Perhaps a slightly provocative title but I'm referring to the colour of your belt as opposed to some Nazi supremacist point of view.
For me (and I imagine many others) it was all about getting the next belt as soon as I possibly could, to prove my greatness as a natural fighter and become the next BJ Penn. Ironically I ended up staying a white belt for a very long time, and although I was at this stage longer than most, I never really took the time to realize just how cool it was to be white.
Being a white belt is a lot like being a goal keeper in a penalty shoot out. No one expects you to save the goal, but when you do, you're a legend. Much like when you're sparring with higher grades, no one expects you to tap a blue belt, but when you do, you feel like a king (for a moment).
In the early days of your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu career -- as a beginner white belt -- you have to accept the fact that you are the prey, you are going to get owned, and you are going to get passed around the class like currency. Take comfort in the fact that this has happened to everyone, you're no exception.
Try and avoid using brute strength to show everyone how tough you are. For the most part you're simply going to waste a huge amount of energy before the inevitable tap happens. Instead use this time wisely and soak up all of the information that you can. Pay attention, talk to your sparring partners, ask them to show you how they just pulled off that sweep, ask them what they think you're doing wrong or what you could of done differently. Use this opportunity to strengthen your game and before you know it, you'll start putting some stripes on your belt
A white belt with stripes
Ok now we're cooking on gas. This is the coolest part of the white belt. This is where you start to realize that you have developed some magical powers over a large portion of the class.
As a white belt with three or four stripes, you're now officially pimped up. At this point, when you step on the mats your presence is felt and feared by white and junior blues alike, as your danger becomes more apparent
You feast on the new white belts, they are your prey. You're growing in confidence with everyone you sweep, reverse, arm bar, triangle and generally dominate. You are the king of the white brigade and everyone knows it.
However, as I said, it's not just the junior white belts that are feeling the power of your pimped up, magical, zebra stripped, white belt. Oh no, the junior blue belts, the guys that have recently been promoted are a little nervous too.
This is by far the Zenith of your white belt prowess. To look into the eyes of a new blue belt, knowing that you have nothing to lose. All of the expectation is on them and they feel it too. They know that you're really not too far behind them in terms of skill and deep down they are preying that you get promoted soon so they can relax again.
Enjoy the majesty of this moment, as before long you too will become a blue belt, and then it all starts again!
For me (and I imagine many others) it was all about getting the next belt as soon as I possibly could, to prove my greatness as a natural fighter and become the next BJ Penn. Ironically I ended up staying a white belt for a very long time, and although I was at this stage longer than most, I never really took the time to realize just how cool it was to be white.
Being a white belt is a lot like being a goal keeper in a penalty shoot out. No one expects you to save the goal, but when you do, you're a legend. Much like when you're sparring with higher grades, no one expects you to tap a blue belt, but when you do, you feel like a king (for a moment).
In the early days of your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu career -- as a beginner white belt -- you have to accept the fact that you are the prey, you are going to get owned, and you are going to get passed around the class like currency. Take comfort in the fact that this has happened to everyone, you're no exception.
Try and avoid using brute strength to show everyone how tough you are. For the most part you're simply going to waste a huge amount of energy before the inevitable tap happens. Instead use this time wisely and soak up all of the information that you can. Pay attention, talk to your sparring partners, ask them to show you how they just pulled off that sweep, ask them what they think you're doing wrong or what you could of done differently. Use this opportunity to strengthen your game and before you know it, you'll start putting some stripes on your belt
A white belt with stripes
Ok now we're cooking on gas. This is the coolest part of the white belt. This is where you start to realize that you have developed some magical powers over a large portion of the class.
As a white belt with three or four stripes, you're now officially pimped up. At this point, when you step on the mats your presence is felt and feared by white and junior blues alike, as your danger becomes more apparent
You feast on the new white belts, they are your prey. You're growing in confidence with everyone you sweep, reverse, arm bar, triangle and generally dominate. You are the king of the white brigade and everyone knows it.
However, as I said, it's not just the junior white belts that are feeling the power of your pimped up, magical, zebra stripped, white belt. Oh no, the junior blue belts, the guys that have recently been promoted are a little nervous too.
This is by far the Zenith of your white belt prowess. To look into the eyes of a new blue belt, knowing that you have nothing to lose. All of the expectation is on them and they feel it too. They know that you're really not too far behind them in terms of skill and deep down they are preying that you get promoted soon so they can relax again.
Enjoy the majesty of this moment, as before long you too will become a blue belt, and then it all starts again!