Into the blue...

I've been using a blue belt for nearly a month now to keep my gi jacket closed on the mats. I was awarded it by Felipe Alves de Souza and José Henriqué Leão Teixeira on the recent BJJ School summer grading last July.

I must admit, the belt promotion came as a surprise, as I never expected it. I was struggling a bit on the mats in the couple of weeks leading to it and thought that at best, I was getting a stripe or two. But when Jon, BJJ School squad mate and fellow Pinoy who trains at Willesden said that Felipe does not award stripes at formal gradings, I stated that if that's the case, I wasn't getting any then haha.

So when, Felipe called my name, he had to say it thrice, as I thought it was someone else with the same name as mine. Suffice to say, I had the most confused look throughout the ceremony. I didn't think I deserved to be at blue belt level but after reflection, if Felipe, Ze, and the rest of the BJJ School instructors believe in my skills, who am I to dispute?

Well, those who disputed were the white belts who smashed me the following day I got on the mats. Haha

To be honest, I looked forward to that. I felt I needed to prove to myself and to others that the belt does not bestow the wearer any power ups and special skills upon receipt. That I was the same guy who came in the week before, just wearing a different coloured belt.

For a lot of people, being a blue belt means that the wearer has put in a significant amount of time and effort in learning the art. He or she will have gained at least a minimum amount of knowledge necessary to give a new guy an introduction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I would like to think that when your instructor awards you with a belt, he sees something in you - be it skills or personality traits that he likes and approves of, and that you are worthy of carrying the school/academy name with you.

You have to understand, when black belt awards you a belt, his name is forever associated with you - he is passing on his lineage to you .


No pressure there.

My lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda -> Carlos Gracie Sr. -> Carlos Gracie Jr. -> José Henriqué Leão Teixeira -> Felipé Alves de Souza -> me