should i fight?

so last night at class i see these fliers on the counter for a tournament coming up......i read the flier and see that there is an mma division at this tournament, open to whomever wants to compete.....the rules as i understand them so far are strikes allowed while standing, once you clinch or tie up then strikes are illegal, and there are no strikes on the ground. You can try to break from the clinch or get back to standing from the ground if you wish and continue fighting.

I think to myself, wow this sounds like fun maybe i will do it, but then i look at the date and it is going to be next saturday! last night was the first night i have gone to class for a month, b/c of a strained neck muscle. I have trained on and off for about 1.5 years at different BJJ places, but this new place ive been going to is the first place that has placed just as much importance on a solid stand up game as well as ground and i have only been to this place a handfull of times. 1.5 years sounds like a long time but when i say off and on i really mean it.....kids/wife/work means only going to class when i have a chance which has been sometimes only 2 or 3 times a month. I am starting to go more often to this new place and before i messed up my neck i was going 2-3 times a week b/c its closer to my house.

So my question to you guys is this.....is it suicide for me to sign up for this comp with only a week to train? I know the hardest part of this fight will be the nerves and believe me they are already present and i havent even decided on whether or not i will compete! I have never even entered a regular BJJ tournament before so is it foolish to dive in head first and compete in this mma comp? Im nervouse just thinking about it but i know one thing for sure and thats if i do not compete, i will wish i had, i know if i do it then my confidence will sky rocket just from haveing the guts to do it, but am i more likely to do more harm to my body then good to my ego/self esteem?

 

Jump in. Tell us how it goes

 

Well, first, that isn't MMA. It's probably a modified Sport Jujitsu or even a modified Modified Pankration event.

But on to the actual question... I say try it out. You won't get hurt, because you just have to clinch to avoid strikes. Don't put too much emphasis on winning or losing, and your pride will be unhurt. And you will lose. Some guys have probably been training a few months for that event, to be in top condition. You have one week. So do it for the experience, not the victory.

 

*Edit*

 

*Edit*

 

this isn't mma if you can't strike on the ground or in the clinch but try it anyway its good experience win or loose ... first time is by far the hardest as far as being nervous or we but once you get in the ring you'll forget all about it

 

Did i mention that they will also be haveing a no-gi comp? I have never even competed in a BJJ tourny before would it be wise to start off doing a BJJ comp as opposed to incorporating strikes right off the bat? or would it not matter much?

 

That depends on what you train, and how long you've trained for.
If you feel confident in your own abilities, you should do it. None of us have seen you train, we don't even know what you train. If you feel you can do it, then do it. If not, then don't.

 

if your conditioning is good and you have trust to your skills go for it... if not wait until you are better and ready.

 

agreed

 

Go for it.

 

Have you ever competed in a combat sport (judo/wrestling/boxing/kickboxing) before? If not, unless you have tons of sparring (striking) experience or get into a lot of fights, you should probably cut your teeth on something a little gentler than this mma-style tournament.

 

just do it.

 

you're not ready yet. but do it if you want to.