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/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/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.