First bjj tournament, advice?

[mrsneakyz28]

This weekend I'm competing in my first tournament as a whitebelt. I wasnt going to compete because I am still pretty noob (only been training since late jan) but I just thought it would be a good experience win or lose. But as it gets closer, I think about it more and what I'm going to do, and I really want to win my weight class. All of the guys I roll with at my school are 200lbs+ and some are in the 260 range...I'm 150lbs. Needless to say I get schooled, but I've been working pretty well off my back to not get subbed and I think it really will give me an advantage when going against guys my size.

Anyway friday in our no gi class we had a guy come in that was my size and I destroyed him for 16 min. It was very easy to reverse him, get mount, sub him, I got bored so I just practiced letting him get mount and reversing him, I even let him sink in a guillotine and pull guard and I was able to muscle out of it. I just felt much much stronger than him. I am a pretty tall lean guy, but I feel like I might have a strength advantage over other guys my size. Being as I've never been to a tournament I don't really know how it will go. Is there a big chance that all my competition will be 4 stripe whitebelts that train daily with big guys as well and will just tool me? Or do you think alot of them will be where I am at skill wise, and I might have an advantage because of who I spar with, how often I train, and strength?

 

[mackz]

which tourney is this?

 

[Cmac916]

For one you are bound to run into some wrestlers since wrestling season is up, plus you are still pretty new for a white belt entering a tournament

Good Luck

 

[pattheflip]

you're probably still going to get worked. but have fun, and learn something new from it! i didn't compete in my first tournament until a few YEARS after i started bjj.

 

[Leg lock]

Have fun. Thats the most important thing. And take it as a learning experience. Its okay if you lose since its your first tournament and all. Take mp3 player whit you to occupy your time and keep your nerves down.This helped me. Staying relaxed will help you a lot. Rememebr lot of the whitebelts are new also and they are as nervous as you.

 

[mrsneakyz28]

thing is I'm not really nervous at all. I want to do mma and I KNOW I will be very nervous for that, so I want to start with as many bjj tournys as possible, and then a few MT fights before I have my first mma match. I figured this would definately help me get used to competition and having people watch me. I did on another note train no gi grappling last summer for about 3 months before I got married. I've been training now since jan gi 3x a week, and no gi/takedowns 1x. I feel like I've improved a ton in the past couple of weeks, but either way I guess I have a 50% chance of running into a new guy thats not that good or an experienced whitebelt/wrestler. I'm going to have my wife take a vid so I'll post it after. Thanks guys!

 

[mrsneakyz28]

which tourney is this?

this is the copanova in northern va.

 

[2om30]

Listen for your name to be called... and make sure you go to the right mat.

 

[Freeman102010]

So how about food the day of...

I'm doing my first tourney this weekend. beginner - no gi tourney.

I'll be right at the top of my weight class. I'll eat a bit of oats and some coffee before I weigh in.

Is it bad etiquette to pack a lunch with some fruit and maybe a PB&J sandwich if I know I have a while before my matches?

 

[onepointeighty]

So how about food the day of...

I'm doing my first tourney this weekend. beginner - no gi tourney.

I'll be right at the top of my weight class. I'll eat a bit of oats and some coffee before I weigh in.

Is it bad etiquette to pack a lunch with some fruit and maybe a PB&J sandwich if I know I have a while before my matches?

not at all man, deff pack a lunch any food to be bought at the tourney is most likely garbage

 

[stllmn8j]

not at all man, deff pack a lunch any food to be bought at the tourney is most likely garbage

Tournament food is always crappy as far as wrestling goes,so I would think its the same for this

 

[Sloth]

Good luck!

For your first few tournaments, imo it's a good idea to go in with no expectations and just have as good a time as possible while trying to get yourself acclimated to the tournament environment. It's about getting over nerves and getting a level of comfort competing, imo. Everyone says "I want to go in there and smash everyone and win!" and this does happen sometimes, and it's cool if it does; but it's more important to get that experience than it is to think about winning.

For food, I bring cashews/peanuts, bananas, gatorade and pretzels. Water also. It's enough to keep my energy up without weighing me down.

 

[warhenry**]

try a flying armbar/guillotine on everyone. that's all i ever did...that and i butt-scooted a lot. never placed anything worse than 2nd.

 

[Freeman102010]

not at all man, deff pack a lunch any food to be bought at the tourney is most likely garbage

Tournament food is always crappy as far as wrestling goes,so I would think its the same for this

For food, I bring cashews/peanuts, bananas, gatorade and pretzels. Water also. It's enough to keep my energy up without weighing me down.

Thanks for the advice; it is much appreciated.

 

[Freeman102010]

Just to update you guys I did well in my tournament.

went 2-2. I lost to the guys who got 1st and 2nd, making me finish third (it was a small division).

Thanks folks.