BJJ White Belt – 12 Important Goals & 4 Techniques
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu white belt is the beginner rank for all BJJ students. When students start BJJ, they receive a white belt. There is no age limit for this belt whether the student is 4 years old, 20, or even 50, they all start with this belt. This rank shows that the student is new and is just learning the basics of BJJ.
At this belt level, many schools focus on teaching students important basic skills like submissions (making your opponent give up), guard passes (getting around your opponent’s legs), and Escapes (how to escape from bad positions). This is the foundation for BJJ students, where they mostly learn the rules and ideas instead of practicing a lot. They also learn the right mindset, which is important for BJJ students.
Let’s explore the important goals and important techniques that you will learn as a BJJ white belt and help you to grow faster just like a rocket to your next BJJ Blue Belt. Lastly, we will also discuss BJJ white belt stripes shortly.
12 important Goals For a BJJ White Belt Practitioner
Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu is an exciting martial art but also a bit difficult. Setting clear goals can help you stay focused and maximize your training. Here are 12 important goals that will help you survive for a long time and earn your next belt easily:
1. Find Your Purpose
When you start BJJ or any other work, you first need to find your purpose. Just like in BJJ, you should identify your passion for why you are starting. Are you training for self-defense, to become a world champion, or simply for physical or mental fitness? There are many benefits of practicing BJJ, so make sure to find your purpose as you begin your training as a white belt.
Here are the top 10 benefits of BJJ you can also check them when you are finding your purpose:
- Learn BJJ for self-defense.
- Weight loss easily.
- In BJJ you can Improve mental focus and Problem Solving skills.
- You make new and valuable friends in the BJJ community.
- Better Cardio.
- BJJ Rolling helps you to Better in Sleeping.
- Your body will be more flexible and moving.
- In BJJ Very Less chances of Injury instead to other martial arts.
- Improve your Self-Confidence.
- BJJ Have a Fun.
Want to learn more about these benefits? Check here the top 10 benefits of BJJ.
2. Learn from the Internet
As a white belt in BJJ, one of the most important things you can do is focus on learning jiu-jitsu online and joining online seminars or even physical seminars.
Yes, it might be a bit boring to read articles and watch videos instead of scrolling on social media but trust me, it’s more beneficial. In today’s world, everything is available online, you just need to find the right information. As mentioned in the previous point, find your purpose, and if you’re unsure, simply search on Google.
So always search online and learn from the internet. If other students only learn from the teacher and you learn from both sources, you will grow faster.
3. Be Consistent
One of the best things in BJJ and even in every area of your life is consistency. If you want to achieve something, you need to be consistent and give yourself proper time, at BJJ training you need to give at least three days a week. Regular training helps improve techniques, build muscle memory, and make steady progress over time.
So, how can you be consistent? To stay consistent in BJJ training, set a realistic schedule that fits your lifestyle and stick to it, even on tough days. Focus on small improvements and stay motivated by celebrating your progress. Also, follow all the goals we discuss such as purpose, If you know your purpose, you will be more consistent and one of the important things is that don’t skip the basics skills and knowledge which provided by the trainer, by doing this, you will stay focused and consistent.
4. Staying a Long Time on the Mat
The another goal for a BJJ white belt student is to spend a long time on the mat. On average, you will spend about 300 hours training. So if you find your purpose for starting BJJ, whether it’s for self-defense, improving physical fitness, or competing. Having a clear goal will motivate you to stay on the mat.
Even if you feel physically and mentally tired, remind yourself of your goal. This mindset will help you set aside your ego and focus on practicing carefully to avoid injury. When you understand why you are doing BJJ, your time on the mat will naturally increase.
To increase your time on the mate you can also follow these steps:
- Start with a good warm-up to prepare your body.
- Take your time and don’t rush, so you don’t get tired too quickly.
- Drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods to keep your energy up.
By focusing on these steps, you can survive for a long time on the mat without tiring. These tips will help you enjoy your training even more.
5. Stay Relaxed and Focused
As a new BJJ white belt, you will often practice with more experienced practitioners. Of course, they will roll with you and take you down on the mat. If you feel stressed and anxious during practice, don’t worry, it’s normal! Take deep breaths in and out to help calm your mind and body. When you breathe deeply, it makes it easier to think clearly instead of feeling nervous. Remember, everyone makes mistakes while learning, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
Next, try to keep a positive attitude. Instead of thinking of your opponents as stronger or better, see them as teachers who can help you improve. Focus on their movements to understand what they are doing, which will help you react better. Every time you train, even against tougher opponents, you have the chance to learn something new and become a better fighter.
Focusing on these challenges will make you stronger and more confident on the mat, and you will get better over time.
6. Learn the Rules of the BJJ Competition
Learning the rules and regulations of BJJ is very important. Many techniques, such as punching, slapping, striking, hair pulling, eye-gouging, full nelson, and many more, which are not allowed in BJJ. So make sure to learn these restrictions as a white belt, as this will help you accelerate your progress.
Additionally, if you plan to compete, there are many organizations, such as the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC), American Grappling Federation (AGF), UKBJJA, and many more. Learning the rules of each organization is important. While many rules are the same, some differ, so make sure to understand the rules of each organization, especially if you are preparing to participate.
7. Follow a Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
Make sure to eat healthy food and live an active lifestyle so you feel fresh and ready for the next day of training.
Taking care of your body will help you stay strong, recover quickly, and do your best in each practice.
8. Learn the Names of each Position
There are many positions in BJJ, and mastering them can be difficult and take a lot of time. As a white belt, it’s important to learn the names of all the basic positions and have a basic understanding of each one. Some of these positions include Mount, Guard, Side Control, Knee on Belly, Turtle, Closed Guard, Anaconda Choke, Sweep, De La Riva Guard, and many more.
9. Start Weight Lifting Exercise
As this rank students need to focus on strength training, which helps build muscle, improve patience and consistency, and boost overall performance. Weight training benefits performance and offers health advantages, such as reducing the risk of injury, improving bone strength, and supporting mental health.
10. Explore Other Martial Arts
As a BJJ white belt, try to learn other martial arts like Judo, wrestling, or Sambo. Even if you don’t have much time, aim to train at least one day a week or even once a month. This will improve your BJJ journey and help you reach the next rank faster. By mixing in different techniques and styles, you’ll build a well-rounded game that gives you an advantage on the mats. Even small efforts in these arts can make a big difference in your progress.
4 Important Techniques to Learn as a BJJ White Belt
These are four important techniques that you will learn and practice in BJJ as a white belt, and you can also consider them as goals, as we discussed above. Here are a few important techniques that you will learn as a BJJ white belt:
1. Expert in the Fundamental of BJJ
As a white belt in BJJ, your goal is to learn all the basics, just like an expert in BJJ fundamentals. This includes techniques such as shrimping, bridging, guard passing, sweeps, and closed guard.
As a white belt, don’t worry about difficult techniques like leg locks, complex guard positions, wrestling moves, detailed takedowns, and other challenging techniques because they are risky and require more experience. You will be taught these techniques later as you progress in your training. For now, just focus on the basics of BJJ and aim to master them.
If you do not learn the basics of BJJ, you will not be promoted to the blue belt, even if you are promoted to the next belt. This will make it difficult for you to survive in BJJ for a long time, especially at higher belts like blue, purple, brown, or even black. Therefore, make sure to learn all the basics as a white belt and become an expert in them.
2. Learn Defense & Escaping Techniques In-depth
Some instructors and best BJJ fighters, like Saulo Ribeiro, say that if you’re a white belt, you should focus on defense and escaping. For example, if someone is on top of you or holding you down, use an escape to free yourself and get into a better position. As a beginner, you’ll often find yourself in weak positions, so don’t worry about trying to hold your opponent.
if you know the escape skill, you can avoid getting hurt and give yourself a chance to attack or defend better. Practicing escapes regularly improves your timing and reflexes, which are important as you advance in training. Each successful escape gives you valuable experience and helps you become better at BJJ.
3. Stop Your Opponent from Getting a Better Position
As a white belt in BJJ, it’s important to learn how to keep your guard. This means stopping your opponent from moving into better positions on top of you during training. One of your main goals is to stop these advancements.
Paying attention to what your opponent is doing is very important so you can react quickly. By practicing these techniques in your training, you will get better at stopping your opponent from advancing. When you master these skills, you will be able to keep control and improve your overall performance in BJJ.
4. Correct Your Position Before Submission
Most of the time, when you see your trainer applying a submission (a technique that forces an opponent to give up by controlling, hurting, or subduing them) it works. But when you try the same submission and it doesn’t work, the problem is usually in your position. Always make sure your body position is correct before attempting a submission. Focus on your trainer’s position and ask them if your position is right.
When your position is correct and you apply the submission properly, it will work much better. The right body placement and technique help you control your opponent and increase your chances of success. This is one of the main things you need to focus on as a white belt student.
These are at least four important techniques in BJJ that you will learn as a white belt.
BJJ White Belt Stripe
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a “White Belt Stripe” is a small piece of tape added to a student’s white belt. It shows the student’s progress and skills as they move forward in their training. White belts start with no stripes, and as they learn more techniques, improve, and show their abilities, they can earn up to four stripes on their white belt and each stripe takes an average of 3 to 6 months to earn. Every stripe represents growth and hard work. After getting four stripes, a student may be ready to move up to the next belt level, which is usually a blue belt.
- In the 1st stripe, you’ll learn the names of techniques and basic practices with the right mindset.
- In the 2nd stripe, you’ll begin practicing these techniques more regularly.
- In the 3rd stripe, you will improve on them,
- In the 4th stripe, you will have a better understanding and execution of these techniques.
If you want to know more details about the techniques for each BJJ white belt stripe, check out our article on BJJ White Belt Stripes, where we discuss all 4 stripes and the positions you will learn.
What Comes After the BJJ White Belt?
After the BJJ white belt, the next rank is the blue belt, where the student improves the techniques they learned as a white belt in BJJ. This belt also has four stripes, and each stripe typically takes 6 to 12 months to earn. So, in total, it can take an average of 2 to 4 years to achieve the blue belt. The exact time can also depend on factors like prior martial arts experience, training time, gym requirements, and more. If you want to learn more, check our article by clicking on BJJ Blue Belt.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is where all students begin their journey, regardless of age. This rank focuses on learning the basics, such as important techniques and the right mindset. By creating clear goals like finding your purpose, staying consistent, learning from different sources, and focusing on defense, white belt students can build a strong foundation for their future training.
As white belts progress, they can earn stripes that show their growth and understanding of BJJ. With dedication and practice, every student can move forward in their training, developing both skills and confidence on the mat.
FAQs
1. What’s important for a white belt in BJJ?
The most important thing as a white belt in BJJ is to have a humble attitude and be ready to learn. Be kind and supportive to your classmates, and don’t show off when you win or laugh at others if they struggle. It’s important to create a positive, friendly environment in the gym and show respect to instructors and training partners. After this, follow the goals and techniques discussed earlier in the article.
2. Can White Belts Compete in BJJ?
Yes, white belts can compete in BJJ tournaments. They usually compete against other white belts in divisions based on skill, size, and age. It’s a great way to learn and improve, but competing is optional. However, it’s important to note that competing is not required, and it’s up to each student whether they want to participate.
3. Is Khabib Nurmagomedov BJJ White Belt?
Yes, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a BJJ white belt. His main focus has always been wrestling, not formal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). While he uses grappling moves in MMA, he never followed the BJJ ranking system. Instead, he relied on his strong wrestling skills to control and beat his opponents.
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