How long did it take for you to get your belts?

[spasgur]

Hey. I started doing BJJ in may and I'm totally hooked on it. However, due to a hectic start to my new educational endeavours I haven't been able to be very active since september, but I'm getting more time for training now.
Anyway, I've read that on average, if you are training regularly (and progressing ofcourse), you get your blue belt after about a year of training, give or take a couple of months.
I know there are quite a few BJJ players here on the forums, so I would like to know how long it took you to get your blue, or higher ranked, belt. How did you train, did you participate in BJJ tournaments as well? Was there a ceremony when you got your belt?
At my gym, when someone advances in ranks he gets judo thrown by all the black belts.

[spasgur]

Bumping this thread because of spammer dabbou drowning it

[DriveBy73]

It took me about a year to find one that fit, I finally just braided together a bunch of twine and used a crushed soda can for the belt buckle.... or did you mean a different kind of belt? =]

[spasgur]

It took me about a year to find one that fit, I finally just braided together a bunch of twine and used a crushed soda can for the belt buckle.... or did you mean a different kind of belt? =]

I'm not in any way involved in belt discrimination. As long as it ties around your waist it's a belt and I'm down with it!

[BulldogWrestler]

It varies from school to school and person to person.

Some people will withhold a belt from you until you meet certain requirements, some will withhold a belt until you've put enough time in the gym, some will withhold a belt from you until you've put enough money (either by donations or gym fees over time).

It all depends. Sometimes, the requirements are tougher in one place than another and sometimes when you're good enough for your belt (whatever color) in one place, you're simply not good enough for it in another place.

This especially doubles true for black belts since a lot of schools don't like to give to those out unless they're certain the student is worthy. There's a lot of politics involved with it too (i.e. someone bolting to start their own competing school the moment they get a black belt, someone not paying dues anymore the moment they get their black belt, etc).

[telerion]

It took me a little short of two years to get my blue belt, but I only went once a week for the first year. BD is right though. It really all depends on the school, the person's activity level, and their natural ability.


BTW been in for about 5 years now. Hoping to get my purple soon.

[spasgur]

It took me a little short of two years to get my blue belt, but I only went once a week for the first year. BD is right though. It really all depends on the school, the person's activity level, and their natural ability.


BTW been in for about 5 years now. Hoping to get my purple soon.

I'm also just able to train once or twice a week at the moment. I hope that I will get more time after christmas when all my exams are over. I think it's pretty hard to get belts at my camp. So far, as I know, the only time someone has gotten a new belt is when Leo Vieira has been in the country.
I'm in no hurry though, the more experienced white belts still tool me although I've gotten quite good at passing half guard by using brute strength and clasp around their legs and pull my own out.

I would like to get a match in a couple of months.

[spasgur]

It varies from school to school and person to person.

Some people will withhold a belt from you until you meet certain requirements, some will withhold a belt until you've put enough time in the gym, some will withhold a belt from you until you've put enough money (either by donations or gym fees over time).

It all depends. Sometimes, the requirements are tougher in one place than another and sometimes when you're good enough for your belt (whatever color) in one place, you're simply not good enough for it in another place.

This especially doubles true for black belts since a lot of schools don't like to give to those out unless they're certain the student is worthy. There's a lot of politics involved with it too (i.e. someone bolting to start their own competing school the moment they get a black belt, someone not paying dues anymore the moment they get their black belt, etc).

I've heard, that at a lot of gyms, it's way harder to advance in ranks if you're not competing in tournaments.
Alot of people who don't know the sport are kind of like "wtf?" when I tell them it might be some time before I get a blue belt. In a lot of other martial arts you can get a black belt in the time it takes to get a blue belt in BJJ.
One thing is for sure, I'm getting hammered the day I get my blue belt.

[ZuZitsu]

Got my blue in 6 months (but came in with some no gi experience)

Getting my purple at the xmas party and its been 4 yrs

[BulldogWrestler]

I've heard, that at a lot of gyms, it's way harder to advance in ranks if you're not competing in tournaments.
Alot of people who don't know the sport are kind of like "wtf?" when I tell them it might be some time before I get a blue belt. In a lot of other martial arts you can get a black belt in the time it takes to get a blue belt in BJJ.
One thing is for sure, I'm getting hammered the day I get my blue belt.

That's another aspect to it to it. I came into BJJ already with a Judo BB and a pretty extensive wrestling background.

It helped advanced me REALLY quickly because a lot of the stuff that was being taught was already "second nature" for me. The guy who runs the school was also pretty cool about it, but I wasn't getting promoted.

That changed LIGHTNING FAST when I started competing in grappling, BJJ tournaments. It changed even faster when I started fighting. So I could see the politics involved with it.

Had I never competed, I probably would still be a blue or purple belt now. *shrugs* Just how it is I guess, but it differs from school to school I'm sure.