Last weekend served as our last belt and stripes promotion for the year. Every promotion I always do something different. The structure always remains the same, however I always throw in a curve during the promotion. This promotion had only one individual testing for their belt. My affiliate in Maricopa, Matt Lincoln. I wanted him to earn his belt and earn his belt he did! And then some! He did the technical requirements of the test as required, then he went on to the sparring portion of the test. He went a minute with everyone! 20 minutes total and straight without rest! Here’s the curve ball! He also did a minute with everyone standing up. Just doing take downs and throws. That’s 40 total minutes of sparring with only 2 minutes of rest! Congratulation Matt Lincoln, you more than earned that belt! He did a fantastic job, and I couldn’t be any prouder to have him as my blue belt.
Most schools don’t have a formal testing or curriculum per say. Simply, as it’s been done through the years at many schools, if the instructor feels that he or she is ready, they give them their belt. No one questions, no disagrees. It’s just the way it is. That’s good and all, but I feel different about that whole process. I don’t want my students to be that one trick pony doing well with only one game. I have these tests and I structure my school the way I do so that they have the freedom and creativity of developing their own games, at the same time forcing them outside of their comfort zones and outside of their favorite games into a world they would not normally play had the been at another school. I want my students to have a complete understanding of Jiu-Jitsu. Every aspect of it.
I also institute the test and give the test the way I do because I want to see how they do in a live situation under pressure. This test isn’t just a test of skill and physical prowess, it’s also a test of will power and heart. Heart is more important to me than how well someone does rolling or in competition. It’s the individual with heart is who’s going to learn from losses and never quit. That is the type of person is the person who will excel in Jiu-Jitsu. Fights without his or her ego, accepts losses just as easily as he or she embraces wins, and again never quits!
Matt showed his technical skill, his will power, his heart, and his perseverance. You family at Jay Pages Jiu-JItsu & MMA congratulate you on a job well done.
Here’s a little bit of history on Matt
Matt Lincoln has been involved in the Grappling arts at an elite level for over two decades training under both national and world champions. Feel free to also check out our parent club in California USA STORM.
- 23 Years Competitive Wrestling Training under National Champion and World Games Competitor, Daniel Lincoln
- USA Wrestling Nationals Competitor
- Bronze Certified USA Wrestling Coach
- USA Storm SAMBO rank of Expert under World Champion Lance Campbell
- Judoka Fighter under USJA Blackbelt, Kenny Buckland
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt under BJJ Revolution/Carlson Gracie Team Black Belt Jay Pages www.jpjiujitsu.com
- 18 Years Coaching Experience
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Bongrats Big Mat, you’ve always been a romodel to me and you continue to be thanks for everything you’ve done and yet to do love ya bro