The Hilarious Reality of Being a White Belt in Jiu Jitsu

Being a white belt is a truly unique experience. It’s equal parts humbling, hilarious, and downright awkward. From the moment you step onto the mats, it feels like you’ve entered a world where everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing—except you. But that’s part of the charm, right?

Let’s start with the gi belt. You spend five painstaking minutes trying to tie it just right, but no matter how secure you think it is, it’s coming undone within minutes. Every. Single. Time. If there’s one thing you can count on as a white belt, it’s that your belt will spend more time on the floor than around your waist.

Forget fancy submissions or slick guard passes. As a white belt, your first and only technique is survival. Every roll feels like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while someone sits on your chest. And you know what? That’s okay. If you make it through class without accidentally choking yourself with your own gi, you’re already winning.

The Endless Tapping

Tapping is a white belt’s love language. You’re not sure what’s happening, but you know it hurts, so you tap. Sometimes you tap to avoid injury, sometimes you tap out of confusion, and sometimes you tap just because you’re tired. It’s practically a reflex at this point.

When you’re first told to do the shrimp drill, you might wonder if someone’s playing a joke on you. Then you try it, and it feels more like an elaborate game of “what’s my body doing?” than a legitimate training exercise. Meanwhile, higher belts glide across the mats like they’ve been training for the Olympics, leaving you to wonder if they have some kind of shrimping gene you missed out on.

Rolling with a higher belt is an experience like no other. They say, “Let’s go light,” and you believe them—until you’re swept, mounted, and submitted in the blink of an eye. They’re calm, composed, and ten steps ahead of you, while you’re just trying to figure out which way is up. It’s humbling, sure, but it’s also a glimpse of what’s possible if you keep at it.

After class, there’s a moment where every white belt sits quietly, staring off into space. It’s not exhaustion, exactly—it’s more like your brain trying to process what just happened. Why did you tap so quickly to that armbar? Did you really forget to breathe during the roll? And why are you already excited to come back tomorrow?

Being a white belt might feel awkward and chaotic, but it’s also one of the most exciting parts of the journey. Every small victory—surviving a roll, remembering a technique, or even just showing up to class—is worth celebrating. That’s why embracing the struggles and finding humor in the chaos is so important.

At Grip 'N Guard, we understand that the white belt phase is about more than just learning—it’s about resilience. Check out our collection of tees designed for grapplers who show up, put in the work, and laugh at the madness along the way. Whether you’re shrimping like a pro or still trying to tie your belt, we’re here for it.