Competing at blue belt for first time this weekend

Big Nasty Edison

Big Nasty Edison

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I don't normally start threads in F12 as I feel a high number of better grapplers than me around here so I don't typically have anything thread worthy.

But I'm competing for the first time at blue this weekend. I've never been nervous prior to comp, and I had competed as a white belt a few times (about once-twice a year the past 3 years). As a white belt I was never nervous since it's just beginner level so who cares, right? I was fortunate to have very good results was dominant in all my white belt comps. Last one I had four matches and ended the day with 3 subs (RNC, arm bar from back control, omoplata) and one win on points (12-4). \

However I am a brand new fresh blue, maybe got promoted 3 weeks ago now. Feel like obviously the water just got a little bit deeper and not sure what to expect. Anyone else feel the same the first time they went out to compete at a new rank, either belt color or no-gi experience level?
 
Where are you competing?

I've been a blue belt for a while but haven't competed in a gi since I was an early white belt, I only compete nogi. But I am competing this weekend also, gi and nogi.
 
I'm glad you were wrecking shop that third year at whitebelt, lol. Lots of people are competing at purple by their third year.

I'm sure you'll do fine at blue belt, but at blue belt it can be a clusterfuck of experience levels. You may run into other guys in their 4th year, guys in their 2nd year, or even guys in their 10th year. Try to have the mindset that this is where you belong.
 
throwboes said:
I'm glad you were wrecking shop that third year at whitebelt, lol. Lots of people are competing at purple by their third year.

I'm sure you'll do fine at blue belt, but at blue belt it can be a clusterfuck of experience levels. You may run into other guys in their 4th year, guys in their 2nd year, or even guys in their 10th year. Try to have the mindset that this is where you belong.
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Well last time I competed I was just in my second year, and this is just hitting my third year (I believe I started grappling around March 2013).

But yeah what you mentioned is what I'm thinking about, how it can vary so much from gym to gym and even guy to guy.
 
throwboes said:
I'm glad you were wrecking shop that third year at whitebelt, lol. Lots of people are competing at purple by their third year.

.
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yea, i was competing purp by year 3. i cant imagine still being white by then, would have been wreckage on those poor souls.
 
berimBOWLoh said:
yea, i was competing purp by year 3. i cant imagine still being white by then, would have been wreckage on those poor souls.
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One of the drawbacks to having only done no-gi for two years. I was going as a zero stripe white :( I promise I wasn't trying to sand bag.
 
I think it's more fun. White belt level competition is a spazzfest, and a lot of matches are determined by who is more aggressive or physically superior. At blue guys have a better foundation, know at least a little bit about each position, have some semblance of a game, depending on how long they've been training/competing, and they aren't so overwhelmed by the adrenaline hit, so I think if it as the first level where you really feel like you're two jiu jitsu players playing the game.

But it's still a beginner belt level and no one besides you, your friends and coach give a shit what happens, so don't stress yourself out.
 
sandbaggers all over the place... haha just have fun with it
 
I also competed about a month after getting my blue (I was white for about 10 months, competed 3 times and was pretty successful) and yeah I was pretty nervous. It's a grab bag of experience level. My first match I had a 3 strip blue and I dominated him like 12-0. Then I relaxed a bit won another match on points and lost in the finals. Did about the same in no gi. So, yeah, it's scary at that next level- you could get someone who's been blue for years I guess. But it's doable. Try to relax and have fun. Don't know if that helps. Just wanted to share my anecdote of a guy who also competed just after getting his blue, being scared, and still having some success.
 
If it's IBJJF make sure your belt if blue enough. I almost got dq'd because my belt was too faded. Luckily a friend had a backup handy.
 
berimBOWLoh said:
yea, i was competing purp by year 3. i cant imagine still being white by then, would have been wreckage on those poor souls.
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Man, only a purp? B.J. Penn was a black-belt world champ at that point.
 
got my purple at 2 years, 10 months.

it's more about mat time than how many years or whatever. you can have 2 guys that have both trained for a year, but one trains 5 days a week and the other only 2 days a week.......the 5 day a week guy is gonna clown on the other 2 day a week guy.

anyway.....back to your original post. just go out there and have fun. don't be afraid to lose, because it's not the end of the world. you do BJJ because you enjoy it, so competition should be no different. at the end of the day you'll probably make a few friends from your bracket and then it'll be back to business as usual. competing is the best.
 
I did my first blue belt tournament about a month after getting my blue and it was horrible. I've had an issue with psyching myself out and being defeated before I even showed up and it was bad that day. I sucked and beat myself. I rolled horribly, but it was mostly a mental problem. Don't make that mistake. Trust your coach. You belong with blues if he/she says you do and you have just as good a chance of doing awesome as anyone in that division.
 
Just have fun. Your probably not competing for any prize money. So just go out there have fun get the first one at blue outta the way and learn something in the process.
 
I like how this sidetracked into a pissing contest about promotion time frames.

Competing at Blue will be just like competing at White. As soon as you slap hands, get a hold of the man in front of you, and begin trying to dismantle him, you're just grappling.
 
Good luck man! I had my first blue belt comp 2 weeks after my promotion, and just know the likely hood of you doing better then I did is very very high. I got hip tossed and d'arced in the gi in under a minute.
 
portland said:
Good luck man! I had my first blue belt comp 2 weeks after my promotion, and just know the likely hood of you doing better then I did is very very high. I got hip tossed and d'arced in the gi in under a minute.
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These are always the best stories to tell your buddies when you're sitting around BSing after training. A lot more of my stories are about me getting my ass kicked on the mat versus the other way around.
 
Where are you competing? I'll be competing in Boise this weekend.
 
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