5 Mistakes Every White Belt Makes (and How to Fix Them Fast)
A beginner-friendly guide from Jewel JiuJitsu in Fayetteville, NC
Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is exciting… and a little confusing. You’re learning new movements, new positions, and a new kind of “problem-solving” that you can’t really understand until you feel it.
The good news is this: every white belt makes the same mistakes. That’s not a flaw—it’s part of the process. The secret is learning how to fix them early, so you progress faster, stay safer, and enjoy training more.
If you’re in Fayetteville, NC, you can train with us at Jewel JiuJitsu:
https://jeweljj.com/
BJJ program details: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
And if you’re a parent looking for youth training, here’s our kids page:
https://jewelbjj.com/page/kids-martial-arts
Teen program: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Teen-Jiu-Jitsu
Jewel BJJ home: https://jewelbjj.com/
Mistake #1: Rolling like every round is a fight
Most white belts come in with one speed: 100%. They think the way to survive is to go harder, explode more, and “win” every scramble.
That usually backfires. Going full intensity too early makes you gas out, makes it harder to learn, and increases the chance of injuries—for you and your training partners.
How to fix it fast:
Start thinking of rolling as practice under pressure, not a fight. Your goal isn’t to “prove yourself.” It’s to get better at one or two simple things each round—like framing, staying calm, or escaping one position. When you treat training like training, you learn faster and you’ll actually improve your cardio naturally.
If you want a supportive beginner culture in Fayetteville, start here:
https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
Mistake #2: Holding your breath (and panicking under pressure)
This one is sneaky. A heavier person gets on top, pressure comes in, and your body reacts like it’s an emergency. You tense up, hold your breath, and suddenly your brain goes offline.
Then everything feels impossible.
How to fix it fast:
Make breathing your first skill. When you’re stuck, focus on slow breathing through your nose and relaxing your shoulders. The calm white belt becomes the dangerous white belt, because calm lets you think. Pressure becomes manageable when you stop treating it like a crisis.
Mistake #3: Trying to bench press people off you instead of using frames
White belts often push straight into their opponent with their arms. It feels natural, but it’s usually the worst plan—especially if the person is bigger.
Arms get tired fast. And pushing straight into someone’s weight often gives them exactly what they want: more control.
How to fix it fast:
Learn to use frames—your forearms, elbows, and shins positioned like strong barriers. Frames create space without needing big strength. Space allows hip movement. Hip movement creates escapes. This is one of the fastest upgrades any white belt can make.
Train the fundamentals with us in Fayetteville:
https://jeweljj.com/
Mistake #4: Chasing submissions and ignoring position
Most beginners want the “cool move.” They see a submission and go for it—even if it puts them in a worse position.
That’s like trying to score a touchdown while you’re still figuring out how to hold the ball.
In BJJ, submissions work best when you earn them through control.
How to fix it fast:
Make your goal position first, submission second. Focus on escaping bad positions and getting to good ones like guard, side control, mount, or back control. As your control improves, submissions start showing up naturally—and they start working a lot more often.
Program details here: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
Mistake #5: Not asking questions (or assuming you’re “just bad”)
A lot of white belts get stuck because they’re embarrassed to ask. They feel like they should “get it” already. So they stay quiet, keep repeating the same mistakes, and start believing they aren’t cut out for Jiu-Jitsu.
That’s one of the fastest ways to quit.
How to fix it fast:
Ask simple questions like:
“Where should my hands go here?”
“What am I supposed to protect in this position?”
“What’s the first step of the escape?”
BJJ is a skill. Skills improve faster with feedback. Most coaches and training partners love helping beginners—because someone helped them too.
If you’re looking for that kind of supportive environment, come train at Jewel JiuJitsu:
https://jeweljj.com/
A quick white belt checklist you can use today
If you want to progress faster starting now, focus on these simple priorities in every class:
Stay calm and breathe
Use frames instead of pushing
Protect your neck and arms
Improve position before chasing submissions
Learn one small detail each session
Do that consistently and you’ll be shocked how fast you improve.
Ready to train in Fayetteville, NC?
If you’re new, the best time to start is now. White belt isn’t a skill level—it’s a starting line.
Train with Jewel JiuJitsu in Fayetteville, NC:
Home: https://jeweljj.com/
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu
Teen Jiu-Jitsu: https://jeweljj.com/classes/Teen-Jiu-Jitsu
Kids Martial Arts / Kids Jiu-Jitsu: https://jewelbjj.com/page/kids-martial-arts
Jewel BJJ: https://jewelbjj.com/
