Ari Bolden
10-27-2007, 01:45 PM
It's obvious that that there is a difference between white and black belts. But what are the actual differences between them?
1) Technical knowledge: The black belt just has more tools than the white belt does. The BB knows more submissions, positions, reversals and understands HOW the body moves and operates.
2) Mental Knowledge: The BB is playing a chess match and is several moves ahead of the WB. The BB knows where you are going to roll and how you are going to try and counter. That's why you often hear " How did you know I was going to do that???!!!"
3) Calm and relaxed: One of the most important points in jiu jitsu. The BB can keep clam, relax and pace his/her breathing so he/she doesn't gas out. Panic leads to mistakes.
4) Experience: The BB has spent hundreds of hours on the mat and has personal experience to fall back on. Learn from your mistakes or be doomed to repeat them.
5) Few errors: The biggest tool that the BB has is that he/she makes fewer mistakes than the other belts. This is a combination of the first 4 points above. That is why higher belts are so hard to catch in submissions because they give you less to work with. The 'window of opportunity' is much smaller.
1) Technical knowledge: The black belt just has more tools than the white belt does. The BB knows more submissions, positions, reversals and understands HOW the body moves and operates.
2) Mental Knowledge: The BB is playing a chess match and is several moves ahead of the WB. The BB knows where you are going to roll and how you are going to try and counter. That's why you often hear " How did you know I was going to do that???!!!"
3) Calm and relaxed: One of the most important points in jiu jitsu. The BB can keep clam, relax and pace his/her breathing so he/she doesn't gas out. Panic leads to mistakes.
4) Experience: The BB has spent hundreds of hours on the mat and has personal experience to fall back on. Learn from your mistakes or be doomed to repeat them.
5) Few errors: The biggest tool that the BB has is that he/she makes fewer mistakes than the other belts. This is a combination of the first 4 points above. That is why higher belts are so hard to catch in submissions because they give you less to work with. The 'window of opportunity' is much smaller.