There has to be a silver lining at the end of the rainbow. BJJ goes through different levels for you to, well, level up. Ranks dictate your level in BJJ. It’s that simple. But belt rank is not everything. You may have seen lower ranked BJJ players besting higher ranked martial artists. It’s quite a show. But we won’t talk about that today.

There is pride in getting that belt promotion. There is pride being officially getting to the next level. If you are a budding white belt and is thinking of taking this game to the next level, this is for you.

What to expect

The next level will mean you will have to face tougher BJJ artists in competitions. Expect that your professors will expect more from you. After all, you have just graduated from lower rank. Expect that you will need to become better. In any competitive sport, one must first learn how to conquer oneself.

Prepare for the test

Yes. There are tests. Professors will test you! Yes. They do this to know if you are ready to take the next step in BJJ. As professors and instructors, it is their responsibility in making sure that you get promoted when the timing and the skills are in their right places. The test is quite simple: position knowledge, submission, drills et al. It’s more like a regular training session really.

Enjoy the ride

We always stress the importance of having fun. I tell you this: being a white belt is one of the most memorable experiences that you will ever have in the sport. So dont take away the fun out of it.

Spread the world

Let your family and friends know about your promotion. It would really be awesome to have people that you care about see you get promoted.