06.09.2007 100 things you should do before reaching black belt - 77 - 100Based on the experience of established fighters, GRACIE Magazine puts together a goal plan of the most daring kind for the unconditional Jiu-Jitsu lover
By Marcelo Dunlop and Raphael Nogueira* / Photos by Gustavo Aragao / Illustrations by Gustavo Villa Nova
 77 » Make Jiu-Jitsu a lifestyle and make the most of it. To do so, you should understand that the art is not just a sport.
78 » Discover what it is to persist first hand – after all, it is almost certain you will have to spend some time on ice because of an injury. Even so, don’t be discouraged.
79 » Know that GRACIE Magazine is the best Jiu-Jitsu magazine in the world, and always make sure your friend at the newsstand sets one aside for you.
80 » Don’t be shocked by the curious expressions you hear in the gym.
81 » Every once in awhile add a “bro” to the end of a sentence, and know that it never went out of style.
82 » Find out what motivates you before a training session and what makes you feel better after a bad day at the gym – be it music, reading or positive thinking.
83 » Develop your own style as a fighter.
84 » Develop your own efficient way of teaching.
85 » Understand that the practitioner gains nothing from a scuffle or street fight, and they do represent a step back in Jiu-Jitsu’s struggle for recognition. As Saulo affirms, “I have never given a black belt to an unscrupulous person, or better yet, that person would never train with me because I couldn’t find it in my heart to teach him.”
86 » Find a means to derive pleasure from the big and little things in Jiu-Jitsu, from warming up to even the bad days in the gym and the defeats.
87 » Learn to render first aid.
88 » Learn to deal with the fear, insecurity and anxiety we all have, some more, some less than others. That is why competition is one of the best environments for us to get to know ourselves, not just as an athlete.
89 » Understand your responsibility as an advanced athlete. “If the guy intends to be a teacher the responsibility is even greater, as you are the example others will mirror. Jiu-Jitsu does not carry only the function of creating good fighters, but men that are capable, dignified and honorable to carry forth Jiu-Jitsu’s flag. That is the greatest responsibility a black belt has,” teaches Robert Drysdale, instructor at Brasa.
90 » Reflect on your mistakes.
91 » After growing from the mistakes, shed them from your shoulders.
92 » See the black belt as the beginning, not the end of the road. “For example, I myself improved my game a great deal after reaching black belt,” recalls Marcelinho Garcia.
93 » At least from brown belt on, start competing without the gi. Grappling is developing as a modality, and you don’t want to be left out.
94 » Innovate with exercises.
95 » Realize as quickly as possible that the gym is not the place to compete, and is the place to practice positions. “Only by hitting and working on your weaknesses will you become a well-rounded fighter. This business of ‘winning a roll’ is silly and limits the student’s game,” Saulo Ribeiro reminds us.
96 » Experiment with breathing techniques, ginástica natural and yoga, to strengthen your performance as an athlete. Although they were scorned in the days of old, these days these resources have been largely accepted by great fighters. Rickson, for example.
97 » Prepare your speech for the ceremony when you receive your black belt.
98 » Write up your own list of 50, 100 or 200 goals you WILL meet before reaching black belt.
99 » Apply the cardinal rule of Jiu-Jitsu to your own life: face challenges in the simplest way possible, as this will certainly be the most efficient.
100 » Put down the magazine and go train!
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