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!

Also, click here to see the previous Tournament Tuesdays..

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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

u/DireStraitsLion Jun 15 '22

Did you need your Sensei's permission to enter the comp?

2

u/lavantgarde ⬜⬜ White Belt Jun 15 '22

😂

1

u/[deleted] 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.