When to start competing?

kuroshio · 05-22-2003, 11:19 PM

How long should someone train in Judo and/or BJJ to be ready to compete in a tournament? I'm thinking of entering the Copa Atlantica gi competition in a few weeks, white belt, executive division. I have been training BJJ and judo on and off for several years, but mostly off. I haven't really had too much chance to work out with any consistency over those years, but I have had enough work (and watched enough tapes) that I at least know a couple of throws and the basics of groundwork (mount, holddowns, passing the guard, a few chokes and armlocks, etc.). I am a heavyweight, in OK shape. I am wondering if you guys think I'll be in over my head or not.

DRLashambe · 05-23-2003, 02:31 PM

If you don't go in thinking you'll win, you'll probably lose. Decide how you feel ahead of time. In my experience with open grappling tournaments, the competition is pretty fierce, and even very experienced martial artists will go in the "beginner" categories. With that having been said, the experience is awesome, and it's worth it if it doesn't cost you to much to go in. I met my BJJ instructor at a grappling tournament, as well as Carlos Newton. It was well worth the trouble.

kuroshio · 05-23-2003, 09:05 PM

Yeah, the prospect of meeting up with people who are sandbagging is definitely daunting. I really don't want to get out there and get killed by some genetic freak who's had 15 years of experience in wrestling but 1 or less in BJJ. In one tournament I read about last year, a couple of guys were in the white belt division - but they received blue belts later that day after they won. Another tournament featured - in a Masters beginner category - a former U.S. Olympic judoka. He placed third, BTW. On the other hand, I was at a no-gi tournament and saw one guy from Renzo's school in NY win the novice (less than 6 months) beginner's superheavyweight division. He was also a former Olympian, this time in basketball. He was 6-9, 245, and had had 4 classes, he told me. I figure there's gotta be some happy medium here. A third man I know has been doing very well in beginners' divisions in competition. Skill wise, he's about at my level. He weighs 350 though. There really needs to be some national standards regarding the levels at which people compete in these events. Novices should be true novices, not experienced martial artists who try to pile up the trophies by beating up on the unsuspecting....

SweepEm · 05-24-2003, 01:02 AM

Kuroshio:

If you aren't sure, go ask your instructor before you compete.
Your instructor will know when you are ready. Going into a competition, you need to have confidence to do well. If you question your knowledge and ability, wait a while.

In some big tournaments, it can get rough.
Even though you can tap if getting submitted, you can still get seriously injured.
Some guys are cool when going for submissions, and others are merciless.

05-22-2003, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
kuroshio Novice Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	When to start competing? How long should someone train in Judo and/or BJJ to be ready to compete in a tournament? I'm thinking of entering the Copa Atlantica gi competition in a few weeks, white belt, executive division. I have been training BJJ and judo on and off for several years, but mostly off. I haven't really had too much chance to work out with any consistency over those years, but I have had enough work (and watched enough tapes) that I at least know a couple of throws and the basics of groundwork (mount, holddowns, passing the guard, a few chokes and armlocks, etc.). I am a heavyweight, in OK shape. I am wondering if you guys think I'll be in over my head or not.

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05-23-2003, 02:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
DRLashambe Novice Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 99 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	If you don't go in thinking you'll win, you'll probably lose. Decide how you feel ahead of time. In my experience with open grappling tournaments, the competition is pretty fierce, and even very experienced martial artists will go in the "beginner" categories. With that having been said, the experience is awesome, and it's worth it if it doesn't cost you to much to go in. I met my BJJ instructor at a grappling tournament, as well as Carlos Newton. It was well worth the trouble.

05-23-2003, 09:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
kuroshio Novice Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 22 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yeah, the prospect of meeting up with people who are sandbagging is definitely daunting. I really don't want to get out there and get killed by some genetic freak who's had 15 years of experience in wrestling but 1 or less in BJJ. In one tournament I read about last year, a couple of guys were in the white belt division - but they received blue belts later that day after they won. Another tournament featured - in a Masters beginner category - a former U.S. Olympic judoka. He placed third, BTW. On the other hand, I was at a no-gi tournament and saw one guy from Renzo's school in NY win the novice (less than 6 months) beginner's superheavyweight division. He was also a former Olympian, this time in basketball. He was 6-9, 245, and had had 4 classes, he told me. I figure there's gotta be some happy medium here. A third man I know has been doing very well in beginners' divisions in competition. Skill wise, he's about at my level. He weighs 350 though. There really needs to be some national standards regarding the levels at which people compete in these events. Novices should be true novices, not experienced martial artists who try to pile up the trophies by beating up on the unsuspecting....

05-24-2003, 01:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
SweepEm Master Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,846 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Kuroshio: If you aren't sure, go ask your instructor before you compete. Your instructor will know when you are ready. Going into a competition, you need to have confidence to do well. If you question your knowledge and ability, wait a while. In some big tournaments, it can get rough. Even though you can tap if getting submitted, you can still get seriously injured. Some guys are cool when going for submissions, and others are merciless.

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