We’re very proud to announce our newest Blue Belts at Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu. Masha, Liz, Matt, and Chaney all began their Jiu-Jitsu education with us and we’re very happy to have the honor of promoting them to this new rank of Blue Belt.

Milestones

Blue Belt is the first real milestone in a students’ Jiu-Jitsu education. It is when they will first start to find their footing in the art. Once a student reaches Blue Belt, they will have gained a basic understanding of all of the fundamental movements and positions of Jiu-Jitsu. Soon they will start piecing them together to develop their own game and style, expressing themselves through the art.

At Sanctuary Jiu-Jitsu we follow the curriculum of Professor Caio Terra. A basic knowledge and understanding of this curriculum is required at every belt level, and so we test our students knowledge before they are promoted. It is important that higher ranking students are able to impart their knowledge to others, helping them along the way. For this reason testing is an effective means to not only retaining the techniques and curriculum, but also demonstrating a students ability to teach others. As Professor Caio says, Fundamentals curriculum isn’t basic: it is what is most important. Our curriculum is not easy to learn, it is very technical and detail-oriented, so merely learning the fundamentals curriculum is quite a feat.

Moving Forward

Blue Belt is also where most students quit Jiu-Jitsu. They start to expect much more of themselves. This is normal, healthy, and even conducive to growth – we will never improve unless we expect ourselves to be better, and strive towards always improving. However, if those expectations become unreasonable and turn into undue stress and frustration, problems will arise. 

It is at Blue Belt when you need to truly understand that Jiu-Jitsu isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon. It is a marathon with many peaks, valleys, and plateaus. You will sometimes feel like you aren’t improving. As Professor Caio says, it is at times like these that you must remember why you started training Jiu-Jitsu in the first place: to learn a new skill, to make friends, to learn to defend yourself, to get into good shape, and to have fun. 

When the pressure of a new belt starts to wear on you: relax. Focus on what you have done right that day, even if showing up to class is the only thing you can think of. Set small achievable goals – perhaps attaining the first or second step in any given technique. Work on improving and advancing through that technique step-by-step, day-by-day, week-by-week. You will see improvement. Most importantly, you will start to believe in yourself again. 

A Personal Journey

Rank in Jiu-Jitsu signifies skill, knowledge, time spent training, effort, and attitude. However, as individuals we all start from different places. We all have unique assets and limitations. Some people start Jiu-Jitsu at 20 years old, with a strong background in wrestling and other athletics. Others start Jiu-Jitsu at 40 years old, with little to no athletic background. The belt that you wear around your waist is unique to you and the individual accomplishments you have achieved and obstacles you have overcome to get there. It is a testament to your personal dedication and growth – how far you have come, not merely a measure of yourself against others. 

Congratulations!

Masha, Liz, Matt, and Chaney have all earned their belts through their unique accomplishments and the obstacles they have overcome. All four of them have stepped on the competition mats and continue to show their dedication to learning the techniques and growing in the art of Jiu-Jitsu. 

We’re very proud, honored, and humbled to share the mats with these amazing individuals and look forward to many more years of training and growing together! 

See you on the mats!