When you start your BJJ journey, the first big milestone you want to achieve is getting promoted to a blue belt. Many consider the blue belt to be the first chapter and the white belt is just an introduction. Unfortunately, many beginners quit before reaching that milestone. But, you are not one of those people just by the fact you are reading this. Being a beginner means surviving. It means trying not to get smashed every training session by guys who have already reached blue belt (or higher). Beginners also spend a lot of time wondering how long it will take to fulfill blue belt BJJ requirements. The answer? Well, it depends on several factors. Let’s break those down!
How much training per week to earn blue belt
Generally, new practitioners ask how much time do I need to invest in training to earn a blue belt promotion? It is not that simple. Training without structure behind it can slow down your progress. You need to take into account how much training per week and how much time you have to recover. Also, different BJJ academies have different blue belt BJJ requirements, so estimated time can vary depending on your instructor’s standards.
How long if I train 3 times per week?
As a beginner, an optimal time to train is 3 times per week. If you want to reduce risk of injury and give your body time to recover, consider 3 times per week. This way you have more time to rest and think about the new information you are getting on the mats. The first couple of weeks of BJJ is demanding. If you want to progress steadily you should take it slow. Depending on the academy where you train and your commitment, it will take you approximately two years to get your blue belt.
How long if I train 5-7 times per week?
You finally decided to start training, and you are going all out. There is no faster way to reach that blue belt than to show up to every training session. But, there are some things to consider. Training almost every day of the week will have its toll on the body. You will certainly get more practical knowledge and improve faster than the rest. However, keep in mind that if you don’t let your body heal properly injuries can occur. Injuries can set you back in your quest for the promotion. Keeping that high tempo you will certainly get your blue belt under the two-year mark. If you compete at the same time and show results, you might get your belt in under a year, which is uncommon.
How long if I train casually, 1 or 2 times a week or less?
In every academy there are those practitioners that like to take it easy, training once or twice a week, or even a couple of times per month. There is nothing wrong with taking it easy, as each person has their tempo. But, if you want to progress in something like BJJ this will not cut it. Training like this can take you years to get a promotion to blue belt. Nobody pays attention to journeymen, so try not to be one and focus on not skipping classes regularly.
What techniques are usually required?
To fulfill your blue belt BJJ requirements you first need to get a grasp of basic and semi-advanced BJJ techniques. Nothing will make you progress more than keeping your eyes and ears open when your coach is teaching you new moves, especially if you are a white belt that wants to get that blue belt promotion fast. Some BJJ academies have different requirements in terms of technique. Most have the basic ones as mandatory to get a blue belt.
Important techniques that you have to know
There are many great techniques and moves in BJJ that you can learn. Some are flashier and some more practical, but the basics are very important and they are there for a reason. As a white belt aiming to become a blue belt, you need to have a clear understanding of the basics. These basic techniques can be broken down into; passing the guard, sweeps, escaping the mount, submissions from the guard, taking the back.
Passing the guard – Getting stuck in your opponent’s guard can be a tricky thing. This is why you need to have a couple of guard passes in your arsenal. Successfully passing the guard will allow you to establish your game with the opponent. It also creates openings for you to earn points or go for submissions.
Sweeps – The ability to manipulate your opponent’s body is a very big advantage you can have. Therefore, knowing how to sweep is very important. Sweeping your opponent will help you gain a better position and enforce your game on them.
Escaping the mount – One of the worst positions to be in BJJ is to be mounted by an opponent. This leaves you open for attacks. Therefore it is crucial to know how to escape. There are different ways to escape the mount and you should know at least a couple. One of the most basic ones is the “bridge and roll escape” or the “elbow to knee escape”.
Submissions from the guard – Having a strong guard attacking game is important to have on your way to the blue belt. There are many possible submissions you can pull from the guard. Learning as many as possible is going to make you formidable on the mats. You need to have solid armbar, kimura, triangle, and collar choke attacks from the guard.
Taking the back – This is the best position to be in BJJ. Not only that you are safe from most of your opponent’s attacks, but you can also attack at will. Holding the back effectively is crucial to getting a blue belt. Some of the most common attacks from the back are the rear-naked choke, armbar, triangle choke.
Secondary techniques that you should know
Every technique has its place in BJJ and it is up to you to choose and practice those that you want to implement in your own game. Apart from the very basics, you should also learn secondary techniques that can come in handy.
Submission variations – There are many submissions in BJJ and many of them are just variations of other techniques. You should know at least some of them, as that will give you more options to threaten your opponent with. You should know Americana lock, straight armbar, omoplata, guillotine choke, arm triangle.
Takedowns – As many BJJ schools focus on ground-game the most, they tend to forget about takedowns. If you plan to compete, learning a few takedowns is a must. The most basic takedowns are double-leg and single-leg takedown.
Blue belt expectations
The most important part of BJJ you need to know is the principles on which your ground game should be established. For you to advance to blue belt you need to have a clear understanding of weight distribution and pressure (1). Having good balance and the ability to focus your weight on certain spots is the key to solid ground control over your opponent. Also, knowing how body mechanics work will speed up your understanding of various techniques and movements. Grasping these key principles is going to skyrocket the improvement rate of your game, you will start to feel a clear advantage over your sparring partners.
Blue belt mindset
The more you train the more your mind and body are going to get accustomed to grappling. People often overlook the mental part of the game which is for the better part more important. Especially because that is kind of the essence of BJJ; overcoming strength with technique (2). Not saying having strength is a bad thing, but rather that by having a relaxed and focused mind you will feel much more comfortable and confident on the ground. Training your mental strength by doing drills and those long sparring sessions will take you to the next level and closer to fulfilling those blue belt BJJ requirements.
How to improve your chances of earning a belt faster
A beautiful thing about BJJ is that there are so many things you can learn that you always need to have that “white belt” mentality to improve. When trying to rank up and evolve your game faster there are some key things you can take into consideration, that will help you improve faster.
Get to know your instructor
Getting to know your instructor is one of the key things that can help you improve. Analyzing their game you can figure out which moves they prefer and how efficient they are with them. Knowing them personally also helps your chances of getting a blue belt, as they will be more eager to help out somebody willing to learn and hungry for knowledge.
Train hard
One of the main things that always work the best is the good old hard training. Every second you spend on the mats is going to count. Drilling those techniques not only physically but also mentally is going to push your game forward at amazing speed. The more your improvement starts the show the bigger the chances that when the next promotion happens you are going to receive a blue belt.
Help out new members
When you start evolving your game, some movements and techniques that confuse you are going to start to become clear and easy to grasp. Naturally, you are going to feel the need to help out new practitioners when you see them doing something wrong. It is in your interest to have better sparring partners. This will help your game evolve.
What not to do if you want to earn your blue belt
In every academy, there are those white belts that kind of get stuck at that position for a longer period than most. Not taking classes seriously, showing up late, constantly missing classes, dozing off when the instructor is showing techniques, etc…These are clear indications why every time there is a new promotion, they don’t receive a blue belt.
Show up late constantly
It is never a good sign if you are showing up late and disrespecting your academy and the instructors. One of the main principles in BJJ is respect for your elders. If you are constantly being late to classes you are not going to be taken seriously and may end up insulting your instructors. That will slim down your chances of getting a blue belt.
Ignore partners when they tap out
Most people training BJJ are not looking to hurt their sparring partners. The key to preventing injuries is about taking care of your fellow practitioners. Ignoring partners while holding them in submission holds for too long is not only reckless it is also a show of disrespect that will get you in trouble. Competition is the time when you are not holding back. Training on the mats at the academy is the time to learn and develop.
Conclusion
So, what are the blue belt bjj requirements? As you can see there is a clear path earning your blue belt. Training hard, developing your own game, keeping up with the instructors, and being a good teammate. With these guidelines, you can rest assured that you will get to that blue belt promotion in no time.