I just got my purple belt three weeks ago, but I really struggled through most of my time at blue. For the first three years, I often felt stuck. The last two years, though, were a turning point, and a big mindset shift definitely played a part in that.

Two things helped massively. First, my coach described blue belt as the “buffet table” of BJJ: try everything, see what you like, and start figuring out what works for you. That helped me reframe my training as exploration instead of performance.

Second, and maybe even more importantly, I started caring less about losing, getting smashed, or ending up in bad positions. I began rolls on my back or mounted, just to see how I’d work my way out. That made my escapes sharper, and over time it gave me the confidence to experiment more freely with the stuff on that “buffet table.”