’re a white or blue belt sitting out there, reading this… just sit back and smile for a moment. Be happy that you’re not alone in your suffering. Ok…stop smiling and now go train.

See you on the mats!