Quote:
Originally Posted by Adept
I'm curious....
What do you think a BJJ blue belt should know? Just a curious thought, I'm sure eveeryone has a different opinion on what a BJJ blue should or shouldn't be.
Oh and congrats on the coaching. Not a lot can be a good coach as just a blue belt.
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Thanks Adept.
Aaronblue is right, but it's worth noting that there's a big difference between a 3 week blue belts and a 3 year blue belt. The list of techniques is a rough indication of what it takes for a white belt to get his blue, but once you're a blue belt, you're working on purple belt stuff. Agreed, it's not always about what you know - you need to be able to hang with the next belt up before you're ready for that belt, or at least be winning a few tournaments at your belt level, so that means drilling the techniques until you can do them without thinking, and putting together combinations & 'dummies' so that it becomes more of a chess game.
I've been lucky enough to be training full time for the past 2 years, I went to Brazil for four months to train at Barra & Roylers as well as training across the US & Italy. Training in Rio is a good test of your belt - if you can be in the top 20% of your belt there, then you've reached a good standard. My Gracie Barra instructor (an ex world champ) was abroad for 9 months out of the last 12 so my training partner & I took the classes. We both qualified as JJJ coaches before we took up BJJ and have about 24 years of martial arts experience between us.
Coaching is also about having a certain temperament & analytical ability. There are some coaches that will simply teach you their favourite/flashiest move regardless of whether is suitable for you, and there are others who will take into account your weaknesses/game/weight & help you focus on what works for you. I'm striving to be the latter. Don't get me wrong, I want my purple belt in a year & black belt before I'm 45 but watching my guy get gold yesterday was almost as satisfying as getting it myself - so I'm very happy.