50 matches per year

freakroor · 01-02-2013, 07:29 AM

My coach says that bjj practicioners should compete often and try to have at least 50 matches per year. What do you guys think of this? Sounds difficult and kinda expensive.

Dedication · 01-02-2013, 07:51 AM

If you have a spare 1,250 to put solely towards grappling competitions sure go ahead, don't use that money for things such as privates, or additional classes with a second gym, no use it all on competitions.

Competing is important, it is not however, the end-all be-all. BTW, I'm lucky I can get my one competition in, maybe two if the stars align, per year.

Nozza · 01-02-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakroor

My coach says that bjj practicioners should compete often and try to have at least 50 matches per year. What do you guys think of this? Sounds difficult and kinda expensive.

So is that like 4 matches per competition or are you talking 50 comps?!

freakroor · 01-02-2013, 08:56 AM

I meant 50 matches not 50 competitions...

He brought this up and also said that most tournaments are too expensive and offer too few matches which prevents proper progression in bjj.

He's an accomplished competitor and 3rd degree BB, also really nice guy and i dont want to disappoint by not competing enough. Also i'm pretty sure we need to compete in order to get promoted.

Uchi Mata · 01-02-2013, 09:04 AM

50 is an arbitrary number, but the 'compete as often as you can' mindset is one I agree with. It makes you better faster than anything else, because competing keeps your intensity level high and forces you to correct weaknesses rather than just focus on positions you already know and enjoy playing. If you truly want to get better at BJJ, and not just have a fun and be willing to live with slower progression (either are fine approaches, IMO), then competing a lot is important. But I wouldn't worry about hitting some arbitrary # of matches, only because a lot of that's not within your control. Who shows up, enters what divisions, the draw you get, etc all come into play with your # of matches at a given tournament. I think the key thing is to not go many months or years between comps, rather than trying to have a ton of matches at any given tournament.

Dirty Holt · 01-02-2013, 03:33 PM

If you get 30 matches in a year, I would say you speed up your progression of skills by at least 300% as opposed to zero matches. I see this happen constantly in wrestling. There is an urgency in the transfer of power and speed that happens in matches that most people cannot simply figure out in training.

You also have real, tangible experiences that are looming on the horizon (competition dates) that give real life consequences to slacking in training.

snoop dogg · 01-02-2013, 03:41 PM

if youre a blue belt adult light/middleweight then thats like 10 ibjjf tournaments

Spoonman7 · 01-02-2013, 03:43 PM

i agree that competing a lot will greatly benefit everyone but be realistic, even if you are a sponsored athlete, 50 matches a year in bjj is a tall order, for someone like me, almost impossible. I did 10 tournaments last year and had 23 matches. So it can be very difficult.

Ice 9 Cobra · 01-02-2013, 04:16 PM

Its easier to get lots of matches at NAGA and GQ than IBJJF

JCASHDAKID · 01-02-2013, 04:45 PM

I def think the more you compete the more your bjj has potential to improve if you learn from your mistakes. I competed alot this past year and it has made me more aware of my holes in my game that I usually overlook or don't notice in training. 50 matches is alot if your not a fulltimer though. Just do as many as your willing to spend is my motto if thats one tourny were you get 4-5 matches or 10-12 tournies and you get 50+ go after it. Just don't be one of those I'm going compete and then never do.