Fresh meat (n):A newcomer or new people in an environment.
“Ahh look, it’s fresh meat!”
I am very proud of all the new blue belts.As advanced students you deserve respect and to be treated as such.This means that I now view you as peers suitable to endure my full onslaught……..no more holding back…….congratulations to you all and Merry Christmas to me!
I thought we answered this the other night, tattoos and a goatee, I'm John's idol, nothing to be ashamed of. And yes, I know I'm going to be "congratulated" twice as hard for that one...
Only 5% of blue belts continue on. This is the average among BJJ students everywhere. This is probably because of all the hard work that goes into earning the blue belt only to drop back to the bottom among the advanced students.
I think that we have a very unique situation here at GBNH. This wave of blue belts make up our advanced program. You guys have all been training together for over a year and know one another’s game.
There is no secret to advancing in BJJ. It has become a cliché but none the less true; “a black belt is a white belt who never quit”
I am absolute proof that there is always time for training. When I started at Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu I had a lot on my plate. I was in graduate school at BU, working full time, completing a 30hr/week internship, and had a newborn. Oh and driving an hour to and from Watertown to train. With all of that going on, I found peace on the mat. I remember being in awe of the blue, purple, brown and black belts. This has not changed; I still have so much respect for practitioners of all levels. BJJ has changed my life in many ways and I am honored that Phil and I are able to share the same with you guys.
You guys are not only the future of GBNH but of BJJ in New England. I am confident that in five years from now we will have an unparalleled army of advanced students.
The biggest challenge you will face at blue belt is you own egos. They say a blue belt is the most dangerous person on the planet. You can now beat Mike Tyson and arm bar a gorilla. The confidence a blue belt brings is great. But this also results in self doubt when things do not go your way from time to time. A blue belt is a giant target. Other blue belts will want to see how they compare to you. White belts will want to take you out to prove that they are deserving of a blue belt. Higher belts will tear you apart quickly to make sure you know your place.
That being said, being a blue belt is a great time. You will spend more time as a blue belt than at any other belt, besides black. Therefore there are great differences between blue belts, they are not created equal. You could be a one week blue belt or a four year blue belt. Saulo Ribeiro says to enjoy each belt because it will only last so long whereas you will be a black belt for the rest of your life.
Have fun at this level. Pick practitioners to emulate. Stick with it for a while and see how a certain style works for you. I love Marcelo Garcia’s game and have spent serious time trying to roll the same way. Guess what, I couldn’t be Marcelo in my wildest dreams, but I have taken things from that training that I can apply regularly. I have done the same with numerous other legends of the sport. This allows you to develop your own game. That game will change, return and evolve. I can’t tell you how many times I have stated to Phil how my game will be only to change it 4 months later. In mixing and incorporating the styles of others, you truly will develop a unique style unlike any other.
Great words John. I forget who I was talking to on Tuesday night when I said it but I said with so many of us getting promoted it was like graduating high school again, only I like the guys at GBNH a hell of a lot more than I liked the kids I graduated with. When I catch one of my GBNH teammates with a sub/sweep/takedown/whatever I'm psyched because I know these guys are all good. But when one of them catches me I'm happy too, because I love seeing my teammates get better, especially if I'm helping them. I wish we had video of all of us a year ago so we could all laugh at our old selves. I truly believe we will blow that 5% number out of the water, as we all push each other to get better.
Alright, I've reached my sentimental limit for 2009 so I'm gonna shut up now. Merry Christmas everyone. I already got my best gift of the season.
I thought I was getting a yellow belt. Little johny was giving me crap because he was promoted before me. The sad thing is he has been doing it longer than i have. He will also be a black belt before he is 20, were we will be in our fortys or fiftys, or at least I will be in my fortys or fiftys.
