Shold I quit doing martial arts if I don't fell as though I'm progressing?

Question

Hi, I'm a practitioner in Ju-Jitsu. The belt order at my local club goes thusly:
White belt (you don't even earn it),
Yellow belt (takes 3 months to earn),
Orange belt (takes 3 months to earn),
Green belt (takes 6 months to earn),
Blue belt (takes 6 months to earn),
Purple belt (takes 6 months to earn),
Brown belt (takes 1 year months to earn),
Black belt (takes 2 years to earn).

I've been doing Ju-Jitsu twice a week (for 90 minutes each session) for about 14 months now and I recently earned my green belt but the problem is, because nobody else has joined this club since I started there, I can't compare myself to lower ranks to see how far I've progressed and although I've passed every grading so far, I don't actually feel as though I've made much progress because I can't see myself compared to any lower ranks.

I'm considering quitting, not because I don't enjoy it or I feel that I'd now be tough enough in a fight, almost the opposite in fact, I just don't feel as though I'm progressing. Should I stick it out or should I quit? Please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

without even seeing you, i can guarantee that you are making progress. you might not see it, because the progress comes at such a slow rate, but its like your hair. people see you after not seeing you for months, and say you look like a hippy, but you dont even notice. i dont know if you had prior training before this martial arts, but if not, can you hold a kick out in front of you? how close are you to doing the splits? can you do a spinning kick without even thinking about it? i doubt you could have done any of that stuff before you joined. and if you really arent making any progress, then it is your fault. you shouldnt quit. you should work 5x as hard to master what you do, and make as much progress as possible.

Answer 2

I'm sure you've progressed, unless your instructors suck, or they don't spar enough. How do you do sparring against the worst guy in the gym other than yourself? Do you feel you are getting quality instruction? Do they push you cardio wise? Do they push you in training? Do you have quality training partners there?



I don't know how your contract is, but maybe you should try a free class at another school and see if maybe you should switch things up.



**Maybe you could try to get more new guys in the class. Maybe try to get a wrestler in there as they just ended the season.

Answer 3

You should compare you'reself to people with more experience instead of the begginers. I mean will it really help you more to beat up a begginer or to struggle and adapt to someone strong?

Answer 4

I think you are putting way to much emphasis on the belt ranks and the supposed time it should take to get to each. Also you don't need to compare yourself to the lower belts. hopefully your instructors are seeing the propper improvement and aren't just testing you through for the sake of letting you go through. Stick it out. i know 14 months feels like a long time but its very insignificant in the world of martial arts. Don't give up. Someday you will see your progression and be glad you didn't quit.

Answer 5

Maybe you should (not quit but) transfer to another martial arts dojo with green to black belts.



Or just keep on going until a worthy opponent reaches green belt and you can kick their ***.

Answer 6

Stick it out man,this is when you perfect things and start getting better than those above you,not just pass there "tests". Start making them watch you,and pulling from there bag of excuses why you can do something so easy and others cant.

Answer 7

No, don't stop.