Purple-ising the Blue …


So .. you are a BJJ Blue Belt and you want to know what it takes make the jump to purple? It’s a worthy goal … but as I have long said ‘you never really ‘get’ a new rank – you ‘become it’. Nevertheless, the question still stands … how do we make our way from Blue toward Purple; or from any rank, to any other rank, for that matter?
I like this idea: as a Blue Belt, I think the better idea is to purple-ise the blue belt that you’re already wearing. Learn better variations of all the things you already know. Develop a more technical understanding of those things you already know. Learn how to make the things you know, more work-able, more dependable, more effective. Instead of being content with the Elbow Escape (when opponent mounts you) – learn the Top Knee Elbow Escape; you know the Back-sweep – then learn the closed Guard back-sweep; you know how to apply your weight well; then learn how to take even more of it off the floor and focus it and do so, on the right parts of your opponent’s body; you have a favorite sweep or two – then learn how to capitalize on your opponent’s natural and learned reactions to these sweeps, etc.
I think it’s way easier to focus on (and achieve) a purple-ising of your current blue belt than to look too far down the track and try to figure out what a purple is made of. I general, we get way more bang for our buck when we improve and modify things we are already okay at – than we do by learning completely new and novel things.
So instead of trying to reach a completely new place – just improve the place you already occupy. On and off the mat …
JBW

Comments

Liam H Wandi said…
Fantastic advice. I remember reading in an old email from Lloyd Irvine that he found a number of old competition matches with the stars of BJJ from the 90s, but these videos where from they were still blue and purple. His observation was the moves these guys were all famous for, their "trademark moves" if you will, were the same moves they did back as blue and purple belts!! They just focused so much on them that they became unstoppable with them.

Thanks for the post!
Unknown said…
Fantastic post! I've been doing more of this lately, but sometimes it's good to hear it again from outside my head. One thing I've been doing is questioning my self regarding the techniques I use, and find it very helpful at solidifying my game more. I find my BJJ journey more enjoyable as well. Thank you John for the wonderful post! BTW, I'm reading through your Rogue Black belt series for a second time. It's a great read the second time through. Cheers from California!
UFC streaming said…
I think that His observation was the moves these guys were all famous for, their "trademark moves" if you will, were the same moves they did back as blue and purple belts!! They just focused so much on them that they became unstoppable with them.
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