Tournament, but not confident

[JayC]

I have been entered into a tournament by my gym on July 20th, I'll be fighting No-gi, and im not sure if it goes by belt rank or not.

I'm going in expecting to not win very much, but I think it will teach me a lot.

So, for training, I usually go with people my own level, most of the time they're 20-30kg heavier. The people my weight are all blue-brown belt, and when I go with them it's just a matter of time before I get tapped out.

So my question is, at training building up to the tournament, should I just roll with all the people my weight but a lot better than me, or keep rolling with the heavy people?

[Ghosted3]

Roll with both, it gives you a nice mix of things. Most no gi tourneys go by time instead of belt, besides IBJJF sanctioned events. IE - NAGA goes by difference divisions that are set off into weights, and experience like 0-6mo (no wrestlers) 6mo-1yr, 1-3yr ect. Dont worry about it at all. I think everyone gets nervous before a tourney. Just remember, as long as you learn something, win or lose the match you have really won.

[Ryan]

Hey, you probably shouldn't go into a tournament expecting to lose. You are only setting yourself up for failure.

Train to win, go into the match expecting to win and if you lose then that is fine as long as you know why you lost and how to correct it.

Optimism may be the key you need to taking a risk and possibly sticking your opponent in a submission.

[JayC]

I guess so. I just don't want to bring my brother or girlfriend along. The little dude looks up to me and I don't wanna lose badly in front of him. Do you think it's wise if I brought them to watch?

Fuck it, I'm just gonna go balls to the wall and destroy anybody in my path.

[Ryan]

I guess so. I just don't want to bring my brother or girlfriend along. The little dude looks up to me and I don't wanna lose badly in front of him. Do you think it's wise if I brought them to watch?

Fuck it, I'm just gonna go balls to the wall and destroy anybody in my path.

Thats the attitude you want!!!! Hell yeah, kick some a$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yeah, bring the girlfriend. Maybe having her there will give you that extra motivation to succeed. How is your gas tank? Even if you lose, your bro will still look up to you for being out there trying it.

[JayC]

My gas tank is shite, I can go 8, maybe 9 full on rolls before I'm worn out.

Cheers Ryan and Ghosted, I'm slightly more confident than I was. All that's left to do is burn the weight off, grapple 3 times a week, and maybe do a couple of privates, and then I'm set.

[Ghosted3]

What are you most confident with? Try to work them into that. Also, alot of people sit there and practice for awhile before their matches, sometimes with instructors or friends. Watch these people, this is literally priceless. You never know when the person across from you was someone you were eyeballin earlier and you already know their weak spots and strengths. Also, pay attention to your division for the same reasons above.

As far as taking the GF and brother with you, that all depends on you. Some people it will give them strength for them to push harder to do better for the people they brought, and some it adds alot of pressure that could be avoided. So that is totally your call.

Best of luck to you yo, and if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[JayC]

Most confident in mount, getting the back and half-guard. I think I'll work on more guard passes, the dogfight and taking the back. People say I've got an surprisingly strong choke for a guy who's been doing it 6 months, cause I'm not that big at all.

Do you think it'd be more important to work more defense over offense building up to the tournament? It is July 20th, so that gives me 3 weeks.

Cheers!

[flying gogo-plata]

if ur confident on top and u want to work guard passes, u gotta work alot of offense from standing, how are ur takedowns?

[JayC]

My takedowns are terrible, to be honest. I'll be getting a few private lessons on them. Everytime I've been to a wrestling class, my knees have either been fucked, scabby from falling over somewhere, or somewhere else has been injured. I've got kneepads now so takedowns will be a lot easier.

Oh, and July 20th gives me 7 weeks! I forgot we had June to go through!!!

[flying gogo-plata]

My takedowns are terrible, to be honest. I'll be getting a few private lessons on them. Everytime I've been to a wrestling class, my knees have either been fucked, scabby from falling over somewhere, or somewhere else has been injured. I've got kneepads now so takedowns will be a lot easier.

Oh, and July 20th gives me 7 weeks! I forgot we had June to go through!!!

ask to learn some body lock takedowns, they're the easiest most basic takedowns ever and no one outside of wrestling really practices em, just practice ur pummeling alot if u want to be on top, also i reccomend transitions from half guard to side control to mount, sice it's a tournament u should make sure ur focus is on getting good position and not getting sweeped so u can rack up points if u can't get the submission, don't be defensive, u'll end up losing by points submissions aren't as big a problem when u can just get on top and stall for points

[JayC]

Cheers fgp, I really appreciate all you guys helping me, hopefully I can return the favours one day! :)

[Ryan]

My takedowns are terrible, to be honest. I'll be getting a few private lessons on them. Everytime I've been to a wrestling class, my knees have either been fucked, scabby from falling over somewhere, or somewhere else has been injured. I've got kneepads now so takedowns will be a lot easier.

Oh, and July 20th gives me 7 weeks! I forgot we had June to go through!!!



I would work on your gas tank....that could be the deciding factor if your matches go on a long time

[flying gogo-plata]

I would work on your gas tank....that could be the deciding factor if your matches go on a long time

i don't think it'll be important if he's only got six months experience his matches will only be like 2 or 3 min's long and if he can go 9 rolls and not gas like he said he shouldn't have any trouble

[JayC]

Better being safe than sorry though. I think I'll work on my overall cardio anyway when I drop the 4kg so I know I'll make weight. (My weight class is <73kg, but I'm gonna aim for 71 so I don't have to worry).

[Ryan]

i don't think it'll be important if he's only got six months experience his matches will only be like 2 or 3 min's long and if he can go 9 rolls and not gas like he said he shouldn't have any trouble

No, he said he rolls 9 times and then he is exhausted. Also, when you are just rolling at practice it isn't as exhausting as if you were competing.

I think you are underestimating the importance of a good gas tank in competition. Try running sprints and then throw a dart accurately immediately afterwards. Its hard to execute when you are tired. I am not saying that you must train like a madman and run 20 miles a day. I am just saying that if you both go 5 minutes at full speed and are both trying to pull off an armbar who is going to get it? Besides whoever is in the best position....I say the person who has the most energy.

[flying gogo-plata]

yea working cardio won't hurt and ur right it'll help, i just think that, technique and finding the right strategy, for the tournament should take precidence

[Ryan]

yea working cardio won't hurt and ur right it'll help, i just think that, technique and finding the right strategy, for the tournament should take precidence

Correct. I would agree that learning technique would be of great importance. I found a great quote today from Bruce Lee that fits this debate perfectly.


"Do not practice finely skilled movements after you are tired, for you will begin to substitute gross motions for finer ones and generalized efforts for specific ones. Remember, wrong movements tend to supervene and the athlete's progress is set back. Thus, the athlete practices fine skills only while he is fresh. When he becomes fatigued, he shifts to tasks employing gross movements designed principally to develop endurance."

[JayC]

That Brucey fella, he knew his shit ey ;)

[the viking clan 777]

you want to stay calm, try not to get hyped up!your emotions might just be the worst thing to overcome.stick with what you know don't get fancy or stupid.like others agree basics win matches the other guy might be good in the gym yet suck on the fight day.neverves are a dragon you must slay concur that and you are half way there. Rember you are a champion just for showing up!!

[Ryan]

Agreed, nerves are a big part of competition. In a 5k race your adrenaline is up so high that a lot of people go out too fast and end up walking to the finish. Pace yourself and set the tempo

[the viking clan 777]

It is not uncommon to be nervos ,who isn't watch out for judo guy these sneaky bastard walk amonst us and can be a problem on your feet

[flying gogo-plata]

yea are u doing gi or nogi? ur gonna have to watch out for judokas and wrestlers, and body locks won't work so well with gi, unless u can get double underhooks fast, other wise u'll get held at arm's length

[Ryan]

lol.... why is everyone giving wrestlers so much grief?:D

[flying gogo-plata]

lol.... why is everyone giving wrestlers so much grief?:D

it's awe and respect i assure u, u've never been thrown until u've felt a freestyle wrestling style suplex by an olympic gold medalist (greatest/worst experience of my life! :D )

[Ryan]

it's awe and respect i assure u, u've never been thrown until u've felt a freestyle wrestling style suplex by an olympic gold medalist (greatest/worst experience of my life! :D )

Well, thanks, that makes me feel relieved, lol

[the viking clan 777]

or be tossed like a puppet by a olympic caliber judo guy,that will get your attion

[Ghosted3]

Speaking of working the gas tank, and throws...If you work throws for a nice long time, you are gonna work that gas tank lol. Another good thing that will be helpful with throws / being thrown as well as your gas tank is do a ton of sprawls. Do live sprawls, and do drills. One last thing.... if you have not learned how to land well or be thrown hard, learn that quickly and do alot of those drills as well. If it is something you are not use to it will really kinda mess with you the first time you land hard. Ok, enough info for now my friend, hit the gym and come back with questions :p

[JayC]

Awesome guys! It's no-gi btw viking.

Training is in an hour, I'll go and update people on what my instructor says

[michaelwbray]

Going into a tournament, I'd really work hard on my escapes. Get someone to try to stall you in side control. Keep working on escaping it.

Have someone start on mount and try to stall you. Make sure you are confident of escaping it.

Tournaments are very diffferent to rolling in the gym, in that if someone is ahead on points, 80% of the time they'll be happy enough to stall and win on points.

No point perfecting the arm bar if you can't get out of side control.

[GrCh35]

I have been entered into a tournament by my gym on July 20th, I'll be fighting No-gi, and im not sure if it goes by belt rank or not.

I'm going in expecting to not win very much, but I think it will teach me a lot.

So, for training, I usually go with people my own level, most of the time they're 20-30kg heavier. The people my weight are all blue-brown belt, and when I go with them it's just a matter of time before I get tapped out.

So my question is, at training building up to the tournament, should I just roll with all the people my weight but a lot better than me, or keep rolling with the heavy people?

Your going to do just fine Jay. If your gym entered you in this competition it's because they feel your a winner. It's normal to feel they way you do. That gives you an edge.

[JayC]

Okay its tomorrow. Wanted to ask you guys a few questions.

I've been working my Rubber Guard like crazy. I've got Mission Control, Zombie, New York mastered on my right side. I've also been working the Asylum Sweep recently too and that seems to work.

My current game at the moment depends pulling guard, letting them pass to my half-guard, locking them down, and going for the sweep or the electric chair. I also pulled off the Twister and The Chevy in one roll, but I think that was just luck and I haven't done enough reps of that.

So my question is, should I utilise the rubber guard even though I have only a few attacks (which aren't mastered) from there? (Triangle, Gogoplata, Locoplata and Omoplata).

I found out yesterday that there's 3 purple belts in my division. Bye bye medal.

[PacificFlows]

check it out. with your plan of letting the guy pass into your half guard, you could catch him in a carni very quickly. just establish chill dog before you give up half guard and the carni is right there for the taking.

purple belts in your devision? what belt are you? you'll do fine, man. don't rule out a medal just because the guy's got a higher belt than you.

[JayC]

I'm a white belt.

Carni I haven't practiced enough, only successfully tapped someone with it once.

[PacificFlows]

wow... that seems strange that there would be purples in your division...

they will be good fights for you, any way you look at it. just take what you can from the experience and know that you'll be walking away with more than you walked in with.

[JayC]

It's not really that they're in MY division. It's just that there will probably be few people there so it goes by weight class

[Tom Gavrilos]

You will be fine. Relax,have fun and tell us all about it after :)

[LongV]

Go for the Old School Sweep when in half guard it'll be there...trust me.

[JayC]

Cheers guys, im leaving soon to get there for 12, I'll try and get some videos :)

[TaylorBJJ]

OMG..I remember you posting this thread like 2 months ago but seems like it was just a week ago.
Time goes so fast.

Good luck man! Post results ASAP!

[west]

I wonder what happened? Hope he kicked ass!!:)

[PacificFlows]

he tapped everyone out at once via a flying locoplata.

i've got it on tape. :p

[JayC]

Well safe to say my tournament sucked! Haha, I'm gonna post my loss anyway.

Video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ypHtTXb_7SU

First match was going well, got half-guard, double unders, electric chair, and then I got told I wasn't allowed to use it cause it wasn't a legal technique (had something to do with twisting the knee). Stopped trying to get it and then somehow ended up sweeping him and getting into his guard. Stupidly left my arm there for the taking and got submitted by a bog-standard Kimura.

Second fight (my girl forgot to video, bah):

Went against a massive judo guy. He basically controlled me most of the fight in scarf hold. Need to work on that. I ended up getting mission control, and couldn't get the zombie. Was thinking of going for the meathook when all of a sudden, POP. There goes my knee. Not letting him know how much pain I was in I retrieved full guard, tried for a triangle or an armbar and then just realised nothing was happening, and the fight finished with him winning on points 4-0.

All in all, a sucky tournament for me. Need to work on my flexibility badly, my rubber guard, side control escapes and working to pass the guard efficiently.

[JayC]

Anyone wanna give me feedback?

Sorry about the double post.

[PacificFlows]

that lockdown looked good, man. shitty they exnayed the electric chair. that's the first i've heard of that.

other than that, and i'm sure you know, it's a basic principal to have yourself square on with your opponent. i don't know if he was keeping you pressed to the left, or what, but i didn't see a whole lot of attempts to get out of that position on your part. i know it's easier to sit and criticize than to actually roll, so take what i'm saying with a grain of salt.

you'll do better next time.

how exactly did you tweak your knee? i mean, is it still causing you pain?

[BSUAlum2007]

Thats really odd that they said the Electric Chair was an illegal move. I can't see where it would be any worse on the knee than putting someone in a kneebar.

[JayC]

I think kneebars were banned too. Only the straight ankle lock was allowed. Watching the video back I made a lot of mistakes that I wouldn't normally do in sparring, but I guess the nerves got to me.

Pacific, what do you mean pressed to the left? If you mean when I was in his guard, that bitch had me in a kimura, so I was trying to either roll out of it (you see when I check that the legs are open), and then he closed his legs and there was no stopping it.

I tweaked my knee pulling mission control. I didn't stretch it enough and it's only hurting now when I try and bend it in the same way. I'm thinking it's only a tendon strain.

Cheers guys.

[PacificFlows]

ah, man. those knee injuries are no fun. takes them a while.

i didn't realize he had you in the kimura already. damn, that means you held out for a good while at least.

[JayC]

I held out for a good while, yes, and now im paying the price by having a sore arm. I'm the walking wounded!

My knee seems to have healed more quickly, I've just done a 15 minute run and it was fine. God bless supplements!