Purple belt

Now that I've gone through most of the process of being a blue belt, I think I can say more accurately what I think it means to be a blue belt. I'm probably still 2-4 months away from a purple belt, but its 99% of the way there ;) I'll also begin to take a wild guess as to what I think a purple belt means. I think from what I've observed from myself and from others at my gym, is that being a blue belt just shows that you know what Brazillian Jiujitsu is. I'm not trying to take away from any skilled blue belts or anything. I just think all a blue belt means is that you've proven you've learned what brazillian jiujitsu is. Here is an armbar, this is a sweep. You get points for taking someones back if you have the hooks in. Thats all. I just think it means you have the foundation and the basic tools to really begin your learning. I've always thought that it was funny how there's this giant discrepancy in skill level from a new blue belt, who is essentially a white belt with a blue colored belt, to an experienced blue belt who is very close to becoming a purple belt. I think that journey as a blue belt really culminates into a purple belt when it can be shown that the knowledge of what brazillian jiujitsu becomes applicable. Its not just a "I know what an armbar is" anymore, but more of a "I know how to armbar you, let me show you". There's a certain level of comfort and confidence in your own jiujitsu, and its something that you don't have to think about anymore. It used to be "He goes there... Hmm, I could do this, or I could do that...". Now it becomes "He goes here, I go there. He posts here, I remove post." I think that a purple belt really shows that you know how to apply your jiujitsu. When you get your purple belt, it doesn't mean you can school everyone out there, but it certainly does show you know what you are doing.

Taught first class

So I've started teaching. I must say that it has been very interesting these last couple of weeks to teach white belts the basics. I've been re-examining all the basics. Its interesting to do so, to really stop and think about what the steps are. Its one thing to be able to do and execute a move, but its a totally different thing when I start to stop and think about what is important and what makes a move work the way it does and to really convey this to a bunch of white belts eager to learn what you have to offer.

Almost to purple

Almost to purple! I recently received my fourth stripe as a blue belt. Its encouraging, as I can tell my game has gotten better. I am still getting destroyed by upper belts as to be expected, but I feel confident in my game. Well, what does one do when one becomes almost purple? They prepare for purple belt exam. Not that I am over eager to become a purple belt (I still feel like I have a long way to go before I feel like I belong there), but I think its good to be prepared as soon as possible. And its a good thing I did, because the exam asks for a wide array of moves from a lot of different positions. One thing that got my attention was "Chokes from side control". Now, I love armlocks from side control. It never occured to me to look into chokes from side control. Youtubing has revealed a whole array of things to do. This is super exciting. I think I need to start drilling again, as I feel like a whole new landscape of submissions has opened up for me. Anyway, time to get busy. One thing I want to start doing are the step over choke variations. Also the "choke opponent with your own gi" variation from side. I'm in heaven.

So in an attempt to make my open guard harder to pass, I've been trying to study up on it and trying to do both guard passing and open guard. The former to study what my opponent might be doing, and the latter to try and study what actually prevents the guard to be passed. I've had little result on my own. I've begin by examining my open guard game. Usually against white belts or newly minted blue belts I find that my open guard is usually pretty good. Some reasons are a.) they aren't very mobile and don't try to smash/go around and b.) I usually have really strong grips on their sleeve and collar so I can control the distance, aka push them at their hips while pulling on their sleeve to really make them stretched out. So far though I've been having a lot of trouble with people who are better at breaking my grips, and my answer is usually to fall into butter fly as a way to delay them passing. Of course my butterfly guard isn't THAT great yet. So really this is still delaying the inevitable. Also with people who are more mobile they tend to smash one side and pass around me. I've found that most times I try to go for an underhook so that I can prepare myself for half guard or at worst make it a terrible side control position for them. I looked up some concepts for open guard, and I seem to be lacking a few basic principles. Seems that I have space/distance down okay, and grip game (aka grip them, don't let them grip you) I seem to have pretty well. But one thing I need to start thinking about is actively aligning myself so that my feet are towards them. In other words if they are getting around me, I should make space and try to face them square on again. Another thing I think I need to learn better is head control, to manage their head so that if they DO start passing well that I push their head off to the side when they are starting to get side control.