3 Stripe Blue Belt and How I Don't Think I Deserve It Yet
Last night I unexpectedly received the 3rd stripe on my Blue Belt. Being that this was a goal of mine to achieve by April this year it came as a complete surprise.
Since I've become a Blue Belt I've always felt undeserving of promotions. I was a White Belt for about 4 years due to a series of injuries and a subsequent surgery that prevented me from training as much as I would've liked. That being said as a 4 stripe White Belt I would typically give higher belts a pretty tough time so when I was finally promoted to Blue Belt I felt like I deserved it. Maybe I'm being hard on myself but one thing is for certain... now I get to earn it.
Purple Belt by the end of the year is what's up next.
I agree with what @jiujitsu and @ggrouse have said. The reason you get promoted is because you have already earned it and your professor knows best.
That being said, every promotion I have ever had (I never considered stripes as promotions but they definitely are when you give it some thought) I have felt a little undeserving. I am pretty sure that feeling never goes away and is part of the staying humble, keeping your ego in check, and constantly pushing yourself to learn more.
Your next belt will come when you have earned it and my advice would be to set goals around competitions, positive patterns, and applying what you have learned on the mats to help achieve success off the mats.
Belt is for keeping your pants up and your gi closed!
Congrats on the stripe!
I agree with what they say as well. I'm just a bit hard on myself but in a good way as I can use it to my advantage to continue to improve. I've never been concerned about the belts nor being promoted but just enjoy the process of learning such an incredible skill. "Belt is for keeping your pants up and your gi closed!" Love that!! Thanks mate.
3 stripe blue belt here also. It's nothing but realizations and question marks (?) so I know what ya mean.
It's a fun ride though. :)
Your professor knows better than you when you deserve what man. I am 1,5 years purple belt and before some months i got my first stripe. Ignore the belts and the stripes enjoy the journey. You will never be whitebelt again and when you get to purple you will never be blue again so enjoy the time you spend in each belt.
I agree man. Thanks for the insights!!
Congrats on the stripe though!
Thanks brother!
hey @patriciorayaz I am a three stripe blue belt also and I kind of feel the same way sometimes, but really who cares in the end. It is a life long journey so in the end it doesn't matter what rank you are or when you get it as long as you enjoy the ride. I followed you and thanks for voting on my post from earlier about ego!
Hey Mike, I'm with you brother. It's totally a lifelong journey. Wish I would've started a bit earlier but happy to have at been introduced to it and am in it for the long haul. Be well and thanks for the comment!