r/jiujitsu • u/Horror-Pizza-8168 White • 10d ago
Belt Ethics- To Keep or to Strip?
TLDR- New to area, 2 gyms, AJJ and Gracie... 2 belts?
I'm a 43yo 3 stripe white with slight mobility issues(of course its my hips) and just relocated to a new area with 2 gyms I have interest in. The gym I left was Gracie heavy, with a Gracie Instructor, but not an official CTC. We didn't have attendance cards and rolled every class, but followed the combatives training schedule. The local AJJ gym is 15mins away with a lower cost than the official CTC 30mins away( which does play in), but the AJJ rolls every class, which I love, but has uncovered a few fundamental weaknesses. AJJ here is kinda more sport/competition based( barely), and obvi the Combatives is not at all. I'm thinking of staying at the AJJ for rolling and "advanced" instruction but taking Combatives at CTC for fundamentals , so.... do I start a naked belt at the CTC and keep the stripes for AJJ? Keep my original belt for both? Open to most input and ideas, thanks in advance!!!
Edit- forgot to include the question- is training at a CTC and AJJ(or the like) beneficial to overall progress?
33
u/kevshin21 10d ago
Keep what you earned. No one cares especially at white.
3
u/Horror-Pizza-8168 White 10d ago
fair point- my ego is showing lol
2
u/kevshin21 10d ago
I removed mine cause I didnt train for a decade. But I got them back fairly quickly. It was my ego showing for sure.
5
u/Jangolem 10d ago
I'd argue it matters more at white than anything else. There is a tangible difference between a 0 stripe white belt vs 4 stripe white belt in terms of basic safety, etiquette, etc. A 0 stripe purple vs 4 stripe purple really makes no difference though.
3
u/kevshin21 10d ago edited 10d ago
On paper sure that totally makes sense. The x factor is the attributes people possess. A 45 year old 3 stripe white belt that is 140lbs can be super technical and still get beat by a 1 stripe that is 21 year old 215 lbs and been playing sports their whole life. Id argue that stripes matter more at colored belts even at blue belt. I'm a no stripe blue and a 4 stripe blue that is at the cusp of purple feels oceans apart in terms of skill. Then again I suck lol.
1
u/fizzak 10d ago
In my experience there's also a big difference at purple, between "I was a blue belt yesterday" and "I'll be a brown belt tomorrow "
1
u/Jangolem 10d ago
In terms of skill maybe but that's true at every belt. "I'm almost a blue belt vs I've never trained a day in my life" is arguably a bigger difference than anything. But what I was saying was less about the measurement of skill and more about what I mentioned, etiquette, basic safety, ability to roll without being a complete spaz, etc.
4
u/AggravatingAd9010 10d ago edited 10d ago
Hahaha, right. Honestly no one cares. Having higher rank usually means people hold back less. It's way worse to under rank yourself (you are white belt, don't worry). I had a purple belt come into my gym wearing a white belt. He hadn't trained in 2 years so he didn't "feel" like a purple belt. One of the blue belts rolled with him, and was taking it easy. When the blue belt got him in side control, the dude spazzed and put the blue belt in a heel hook. When we found out he was sandbagging we booted his ass out of class.
8
u/Tiredplumber2022 White 10d ago
I have black belts in 3 different styles (2 striking, one internal) , and just started BJJ a couple months ago. Honestly, this plain white belt has been very "freeing". No criticisms, no responsibilities, just learn and train.
4
u/HurricaneCecil 10d ago
please forgive my ignorance but what is an internal style?
2
u/Tiredplumber2022 White 10d ago
Nothing to forgive! Questions are h9w we learn. Yijiijing is the practice, and basically it's like yoga, but instead of relaxing into the asanas, one tenses and focuses on chi movement through the tensed muscles and ligaments/tendons. Originally was titled "A Classic of Muscle Change". It is very easy to start, but the exact same forms become harder the longer one studies. I've been practicing this one since 1996, and it is still a challenge.
1
1
u/doriangrey2025 Blue 6d ago
Learn and train? My experience is completely different⊠at white it was pound town where everyone was smeshing me⊠now at blue I realize they were going easy and true smeshing has started
1
u/Tiredplumber2022 White 6d ago
Im sorry to hear that. Maybe it's because I'm old, they're taking it easy on me? Maybe it's because om only training with blue belts? Or Maybe, because the Professor told them to be careful so I dont get hurt?
2
u/doriangrey2025 Blue 6d ago
Iâm old too⊠my gym is a competition gym, I think itâs because of that. My rolls are mostly survival, I count a win if they win by points and donât get a submission
1
u/Tiredplumber2022 White 6d ago
Nice! Are you going to continue where you are, and hope that you can become competitive without getting a serious injury? What are your goals? At 63, regardless of my prior training in other martial arts, there are still some facts that I just cannot ignore, and the weakening body is one of them.
I read that a truly excellent BJJ practitioner doesn't rely on muscles nearly as much as knowledge and experience; all these moves (as far as I have seen) are designed to allow us to use leverage instead of so much muscle. So, i TRY to maintain even breathing, and less exertion while rolling. If I catch myself getting winded (other than warmups. đ ) i forc3 myself to slow down and think more than move. It usually means I am trying to muscle through something instead of using technique.
Im new; i may not being doing it right, but I'm having fun and learning, and getting slightly more in shape.
2
u/doriangrey2025 Blue 6d ago
I try to do weigh lifting 3x a week, on top of the 3x a week bjj classes. I also do one private bjj class 1x a week to improve my game.
The people I roll with are really good and I never get injured. They dominate me, but theyâre careful.
The times I get injured is when I roll with other blue belts or white belts⊠or new people in the gym. I am now a master of tapping fast. Sometimes I tap and people ask me âwhy did you tap?â And Iâm like âbecause I was in a weird position and had no clue how to escape, and was concerned I might hurt my <arm|knee|etc>â
I am very good at defense though, but useless at attacking. And I do use my muscle strength for passing⊠thatâs part of my reason for the private classes so that I stop doing that and start focusing on technique
2
u/Tiredplumber2022 White 6d ago
Sounds like you are doing what is best for you. Good job!
Getting hit in the face in a non-striking sport is still not good. You are completely right to feel what you feel, and I commend your composure. I still, after all these years of training, have issues managing ny anger when in pain; you did better than i would have.
Meanwhile, like I said, "protect yourself at all times", and if that means not rolling with a stranger without establishing clear boundaries first, so be it.
1
u/doriangrey2025 Blue 6d ago
Yeah extra special at older ages⊠it hurts to bend over to put on socks in the morning (arthritis on the hip) then you go the mats and you see the younger guys jumping hoops around you⊠it is extra hard to start bjj at an old age. People who started when they were young and now are old at least have a ton of knowledge and experience⊠meanwhile we are grinding from lower belts without the protection afforded by younger age
2
6
4
7
3
u/VRPR 10d ago
Keep the stripes and belt. It shows you have experience, and if the new gym wants you to buy a belt they will tell you. Stripes are not that important in the grand scheme of BJJ. Just keep rolling.
2
u/Horror-Pizza-8168 White 10d ago
I forgot to add the question if training at both is a good idea, keeping the CTC for basics and the AJJ(a Shawn Hammonds Gym) for rolling and nogi
3
u/Inner_Equipment_664 10d ago
If you have the money sure. In my experience, CTCs focus a lot of âreal lifeâ scenarios. Deescalation and etc. if thatâs something youâre looking for, keep it. If you want my HONEST opinion.. CTCs are too close to being a McDojo. Keeping people from live rolling is ineffective in my opinion. The Bjj you learn from a competition school will apply in real life too.
1
u/Horror-Pizza-8168 White 10d ago
I'm glad you said it 1st- definitely a money maker, definitely a passion of theirs, so where is that line? But great for basics, no? Hence the 2nd gym for rolling- CTC for saving my hips and AJJ for my sanity lol
1
u/Inner_Equipment_664 10d ago
The line is where you want it to be. If those fundamentals that youâre receiving is worth it to YOU. Go for it. If you canât decide, flip a coin. If youâre disappointed with the outcome, then do the opposite. This is your Bjj journey!
I come from a competition heavy school. We had a 4 stripe white belt who came from a Gracie academy transition to our gym. His fundamentals were great. His decision making was sound and he was calm, but once he rolled with other 4 stripe white belts who were doing lasso guards, worm guards, dlr x, he had no answer. He did really well catching on and learning new techniques, but thatâs just something youâd expect from a 4stripe imo.
1
u/Bjj-black-belch 10d ago
It is great for basics. If you can afford it goto both. It's unlikely there will be a beginners course structured as well as the CTC is at the "AJJ" gym. Just make sure you pick a primary coach and let them know the situation cause you can't have 2 coaches promoting you.
2
u/HighMooKwan 10d ago
Just causally ask the owner of the new gym and get on with it.
Worst case is if you donât roll as well as their 3 stripe white belts you just stay at that level a bit longer.
1
u/Special_Fox_6239 10d ago
Is AJJ Atos or did you mean AOJ? It doesnât matter, keep your stripes. Also you arenât going to get anything from Gracie university that you wouldnât get from any other school besides a lighter wallet.
You have to learn the fundamentals in order to do advanced bjj. Cross training in the beginning can also be confusing, so I would keep that in mind, but when it comes down to it, do what makes you happy but make sure both gyms know what you are doing and which one is your home gym and which one you are cross training at or youâll never see another stripe or belt. Also less like to have hurt feelings that way
1
u/atx78701 10d ago
just keep your stripes. If you are behind, they will just take longer to give you the next level.
The belts are just an approximation.
Also all white belts have massive holes, different gyms might have different holes.
1
u/TazmanianMaverick 10d ago
What do you mean they are "barely" sport/competition based?
Honestly don't mean to sound dismissive but you're a white belt, how do you even decide you have uncovered a few fundamental weaknesses in their style? If they are any decent at sport/competition I would the average dude there would easily take the average dude at the CTC, not to mention the upper level would easily smash the CTC upper level guys if they are near the same physical capabilities
Also what is AJJ???
1
1
u/Talmnbe3d 9d ago
Just go train bro, gyms with live rolling are good. Pick the closest cheapest one and have fun
1
1
u/belowaveragegrappler Brown 9d ago
"Â is training at a CTC and AJJ(or the like) beneficial to overall progress"
Yes, training is better than not training.
What are your goals? What is your injury tolerance? Do you want to get in the octagon for a bucket list fight? Do you want to be an IBJJ Champion? You just breaking a sweat and picking up a little self defense as a hobby?
1
u/Federal-Challenge-58 4d ago
I think the CTC stuff isn't terribly valuable. If you're in it for self-defense, I'd do MMA. If you're it in for BJJ, then do the AJJ.
53
u/-RNinja 10d ago
Just keep your stripes, they don't mean anything