Can’t Fake It

It’s hard for me to relate to them, but some people fake their belt/rank in the world of martial arts.
​
It does happen, but I suppose this is a relatively rare thing in BJJ because tracking someone’s lineage in BJJ is easy enough.
​
You can’t really fake much in BJJ because your skills show up in how you roll, and you can’t keep avoiding sparring.
​
You could buy a black belt and start wearing it as soon as you “get” that black belt. But the point of practicing BJJ is not just about wearing a black belt.
​
I suppose people fake their rank partly because they want some status/respect without actually doing the hard work of earning it.
​
But as far as I’m concerned, the point of practicing BJJ lies in your struggles to improve your skills. The hard work part.
​
You gain new knowledge and experience through constant trials and errors.
​
The knowledge and experience you accumulate over the years will, in turn, help others on their BJJ journey.
​
That’s how you move up ranks and get genuine respect.
​
While everyone else goes through similar struggles, more or less, your struggles are your own unique experiences that no one else can experience in the same exact way.
​
If you start enjoying these struggles and grinds, that would be the best. Because you have a lot more opportunities for growth in them.
​
Forget about promotions and all. Enjoy your struggles instead.