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Chasen Hill is a BJJ Black Belt and over 10+ years of training experience. The goal of this channel is to educate and help other Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in their journey.
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I am a 5 week old white belt. I have a hard time remembering techniques, but I feel what sticks with me more is the mechanics of the techniques. I try to understand the WHY things work rather than HOW it is done. BJJ is all about physics and leverage, so I feel understanding those things will help me in the long run. For example I know that pulling someone's arm and making them lean in a certain way means that they're off balance and I can use my opposite leg to push them over and sweep. There's more than one way to do this, and I don't know the names of the moves, but that's using leverage and momentum to accomplish something. Of course knowing the different ways to do this helps, and while I may not remember those ways right now, I know that I'll eventually get it, especially training 3 times a week.
Trusting the process is great advice. I have always had the philosophy of growth mindset. All the issues you discuss are spot on. When I became a Purple Belt over 3 years ago, I felt like I was starting over again psychologically speaking. I had a solid base of knowledge but was struggling with flow and timing and getting caught in bad positions. My mentality was "keep rolling". I am now a 4 Stripe Brown Belt and receiving a Black Belt next month. My advice is to keep showing up and don't place a lot of expectations on yourself. Everything starts to become second nature over time and you move from overthinking to just autopilot and flow at some point.
Got my blue belt beginning of this year. Left the USA mid year and have been traveling and dropping in all these gyms in all of south east Asia. Had my first international comp in Japan that was a tough field. I have a few more tournaments in other countries to finish off the year. Not sure if I want to come back to the states after this adventure but I would like my coaches to continue to see my progress so I am conflicted. Keep traveling as a blue belt for longer or return and work towards my purple belt. I’ll make a decision by the end of this year. Great video!
I've been training Jiu-Jitsu for 24 years and teaching for 12. A few points here. 1. If you do not get paid to compete in Jiu-Jitsu you are by definition a "Hobbyist" I don't care how many local NAGA medals you have won. 2. I personally think the belt system should be removed from sport grappling as well as a name change. Call it IBJJF grappling or something but leave the Jiu-Jitsu name for the actual martial art of Jiu-jitsu. They are NOT the same thing. 3. At my place I have a clear curriculum from white to black belt. I also have some general time frames and subjective expectations. I also have a green belt between white and blue. An example of how it works at my place. White to green belt should take 4-6 months depending on the student and if they are training at least 3 days per week. During that time you learn 52 techniques. After green the requirements for blue are: You have to have at LEAST 150 mat hours as a green belt, 100 techniques, all of the upper belts agree that you are grappling at blue belt level, and can't be an asshole. This process normally takes about a year and a half after getting green belt. After blue belt its 100 hours per stripe minimum plus additional techniques.
Thanks for your detailed input! I respect the structure you’ve set up at your academy, especially the clear timeframes and the emphasis on both technique and character-like making sure students aren’t just meeting mat hour requirements but also upholding standards as good training partners. Your perspective on distinguishing sport grappling from the traditional martial art of Jiu-Jitsu is interesting, and it reflects the growing conversation around how the sport is evolving. It’s great to see someone with so much experience creating a program that’s structured yet adaptable to each student’s progress. Appreciate your contributions to the conversation!
Jiujitsu is the only sport that reverses the ideology of the sport. For example every sport has professionals like a pro boxer vs someone who does boxing. No one says I’m a hobbyist boxer. The idea of saying I’m a hobbyists is so self defeating like there is there upper tier. The only difference is time on the mat. Between competitor and a “hobbyist”. Is one more water down then the other?
Not exactly. Sport BJJ and self-defense Jiu-Jitsu are two VERY different things. One is a martial art meant for fighting, MMA, etc. The other is a pure sport with no threats of being hit stomped, slammed, etc. This is the reason I think they should not both be called BJJ and I think the belt system should be removed from sport BJJ completely. Wrestling has no belt system, boxing has no belt system, muay thai has no belt system. It makes no sense that sport grappling has one. You either win your weight class or you don't.
I appreciate you chiming in with this! Jiu-Jitsu definitely has a unique culture where different paths coexist, and I think the term 'hobbyist' is more about intention than skill level. One big difference between Jiu-Jitsu and boxing is the belt system. In Jiu-Jitsu, you can have two black belts with the same rank, but their skills might differ vastly depending on their goals and focus. A competitor might train multiple times a day, refining techniques specifically for competition, while a hobbyist black belt may train for self-defense, fitness, or simply the love of the art. I don’t believe that calling someone a hobbyist waters down the art; it just highlights that people can have different motivations and approaches to training. Both paths are valid and enrich the community, showing that Jiu-Jitsu is about personal growth and the journey, not just rank or competition success. 😀
@@ChasenHill I think with the evolution of BJJ over the last 24 years is just a fascinating reflection of how a martial art adapts to various environments (hello internet), motivations, and learning systems. Historically, the path to black belt was primarily about technique acquisition, sparring experience, and individual dedication to mastering specific moves. The culture of “studying moves” was more fragmented, with practitioners piecing together techniques from their instructors, seminars, or tapes. Conceptual learning styles and systematic approaches are leveling the playing field. Over the last two decades, a noticeable shift has occurred where high-level practitioners and instructors are teaching through overarching concepts rather than isolated moves. This shift emphasizes systems of control, positional hierarchies, and an understanding of why techniques work, not just how they work. This approach to teaching has turned Jiu-Jitsu into a more structured science. Now, as we see the rise of systems-based learning, the gap between a "hobbyist" and "competition" black belt has the potential to narrow, at least in terms of understanding. Conceptual learning allows hobbyists to grasp the essence of techniques, even if their hours on the mat don’t compare to a competitor’s. While competitors fine-tune techniques for specific scenarios, a hobbyist’s system-based understanding could give them a deeper well of knowledge to draw from, allowing them to adapt in unexpected situations.That being said, the intention behind training remains crucial. A competitor will inevitably have an edge in application due to the intensity, frequency, and focus of their training. But the conceptual evolution allows for a more balanced exchange between practitioners of different backgrounds, where understanding and adaptation can sometimes overcome sheer mat hours. Like you said the art’s beauty lies in this coexistence, where both the hobbyist and competitor push BJJ forward-just in different ways. Ultimately, this diversity in approach continues to enrich the community. The hobbyist black belt may focus on a more holistic view of the art, while the competitor hones specific performance-driven skills.
This is the problem for the belt system, it isn't standardized. So early on saying your belt level doesn't give any indication of the level of proficiency in Jiu Jitsu. This becomes less of an issue past purple belt.
That’s a solid observation, and it’s something a lot of people feel! The belt system’s lack of standardization does create some confusion, particularly in the early stages. However, one thing I’ve found is that this allows for some flexibility in learning-each gym can tailor training based on what their students need most, rather than adhering to a strict standard. It can be frustrating, but it also makes each belt promotion a reflection of personal growth rather than just a checklist. And like you said, it all starts to balance out past purple belt when the skill sets start to converge. Thanks for your insight!
@ChasenHill I definitely see that side of it too. For me it just has made explaining my level of skill to other bjj people more of a list of techniques and nuances for the submissions, that is if we aren't rolling anyways. The gym I went to where I live now I told them my belt and all their guys of the same level were way better than I so it resulted in a bit of imposter syndrome.
11:45 This is me. I feel like nothing is sticking. People that came in after me just passed the blue belt test. Promotion is in a couple of weeks. My next chance may be in April but I'm loosing hope.
I hear you. It’s tough when it feels like things aren’t clicking, especially when you notice others getting promoted. Everyone’s journey is different; the focus should be on what you need, not comparison. Keep pushing-April will be your time!
I think in most cases the people who say they dont care about the belt are just coping because they dont have the one they want Dont believe for a moment that all of these people are just mission focused cyborgs that dont care about rising in a social hierarchy and receiving acknowledgements for their effort
Depends how you see Jiu Jitsu. I don't care for the most part having a black belt only matters to help advertise your school if you want to teach. I'm a brown belt and I only care about getting my black belt so it'll help my portfolio. Skills matter and to many people get promoted to early. I've seen black belts who should be Blue belts.
Man, I can't speak for everyone but I stopped caring about a belt after being stuck at blue belt for 15 years. It became a running joke in my state that I was a life long blue belt...lol
i had a horrible time remembering techniques. I said it felt like signs on a highway that i read but then just left in the dust. I train at a small school and asked our instructor if we could just take one day at the end of the month and review what techniques we learned and it has been helping a lot.
2 1/2 months into training as a 57 year old no stripe white belt, seeing this broken down on a white board chart put things in a pretty good perspective for me. Thank you.
Officially started training 2 months ago. Working towards my first stripe. I train 4-5 days a week, and it does feel frustrating that i cant seem to land anything, and im always getting swept or mounted. I'm having fun in class though & enjoying learning. Ill probably stick to 4 days consistently. 🙏🏾🫡
Narrowing my focus helped me improve much faster in jiu jitsu. I doubled down on a guard recovery from side control and an armlock from high mount, and I found I had much more direction, intentionality, and drive. I was also able to improve those things and discuss and drill the techniques with my fellow practitioners. I think this framework will really help me. Thanks for the upload and the comprehensive description of your methods.
49-year-old. I used to train 5-6 per week, but I’m down to 4 after 11 years, and I’ve thought of reducing my volume to 3 to preserve my body. I’m a brown belt hobbyist at this point.
One question: when you talk about the list of competency, are each of these requirements just having the knowledge and drilling capability or are we talking about being able to apply them in a competitive roll?
Thanks for asking! It’s a bit of both. The goal is to first build the foundational knowledge and drilling capability to understand the mechanics of the technique. From there, it’s about being able to use it effectively in a live roll, adapting and applying it against resistance. So, it’s not just about knowing it but integrating it so it works for you in a competitive environment. Hope this helps 😊
Great video. What I would add from systems theory and what has helped me. When one does systems flow charts of certain positions and techniques related to these, one should build in a decision tree element. Meaning, add a decision tree type element making to aid in guiding when one would opt for one technique instead of another. For example in high mount top position , when to go for a armbar instead of a mounted triangle or omoplata. The notes should be taken in a way that doesn't merely aid recall of how to do techniques but when... Ie. If uki tries to roll into me.. Omoplata, if tries to catch leg...mounted triangle... Etc
That's a great addition! Building decision trees and integrating them with systems flow charts is such a smart way to refine your game and understand transitions on a deeper level. Thanks for sharing that perspective!
I am 5'5 and ordered the XL model because I need to be able to use my techniques on bigger people, which is everyone in my class. Should I have gotten the smaller version?
Thanks for the thoughtful question! Yes, I’m somewhat familiar with the ecological approach, and it’s fascinating how it emphasizes live, dynamic learning. It’s great to see different methods gaining traction. How’s your experience with it so far?
@ChasenHill I've gone from a traditional school to ecological school. I now believe that any approach that isn't ecological is wrong. You still get better with techniques, but slowly. At my school, techniques aren't taught. Techniques require you to remember them and judge the situation on the spot. You have to act fast. There's a reason kit Dale got his blue belt in 4 weeks and black in 4 years because he went ecological. We need to judge our academies with the question of how long it takes us to get to a high standard. I'm curious to know how long it takes your students to win competitions at blue?
I’ll pick a type of guard that I enjoy, e.g or half guard or spider for example, I’ll find a world champion who specialises in one of those guards, Study there matches, See what there most highest percentage submission, sweeps and passes are, drill those and incorporate into live rolling, See what problems you run into and go back to that champions comp footage and see how they handle it or watch there instructional, Generally what you find is these specialists create a game that they can funnel there opponent into positional dilemmas and tri-lemmas that they have more mat and study time on then all there opponents therefore they are always 2-3 steps and can bait people into mistakes and bounce off reacting to the 2 or 3 options there opponent is restricted to and therefore dominate And also on the side always trying to polish my guard retention and escapes so I can always stay in or quickly return to offensive cycles
Amazing strategy! Studying champions and funneling opponents into dilemmas based on their proven techniques is a brilliant way to grow your own game. Love how you're constantly polishing your guard retention and escapes-keep refining your craft!
Currently, only studying I do is on YT, then try to hit the techniques in rolling. If the opportunity presents itself to do what was learned in class that day, I’ll try it, but definitely learning most from YT. I wish I could get more from classes, but every instructor teaches what they want to teach in the realm of whatever the theme of the month is, which makes it not consistent in my opinion. Thanks again for this kind of content Chase!
I appreciate you sharing your experience! It’s true-RU-vid can be an amazing resource when classes don't always provide consistent themes. Glad to hear the videos are helping, and keep experimenting with what you learn in rolling!
Right now, I'm studying open guard. I look for the fundamental from many sources like my coach, training partners, youtube and watching matches from grappler who have the best open guard.
I've never been able to effectively learn from practicing "technique". I turn every technique into a theoretical concept based on physics and body mechanic principles. As technique/concepts overlap, it sticks in my brain better and my jujitsu gets smoother and better at a rapid pace. I feel like doing this has helped me to be able to watch video and get a whole lot out of it even without direct instruction (I only earned up to my purple belt at an actual gym).
@@eugeniosp3 Thank you for the support! It’s always a win when a video offers something you can come back to and discover even more. Keep training and digging for those nuggets!
@@mus1cal4ddict76@mus1cal4ddict76 Sounds like you're on the right track with that open-guard study! Combining insights from multiple sources helps you build a deeper and more adaptable game-keep it up!
Been training for just over 3 years. 1.5 at white belt. Most of the time I only make 2 classes a week, sometimes 3. Last week I did 4 classes in a week for the first time since burning out after sending it so hard as a white belt. Definitely starting to feel like a real athlete. It never really seems to get easier though ... Especially because I'm 5'7" 130lbs... It's normal for 75%+ of my classmates to have 25+lbs and or quite a few inches on me. ... Every round can be a level 10 death match if I let it. For this reason for the past 1-2 years I have focused a lot on trying to figure out what I'm actually doing... Even if it means being in compromised positions more often than not because of trying to relax, breath, think, and be intentional... At least I'm not relying on spazzy scrambles to snipe a sub .. and now after doing it for close to 2 years .. I'm actually playing all positions with a much greater sense of intention. .. and even as a 3 year blue belt... Starting to hit some super smooth sequences and get very good movements in. I still get subbed more than I catch people... But the fact that I can do effective jiu jitsu on people that are bigger than me, who also train, even a fraction of the time is incredibly gratifying. I have to admit though... Sometimes when i'm still not able to manhandle white belts and sub them multiple times per match I feel unaccomplished... Especially when I'm cooked and don't have the energy... then a bigger one winds up sitting on me for 4 minutes and I can neither sweep nor submit... I just transition between turtle and getting smashed in side control. Fucking shameful if I'm being honest.
4 years white belt. First 2 years were less consistent as I was serving in the military. Then COVID-19 caused delays and one year off. Restarted in 2022 From zero stripes again. Hope I don’t get injured as I missed 2 gradings due to injury.
I am an Academy owner. My Academy is about 3 years old. People come and go. But I've also seen a good core group of people stay. Britney kids or adults especially the ones that have been there for a while how do you mentally deal with the revolving door that an Academy can be at times? Especially when it has been someone that's been there for a good period of time.
Great question, and I can definitely understand how that feels. One way to mentally navigate the ‘revolving door’ is to focus on the impact you’ve made while they were with you. Even if someone leaves after a few years, you’ve played a significant role in their journey, and that’s something to be proud of. Additionally, nurturing and appreciating the core group that stays is key-those are the relationships that will help anchor the academy’s culture and make it a lasting, supportive community. Hope this helps 😊
You definitely get more gears with time. I have 7 years of bjj, brown belt in the last year, and still do the mistake of going too reactive with the wrong person and paying the price for it. Yesterday I went with a white belt in BJJ that's a high level adult competitor of Judo black belt. I started being super reactive with him as he was just a white belt, but he went for the kill since the start. Almost blacked out from an Ezekiel before tapping to him. My first coach always said: "Going with someone you don't know, especially white belts, you always make them tap as soon as possible, than you dictate the pace of the rest of the roll, so they know who's in charge". Didn't follow that advice this time...
