
Team-Choco
Tappin' People out Since 04

The Colored Belts Pitfall
Friday, January 10, 2025 07:21
The Colored Belts Pitfall
by Max CorteggianoI'm going to do something against the rules. I will disagree with Rickson Gracie. Bear with me!
In discussion with Gracie Mag, Rickson Gracie explained that the "blue belt was the toughest belt to get". He said: "In order to become a blue-belt, you need to know about everything in the sport. [...]You have become a creature of BJJ. [...]What is missing in the athlete after the blue belt is practice and reflexes. [...]They have all they need to get to black. They just need to keep at it."
Link to the interview at the end
If I agree that the blue belt is the toughest to get, I believe a blue belt lacks a lot more than just practice and reflexes. I'll argue that Rickson's statement leads to a deadly pitfall that many colored belts fall into! Let's talk!
THE STATE OF THE GAME
Over the last decade, we saw many new systems coming to light. Today, to be a high-level player, you need to be up to date with the game's current state.
That's where I see a problem with Rickson Gracie's point of view. I know many brown/black belts who have been doing the same thing for ten years. They just practice the game they have since their blue belt. The sad truth? They're not that good.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Indeed there are black belts who use "basic" games. You might know Roger Gracie, the greatest Jiu-Jitsu player ever, who beat everyone using a deceptively simple game. From the outside, one would think that any blue belt knows the techniques he used.
THE PITFALL
Do not be fooled! To shut down your opponents' game, you need to know what they are doing. And if you're going to use a "basic" game against black belts, I assure you that the details you need are nowhere near the blue belt level.
The pitfall is not to expand your game as you should because you stay in your comfort zone. The pitfall is to keep doing the same thing over and over again. The pitfall is to wake up years after, realizing that you're just not as good as you should be.
Now, what should you do?