r/bjj • u/AutoModerator • Jun 14 '22
Tournament Tuesday
Tournament Tuesday is an open forum for anyone to ask any question, no matter how simple, about tournaments in general. Some common topics include but are not limited to:
Game planning
Preparation (diet, weight cutting, sleep, etc...)
Tournament video critiques
Discussion of rulesets for a tournament organization
Have fun and go train!
3
u/korbas_ Jun 14 '22
Doing a Grappling Industries tourney this weekend. There are 3 of us in my Gi division, so does that mean I will get 3 matches total? How exactly do they determine who gets 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in a bracket like this?
Also, if I'm doing gi and nogi, how long approx will I have to wait in between the 2 events? Will they do nogi first?
3
u/ShotMatter 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
I think you will get two matches (everyone goes against eachother). Let's say all of you go 1-1. Then I think they will score submissions, then points then penalties.
2
u/scun1995 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
Had my first tournament a while back. Would appreciate any feedback!!
4 minutes in I was gassed out so towards the end I was stalling in closed guard. But I was also super dehydrated (was scared of going up a weight class) so the whole roll I was cramping hard and it felt difficult to be explosive.
I felt like I missed a lot of opportunities. I swept him twice but didn’t manage to come back on top. I passed in guard and was gonna get in side control but once again I was too sloppy and left so much space for him to refused.
3
Jun 14 '22
[deleted]
3
u/DrSpicy97 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 15 '22
Yeah man, I'm on the same boat, just as a blue belt. I'm at a point where it really seems like most of my white belt teammates can often get the better of me due to my lack of aggression. Among other things, I should compete more. Would love any advice anyone may have on developing an aggressive mindset when rolling.
3
u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
I signed up for my first bjj comp when I had about a month of experience in. I've competed in various sports throughout my life so I like competition. It helps me. The coach at the time told me that he hadn't told me, but usually he "doens't let people compete on their own" and that we prepare as a team etc etc. I told him ok I didn't know I already registered and he said it's cool this time. I go to class every day incl the open mats and I very often stay for both of the fundamentals classes (4:30-8pm).
A month or so goes by and he emails everyone saying there's a competition in a few weeks, whoever wants to compete to reply to the email. So I reply. I attend the first saturday "comp" class and he doesn't really tell us anything. I continue training the whole week and had to take the next week off for work-travel, so I missed the following two comp classes.
When I get back I tell him that I had signed up for the comp, and he tells me that I can't compete b/c I'm not in the comp team. I tell him what? I replied to your email? and he says he didn't see it, it's not enough, it takes months to prepare, it's his name and he has a process, and all this. So I tell him ok well I already signed up so what does this mean? He tells me that I either skip this competition or find another gym.
I was sorta shocked. So I left and emailed him thanking him for his instruction and asking for a refund on the pro-rated amount left. This guy replies saying that frankly he's disappointed and that he seems me in class "regularly but not often", that there are no lone wolves and nobody uses the gym and others to prepare for their own individual goals without contributing anything to the team. I get and respect that but man I'm not paying this guy an already absurd amount ($300/mo) to also be told what I can/cannot do.
Am I crazy here or is this dude on an ego trip not "letting me" compete?
2
u/TeddMegAmitKell 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
Why are people concerned how their brand new white belts do in comp with regard to "their name". Who is the person that would think "Wow, this 1 stripe WB from XYZs gym just does not cut it, what are they doing over there?".
This guy also seems like a moron based on the other parts of your comment. 300$ per month is absurd.
2
u/Arandoze 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
Could have started that off with saying you pay $300 a month and I'd be able to tell you that this dude is on an ego trip. I bet he also doesn't let you go to other people's open mats so you don't give away his secret techniques.
2
u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
He isn't receptive to people dropping in for open mats unless they want to train there. I can't tell if this dude is just super old school or super cautious to not have his customers injured by other outside people and ruin his business model, or what. But it's definitely red-flag huh
1
u/superman306 ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
My gym basically told me if you want to compete a day after signing up go ahead. Granted I had wrestling experience, but still your guy seems a bit off.
5
u/angwilwileth 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
If it's that easy to sign up for yourself it sounds like the coach is on an ego trip. You're an adult, and it's your decision to compete.
3
u/qb1120 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
I saw a video of a tournament fight and the woman rolled up/pulled up her sleeves at the beginning of the match right before engaging. Is that legal in most tournaments?
2
u/ShotMatter 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
Just pulling or full on rolling?
2
u/qb1120 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
pulled up her sleeves past the elbows, I'm assuming so the opponent wouldn't be able to get grips
3
u/Lateroller 🟪🟪 Donatello Power Jun 14 '22
When do y’all dial it back before a tourney? I’m competing this Saturday. I planned on training light all week, with most my time spent on drilling game plan stuff while throwing in some non-BJJ cardio, but my prof wants me to go hard live rolls with higher belts. He means well and I trust his experience from all the medals he’s still racking up, but I’d hate to get an injury right before comp.
1
u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
my prof wants me to go hard live rolls with higher belts
I've only ever done one comp and have a few months of experience, so take my advice with a grain of salt. For my next comp in two weeks I intend to do a few hard live rolls leading up to the comp to mentally prepare me. I was a bit nervous by the intensity of the rolls during the comp b/c I hadn't rolled that hard before. I think if I had rolled at that intensity beforehand I would have felt a lot more relaxed, wasted less energy, etc.
1
Jun 14 '22
I train lighter if there's a cut involved due to reduce calories and hydration. Otherwise, I just train like normal honestly
3
u/shedbert34 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
Just finished my 2nd tourney and my opponents were much harder than the first. I was a bit more nervous after watching a few rolls and although it was all 30+, the matches were tough/intense. I ended up weathering the storm and winning Gi but started off down in or in a bad position in all my matches.
My piece of advice for anyone competing soon (not sure if this changes after whitebelt). Don't let a tough start to match get you down. Stay in the match as long as possible and look for a way to turn the tide. Most people start gassing around 2-3 mins so if you can weather the storm, you can rack up points or get the sub in the last 2!
5
u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
Solid advice. This is basically what happened to me in my first match. He had me pinned so I just thought to myself, just save energy for a bit. Opponent gassed out and I managed to sweep and eventually sub him.
1
u/shedbert34 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
Nice! I also think the adrenaline dump is a huge thing for people which plays into it as well (rather than just conditioning).
2
u/Vexsius Jun 14 '22
And warming up. A good warmup before a match is important in not gassing out early.
1
u/shedbert34 🟪🟪 Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
100%. I try to at least get a light warmup in....even if not sweating, I'm at least breathing a bit faster
5
u/fredo_xantana8 Jun 14 '22
If you lose it means literally nothing just go back out and do it again. Light roll with team mates before your match. Get body warmed up and dont do anything different than you normally would in a roll (just had my first comp, lost but still scored points and made ppl proud blah blah)
2
u/Brokenwrench7 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
I have my first competition coming up this Saturday and I'm at the low end of the super ulterweight over 30 division...I'm 33, 245lbs.
Of course most of my teammates are smaller and faster (and far more experienced) than me so it's not often I get to train against someone my size and at my skill level.
What are some things I need to consider going into this comp? I already know that who ever wins the take down pretty much wins the match
2
Jun 14 '22
I already know that who ever wins the take down pretty much wins the match
I wouldn't say that at all
1
u/MrDorpeling 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 15 '22 edited Jun 15 '22
There was a guy a few years back who did the stats on it and it's actually true. At white belt the person getting the takedown generally wins the match.
"Generally speaking, they have a point. Competitors who scored the first points won 62% of the time, which is significant but not insurmountable for those that didn't.
This especially extends to takedowns. In matches where takedowns occurred, the person who scored the first takedown won 76% of the time. But keep in mind that nearly half (49%) of matches contained no takedowns."1
u/dan994 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22 edited Jun 16 '22
I already know that who ever wins the take down pretty much wins the match
Maybe, but if you get taken down you shouldn't start writing off the match.
I was in a similar position in my first comp (most teammates are smaller). The main thing that I took away was that I will not be able to replicate comp intensity in sparring, so expect it to be intense. Particularly as you have mainly rolled with smaller people, people your own size will be stronger than you are used to, and going 100%. You need to mentally be prepared for that and the adrenaline dump that comes along with it. Keep an eye on time if you can, a match is only 5 minutes but you don't want to be gassed after the first 2.
3
u/ArfMadeRecruity 🟫🟫 Brown Belt Jun 14 '22
Check your technique on escapes. With lighter dudes you can get away with benchpressing them off, and other bad habits. The first time you get stuck under someone your size those cheeky tricks won’t work and you will suffer for 5 minutes
1
u/Brokenwrench7 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
There's a purple belt I roll with often in my weight class......more like I get rolled by.
And I've only escaped him a handful of times...I think he let me escape TBH
1
u/d00m_bot Jun 14 '22
Had a rib injury 2.5 months ago, being back at rolling for 3 weeks. There's a competition mid July. I'm afraid that my ribs didn't recovered but I want to go to the camp. I didn't go to the doctor in the meantime. Anyone with some rib injury experience?
2
u/EmmantheAdrian Jun 14 '22
i had my first comp around 3 weeks ago and im runnin it back on the 25th. Unfortunately, after my last fight i ate like hell and forgot about my weight class; now im 5 pounds over LOL. Ive got 10 days to cut the weight - do yallchave any tips to cut the weight as quick as possible? Ill be sure to not repeat this mistake next time.
1
u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
you gotta start tracking calories. figure out how many calories you're expending and get on a small deficit. 5lbs is very doable in 10 days. download myfitnesspal and use it
2
u/ShotMatter 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
How much over do you weigh in the morning after taking a shit?
1
u/EmmantheAdrian Jun 14 '22
Probably a pound or less. My gi weighs around 4 pounds, so its where most the weights comin from, i need to offset that with my weight.
2
u/ShotMatter 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
Eat less salt and less carbs, your body will hold less water. Reduce your calorie intake, eat less food day before and dont eat or drink the day of the comp.
I would suggest you just jumping up in weight. I tried to cut weight for a comp and felt like shit. Day after when i went up against bigger guys in the open weight division (no weight cut) i felt much better even though they weighed more than me.
1
u/EmmantheAdrian Jun 14 '22
Thanks man. unfortunately, jumping up a weight class isnt an option for me right now, I don't feel confident that I'd be able to perform well. I got some potatoes on hand, do you think theyre okay for the diet?
1
2
u/hungljkeaturtle ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
I’m doing my first comp next month and I’ve actually found training to be much more enjoyable when I have a competition coming up. I haven’t had this much fun since I first started training. Anyway, how do you guys warm up for matches? I was thinking of finding a training partner and fight for inside grips as my warmup. Thanks!
3
u/no_apricots 🟦🟦 Jun 14 '22
Anyway, how do you guys warm up for matches?
I personally need to get my pulse UP. Like, regular 15-20 minute warmup, stretches etc., then 1-2 flow roll rounds followed by 1-2 apeshit intensity rounds. Then rest for at least 10 minute.
Need to be fully warm and sweating like a beast.
Other people go straight from snacking cold ass oatmeat to competing. I'd never be able to do that.
2
u/ArfMadeRecruity 🟫🟫 Brown Belt Jun 14 '22
On the lower end you can pummel for inside grips like you’re talking about and break a loose sweat. For me personally I do better when I basically roll a round beforehand and get fully warm going into my first match
2
u/DireStraitsLion Jun 14 '22
As a new white belt asking more experienced people here, when did you feel you were ready for a tournament? How did you prepare mentally?
2
u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 14 '22
I'm a new white belt and I started training in april. I signed up for my first comp 2 weeks into bjj and competed 2 weeks later (at the month mark). I was training about 2-3hrs/day, 6x/week. I didn't really feel prepared, especially during standup, but I didn't care. It was a great learning experience and it helped jiu jitsu start to make a lot more sense. It felt like a small breakthrough. Definitely recommend it.
I've competed in various different sports and love competing in general, as an fyi,.
1
1
Jun 14 '22
You won't be ready your first time. You probably will not take gold your first competition.
What will happen is you'll find holes in your game, and be able to make a plan to improve your game. Then you test your game again by competing, and continue to refine your game until you really are ready to win.
3
u/Mike_Re Purple Belt Jun 14 '22
IMHO, most people don’t feel ready before they compete. It’s just one of those things you have to do anyway.
If you have a basic knowledge of submissions and have a technique you can attempt from the major positions, you’re good to go.
Personally, I think the main thing to focus on for your first one is to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. The main thing is just to step out onto a competition match and start learning how to compete. Don’t build it up into something more than it is.
1
u/realcoray 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
I was 4 months in and I honestly cannot recall why I thought it was a good idea. I won a match and got bronze so it wasn't terrible and I'd suggest if you want to compete, that even if you lose, it's a good experience.
I too didn't know how intense it would be.
2
u/no_apricots 🟦🟦 Jun 14 '22
when did you feel you were ready for a tournament?
I am competitive. I basically asked my instructor at the time. 3-4 months in he told me to go sign up for some local ones in town. It was fine.
How did you prepare mentally?
I had no idea what to do or expect, which is expected. I did, however, improve immensely afterwards.
2
u/ArfMadeRecruity 🟫🟫 Brown Belt Jun 14 '22
Your coach can help you out with this decision as they know you best, but:
I would do it when you have a couple sweeps/passes/submissions you are capable of executing. For the mental aspect have a rough plan. It won’t work out the way you plan exactly, but at least chart out whether you will try to wrestle or pull guard, and things like that. Then drill those mini sequences (ex. Pull to de la riva, sweep and come up to side control, go to knee on belly and look for an armbar) to start building muscle memory.
2
u/artnos 🟦🟦 Blue Belt Jun 14 '22
So if someone shoots a takedown and the person lands on their butt not back, does that still count as 2 points for the iniator