Learn what basics are all over again.
Hint: It's not basic chokes and armbars. It's distance management, framing with your arms, legs, shoulders, hips, grip fighting, intuition, strategy. Knowing which tool to use at the appropriate times, instead of forcing your game on people.
This is exactly what I am doing now. Going back to close guard and I just worked on Mount for like a month and a half and I can’t even begin to describe how much better I am in the last maybe 3 months since I started working back on the fundamentals
What have you done/found differently with your approach to Mount now, that you wish you'd have approached the position back towards the start or middle?
I just wasn’t good enough to truly see value in it. I think at every belt you see things differently. Overall I think now I’m using Mount as a place to exhaust someone through pins and then set up submissions. Getting better at cross collar and armbar in particular have helped a ton. Neither of these are worth losing the position however.
I love showing people a super small detail I learned that actually makes my closed guard more of a bear trap, as their eyes glaze over thinking of a K-Guard back take.
I'm nearly 61. I figure (knock on wood) that I'll get my Black when I'm 65, so right about retirement age. I want to move somewhere warm and teach a weekly BJJ for Oldies class at some gym in return for free tuition.
Definitely not too old. San Diego is a hot bed for competition schools so it could be different, but I'd say at my gym that mid-30s is probably the most typical age that people join.
This is great to hear! I’m 52 and have just started as a white belt. I was wondering if it would be possible to go all the way to black at my age. That’s not my goal at this stage though, just enjoying the pain!
Whatever you want! I started working on things I never gave much attention to. Make up new sequences, see what you like. It’s actually kind of freeing to not feel the weight of the oncoming black belt and just be able to do whatever I want.
This is how I feel. I just got mine in February. It feels good not having pressures I've put in my time. I'm kinda wondering what I work in next, improving my guard retention, and working on side to side passing. I'm thinking.
I only had my brown for 16months, wasn’t an expected promotion to say the least, didn’t feel like I earned it. But I always trained 5-7 days a week but still
Nice! I did a lot of guard work in purple and brown since I got my black belt I have gotten a little bit away from that. 3 years in I’m thinking about working some more guard stuff.
go get your bb in judo. i’m kinda doing it the other way around and plan to make bjj my primary martial art when i get to shodan. personally just trying to master as many grappling arts as possible
This is what I did. Earned both Judo and BJJ black belts. Was super fun!
In Jiu Jitsu class I was known as “The Judo Guy”. And in Judo class I was known as “The Jiu Jitsu Guy”.
Good times.
my plan after judo and bjj is sumo. they don’t have belts but there’s competitions and a few training places if you look. after that i’ll probably be 70 and will have to settle for aikido :(
I already have my mawashi! We have a guy who did sumo for ten years and is a US amateur champ. We do a bit now and then... I'm not the right body type, though! I think after bjj and Judo, it'll be a striking art...
If you enjoy your routine and it works for you, keep at it. Explore new positions, sharpen up old ones. Nothing really changes except the things that you make happen.
If you're into the idea coaching, offer to pick up a kids or beginners class. Coaching is great because it really forces you to slow down and understand the material you're trying to present. There's also the free dopamine hit you get watching your students excel. Best two nights of my week by far.
I think this is a really good idea. you surely do countless things that you never think about. I know my prof will work a position for a week before teaching it, and what he's doing is not learning it, he's noticing what he does naturally and automatically so he can decide how to teach it to us. I am sure he learns more about the positions from this process. If he starts putting everyone in Dela Riva for instance, I know what we will be working on next week.
As soon as you become a black belt, you realize you are the white belt of black belts 😂
As much as it’s not a goal or the end, it feels good to have all your hard work pay off and be recognized for it. You gain a confidence that lets you explore your game and the art with less boundaries because you realize that you do know what the hell you are talking after all these years and you can help advance other practitioners and in turn the art by pouring your experiences into the next generation of black belts.
I just train for some social time and general fitness. I sometimes find new stuff I want to work on but with no competition focus and other hobbies I’m enjoying now, I don’t think deeply about it all that much. It isn’t as consuming in my brain as it used to be and having goals for every single session is more than I want to do right now.
I’ve gone back to fundamental moves that I should know better and tried to improve them. Even though I’m a hobbyist, having a crap Omaplata at black belt made me feel like an idiot. I still try to learn modern stuff, but I’m trying to make my crappy basic stuff better instead of hide it.
Basics basics basics....Roger didn't get good at the mounted cross collar until BB (I mean like really good, he said so himself)
I follow the same principle
Haha me too brother, but I meant that sort of as an example. Sat through one of his seminars and he gave us an hour of just keeping mount and said he only got in to a little detail. Find your move and polish it
Been training since 05.
Now adays I try to submit people as many times as possible without having to increase my breath. Try to slow my heart.
If I can exhaust them, while not getting tired myself, while submitting them, then I am tracking.
There is always more to learn... Black belt only indicates that you have some basic idea about how human joints should not bend, weight distribution to make someone suffer and some jedi mind tricks...
I have been honing a few techs that I got really good at during brown belt, while also completely changing my game around other areas to things I could not do nor understand art the lower ranks.
I still have my go to game and use the techs every now and then to keep them sharp but I went from passing on my knees only to now focusing solely on standing passes. Of course if a visiting brown or purple gives me a hard time I'll resort to my A game but otherwise I'm a completely different grappler than I was just even last year.
Took a month to find myself after getting the belt but I'm right where I should be at this time
Come to think of it I might start learning passing on my knees. Getting to Over/under and double under/stacks.
I think I might get smashed some for a while. I am not in the best shape.
Thanks.
My instructor just works new positions. He dominates everyone in the class, so sometimes he will work on things he hasnpt played around with much such as lasso guard or octopus guard. That or he will go for submissions he hardly ever goes for (he is an armbar specialist and basically all his moves are setups for armbars so after tapping people 3 or 4 times by arm bar in a roll he will either let us try and work on him or start going for gi chokes or leg attacks etc
My take is just keep training and working on your game.
I reckon I've gotten better. My pinning/passing and top subs are heaps better. My wrestling is terrible but I'm working on it. Maybe it's just adding wrestling that has improved my game.
It's easier for me because I'm retired so I train regularly.
Right now my physical training is around a 70/30 split between BJJ and Yoga. I imagine I’ll eventually want to switch to predominantly doing Yoga as I age and since I’d likely be in my mid-40s if I receive my black belt it seems like a good transitionary point. I always need a goal in mind so after achieving a black belt I’d probably start looking at getting Yoga teacher certification
red and black coral belt
open your own gym
judo black belt
10th planet black belt
luta livre black belt
catch/freestyle/greco/folkstyle wrestling
no-gi black belt like “american jiu jitsu”
jujutsu black belt
sambo
stand up/striking martial art(s)
Rightly or wrongly, being promoted to black belt opens up a few more doors. You get invited to teach seminars or as guest instructor. Students ask you for private lessons. You get to enter competitions and match up potentially to guys who have been black belts longer than you’ve ever been training. But ultimately, you just keep turning up and doing what you’ve always been doing so far.
Walk around wearing your gi with the black belt 24/7. This will result in women wanting you and men wanting to be you/fear you.
Congrats young grasshopper.
Going back to basic fundamentals revamps everything from when you started to where you're at now. I started teaching once I got mine and teaching the basics made me go back to the beginning and refining techniques and having fun while not only doing it but teaching it. Good luck to you.
I've never chased belts, so getting my black belt didn't signify an end or beginning to anything, but a continuous opportunity to keep learning and growing. Following the same principles since about purple belt, I'm exploring gaps and weaknesses in my game and doing what I can to fill those. For example, the majority of my time in BJJ has been in the gi, so now I'm developing a game specifically for no-gi. It's frustrating, exciting, and fun all at the same time. Never stop learning!
I just keep doing the same shit I've been doing for the past 14 years. Teaching forces me to break things down and focus on details, but otherwise it's business as usual for me.
I am a white belt, so I am not a person, but something I heard that I really liked is that black belt is for teaching. And I know from other things, teaching things makes you understand them better and more deeply. It doesn't mean you have to open your own gym of course. but idk maybe you don't want to do that. Maybe work on some old man closed guard lmao.
I started refining the game I was working on during late brown belt, while working defensive basics. Don’t let them grip you, don’t let them pass, if they pass, don’t let them control your head. On offense just trying to follow the basic path to submission and not focusing on doing for any particular submission, but rather whatever they present.
Getting your black belt was like reaching the summit of a mountain, only to realize it was cloud cover, and there’s a WHOLE mountain more mountain up there you couldn’t see from the ground
It’s been seven years since I got brown belt. I just find jiujitsu fun and engaging, I could care less about the belts and usually surround myself with training partners who think the same
Time to start back over on the basics. Black belt is like playing new game +
Nice to hear this. I will go and hone my basics
Learn what basics are all over again. Hint: It's not basic chokes and armbars. It's distance management, framing with your arms, legs, shoulders, hips, grip fighting, intuition, strategy. Knowing which tool to use at the appropriate times, instead of forcing your game on people.
Good take. Thanks
This is exactly what I am doing now. Going back to close guard and I just worked on Mount for like a month and a half and I can’t even begin to describe how much better I am in the last maybe 3 months since I started working back on the fundamentals
What have you done/found differently with your approach to Mount now, that you wish you'd have approached the position back towards the start or middle?
I just wasn’t good enough to truly see value in it. I think at every belt you see things differently. Overall I think now I’m using Mount as a place to exhaust someone through pins and then set up submissions. Getting better at cross collar and armbar in particular have helped a ton. Neither of these are worth losing the position however.
Is Ridley going to swoop down and steal my abilities?
This guy darksouls
This is for real. Back to day one and rediscovering all the most basic things.
I needed to hear this today.
Just got my black belt also... that's exactly how it feels.
Congrats and update that flair!
Congratulations! Got mine on Monday.
Does this mean i can put my white belt back on and do beginner comps again? :D
Why not go back to the basics before black belt?
I love showing people a super small detail I learned that actually makes my closed guard more of a bear trap, as their eyes glaze over thinking of a K-Guard back take.
Learn what the touch of a woman is like
Sand bags.
You must know ladies with real grit
Filled a lot of those the other day making a bunker for a live fire exercise, good times
Nope I can promise you, that won’t happen trust me 😔
Oss
I'm nearly 61. I figure (knock on wood) that I'll get my Black when I'm 65, so right about retirement age. I want to move somewhere warm and teach a weekly BJJ for Oldies class at some gym in return for free tuition.
When did you start training if you don’t mind me asking. Also, great idea
February 2016. I was 52. Missed 13 months for Covid.
That’s rad af man. I started at 41 and am in constant pain
Sounds like a very good plan. I hope you get to do that.
Nice work dude
You know the idea of teaching bjj as a retirement job never occurred to me until this post. Ty! Something to look forward to.
I’m almost 37. I might check out schools here in San Diego and give it another shot. I felt like I was too old at this point.
Definitely not too old. San Diego is a hot bed for competition schools so it could be different, but I'd say at my gym that mid-30s is probably the most typical age that people join.
If youre not dead youre not too old
This is my retirement plan. Just live on the mats the beach and açaí. No jesus for me.
This is great to hear! I’m 52 and have just started as a white belt. I was wondering if it would be possible to go all the way to black at my age. That’s not my goal at this stage though, just enjoying the pain!
I’ve slowed down a bit since getting mine. No idea, maybe just try to develop new areas of my game and open up the gas tank
Update that flair sandbagger!
🫣
Updating the flair is hard
Agreed. I’m 6 months late lol.
I'm getting my first stripe on my black belt in a few months
Whatever you want! I started working on things I never gave much attention to. Make up new sequences, see what you like. It’s actually kind of freeing to not feel the weight of the oncoming black belt and just be able to do whatever I want.
This is how I feel. I just got mine in February. It feels good not having pressures I've put in my time. I'm kinda wondering what I work in next, improving my guard retention, and working on side to side passing. I'm thinking.
For the first year I felt like an imposter but now I have a blast I use to say purple belt was the most fun but black is definitely better
I havent felt that thankfully.. I thought brown was the best, but having my black is for sure better
I only had my brown for 16months, wasn’t an expected promotion to say the least, didn’t feel like I earned it. But I always trained 5-7 days a week but still
That's definitely earned!
You'll get there, little engine that could
We were all there one day a long time ago
Nice! I did a lot of guard work in purple and brown since I got my black belt I have gotten a little bit away from that. 3 years in I’m thinking about working some more guard stuff.
Theres some guys who train at a gym that is run by some mikey m black belts. Their guard retention is on another level. Makes me want to get better.
Thanks. Sounds good.
My dude, I am mainly trying to get some exercise and fun in without getting hurt or embarrassing myself.
How long until you stopped embarrassing yourself?
> trying
Go do karate like a man
Mexican ground karate
You might need some stand up bro. Canadian ice karate
Canadian Ice Karate sounds *amazing*. Has that made its way to the US yet, or do I have to travel to the homeland of this noble martial art?
With blades
this is the way
I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.
I figure if I’ve got a black belt I’d know the kinda chicks that would double up on a dude like me.
I believe that’s a grapple and tackle.
That would truly be something, lol. Thanks
go get your bb in judo. i’m kinda doing it the other way around and plan to make bjj my primary martial art when i get to shodan. personally just trying to master as many grappling arts as possible
This is what I did. Earned both Judo and BJJ black belts. Was super fun! In Jiu Jitsu class I was known as “The Judo Guy”. And in Judo class I was known as “The Jiu Jitsu Guy”. Good times.
Judo is a beautiful art. I just dont think my knees can handle it.
tbh, mine can’t either, that’s why I’m doing it first
That's my plan. But I'm already brown belt in both, so I don't think the judo bb will hold me over for very long...
my plan after judo and bjj is sumo. they don’t have belts but there’s competitions and a few training places if you look. after that i’ll probably be 70 and will have to settle for aikido :(
I already have my mawashi! We have a guy who did sumo for ten years and is a US amateur champ. We do a bit now and then... I'm not the right body type, though! I think after bjj and Judo, it'll be a striking art...
If you enjoy your routine and it works for you, keep at it. Explore new positions, sharpen up old ones. Nothing really changes except the things that you make happen. If you're into the idea coaching, offer to pick up a kids or beginners class. Coaching is great because it really forces you to slow down and understand the material you're trying to present. There's also the free dopamine hit you get watching your students excel. Best two nights of my week by far.
Thanks. I might actually do this teaching thing.
I think this is a really good idea. you surely do countless things that you never think about. I know my prof will work a position for a week before teaching it, and what he's doing is not learning it, he's noticing what he does naturally and automatically so he can decide how to teach it to us. I am sure he learns more about the positions from this process. If he starts putting everyone in Dela Riva for instance, I know what we will be working on next week.
Right on man! Hit me up if you have any questions or need any resources.
As soon as you become a black belt, you realize you are the white belt of black belts 😂 As much as it’s not a goal or the end, it feels good to have all your hard work pay off and be recognized for it. You gain a confidence that lets you explore your game and the art with less boundaries because you realize that you do know what the hell you are talking after all these years and you can help advance other practitioners and in turn the art by pouring your experiences into the next generation of black belts.
Thanks. This was a good read.
I just train for some social time and general fitness. I sometimes find new stuff I want to work on but with no competition focus and other hobbies I’m enjoying now, I don’t think deeply about it all that much. It isn’t as consuming in my brain as it used to be and having goals for every single session is more than I want to do right now.
I hide from all the hungry brown belts.
Addressing the areas of life you (maybe) neglected while committing to your black belt.
Yes. One step at a time. Thanks!
So quit bjj?
Got mine Started teaching more Still train three days a week. S
Awesome. Congrats! I got mine also.
I would say 'update your flair' but i would be a hypocrite.
I think in order for me to update my flair I need to send some pics and other proof of my promotion and I dont think I am willing to do that. Thanks!
Yeah, I didn't do it right the first time and gave up
You are not alone .
Chop wood, carry water
I’ve gone back to fundamental moves that I should know better and tried to improve them. Even though I’m a hobbyist, having a crap Omaplata at black belt made me feel like an idiot. I still try to learn modern stuff, but I’m trying to make my crappy basic stuff better instead of hide it.
Float around like "now what" like at the end of Finding Nemo
I’m just starting to learn and understand more about jiu jitsu since having my black belt for 18 months
Starting again from white belt
Yeah, maybe not.
Basics basics basics....Roger didn't get good at the mounted cross collar until BB (I mean like really good, he said so himself) I follow the same principle
Thanks. I am pretty light and short so Rogers mount game maybe is not built for my body type. Anyways basics must be polished up.
Haha me too brother, but I meant that sort of as an example. Sat through one of his seminars and he gave us an hour of just keeping mount and said he only got in to a little detail. Find your move and polish it
[удалено]
Some good options to think about! Thanks.
Been training since 05. Now adays I try to submit people as many times as possible without having to increase my breath. Try to slow my heart. If I can exhaust them, while not getting tired myself, while submitting them, then I am tracking.
Dinner
Straight back to training and trying to dial in on the things I do well, and tighten them up and working on the gaps in my game. The game never stops.
Very good approach. Thanks.
Keep training, I keep learning new stuff
There is always more to learn... Black belt only indicates that you have some basic idea about how human joints should not bend, weight distribution to make someone suffer and some jedi mind tricks...
Figure out jiu jitsu
Work to black belt in judo.
Prestige and run it back to white belt.
Smash your enemies. See them driven before you. Hear the lamentations of their women.
https://preview.redd.it/z6dtk9jpr4zc1.jpeg?width=402&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4495a992722946eff995a8d56f443c91340a356c
Make it red by staining it with the blood of your enemies.
Under 30, Black belt, Ronin, teaching at a karate dojo self defense and wrestling and getting rolls in with friends when I can.
Same thing we try to do everyday pinky, try to take over the world
BBL (Black Belt Leaves)
Competing and coaching / opening a school
Quit gi and just train no gi?
If I ended up getting my black belt, I’d open a school. I love this sport, I would easily orient my life around it if I could.
[удалено]
Shore up on your weaknesses, explore new things.
I have been honing a few techs that I got really good at during brown belt, while also completely changing my game around other areas to things I could not do nor understand art the lower ranks. I still have my go to game and use the techs every now and then to keep them sharp but I went from passing on my knees only to now focusing solely on standing passes. Of course if a visiting brown or purple gives me a hard time I'll resort to my A game but otherwise I'm a completely different grappler than I was just even last year. Took a month to find myself after getting the belt but I'm right where I should be at this time
Come to think of it I might start learning passing on my knees. Getting to Over/under and double under/stacks. I think I might get smashed some for a while. I am not in the best shape. Thanks.
You get another one
Awesome! Why not, right?!
Trying to figure that out myself...
Remember that scene in forest Gump when he stops running and goes home?
I’m quitting after that promotion. It was my main goal to begin with.
If you still enjoy training, keep doing what you enjoy. If you are burned out and are ready to change it up, now is your time to pivot.
My instructor just works new positions. He dominates everyone in the class, so sometimes he will work on things he hasnpt played around with much such as lasso guard or octopus guard. That or he will go for submissions he hardly ever goes for (he is an armbar specialist and basically all his moves are setups for armbars so after tapping people 3 or 4 times by arm bar in a roll he will either let us try and work on him or start going for gi chokes or leg attacks etc
My take is just keep training and working on your game. I reckon I've gotten better. My pinning/passing and top subs are heaps better. My wrestling is terrible but I'm working on it. Maybe it's just adding wrestling that has improved my game. It's easier for me because I'm retired so I train regularly.
Win the Kumite
I just kept doing the same thing, it got me this far.
Right now my physical training is around a 70/30 split between BJJ and Yoga. I imagine I’ll eventually want to switch to predominantly doing Yoga as I age and since I’d likely be in my mid-40s if I receive my black belt it seems like a good transitionary point. I always need a goal in mind so after achieving a black belt I’d probably start looking at getting Yoga teacher certification
red and black coral belt open your own gym judo black belt 10th planet black belt luta livre black belt catch/freestyle/greco/folkstyle wrestling no-gi black belt like “american jiu jitsu” jujutsu black belt sambo stand up/striking martial art(s)
Go start a family
Walk into the sunset to never be seen again at the gym
Beat up white belts. Duh
Just keep training and expand your techniques. I don't think it is the greatest of exercises since you get a lot of injuries.
> Start working weak areas? Let's not go crazy here
coral...next question
Training
First of all you tell everyone
Been wondering the same.. .maybe quit?
Next is red/black, then red.
I’m taking up golf. Fuck this
You wear it all the time, keep it clean, shower with it, sleep with it, go to concerts with it, treat it like roylaty wherever you go. 🤭
you take off the gi and start doing better jiu-jitsu!
It's not enough that I've gotten it. Others must now be demoted.
JJ is in your heart, it’s part of your very existence. Living life is a functional process of JJ.
Rightly or wrongly, being promoted to black belt opens up a few more doors. You get invited to teach seminars or as guest instructor. Students ask you for private lessons. You get to enter competitions and match up potentially to guys who have been black belts longer than you’ve ever been training. But ultimately, you just keep turning up and doing what you’ve always been doing so far.
I like your merch Mr.Meerkatsu. I have a rashguard with your art from Tatami from way back. Thank you for giving me these valuable tips!
Continue doing what you were doing.
Never gets any easier…
Walk around wearing your gi with the black belt 24/7. This will result in women wanting you and men wanting to be you/fear you. Congrats young grasshopper.
Going back to basic fundamentals revamps everything from when you started to where you're at now. I started teaching once I got mine and teaching the basics made me go back to the beginning and refining techniques and having fun while not only doing it but teaching it. Good luck to you.
Boats n’ hoes 
I've never chased belts, so getting my black belt didn't signify an end or beginning to anything, but a continuous opportunity to keep learning and growing. Following the same principles since about purple belt, I'm exploring gaps and weaknesses in my game and doing what I can to fill those. For example, the majority of my time in BJJ has been in the gi, so now I'm developing a game specifically for no-gi. It's frustrating, exciting, and fun all at the same time. Never stop learning!
Continue going like usual?
I just keep doing the same shit I've been doing for the past 14 years. Teaching forces me to break things down and focus on details, but otherwise it's business as usual for me.
Gettin’ fat
That is almost too easy.
You go train
I am a white belt, so I am not a person, but something I heard that I really liked is that black belt is for teaching. And I know from other things, teaching things makes you understand them better and more deeply. It doesn't mean you have to open your own gym of course. but idk maybe you don't want to do that. Maybe work on some old man closed guard lmao.
Yes, so you are a future black belt right?! I will definitely work my closed guard because it needs a lot of work. Thanks!
You are now ready to fight Chad at the bar who "just sees red bro".
I started refining the game I was working on during late brown belt, while working defensive basics. Don’t let them grip you, don’t let them pass, if they pass, don’t let them control your head. On offense just trying to follow the basic path to submission and not focusing on doing for any particular submission, but rather whatever they present.
Thanks for these tips.
Quit
They said black belt. Not blue belt.
Start a podcast
Getting your black belt was like reaching the summit of a mountain, only to realize it was cloud cover, and there’s a WHOLE mountain more mountain up there you couldn’t see from the ground
I assume it’s back to basics?
Thanks. It truly is.
Take a blue belt’s girlfriend.
Hip surgery, then aikido.
Are you bald yet, son?
Sure
I don't know, maybe just keep doing what I'm doing, I don't plan to be a professional competitor anyways so I'll just keep what I do.
Invent moves and have it named after you.
Open a gym in my hometown.
Quit
BB was liberating for me. I could just train for fun, visit other gyms, etc. No more pressure on myself to earn bb, just train for fun.
It’s been seven years since I got brown belt. I just find jiujitsu fun and engaging, I could care less about the belts and usually surround myself with training partners who think the same
Immediately quit and start practicing as aikido
Profit
Start a podcast and sell instructional videos.
You were meant to quit at blue. Doing it wrong.
I used to pick goals every year but I’ve really been doing top year bottom year. Keeps me motivated.
Smesh
If you figure it out, let me know.
I get my ribs removed so I can suck my own dick
Wake up from my dream
Hit on all the new white belts
Probably more of the same. Maybe I’ll stop training gi if my fingers get too bad. Or maybe do gi in cold weather only.
I will open up my own spot
Become a flip-flop entrepreneur