--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a Gracie background and a Matt…" description: "\"I have a Gracie background and a Matt Serra background so I've always used jiu-jitsu but it takes a while to reach black belt level.\" — Chris Weidman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png" --- # I have a Gracie background and a Matt Serra background so… ![“I have a Gracie background and a Matt Serra background so I've always used jiu-jitsu but it takes a while to reach black belt level.” quote by Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png) > “I have a Gracie background and a Matt Serra background so I've always used jiu-jitsu but it takes a while to reach black belt level.” [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes his martial arts background, noting that achieving a black belt in jiu‑jitsu requires time and dedication. **In simple terms:** Earning a black belt takes patience and effort. Key Takeaway Commit to consistent training for mastery. Themes martial arts discipline skill development goal setting Mood determined focused encouraging Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - joining a jiu‑jitsu class - setting incremental belt goals - seeking mentorship - tracking progress over months Key Concepts judo Brazilian jiu‑jitsu MMA training Questions to Reflect On - What milestones will you set on your path to black belt? - How do you stay motivated during plateaus? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow and may cause frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Background Matt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-matt-733540/) [Belt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belt/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black belt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-belt/) [Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gracie/) [Gracie Background](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gracie-background-733538/) [Jitsu Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jitsu-takes-733539/) [Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the first American black belt under Renzo Gracie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-the-first-american-black-belt-under-renzo-gracie/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [Microsoft is still not a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kutaragi/microsoft-is-still-not-a-black-belt/) [Ken Kutaragi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kutaragi/) > [I'm a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and 2nd degree in karate, and I'm a licensed bodyguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/i-m-a-3rd-degree-black-belt-in-tae-kwon-do-and-2nd-degree-in-karate/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) > [I'm a black belt and have been since 2000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-m-a-black-belt-and-have-been-since-2000/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [I was awarded a second-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu by Rigan Machado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barnett/i-was-awarded-a-second-degree-black-belt-in-jiu-jitsu-by-rigan-machado/) [Josh Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barnett/) > [I'm not a black belt, but in MMA, the difference between a black belt and white belt is just a few elbows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-m-not-a-black-belt-but-in-mma-the-difference-between-a-black-belt/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [I started doing martial arts when I was about 7, and I got my second degree black belt when I was 19. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vandervoort/i-started-doing-martial-arts-when-i-was-about-7-and-i-got-my-second/) [Laura Vandervoort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vandervoort/) > [It's not the black belt that you wear on your waist. It's the black belt in your heart and knowing that you can go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-canino/it-s-not-the-black-belt-that-you-wear-on-your-waist-it-s-the-black/) [Bonnie Canino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-canino/) > [My training in martial arts was kind of a crash course in how to look like a black belt. I know the moves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zabka/my-training-in-martial-arts-was-kind-of-a-crash-course-in-how-to-look/) [William Zabka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zabka/) > [I grew up doing martial arts, and I'm a second-degree black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vandervoort/i-grew-up-doing-martial-arts-and-i-m-a-second-degree-black-belt/) [Laura Vandervoort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vandervoort/) > [I started taekwondo at 5 or 6 years old and did a bunch of kick-boxing later, too. Eventually I became a black belt and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwoww/i-started-taekwondo-at-5-or-6-years-old-and-did-a-bunch-of-kick/) [JWoww](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwoww/) > [By the time I was 17 years old, I already had my black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/by-the-time-i-was-17-years-old-i-already-had-my-black-belt/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [I never wear a black belt with a black shoe. It's always the opposite: a brown shoe with a black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/i-never-wear-a-black-belt-with-a-black-shoe-it-s-always-the-opposite/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [My martial arts came a lot from my uncle, who actually taught martial arts through the military. He was a black belt in tae…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tee/my-martial-arts-came-a-lot-from-my-uncle-who-actually-taught-martial/) [Brian Tee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tee/) > [I started training in martial arts when I was 7 years old. I got my first black belt at 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/i-started-training-in-martial-arts-when-i-was-7-years-old-i-got-my/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) ## More by Chris Weidman > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [A lot of these players, if you listen to the Islanders or the Rangers, they get interviewed in the locker room right after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/a-lot-of-these-players-if-you-listen-to-the-islanders-or-the-rangers/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [I want a rematch with Mousasi more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-want-a-rematch-with-mousasi-more-than-anything/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [We have a lot of great stars and so many different things, some of the other countries don't have that. So when they get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/we-have-a-lot-of-great-stars-and-so-many-different-things-some-of-the/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [I think there's times where I'm introverted, and there's times where I'm extroverted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-think-there-s-times-where-i-m-introverted-and-there-s-times-where-i/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [Keeping my focus on what's important - inside the Octagon and out - is never lost on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/keeping-my-focus-on-what-s-important-inside-the-octagon-and-out-is/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [I feel like smaller countries, other countries, they cheer, they support their people no matter what. We need to get a little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-feel-like-smaller-countries-other-countries-they-cheer-they-support/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [When I've trained as hard as I possibly can through training camp and I come to the end, where my body is worn out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/when-i-ve-trained-as-hard-as-i-possibly-can-through-training-camp-and/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [To win the belt from Bisping, the hardest problem for me would be to train hard for him because he stinks. I'm just kidding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/to-win-the-belt-from-bisping-the-hardest-problem-for-me-would-be-to/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [Coming off all my wins I had a lot of criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/coming-off-all-my-wins-i-had-a-lot-of-criticism/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [The first thing I do when I book a fight is I go to the Internet and I print out a picture of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/the-first-thing-i-do-when-i-book-a-fight-is-i-go-to-the-internet-and/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [I grew up in a rough neighborhood, so I fought a lot. Even when I was wrestling, if I lost a match, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-grew-up-in-a-rough-neighborhood-so-i-fought-a-lot-even-when-i-was/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [My 'if it's not broken, don't fix it' type attitude might have held me back and made me complacent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/my-if-it-s-not-broken-don-t-fix-it-type-attitude-might-have-held-me/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [My training varies so much. There's no such thing as a typical day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/my-training-varies-so-much-there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-typical-day/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [People gotta realize as a fighter you want to become a champion because you get paid way more money. So the belt is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/people-gotta-realize-as-a-fighter-you-want-to-become-a-champion/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) [Explore all 113 Chris Weidman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a Gracie background and a Matt Serra background so I've always used jiu-jitsu but it takes a while to reach black belt level.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Weidman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-serra-background-so-i-ve-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-serra-background-so-i-ve-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/chris-weidman-4251_always_i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-se_1658473.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a Gracie background and a Matt Serra background so I've always used jiu-jitsu but it takes a while to…” — Chris Weidman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chris Weidman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a Gracie background and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-serra-background-so-i-ve-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/i-have-a-gracie-background-and-a-matt-serra-background-so-i-ve-always/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```