Purple Belt Guide: 5 Traits of an Advanced BJJ Partner
Purple belt is the most creatively expansive phase in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu — but with that freedom comes responsibility. At this stage, your influence in the room grows whether you intend it to or not. How you train, communicate, and connect has a lasting effect on your teammates.
Here are five essential traits that define a truly advanced BJJ partner at the purple belt level — and how you can lead by example in every round.
Trait #1: Advanced BJJ Partner - Read the Room and the Roll
Advanced partners don’t just show up — they tune in.
They notice the energy of the day, the emotional state of their training partner, and the collective tone of the academy. Are people rolling light or going hard? Is their partner nervous, confident, or burnt out?
At purple belt, you’ve developed the judgment to adjust your intensity without compromising your training. This makes you someone others trust — and want to train with.
Trait #2: They Train with Creative Control
Purple belts are an advanced bjj partner and the creative force in most academies. With a solid foundation in the fundamentals, you’re now free to explore setups, transitions, and styles that reflect your individuality.
This isn’t random experimentation — it’s curiosity backed by fundamentals. You test ideas not to show off, but to discover what works for your body, mindset, and long-term development. This creative spark keeps the mats fresh and inspires others to explore without fear of failure.
Trait #3: They Make Others Feel Safe
Hard rolls are valuable — but only when trust is in place.
As an advanced BJJ partner, you understand that everyone on the mat has responsibilities outside the gym. They have jobs, families, and people counting on them. Respecting that reality means you train with control and restraint, especially during high-intensity rounds.
This goes beyond respecting the tap. It’s an unspoken agreement:
We’re here to grow — not to hurt each other.
Trait #4: They Share Without Preaching
By purple belt, you’ve developed your game. Maybe it’s a pressure-heavy passing system or a slick lapel guard. But what makes you advanced isn’t just your ability to execute — it’s your ability to share it humbly.
You offer advice when asked. You help newer students without making them feel small. You teach through your rolls, letting people learn through experience instead of lectures.
This trait builds team culture, not ego.
Trait #5: They Lead with Quiet Consistency
Purple belts don’t need to make noise to make an impact.
You lead by example — by showing up, staying coachable, and treating your teammates with respect. You help shape the culture of the academy with how you roll, how you rest, and how you carry yourself before and after class.
That’s the difference between being a training partner and being a pillar of the room.
Purple Belt Leadership Starts with Awareness
Purple belt isn’t just a color — it’s a sign that you’ve grown enough to help others grow too.
Your presence sets the tone. Your creativity pushes the room forward. Your control keeps others safe. And your humility makes you someone people trust.
If you embrace these five traits, you’ll become more than just an advanced student —
You’ll become an advanced BJJ partner who leaves a lasting mark on everyone who shares the mat with you.