Last week I went to a new gym that was in my area...it did not go well at all. For reference, I got my purple belt just before lockdown. Since then I trained with a friend about twice per week after not training for 8 months.
Anyway, this gym was brutal. To make things worse, I saw on IG that one of the guys who quite easily tapped me was actually a white belt.
I've trained at a different gym before and was ok. I've also always been fine against drop ins. Even at comp as a blue belt I was always able to beat a few guys. I know my cardio wasn't at its best after lockdown...but still. I'm embarrassed of wearing my belt now. I've never been big on them but now it just feels fake. Has anyone else ever felt like this? My ego is crushed and I will continue to train, but overall it's been a huge eye opener.
BJJINUK, post: 61020, member: 22054
Last week I went to a new gym that was in my area...it did not go well at all. For reference, I got my purple belt just before lockdown. Since then I trained with a friend about twice per week after not training for 8 months.
Anyway, this gym was brutal. To make things worse, I saw on IG that one of the guys who quite easily tapped me was actually a white belt.I've trained at a different gym before and was ok. I've also always been fine against drop ins. Even at comp as a blue belt I was always able to beat a few guys. I know my cardio wasn't at its best after lockdown...but still. I'm embarrassed of wearing my belt now. I've never been big on them but now it just feels fake. Has anyone else ever felt like this? My ego is crushed and I will continue to train, but overall it's been a huge eye opener.
Well, I've only been smashed every single time I've been at a different gym. However, I'm a white belt so I'm just used to it. I imagine it's a bit more soul crushing as a purple belt. I'd say if you have it in you go back to that gym and see what you're missing. I always ask for "post-roll" advice after being destroyed. Usually I'm told to work on using skill instead of strength. I would but I just don't have any. :p
Gyms vary wildly in terms of intensity and general skill and athleticism of the average student.
It's definitely a blow to the ego when someone you feel shouldn't be able to submit you does. That's pretty much been the story of the past 5 years or so of my training. If/how you deal with it I think depends largely on why you train and what your expectations are.
I think you just need to trust your instructor and trust the process. I had the opposite experience once where I did really well at another school and was a little frustrated about my lack of promotion at my own school. If you had destroyed them you might have felt that way and been upset anyway. Stay positive and keep pushing forward.
A few thoughts... When you go to a new gym, you don't know the styles, habits, or strategies of the other players. You don't know their level of athleticism or if the are competitors. It can be eye opening when you are used to rolling with people you know .
That said, this was a training session, not a competition. Assuming you approached it as such, there is only so much that you can take away from your visit. It doesn't mean that they were much better than you or that you don't deserve the belt, simply that you did not match up with them well on that night. Ask yourself what went right, what went wrong. Then, learn from it and move on. Consider going back and see if the lessons learned helped. This should not shake your confidence but, rather, serve as path to growth.
Nice!! I am moving to a new city and I hope for this experience.
The previous replies all make good points. Also consider what intensity you're used to rolling at.
I wouldn't be surpised if the lower belts at this gym were rolling hell for leather, feeling like they had something to prove.
The best thing you can do is reflect on what holes in your game were exposed and get back to work.
Does it really matter ? Only question you need to ask is if you are a purple belt in relation to when you first started your own journey .
If that’s not enough for you then only go as far as comparing yourself to people in your own age, weight and belt category. No point thinking you are going to smash a mid-20’s peak fitness rugby player if you are a 40 year old office worker (for example) .
No worries bro, don’t let the comparison stop you from having fun. I know that it sucks but even this scenario is making you a better jiu jitsu player. Everyone tends to try to prove themselves to the “new guy” so I’m sure that a lot of those guys were giving you all they had. Shake it off man, you earned your belt through years of training, those submissions don’t disqualify what you have earned.
BJJINUK, post: 61603, member: 22054
So I've now signed up to this place and have spoken to some of them. I think the class I did was full of much more experienced guys than me, even the lower belts.
However, it's also genuinely a better gym than my old one so I've decided to stay. Hopefully I can improve as a result.