The intermediate is the most rigid and opinionated. A bit of knowledge and (hard earned) skill makes him overconfident. He has “rules” on how jiu-jitsu should be practiced and he can be a bit judgmental.

This could be the new blue belt, who is now submitting white belts.¹

But he hasn’t spent enough time on the mats. He’s been through a plateau or two, so that’s an achievement. But he doesn’t know there’s still a lot he doesn’t know.

He doesn’t know what rules can be broken. He doesn’t know most rules are just guidelines. He often says “always” and/or “never” when describing jiu-jitsu.

The advanced player gets past this to make to the next level. The hard thing is, we don’t know we were in that stage until we leave it.