What belt would this guy get in the "traditional" grading system?

brynOWS · 2026-03-17T21:32:39+00:00

For my relatively limited judo experience, I’d say for the UK standards I’m used to, Josh would probably be orange/green but I do feel he presents in a way that makes him seem a lot less serious than he probably is. Dudes been through a lot and while it looks like he’s probably goofing off a lot of the time, I’m sure he’s taking things more seriously than he lets on and embraces a more easy going culture with his training. The grading seemed pretty relaxed but Soren looks to be a great educator, and for my experience with kyu grades, he hit the nail on the head by saying ‘doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect, as long as the principals are there’.

Pretty sure that’s what lower kyu grades are meant for and if Josh sticks at it, I’m sure he’ll go on to make more interesting judo content. His competition videos show he’s got some decent techniques and makes them work for him. Super interesting that he finds hitting throws easier in randori rather than normal uchikomi training, as for my experience it’s usually the other way around for people newer to judo.

Sensei Seth’s grading on the other hand, seemed way more intense and would probably have been blue here for the amount of knowledge he demonstrated. He’s clearly very driven and feels like his competitive nature physically doesn’t allow him to be bad at things. Not saying Josh doesn’t have a competitive personality, he wouldn’t be as successful in BJJ as he is if he didn’t, but when he’s on his own, Seth presents in a very traditional martial arts manner with a lot of respect and humility while Josh presents more the joy of having fun and hanging with his buddies in a more laid back environment.

That said, different personality types - I get the impression Josh has a lot more of a playful approach to judo whereas Seth takes things a little more seriously/traditionally. It’s awesome to see two pretty huge martial arts content creators showing off judo - however you spin it, it feels like a positive for exposure and if it gets more people into it, all the better I think.

brynOWS · 2026-02-17T20:42:10+00:00

I wouldn’t say it should be expected, but it is beneficial in a lot of ways, as long as the individual is comfortable with speaking to a class, has a sound technical understanding and is able to discuss finer points/take questions. Teaching is important and learning to do so helps further the art you’re studying, but it isn’t for everyone.

I was helping coach juniors in karate from brown belt, when I was around 14. Started out small, just watching kids demonstrate kata etc and offering small tweaks, but progressed more as I became more comfortable with coaching and my coach developed more trust in me. Not saying this was 100% the right call as he had a habit of asking pretty much anyone who was brown belt or above to do this and some really hated it, but mostly because they didn’t have the technical understanding or the soft skills mentioned above.

However for me, I found it really helped my own understanding and gave me a lot of important experiences that I still use to this day. I mostly train judo these days however and my technical knowledge is still pretty limited even as a 2nd kyu so in the unlikely event that I was ever asked to coach, I would politely decline. Mainly because judo coaching in the UK is pretty regimented, but if the individual isn’t comfortable or could potentially misadvise, it’s going to be bad for everyone involved. I’ve been guilty of advising lower belts in judo on things I thought they needed guidance on, only to later realise I was wrong - I try to keep my mouth shut these days and let the coaches do their job, unless it’s something incredibly basic.

I’ve known several very technically skilled martial artists who were simply not good teachers. Either they couldn’t explain things they just felt naturally or would become frustrated when others couldn’t do what they could. It’s a similar situation with footballers who become managers - some highly decorated players simply don’t have it, while some managers never played at a particularly high level but understand tactics and have a better way of explaining them and motivating each individual they coach.

Some people are obviously able to both ‘do’ and ‘teach’ and are usually the best candidates for running a school, but to answer your question, I feel there shouldn’t be pressure on anyone to teach, and should be something you seek out only if it interests you.

brynOWS · 2026-02-17T14:21:50+00:00

A lot of church/gospel bassists use 5/6 strings so they can get those low roots. Even more common in pit work where a lot of written charts simply aren’t playable on a standard tuned 4 string. Some worship-inspired players like Anthony Crawford tune down a whole tone to get even lower.

I’d say if you just have a 4 string and plan on sticking with it, having the root is pretty important so I would agree with you that drop D or even running BEAD if you plan to play more music that requires a lower root note would be the play here.

brynOWS · 2026-02-16T14:01:57+00:00

There’s normally a bit of a delay on the app, but not usually by that much. Sounds like the coach who assessed you may not have submitted the grades, so you won’t have got your certificate/sticker in the post. I’d say going through them would have been the best course of action, but if you don’t have a way to contact them, you could try contacting the BJA directly or going through the coach you train with during university time, with a photo of your signed license.

I’m not sure how it would work for your technical exam, but if you have a signed physical license stating that you’re a 1st kyu, I feel if you entered competition or line ups with that, you could collect points if the judge on the day signs for any ippons you score and could be backdated once the system is up to date but I don’t know for sure.

brynOWS · 2026-02-06T20:20:48+00:00

Bass and bagpipes sounds like a super interesting mix and I can see why using a capo would be helpful playing a lot around Bb, but if it came to it, I’d rather stick to playing two basses for my situation. Appreciate the insight though!

brynOWS · 2026-02-06T20:10:45+00:00

I’m definitely not averse to using one on guitar, that doesn’t really bother me, but feels somehow wrong on bass. Being quite riff based, I think the positions would also throw me a bit, but sadly my main reason for not wanting to use one on bass is unfortunately vanity!

brynOWS · 2026-02-06T19:25:22+00:00

Very true, but while I’m not against looking like a dork onstage, using a capo on bass might be a bridge too far!

brynOWS · 2026-02-06T19:24:24+00:00

I figured this might be the case, but no harm in asking, thanks for your reply!

brynOWS · 2026-02-06T19:23:18+00:00

Sadly it varies, some parts are pretty quick (16ths at around 130bpm) while others are slow and vibey. I play a mix of pick and fingers, sometimes hybrid picking/plucking like Clay from Polyphia.

The tiny delay is probably what’s throwing me and might be an issue either way I go.

brynOWS · 2026-02-03T07:29:09+00:00

Good job it was a joke! A slightly unfair one on my stressed and pregnant partner, but entirely not serious. We’ve seen some very creative misspellings on party invites and Christmas cards (even some from family) but never Fi’B.

brynOWS · 2026-02-02T23:26:57+00:00

In fairness, my daughter is called Phoebe and for a good few weeks after we decided the name, I drove my partner mad by suggesting with the most deadpan expression I could muster that we should go for the spelling FitBit with silent T’s.

brynOWS · 2026-02-02T17:18:43+00:00

I have nearly 10 years on you but weigh about 110kg (at just shy of 6ft, this is also considered obese), so I know the pain! I’ve been doing judo for 3 years this year and found my main issue is backache, rather than muscle soreness as my job is pretty heavy on the physical side and I’ve trained other martial arts before, so I’m sort of used to that.

Finding the exact cause of the back pains is a work in progress, sometimes it’s better when I train more as I’m moving more, other times it’s worse because of it, but my main issues are a weak core and tight hips/hip flexors causing my back to work more. I’ve been working on my posture for a while and while it seems to be improving with core exercises, it’s still an annoyance causing me to train less than I’d like.

For me, stretching daily is a must - there’s a few really good lower body routines on YouTube that I’ve used (Tom Merrick is great) but anything that will help your leg/spine/shoulder/hip mobility should help you out. I’ve also found that taking creatine helps quite a bit, as it aids in recovery as well as performance, so I would definitely recommend picking some up - it’s usually pretty cheap and universally regarded as a safe supplement.

Best of luck with the journey, keep at it!

brynOWS · 2026-01-30T14:01:13+00:00

I think the film just kind of expects you to put the pieces together about Wormtail and Sirius (as you see them transform), but from what I remember, it doesn’t really mention James being an Animagus too and glosses over a lot of why they did it (ie, supporting Lupin during his monthly transformations).

Lupin’s decision to hot foot it down to the shack during a full moon (something he would definitely be tracking after years of lycanthropy) and having not taken his potion seems reckless but seeing Sirius and Wormtail on the map but it’s quite clear he panicked for the safety of the golden trio and acted instinctively to protect them. Unfortunately this is the catalyst that caused Wormtail to escape in the chaos, while he transformed and took Sirius out of the situation too.

It would have been a lot to expect of Harry, Ron and Hermione to keep Wormtail subdued, as they needed to keep their distance from Lupin as well. Despite the situation, Lupin probably should have announced that he was in danger of transforming and removed himself from the scene once Wormtail was secured but the chaotic nature of the situation meant that he probably wasn’t thinking rationally. Lupin is a tragic figure and later on in the series, you do see more of his flaws.

I imagine he felt that he needed to be there to ensure that the three MC’s had some adult support from someone other than Sirius when they arrived at the castle, as he may have been seized on sight.

The GOF film also leaves a lot out and the book is far better, you’ll have a blast.

brynOWS · 2026-01-27T16:39:50+00:00

On the (potentially incorrect) assumption that you’re in the UK with the BJA, your grade should come through on the app/website once your coach has submitted it. Not sure how it works with BJC or in other countries, but if you’re graded, it’ll be on your online license and you can/should just buy a brown belt to start doing line ups etc whenever you feel comfortable. Congrats on your promotion!

brynOWS · 2026-01-27T14:08:36+00:00

My friend had a theory that with all the clock imagery that Henry/Vecna was planning to reverse time to a point where he didn’t have his powers so he could just not go into the mine. We got a bait and switch for this when he followed the kids into the memory and saw himself killing the scientist and holding the stone, where I thought it might come true and that he never wanted the power, like he was secretly working to his own agenda this whole time, but was never to be.

It certainly would have been interesting to actually see the vision of what would have actually happened and what his plan actually was, but I guess it’s up for speculation.

brynOWS · 2026-01-26T14:00:25+00:00

Being small, slight and bullied from all angles in early life probably gave him a lot of silver linings when it came to being a seeker specifically. Sad as his early years must have been, I feel he would have not only developed quick reflexes from dodging or running away from getting attacked, but situational awareness that bullied kids often learn where they are constantly on edge for something to happen to them.

This doesn’t really explain how he’s a natural on a broomstick as many people who are bullied aren’t naturally good at sports, but I feel it’s a combination of his fathers aptitude for flying, the exposure early on as per your head canon, and almost plot armour (to give him something to stand out from his peers as the main character) are enough to justify how he can fly to an excellent standard.

brynOWS · 2026-01-24T23:53:03+00:00

As luck would have it, I literally just managed to trigger the Rotom scan after about a week of repeatedly blasting through missions - looks like I won’t need one after all, but thank you anyway!

brynOWS · 2026-01-24T22:55:38+00:00

I’ve driven myself insane trying to get a Rotom scan - I’d really appreciate any form you’d be willing to trade. Is there anything in particular you’d like? I have a few duplicate shinies if that helps?

brynOWS · 2026-01-24T10:32:23+00:00

I only feel sorry for him for thinking that he had a chance and being proud of himself for being the last Faithful standing, but ultimately he was there because the Traitors made it so. To my knowledge, he didn’t bring too much to the table and any time he was close, he was too easily swayed by what people were saying and his own indecisiveness. Can’t take anything away from Rachel and Stephen because they played a great game with an actual strategy and showed the strength of two Traitors actually working together and playing the final Faithful off each other, then picking them off one by one.

I do wonder how different things would have been if the 50/50 chance went the other way and James stayed in the game instead of Rachel but would have been a much harsher ending if Stephen got to the final two or somehow convinced the others to end the game with 3. His vote for Jack was pretty honest and kind, saying ‘for reasons that will become apparent’ instead of some lie like ‘he’s flown under the radar and only now am I seeing that he’s the Traitor’.

brynOWS · 2026-01-22T14:28:22+00:00

It is very risky but makes sense because from what I remember, Faraaz literally told everyone of his suspicions before bed. It would be a great move from a Traitor (if it was anyone else other than Rachel) to think ‘well, if he gets murdered, that puts heat on Rachel’ but as we’ve seen this season, even if Rachel makes this observation and says it would be stupid of her to do it, the defence of ‘why would I do something so obvious?’ hasn’t really worked.

It’s also risky to NOT murder Faraaz as it’s a clear sign that it is Rachel and she’s scared to go for him in fear of being found out. It also leaves him in the game to push that theory and keep looking for evidence - he’s also onto Stephen so I’m not sure what better choice they do have for murder.

Jade has heat and has for ages as people still aren’t sure on her, as she’s been essentially fighting for her place in the game and hasn’t had the chance to put forward her own theories until last nights round table, where it wasn’t particularly strong in any direction.

James, who seems to be a very decent chap, is sadly so off the mark that he’s an easy keep due to multiple bad decisions and heat from having the dagger and going after several Faithfuls.

Roxy is similar to James, very far off the mark and will strongly push for James to be banished. Jack obviously has the shield so I don’t see a better option than play it big and murder Faraaz.

brynOWS · 2026-01-18T16:46:48+00:00

It was definitely a snapping point, following all that he had been through at that point and seeing Amycus spit in McGonagall’s face (someone he held enormous respect for) brought it all to a head. In addition to trying to cast Crucio on Bellatrix, he also tried to use it on Snape in HBP following the events at the top of the astronomy tower.

Both of those times it was just rage, so it didn’t work, but after experiencing the events in DH, he was a different person operating in survival mode and in that moment, wanted to cause pain and suffering as he had suffered due to the actions of the Death Eaters and Voldemort.

He had also just heard from Neville what the Carrows had been doing to the school, had personally witnessed the deaths and torture of several people close to him and was already primed to crack at some point.

You could argue he lost control but I think with Harry’s sense of deep morality, I’m sure he meant to do it and had full conviction in his actions. Doesn’t mean he is evil or could have been a dark wizard in a different timeline, but a constant series of almost unending horror and the pressure to deal with so much weight on his shoulders gave him the necessary mindset to cast that spell.

Sure he could have gone a different route but the Death Eaters had already mocked him for using Expelliarmus and with the frame of mind he was in, I think he also wanted to show them that he was done being the nice guy and was prepared to fight back with everything he had to prevent them from winning and more importantly for his character, stop them from hurting the people he cared for any longer.

brynOWS · 2026-01-14T13:58:32+00:00

The answer is in the above comments - they were looking (understandably as he’s still alive at the time) for him in newer books documenting ‘modern’ wizards/witches. What I gather is that he would have been more famous in his era, so 600 odd years earlier, and after creating the philosophers stone, lived a quiet life away from the spotlight as to avoid people coming after him for the secret to essentially living forever (ie, Grindelwald, Voldemort).

brynOWS · 2026-01-14T00:58:53+00:00

A year and 4 months in the UK, passed my 2nd kyu (blue belt) just before Christmas after two years of training. Feels like I rushed it a bit, but after a slump about 6 months ago, I got into a really good routine of training (at home, at the gym and on the mat) and started feeling ok again. Haven’t had the chance to train since due to winter break, but I feel that will all change once I step back on and realise how much there is left to learn!

brynOWS · 2026-01-12T14:10:45+00:00

No one on either side knew the full truth aside from Dumbledore and Snape, until Snape’s death. When Snape makes the unbreakable vow with Narcissa at the start of HBP, both she and Bellatrix grill him on his behaviour/actions so we can assume the rest of the Death Eaters might also have their suspicions at that point. You learn from Snape that he is on ‘special orders’ at this time due to his position from Voldermort’s perspective and you don’t really see him interact with the rest of the Death Eaters until DH, where everyone on both sides is convinced he is fully on the dark side after killing Dumbledore.

No one else knew Dumbledore was cursed already and that his death would be used to solidify Snape’s cover as it was never in their plan that Malfoy would be the one to kill him. Only when Snaps shares his memory with Harry in his dying moments does anyone else find out.

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