How long does it take to go from a blue belt to a purple belt in BJJ? It really depends on a lot of things. How often and long someone trains makes all the difference. I was once told the blue belt is the thickest belt, meaning you spend more time as a blue belt than any other belt, 2-5 years. Obviously, black belt being the goal.
It really doesn’t matter how long it takes to go from one belt to the next. Yes, when you think of it, no matter what, it is going to take a long time to achieve a black belt in bjj. I have been training for almost two years now, and I train consistently 3-4 times a week, if not more. It’s difficult to imagine all the hard work I still have ahead of me. But, I like to think of what I am going to learn along the way.
I like to contemplate on what it’s going to be like when I am a purple belt and developed the skills that a purple belt should have; Combinations, body control, moving one way to get your opponent to move a different way to set up submissions, and having that eye for submissions way ahead of time. Understanding I have more than two hands. There are the front and back of your knees; two feet; two elbows; and even a head that can be used to control and move an opponent.
Just recently, the academy members purchased a gift for our instructor Roy Dean for his new dojo. It was a shadow box of all the belts in bjj. It is a nice gift. As I looked at it, it reminded me that I have a long ways to go from my blue belt. I was awarded my blue belt in May of 2007, and I figure I will be a blue belt for another 2 years. I have much to learn.
