BJJ competition

[shamster]

I am looking to compete in my first bjj competition next week (Sat 3/11). The only thing is that I haven't been training as hard as I should for a tournament. Basically, I've been training like I usually do (2x/week...but I do stay as long as possible after class to roll). I really did want to train more for the past month, but wasn't able to...busy schedule and I got sick one week.
I do feel like I'm in decent shape overall, but I didn't get to put in the hardcore training a lot of people put in before competing. Should I still go for it? I figure I have nothing to lose, and it'd be a good experience. I'd be in the white belt division (in the 140'ish lbs weight class), so maybe the competitors may be not as "hardcore" either?
Anyhow, any other tips and advice would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks in advance!

[blitz]

Don't wear yourself out.. You'll have sloppy technique and you will lose your strength. Only advice I can give you since it happened to me on my first time rolling!

[danfaggella]

Don't worry about loss, especially now. I doubt anyone is very hardcore for the 140 white belt division.

PS: You should make a habit of doing a little cardio, some other exersize (calisthetics, rowing mechine, weight training) on a daily basis. Also stretch a few times a day, there is always a good 30 seconds in the middle of your dat that can be used for stretching, so work on your flexibility (touch your toes, or go further, do the butterfly, ect...)

I also like to run through some grappling book durring the course of my day, right now I've been focusing on takedowns, and it has really been helping me.

[blitz]

well one week of cardio wont do him any good. He needs to do those anyway but they wont improve his performance in a week.

[shamster]

I feel ok as far as cardio. I'm in decent shape overall, and I can roll for a few rounds in a row after class with minimal breaks. My only concern is that 5 minutes in a competition isn't the same as 5-10 minutes in a sparring session, as I hear that adrenaline kicks in and can sap more of your energy.
My other main concern is that I haven't put in much "extra" effort for this competition specifically. Basically, my training has been the same as it has always been. I don't know if that will make me very unprepared though.

[OmaPlata]

eidt eidt edit how the hell to delete a duplicate post???????

[OmaPlata]

Yes go for the tourney, its a great learning experience. Who cares, you can tap out if worst come to worst, least you were on the mat.
Just practice a couple take downs or at the very least learn how to pull the guy into your guard and drag him down, you dont get poinst for that, but if you are good from your guard, its a good starting point. Also you are going to be nervous as hell, so before your matches jog around the building or something to stay loose and warmed up
the thing about the white belts is that you might get put up agaisnst a white belt of a year or so whos pretty good and should be a blue or close to it, but the experience of the tourney is like 50 classes, you'll remember everything you should have done or could have done different. Next to a real fight, its the whole reason to train at all

[shamster]

Yeah, I did hear that it's possible I could go against some guy who's been sandbagged for years. Thus, he's actually well into the blues but is competing as a white to go for easier wins.
I myself am a white who's trained for over a year. Unfortunately, I haven't been consistent throughout the year. There were a couple months where I only went once a week or every 2 weeks due to busy schedule or injury. Hopefully I can be more consistent this year, and I think competing will at least be an eye opening experience. I've been told from others in class that if I keep training consistently and pushing myself, I should be close to a blue belt soon. We shall see though...I still feel like a mediocre white belt a lot of the time.

[SamuraiGuy]

I say go for it, just dont take the guy down and lay on him so you can win by two points or something, if you have to win on points... thats okay... but I hate the point system, it shouldnt be about points.

[shamster]

I won't be playing for points only, that's for sure. Anytime I roll, I look to just put up a good fight and try to finish if I can. Of course I will try to go for the good positions and avoid the bad ones, which naturally correllates to more points.

[JkD187]

Originally Posted by shamster

I won't be playing for points only, that's for sure. Anytime I roll, I look to just put up a good fight and try to finish if I can. Of course I will try to go for the good positions and avoid the bad ones, which naturally correllates to more points.

A good stragety to use in tourneys for points is to take your opponent down..and stand back up and take him down again.Pass his guard and stand up again...take him down again...pass and mount and look for a submission so you will be high up on points.If you cant submit him the score will be like 16-X(whatever he scores on you) however this stragety is mostly for guys with lots of exp and great takedowns and cardio.

[SamuraiGuy]

yeah guys with great experience, takedowns, cardio and you have to be a fag too, I like takedowns alot, but I just hate the whole point system, it should be about the guy saying I quit. I understand that for time limits the point system is valid... oh well.. perfect world I guess.

[Tameo]

I started crosstraining in BJJ at Jean Jacques Machado's school and its tough. I dont know a lot of techniques on the ground so i had to realy on my past wrestling and wing chun experience. by the end of the class i wasted all of my energy completely and barely walked home, cause i had to fight all the arm bars holds, etc. I have little experience on the ground and was looking for some tips on how to progress from the mount position. Both top and bottom.

[shamster]

Originally Posted by Tameo

I have little experience on the ground and was looking for some tips on how to progress from the mount position. Both top and bottom.

From the bottom, focus on defending against ubmissions. Basically, keep your elbows tucked in and your hands protecting your neck. This will help you in preventing armlocks and chokes. Then work on upa and bridging your opponent off.

From top, focus first on maintaining the position. Once you can keep mounted, then work on submissions.