Competitions are fun for me and that is what really motivates me.
It’s a true test – Competition is a true test of how all of your grappling skills come together.
Under the stress of competition the true nature of your skills come out.
How are you going to handle the crowd? * How are you going to handle the butterflies in your stomach? * How are you going to face the person across from you that you don’t even know anything about? * Are you going to remember your techniques? * Are you going to freeze up, or are you going to stay calm and do everything you do in the gym and win? Those are just a few of the tests that you have to face in competition and it is great to see how you would do.
Competition helps to let you know where you stand in the larger scheme of things by giving you a realistic look at where you stand against other guys with the same experience level as yourself.
The one thing that does always happen after competition is growth.
After a competition though you won’t be able to help but to analyze what you did.
You may want to compete even more, or you may not want to compete any more, but you will not be able to walk away from that competition without learning something.
I try to not live mine as a hermit and I take advantage of the different people I can meet, because they just might help me become a better person and help me lead a life that I might not have been able to lead if I didn’t meet them.
Here are some tips to help you make your first competition go smoother: * Try to think of it as an extension of your training.
Practicing my breathing helps me to relax and focus.
It helps me keep a clear mind and it also helps me control the adrenaline that is kicking in.
You may see someone who pulls guard right away, and this may help you go for the takedown quicker because you know they’re going to pull guard anyone.
Try to have your instructor or someone from your team be there on the sidelines with you to help coach you.
One important thing however is to not forget that your coach is out there trying to help you when you’re actually competing.
Doing some relaxation yoga or meditation exercise before you go to sleep will help you get a better nights sleep.
Do help the grappling community be clean and bring a pair of flip-flops or sandals to where when you walk around the gym.
Unfortunately 95% of all grappling tournaments last forever so if you know what to expect right in the beginning it will help you get mentally prepared.
You can bring a book to read, a portable DVD player, some cards, an iPod, a portable video game console or something, but whatever you bring it will help the day go by much better without having anything at all.
Out of all of these the biggest tip I can give you is to have FUN. If you’re not having fun then whatever you went through for the competition really isn’t worth it.
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