How long to get a bjj blue belt
A blue belt is the second belt in jiu jistu, and tody I’ll attempt to answer one fo the first questions that come up when starting jiu jitsu – how long to get a bjj blue belt? A blue belt represents a bjj student who has a decent understanding of the basic goals, positions, and techniques in brazilian jui jitsu. This is one of the first goals for many bjj practitioners.
For those wondering how long to get a blue belt in bjj, on average it will take 6 months – 2 years. This will depend on prior experience, athleticism, and training frequency.
Furthermore, you may also be wondering “how fast can you get a blue belt in bjj?”.
So today I’ll attempt to answer these questions with details and a full explanation from my personal experience and that of my training partners
I know when I started, I instantly thought I should be a blue belt in 6 months, but this ended up not being the case. I felt that even though I was frequently submitted by my sparring partners at my level and at other jiu jitsu belts I still secretly knew that I should be an immediate blue belt.
Luckily, this secret egomaniac was quickly plucked from me with the help of a friendly but hardened middle aged asian lady who apparently mastered the bow and arrow choke.
For an updated guide check out the jiu jitsu belts further explained
When considering how long to get a bjj blue belt, your coach will, ultimately, be the deciding factor. Although it may not seem like it, they will be acutely aware of your growth, flaws, and shortcomings since starting bjj (hopefully, he saw when I ankle locked that 2 stripe blue belt too).
See below for how long to get a blue belt and other related questions answered:
How fast can you get a blue belt in bjj
In terms of how fast you can get a blue belt in bjj, there is a possibility that it can be achieved at the 6 month mark.
If you have previous grappling experience, consistency with training while on the matt and studying while off the mat, it is entirely possible.
However, it is important to understand that bjj is not a sprint. If you burn yourself out doing 3 classes a day 5 days a week and stop going entirely after 4 months you can guarantee that no blue belt will arrive on your doorstep at 6 months in.
Longevity in BJJ? How to last all the way to black belt
How dangerous is a bjj blue belt
A bjj blue belt represents someone who has a decent grasp of the positions, submissions, and fundamental techniques. Ideally, they are the ones who continue to show up after a tough class, have some basic go to moves that they like, and have learned how to pace themselves both in live rolling and their frequency of training.
Some may think that a bjj blue belt may signify to everyone that they are now dangerous to the world at large.
However, this usually is not the case.
A bjj blue belt has an understanding of the general positions and goals, but successfully performing bjj techniques effectively on both untrained and trained individuals is another question entirely.
I know for me I still had large holes in my grappling fundamentals. If I was stuck in bottom side control against an opponent among any of the other higher jiu jitsu belts, I would forget any fundamentals, and immediately go into fish flopping out of water territory, but I was able to figure out how I learned best. This led me to better structure my jiu jitsu roadmap to work on my weak points as well sharpen my already decent tools – these being mostly triangles and knee cuts at this point.
So hopefully, by blue belt you will also be able to understand your learning process and be very aware of your grapping knowledge and effectiveness from a variety of positions.
Want to improve faster – check our top tried and tested tips
BJJ blue belt requirements
BJJ blue belt requirements will rely heavily on your coach, but these will likely revolve around a basic understanding of techniques and an ability to perform them effectively against peers at your skill level.
Below are some basic BJJ blue belt requirements as mentioned by my coaches and training partners.
All of these assume that techniques are being performed upon someone at about the same experience level:
- ability to open someone’s guard
- ability to sweep opponent’s effectively
- ability to maintain top position
- awareness of common defenses and escapes from basic pins
- how to perform most common submissions (such as triangles, armbars, kimuras, strangles)
- efficiency in one or two common guard positions
- willing to explore other unfamiliar positions (ie. if you are a wrestler, being okay with playing from your back)
- able to control and submit an untrained individual around your size
Some other items that may become factors are your consistency, athleticism, and perhaps a grittiness to show up to the next class confidently after being badly beaten during the last session.
“It’s not how much you know that counts, but how much you can recall under stress.”
John Danaher, Mastering Jiu Jitsu
So, how long to get a bjj blue belt really
How long to get your bjj blue belt may, ultimately, come down to any variety of factors, but above all, many coaches just want to see consistency. If you keep showing up no matter how badly your ego is bruised or how many tiny cuts and scrapes you may get, if you just keep showing up ready to take a beating, ready to learn, and maybe ready to give a beating, you will get your blue belt whether it be close to 6 months or just after 2 years.
Thanks for reading, hope you gained some helpful info and see you on the mats!
now let’s get your next belt – how long to get to a bjj purple belt
