Jiu Jitsu Yellow Belt Syllabus: Your First Big Step at Bushido Martial Arts
Earning your yellow belt in Jiu Jitsu is an important milestone.
For many students at Bushido Martial Arts, it is the first time they have worked towards learning and demonstrating a complete martial arts syllabus. There is quite a lot to learn, but that is exactly what makes achieving your yellow belt so rewarding.
Whether you are completely new to martial arts or have trained in another discipline before, the yellow belt syllabus gives you the foundations you will build upon as you progress through Jiu Jitsu.
What Do You Need to Know for Your Yellow Belt?
To earn your yellow belt at Bushido Martial Arts, you will need to learn and demonstrate a range of techniques, combinations and fundamental martial arts skills.
The syllabus includes:
10 strangle escapes
10 locks
5 Jodan combinations
5 Chudan combinations
5 Gedan combinations
6 foundational throws
Basic strikes
Basic stances
Beginner Jiu Jitsu questions and answers
It might look like a lot when you first see the list. Don't worry. You are not expected to walk into your first lesson knowing any of it.
We teach the syllabus progressively, giving you the opportunity to practise and improve each technique as you work towards your grading.
The 6 Foundational Throws
An important part of your yellow belt syllabus is learning the six foundational throws:
Hip Throw
Half or Off Shoulder Throw
Front Drop
Back Drop
Recumbent Ankle
Reclining Ankle
These throws introduce some of the fundamental principles you will use throughout your Jiu Jitsu training.
At first, learning how to position your feet, control your partner, maintain your balance and execute the technique can feel like there is a lot happening at once.
That's perfectly normal.
With repetition, movements that initially feel unfamiliar gradually start to become more natural.
Strangle Escapes and Locks
For your yellow belt, you will learn 10 strangle escapes and 10 locks.
The aim isn't simply to memorise 20 techniques. You are beginning to understand some of the core principles of Jiu Jitsu, including movement, positioning, balance, control and how techniques can be applied effectively.
As you progress through the grades, these foundations become increasingly important.
Jodan, Chudan and Gedan Combinations
You will also learn:
5 Jodan (upper level. Generally the head, face or upper area) combinations
5 Chudan (middle level. Generally the chest or torso) combinations
5 Gedan (lower level. Generally the lower body) combinations
These combinations help you develop coordination, movement and an understanding of how individual techniques can be linked together.
Like everything in the yellow belt syllabus, don't expect to remember every combination immediately.
Learning them is part of the journey.
Basic Strikes and Stances
Good foundations matter.
Your yellow belt syllabus therefore includes the basic strikes and stances that you will continue to use and develop throughout your martial arts training.
Stances help develop balance, stability and movement, while learning the basic strikes introduces correct technique, control and coordination.
Getting these basics right at the beginning gives you a much stronger foundation for the grades ahead.
Beginner Jiu Jitsu Questions and Answers
Martial arts isn't only about being able to perform techniques.
As part of your yellow belt syllabus, you will also learn some beginner questions and answers to help develop your understanding of Jiu Jitsu and what you are learning in class.
We want students to understand what they are doing, rather than simply copying movements.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Yellow Belt in Jiu Jitsu?
One of the most common questions beginners ask is:
"How long will it take me to get my yellow belt?"
From our experience at Bushido Martial Arts, most students take approximately 3 to 6 months, which is usually around one or two grading periods.
But this is only a guide.
Some people learn certain techniques quickly. Others need more time and repetition. You may find throws come naturally but struggle to remember combinations, while another student might experience exactly the opposite.
There is no need to compare yourself with the person standing next to you.
Your First Belt Can Be a Big Learning Curve
The step from beginner to yellow belt can be a surprisingly big learning curve.
That's true if you have never done martial arts before, but it can also be true if you have years of experience in another martial art.
Previous martial arts experience can certainly help with things such as coordination, balance, discipline and understanding how to train with a partner. However, Jiu Jitsu introduces its own techniques, terminology and ways of moving.
Everyone starts somewhere.
And everyone learns differently.
Everybody's Martial Arts Journey Is Unique
This is probably the most important thing to remember when you start training.
Everybody's martial arts journey is unique and special in its own way.
Your yellow belt isn't about being better than somebody else in the class. It represents your own progress from the day you first walked through the door.
There will be techniques you pick up quickly and others that take considerably longer to click. You will have sessions where everything seems to work and others where you wonder why you can't remember something you did perfectly the week before.
That's all part of learning a martial art.
Keep attending classes. Keep practising. Keep asking questions.
Eventually, the techniques that once seemed complicated start becoming familiar.
And when you finally earn that yellow belt, you will know you have worked for it.
Thinking About Trying Jiu Jitsu?
If you are thinking about starting Jiu Jitsu, you don't need to be fit, flexible or have any previous martial arts experience before coming along.
Your first lesson is about getting started.
At Bushido Martial Arts, your first lesson is free, allowing you to come along, meet us and experience a class for yourself.
Your yellow belt might seem a long way away on your first night.
But every yellow belt started with exactly the same thing.
Their first lesson.
