Recently I was summoned to Gracie Humaita San Diego for Promotion night. I don’t usually train on Monday nights, I usually stay at home and enjoy the game, write, or play video games. Walking into the gym had a very different feel to it. There was a certain anticipation in the air. It was the most crowded night I had ever seen at HQ. People I don’t normally see were making their way in, so it felt like a reunion of sorts. Before I knew it, even Master Royler himself stepped on the mats.

I walked in with two stripes on my Purple Belt so I was thinking that I would get a stripe or two, be happy, and go about my Purple Belt journey. When Professor Regis went through all the stripes and then made an announcement that they would now be moving onto the belt promotions. It was at that moment that I had to force myself from smiling from ear to ear.

When my name was finally called, I was kind of in a haze. I really didn’t anticipate getting here at this point in time. What I mean by that is that I thought that I would end up “baking” for another year or so, and really, I was in no rush whatsoever. I’ve been told by several people that the Purple Belt phase was where they had the most fun, so they urged me to enjoy it while it lasted. So that’s exactly what I did with my time there. I never felt like I had any pressure on me. I enjoyed every roll, even when I was getting killed.





Retrospectively

When I was promoted from White to Blue, I was just happy to be asked to the dance, in a sense. I didn’t know how long it “should” have taken me to get to Blue, I was just grateful to be promoted. White Belt is often compared to having an empty cup and as it’s being filled, you transition to the following belt.

At Blue, when I was getting close to Purple, I started to grow frustrated and eager for that next promotion. I wanted out of the Blue Belt phase, bad! There was something about telling people that I was still a Blue Belt that just bugged me. So many people get stuck here and quit, that I wanted to be able to say I cleared that hurdle and wouldn’t be a Blue Belt statistic.

Somewhere in the middle of Purple Belt I realized just how much I didn’t know when I was at Blue Belt. While I knew the generals of a bunch of techniques, I didn’t know the key details. So, at this stage, I got past how much I had been able to put in my cup, and saw that the cup wasn’t really a cup at all.

It was more of an ocean.

So every time I went to train, I kept things simple. I worked on some of problem areas in my game but most importantly, I just had fun with it. I thought I had another year before I would start worrying about why I wasn’t zeroing in on Brown Belt. I was genuinely in a great head space.







With that being said, the promotion left me in a weird place. I wondered if I was actually ready or even worthy. Whenever some one would ask how it felt, I would just say, “weird.” I wasn’t sure if people really understood why, I didn’t exactly elaborate, but I did seek the council from some higher ups. I spoke to Jena Bishop, Shawn Fowler, among others and got some great feedback. Their words put things into perspective for me even though I was doubting myself.

Most people don’t want it or the responsibility that comes with it. But trust me, if Tyler and Regis and Aaron etc felt you’re ready, then you’re ready.. Shawn Fowler of Five Grappling and Honu Jiu-Jitsu on my promotion

Updated Brown Belt Thoughts

It’s been about a month since my promotion. While it’s still all weird to me, I’ve started growing into it. Apparently I’ve been placing my feet in all the wrong areas, so I’ve been fighting off Toe Holds and Knee Bars far more often than I’d like. Overall, I’ve noticed myself being more aggressive in my approach lately. Not in an abusive manor, but more in that I’m not allowing mistakes by my opponent to go unpunished.

I have some goals for myself this next year. I’d like to cultivate some decent leg attacks, a sharper Guillotine Choke, and possibly help implement a few program idea for the Academy. I’m really excited to see what’s next for me. I’m embracing it all.

Thank You

I wanted to say congratulation to those that were promoted with me and also say, thank you. I wanted to thank my friends, family, and my wife for putting up with my pajama fighting addiction all these years.

I want to thank my old training partners and coach at Rebellion Academy, for the foundation and for continuing to allow me to visit and keep in touch.

Mike Landis, I appreciate our continued Jiu-Jitsu discussions. I love bouncing ideas back and forth with you.

Tyler and Jena Bishop, I’m not sure where I would be without the two of you. You have both made such an impact on me the last few years.

AJ and Marco, thank you for everything each of you have done in helping with the Kid’s Program and being a consistent training partner.

My instructor Regis, for seeing the potential and valuing my contributions to the gym. These last four years have been a blessing.

Thank you all for everything.

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