This week we have a HUGE episode. We take six well known and respected black belts and ask them all the same five questions about blue belts. There are some similarities and differences within these interviews but the amount of jiu-jitsu wisdom about blue belts in this episode is amazing.

The five questions we asked to the six black belt guests

Do you have requirements for a blue belt? What are they? How important is it for students to be able to “defend” their belt? How many intangibles (good teammate, good effort, helps others) come into play when promoting someone to blue belt? Do you ever regret giving someone a blue belt? What advice to you have for the new blue belt?

Tim Sledd 24m 25s

Tim explains some of the techniques he requires for a student to know before receiving a blue belt. Tim talks about why some students get tapped by lower belts and if it is a big deal. Why he looks at character of a student not just technique, and how this can hold someone back. Why he has no regrets of any belts he has given out. Advice for the new blue belt.

Matt Thornton 58m 30s

How he evaluates blue belts based on performance, and not looking at particular techniques. Why it is important for your first blue belts to be very good at a school. The importance of having good people on the mat. Why he is confident in all his blue belt students. Why it is important to relax and work on open guard as a blue belt.

Bernardo Faria 1h 17m 30s

Bernardo talks about Fabio Gurgel’s system to get a blue belt a student must attend 120 classes. The idea of not tapping to a lower belt is an old mentality. Having a bad attitude will hold students back. Not having an actual belt test, and not regretting giving someone a blue belt. Keep your ego low, and work on learning jiu-jitsu.

Daniel Covel 1h 25m 05s

His minimum requirements of techniques for a blue belt. The responsibilities of the instructor to the students. The importance of learning from your mistakes, and making adjustments. Why it is important to have good people and teammates on the mat. He has no regrets about any of his past blue belts. It is important to recognise the hard work on the mats.

Henry Akins 1h 42m 50s

Understanding the basic positions and a handful of basic submissions. Why some upper belts get caught by lower belts. Why it is important for a blue belt to be a good training partner. Why getting tapped out is part of the learning process Why blue belts should work hard to develop a strong base.

John Will 1h 59m 30s

Why he likes having requirements for blue belts but not so many for other belts. It is rare for a colored belt to get tapped by a lower belt, but it is no big deal. Why the culture of the gym is so important. The concept of a ox neck and rat’s head. It is often normal to feel like you don’t deserve a new belt Ask five simple questions for every technique you learn to learn more details.

Mat Tales 14 Mouse in the House

Quote of the week: “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Lao Tzu

Article of the week: Production Now and Production Long Term

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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