Is white belt the most fun rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Your rank in BJJ represents all of your hard work, sacrifice, skill, persistence, and patience. Keep these virtues while at white belt, and your years at higher belts will much more rich!

One day, while hanging out with some training partners, I found myself in a debate about what the most fun Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt-rank is. Even the no-gi men and women got in on this. Some purple belts said that they imagined the black belt to be the most fun. That’s ideally when you become the best version of yourself on the mat. Some white belts said that the blue belt must be the most fun, because that’s a time when practitioners know enough to get solid and consistent results, yet they don’t carry the weight of an “upper belt.” But then a black belt said that he firmly believed the white belt to be the most enjoyable belt. People were surprised at this, but his reasoning was that at white belt:

• The entirety of BJJ is new to you. Every class can be revolutionary to your understanding.
• There’s no pressure. Nobody expects you to be anything more than or less than a novice.
• Since the art is new to you, you tend to have more simple fun with it. The weight of discipline isn’t as heavy as it is during your time at later belts.

Each belt rank in BJJ holds special opportunities and ways to grow. Don’t be in a rush though – enjoy and glean from your time at white belt for as long as you can!

I saw this black belt’s point immediately. Later in life when I got my own black belt, I reconsidered it and decided that I would do my best to maintain those good ‘white belt values’ no matter what belt rank I became. Yes, it is possible to do that – even as the factors of discipline and lifestyle-changes become greater at higher belt ranks. But then I got to thinking that if I was a white belt again, I would be much better at using and enjoying that time, and at not wanting to rush and over-develop.

Later on in your training, as you work your way up the BJJ ranking system, you’ll develop ways to keep an open and healthy, white belt mentality of wonder and lifelong learning. But are you currently a new white belt with no stripes on your belt? Well then that’s a rare, fresh time to truly cherish!

JJ Mike

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