Yesterday I competed in my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition. I lost 4-2 in the gi competition and injured a rib forcing me to pull out of the no gi portion. I was pretty disappointed in my performance, but it was a good experience.
I've been training off and on around my work schedule for the past few years. I hadn't previously been interested in competition. I started BJJ as a self-defense tool and a fitness activity. I'm not a competitive person and generally don't have the "go get 'em" attitude that I think is probably required to be successful in competition. So I didn't think competition was for me.
After being encouraged by my training partners, and comparing it to how I approach other parts of training, I have decided that competition is important. It was a mistake for me not to compete from the beginning. I believe force on force training is an essential part of testing and learning self-defense skills. I think practical pistol competition is a really good way of testing and learning pure shooting skills. I'm not sure why I thought I should learn Jiu Jitsu without a real pressure test. I think it has merits and application to self-defense training as well.
Sure, it doesn't look like a "real fight". There's no striking, no weapons, and we're on cushy mats. These are all things I used to think when I was deciding not to compete in the past and those are certainly limitations. But basic grappling skills are basic grappling skills, and some of it (most?) is universally applicable. I now believe if I'd been competing from the beginning my grappling skills would be substantially better than they are today.
What does INGO think? Is grappling competition a worthwhile pursuit in terms of improving the trainee's ability to win a fight?
Below is a shot of me (blue gi) with an underhook, good head position, and inside control on the other side. I've been working a couple techniques from this position for the past couple months. Unfortunately I attempted NONE of the things that I've been working. I tried to do a poorly executed judo technique that I've never properly practiced. I ended up on the bottom and remained there for the majority of the 5 minute match. My opponent was awarded 2 points for a takedown for reversing my failed Judo throw. I don't know what I was thinking there.
I've been training off and on around my work schedule for the past few years. I hadn't previously been interested in competition. I started BJJ as a self-defense tool and a fitness activity. I'm not a competitive person and generally don't have the "go get 'em" attitude that I think is probably required to be successful in competition. So I didn't think competition was for me.
After being encouraged by my training partners, and comparing it to how I approach other parts of training, I have decided that competition is important. It was a mistake for me not to compete from the beginning. I believe force on force training is an essential part of testing and learning self-defense skills. I think practical pistol competition is a really good way of testing and learning pure shooting skills. I'm not sure why I thought I should learn Jiu Jitsu without a real pressure test. I think it has merits and application to self-defense training as well.
- It is more stressful than learning grappling in the gym with your training buddies. For me it was not as stressful as a well-done force-on-force scenario, but there was a measure of stress. The audience adds to that.
- You're competing against someone you've never met. You have no idea what they can or will do.
- You know the resistance is real. When in the gym with your buddies or even most force on force scenarios, no one is going all out. You can never be sure if you got that take-down, sweep, or sub because they were only going 70% or because you are just that good. The competition is the true test of what you can do.
- Testing is required to assess skills and make adjustments in training. Competition is the best test. Competition focuses training.
Sure, it doesn't look like a "real fight". There's no striking, no weapons, and we're on cushy mats. These are all things I used to think when I was deciding not to compete in the past and those are certainly limitations. But basic grappling skills are basic grappling skills, and some of it (most?) is universally applicable. I now believe if I'd been competing from the beginning my grappling skills would be substantially better than they are today.
What does INGO think? Is grappling competition a worthwhile pursuit in terms of improving the trainee's ability to win a fight?
Below is a shot of me (blue gi) with an underhook, good head position, and inside control on the other side. I've been working a couple techniques from this position for the past couple months. Unfortunately I attempted NONE of the things that I've been working. I tried to do a poorly executed judo technique that I've never properly practiced. I ended up on the bottom and remained there for the majority of the 5 minute match. My opponent was awarded 2 points for a takedown for reversing my failed Judo throw. I don't know what I was thinking there.