From White Belt to Blue Belt in BJJ: What Really Happens on the Way

By: Professor Itay Leibovich | Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt | March 2026

Reading time: ~8 min

Categories: beginners guide, white belt to blue belt, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tel Aviv

From white belt to blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: the journey begins

Oren tied his blue belt around his waist. Hands shaking. Eyes shining.

"Itay... it took me 3 years. Three years. I thought I'd never get there. And now..."

He cannot finish the sentence.

I understand him completely. I stood in that same place, with those same shaking hands, many years ago. And I will tell you something it took me time to understand: a blue belt is not just a coloured piece of fabric. It is confirmation that you are no longer a beginner. It is proof that you know something. It is the moment you look back and see how far you have come since the first time you stepped onto the mat.

But honestly? The road from white belt to blue? It is not what you think. It is not 1-2 years of training and then, poof, a blue belt. It is a journey. A journey of ups and downs, days when you feel like a world champion, and days when you consider quitting entirely. A journey of self-discovery, hard lessons about ego, and the realisation that jiu-jitsu is far more than a sport or a form of exercise.

After 36 years on the mat and 16 years of teaching at the Israeli Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Tel Aviv, I have watched hundreds of students go through this journey. I will tell you exactly what happens, and why 90% of people never reach the blue belt. At least not in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And that is only the second belt!

What does "white belt" really mean?

Let us start at the beginning. White belt = you know nothing. Zero. That is fine. Everyone starts there, including me. Including world champions. Including the very best.

Most academies give you a white belt on day one. It is not an honour, it is not an achievement (it is, actually, but we will come to that at the end, if you survive the whole article). It is only a starting point. The problem is that many people arrive with Hollywood expectations: "I'll train for a few months and become a fighter."

That is not how it works.

White belt is the hardest stage. Not because the techniques are hard (they are), but because you do not know enough to understand why you are not succeeding. Somebody grabs you and you do not know how to respond. You see a technique, it looks simple, and you forget it five minutes later. And you ask yourself: "maybe I'm just not cut out for this?"

I will demolish that myth right now.

The moment everyone goes through (and most people quit because of)

First month: "Wow, this is incredible! I'm learning something new! I managed to reverse the 95 kg brown belt... it's actually not that hard."

Second month: "Hang on, why can't I do to blue belts what I can do to brown belts?"

Third month: "I think they're letting me... I'm not really any good at this..."

That is the moment when 70% of people quit. Why? Because they think they are supposed to improve in a straight line. They think every success is entirely down to them. But improvement in jiu-jitsu is not a straight line. It is waves. A good day, a bad day. A week when everything clicks, then a week when somebody magnetises you to the floor over and over. That is part of the process. Not a deviation from it.

The real stages from white belt to blue

There are 5 stages every student goes through. Not formal, not written in a book, but everyone goes through them in exactly this order.

Stage 1: "I think I understand but actually I understand nothing" (months 1-3)

This is the stage where you feel like a fish out of water. Everyone around you knows what to do. You do not. The coach shows a technique, it looks simple, you try it, and it does not work.

Why? Because jiu-jitsu is not a set of techniques you can memorise. It is an entirely new physical language. You have to learn it from scratch: base (balance, why the body does not fall over), framing (creating distance between your body and your opponent's using bone structure rather than muscular strength), shrimping or hip escape (a hip movement that feels strange until one day it feels completely natural). These are not isolated techniques. They are a whole new alphabet.

What to do at this stage? Turn up to training. That is all. You do not need to understand everything. You do not need to remember everything. Your body is learning, even while your mind does not understand yet.

Stage 2: "Wait, I'm starting to get it!" (months 4-6)

Suddenly, something changes. You are sparring. Somebody is trying to pass your guard. And you know what to do. You did not think. The body simply moved.

That is the first moment you understand in your gut, not in your head: Gracie Jiu Jitsu works. That is when the ego peeks out again: "I'm good at this! Maybe I have talent?" And you start trying things, taking risks, going for submissions you are not ready for. And then somebody submits you. Again.

This is the stage where you learn humility (again. And again and again), and it is a lesson you pay for in time on the mat, not in money. Frustration and humility are two feelings that will accompany you throughout your entire jiu-jitsu career. Even after 20 years.

Stage 3: "I'm the worst one here" (months 7-11)

This is the hardest stage. You are now good enough to understand how not-good you are. You watch the blue belts, moving smoothly, breathing easily. You are still struggling. You see new beginners learning fast, and you start to think: "maybe I'm not suited to this. Maybe I'll never get the blue belt."

This is the moment most people quit. But if you persist, this is the moment you grow the most.

Why? Because you learn to stop comparing yourself to others. Jiu-jitsu is not a race. It is an entirely personal journey. It does not matter if somebody is better than you at a particular point in time. Understands better. Progresses better. Beats you. It's not who's best, it's who's last.

My own story from this stage

I remember it as if it were yesterday. 2007, a fresh white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but with about 17 years of martial arts behind me. I face a 23-year-old from the naval commandos. Tall. Strong. An athlete. I beat him... but he also beats me. Despite being a relatively veteran martial artist at that point, and even heavier and stronger than him, he submits me.

After him? A 70 kg guy who has been training six months. I submit him 12 times. He submits me twice. Nobody had ever submitted me. Especially not people smaller than me.

I leave the session deep in thought. Wondering what I did and how they beat me. "I think I'm not as good as I thought." My coach laughs. "Itay, you're at the most important stage. Everyone goes through it. Keep going."

I kept going. Today I have been a black belt for 10 years, with wins, titles and championships behind me. Those two guys? They quit less than a year later.

The point: athleticism does not decide it. Size does not (necessarily). Not even talent or ability. Persistence decides it. Always.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sparring, BJJ Tel Aviv: learning on the mat

Stage 4: "It's all starting to connect" (months 12-18)

This is the stage where the magic happens. Suddenly, techniques you did not understand a year ago make sense. You start to see connections you did not see before. "If he does that, I'll do this. If A does not work, I'll move to B. If he reacts like that, I'm already ready with C."

It is no longer individual techniques. It is a game of chess. You start reading your opponent a second or two before he makes his move. And you feel, perhaps for the first time, that you belong on the mat.

Signs you are getting close to a blue belt:

• Beginners can no longer submit you easily

• You can explain to somebody why a technique works, not just perform it

• You read your opponent, and know what he will do before he does it

• You do not tire the way you used to; the body has learned to conserve energy

• The coaches start asking you to help the beginners

Stage 5: "I'm ready" (months 18-36 and beyond)

This is the stage where the coach ties the blue belt around your waist. But here is what nobody tells you: you were already a blue belt long before you received the belt. The blue fabric is a confirmation. Not a transformation. You already know. You are already there. The coach is simply recognising it publicly.

How long does it take? (the answer you do not want to hear)

"Itay, tell me straight: how long until blue belt?"

I hear that question every week. And I will tell you the truth: it depends. It depends how many times a week you train. It depends on your age. It depends on your sporting background. It depends what you do off the mat.

Here is the average I see at the Israeli Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tel Aviv:

• Training twice a week: 12-36 months

• Training three times a week: 10-16 months

• Training 4-5 times a week: 8-12 months

That is not a rule. It is an average. I have seen people reach blue after six months, athletes with a strong sporting background who absorbed everything quickly. I have seen people take 5 years, because of injuries, breaks, life getting in the way. Both arrived at the same place.

The important point: this is not the race you think it is. When you start chasing the belt, you miss everything that actually matters. The journey is not towards a belt, and the measure is not other people's progress. Only your own.

Why is the blue belt the most important? (yes, more than black)

I know what you are thinking. "The black belt is the most important, isn't it?" No.

The blue belt is the most significant achievement in jiu-jitsu.

1. It is proof that you do not fall apart

A black belt takes at least 10 years. A blue belt takes 1-3 years of consistent persistence. That means you got through the initial frustration, the second-year crisis of confidence, the days you wanted to quit. That is not talent. That is character. And character is worth more than talent. Hard work beats talent when talent won't work hard.

2. It is the moment you become "dangerous"

A white belt in self-defence: if somebody attacks you in the street, you will probably survive. A blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu: you can control. You can neutralise somebody bigger and stronger than you without hurting him too much.

And that is also why many women looking for women's self-defence choose BJJ over one-off self-defence courses. A blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu means you can control somebody who weighs twice what you do. That is not a slogan. I see it on the mat every week.

Read more about real self-defence on the blog: Self-defence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: why it works when everything else fails

3. It is the moment you understand it is not about the belt

When you are a white belt, you think about the blue belt all the time. When you get it? You no longer think about the belt. You understand that the real destination is not the color. It is the journey itself. And that is the most beautiful thing about jiu-jitsu.

What happens after blue belt? (the thing nobody warns you about)

You got a blue belt. Excellent. Now the fun begins... but the road gets harder.

As a blue belt, you are no longer only defending. You start attacking more, trying to solve relatively complex situations, controlling and going for submissions. And then you discover something nobody prepared you for: a white belt can submit you.

It is true. A 25-year-old white belt with 6 months, 95 kilos and a wrestling background? Can give you a real challenge, and even beat you. Except it is not a failure. It is jiu-jitsu. It reminds you that you never stop learning. And that humility is not a stage along the way, it is a permanent part of the journey.

If you are asking yourself "so what should I train: Gi or No-Gi?", read about the difference: Gi vs No-Gi in jiu-jitsu: what is the difference and what suits you?

Looking for BJJ near you in Tel Aviv or Netanya?

If you found this article by searching "BJJ near me" or "jiu-jitsu near me", you are in the right place. In the centre of the country we run the Israeli Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ Tel Aviv, at two branches: Tel Aviv and Netanya.

And we have a dedicated women's group for women looking for self-defence for women in Tel Aviv. We are the academy with the most women in Israel, and we are proud of that.

The class timetable: view the training schedule

The road to the blue belt starts with the first session. Details on jiu-jitsu training in Tel Aviv on the training page. Classes are taught in Hebrew, but our instructors speak fluent English and a large part of our members are English speakers. On Saturday nights we run a class taught in English by Philip Paul.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a test for the blue belt?

It depends on the academy. At the Israeli Academy: no. The coach sees you every day and knows your level. No test is needed. A belt is not a title. It is a recognition.

When will I know I'm ready?

You will not know. The coach will tell you. Do not ask "when will I get a blue belt?" The right question is "what do I need to improve?" And then start working on it.

What if I train for 10 years and I'm still a white belt?

That will not happen. If you train consistently 2-3 times a week, you will reach a blue belt. Unless there is a serious physical problem, or you genuinely are not listening to your coach.

Do I have to compete to get a blue belt?

No. Competitions are excellent and they teach you a great deal, but they are not compulsory. At the Israeli Academy we focus on Gracie Jiu Jitsu: self-defence first. You do not need to win competitions. You need to know how to protect yourself.

I'm 45. Is it too late for a blue belt?

Not at all. We have people at the academy, men and women, who started at 50 (and even 60) and reached a blue belt after 3 years. Age is not the obstacle. Inconsistency is the obstacle. Will you definitely succeed if you persist? Not necessarily. Will you succeed if you do not persist? Definitely not.

What is the difference between your blue belt and a blue belt at another academy?

Broadly speaking: a blue belt in sport BJJ means competitive techniques. A blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu means self-defence, Position Before Submission, and the ability to survive and control against somebody bigger and stronger than you. It is more than a sport. It is a life skill you carry everywhere, forever.

I know jiu-jitsu by other names too: jujitsu, ju jutsu, jujutsu, BJJ, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Is it the same thing or are there differences?

Yes. Jujitsu, jiu jitsu, ju jutsu, jujutsu and the rest are different spellings for more or less the same martial art. There is no single standard spelling, so you will see all of them in use. At our academy we call it Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, or BJJ for short.

The last word: it is not about the belt

I will tell you something it took me years to understand. The blue belt is not the destination. It is a milestone along the way.

When you get there, you understand: the real goal is not to stop. Because jiu-jitsu is not "I learned something and now I know it". It is "I learn every day, for life". And after 36 years on the mat, I am still learning. Every session.

That is what makes it beautiful.

So honestly, is the blue belt the most important?

Not exactly. I know... after this whole article I am doing a U-turn on you. The most important belt is not the blue one. Not the purple, not the brown, and certainly not the black. The most important belt is the white belt. Why? Because the hardest thing of all is starting something new. Especially something physical. Especially when it means entering at the bottom of the food chain, and especially in an ego-crushing activity like Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

The first session is make or break. Am I coming back to be controlled, pressured, twisted and choked? Do I really want to come two or three times a week to a place where my ego (and my body) get flattened? If not, and that is entirely reasonable, stay as you are. If yes, prepare for a life-changing journey that will give you superpowers and open your mind. The Mat and the Mind: a neuroscience documentary on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Want to start the journey?

Come to a session at the Israeli Academy of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, BJJ Tel Aviv.

Want to book a trial class? Send us a WhatsApp message

Tel Aviv: Yitzhak Sadeh 29 | Netanya: HaTzoran 4

Phone: 055-9212431 Email: Info@bjj.org.il

Class timetable: view the training schedule

A dedicated women's group is available for women looking for self-defence for women in Tel Aviv.