In many ways, the white belt is the best belt in Jiu-jitsu. It's a clean slate, there are no expectations. You're expected to mess things up and there is no pressure. In addition, everything is brand new, so the learning process is very engaging and exciting! Often when people start training, they are very eager to make it to the next belt so that they are no longer considered a "beginner". However, many new blue belts quickly discover that with that next belt comes added pressure to perform at a certain level of proficiency, and an expectation that they are familiar with fundamental techniques. A lot of this "pressure" is self-imposed, and it can be a good tool for further growth if approached with the right mentality. However, I think it is also a big part of the reason that many students end up quitting training around blue belt. It is a very common syndrome in many Jiu-jitsu academies.
As you progress in Jiu-jitsu, you will get to a point where you've seen most of it before. In the upper ranks, it will become rare to see something completely new that you've never been exposed to before. Some of the initial excitement you had as a new student can begin to fade as you get into the routine of training. Becoming proficient in Jiu-jitsu requires consistent drilling of the fundamental techniques over and over again to develop timing and reflex. So, how do you keep training fun and exciting and not get bored with the repetition of the daily grind? I believe that the key is in your mental approach to training. Try to maintain the white belt mindset.
When you are in class and the instructor is showing a technique that you are already familiar with, don't tune out and assume that you already know that move. Rather, take the approach of the white belt. Try to really focus on the details of the movement. If you've already done the move before and you have the general concept of the movement, you have more capacity to try to understand the movement at a much higher level of detail. The secret to the moves of Jiu-jitsu are in the fine details. Students will never understand these fine details the first few times that they do the move. But as you have a lot more experience with the technique, you can more easily start to understand the deeper concepts of the technique. Try it in live training, pull it apart, really analyze every part of the position. See where it fails, work on the entry points, the follow ups. When you can successfully replicate the technique in live training with every single person on the mat, then you know it pretty well. Don't assume that you already know it all. There is ALWAYS room for improvement!
One of the coolest things about Jiu-jitsu is how you can work on a move for 10 plus years, and one day, pick up another small detail that completely changes your perspective on the technique and makes it more efficient. I just got back from a weekend of training with Royce Gracie, Royler Gracie, Crosley Gracie, Leticia Ribeiro, Fabricio Camoes, and many other Gracie Jiu-jitsu black belts from all over the world during our annual Royce Gracie Jiu-jitsu Network gathering. This is such a valuable experience to share the mat with so many other like minded people. Outside of the opportunity to network and spend time with such an amazing group of people, every single time I attend an event like this, I walk away with just a few small details that make the entire trip worthwhile. These are like little nuggets of gold, and are invaluable! As you get more experience on the mat, it is easy to think that you already know it. This type of thinking will cause you to miss opportunities to pick up on these small details. Try to maintain a white belt mindset, be humble enough to look at things from a different perspective, and don't be hindered by your pre-conceived notions of a particular technique or concept. Jiu-jitsu is infinite! Learn from everyone, keep an open mind, pay attention to the details, and you can maintain the excitement of training Jiu-jitsu for your entire life!
