Make BJJ Competitions Fun By Focusing On Yourself
I was asked recently, “Since you’re popular on Youtube now, does it make you more nervous to do Bjj competitions?”
I answer this question with a quick “No.”
In my younger days it would have. I remember being nervous several times when I had large crowds of my students there to watch me compete. It made me incredibly nervous. But now I’m in it for me. I compete for myself. By signing up, it’s a test I purposely create for myself. This focus on myself has made BJJ competitions a lot more fun and enjoyable.
True growth can only come through stress. When we are tested. When pressure is placed upon our shoulders. And we choose to look within ourselves for the inner resolve to overcome. Competitions (with all of their ups and downs) are merely a vehicle to continue this growth.
(I talk about this idea of needing to challenge yourself in order to discover who you really are and what you’re capable of in this video)
The Competition Yesterday
Yesterday during my match. There was nearly 40 years of grappling and competition collectively between us.
Before and after the match we were as friendly as can be, sharing stories of our humble beginnings in the martial art, how we got started and what brought us there that day.
But during the match we were there, locked in a contest against one another. Hearts pumping, sweat dripping, muscles firing as we grab wrists, necks and struggled to best the other.
Deep down I though I suspect we both know that these BJJ competitions, it’s about testing ourselves individually. I’m there for my own growth and he’s there for his.
The Beautiful Give and Take of BJJ Competitions
Anyone who has competed knows that Bjj competitions make you better. They test you in a way that is hard to do in the gym. To me this is the real value in them for most grapplers.
It’s kind of a beautiful thing really. We are all running on a organic machines with a finite amount of uses. The bodies we navigate the landscape of this martial art and world around us are in a perpetual state of decay and breakdown. So that match, on that day with out bodies the way they were can only happen ONCE!
What I’m getting at is that when you compete. You are locked in a dance of give and take with our opponents. You give a piece of yourself to your opponent and they give a piece of themselves to you. You give your best to them on that day and they do the same.
If you look at it this way, the utmost respect should be given to each other. You are voluntarily giving yourselves to the other to allow each other to improve and grow.
And one of the beautiful parts about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is that after the dust is settled and the match is over. We can usually lock hands with our opponents in a sign of mutual admiration for the other.
When I compete. I don’t get off by standing overtop of another person. I’m not there to flex on someone, and I don’t compete to prove I’m better than this person or that person.
I Compete in BJJ For Myself
If you’ve watch my matches that are on Youtube. If I win. I calmly stand and accept the ref’s decision to raise my hand. I don’t yell, I don’t scream. I accept the nod. If I choose to celebrate, it will be among my teammates later on inside of our gym.
Because the win that I experienced was not about beating this person. I don’t feel some sort of joy by beating another human being. I was never there for them anyways, I was there for myself.
When I win a match I feel a sense of relief. It’s over. . . and once again I proved to myself what I am capable of. I prove to myself that my style works. I proved to myself that my drills leading up to the match were effective. But it’s always about proving something to myself. Not to another person.
If I feel some sort of joy rise up after a big win. It’s only because of what the whole thing meant to ME, not anyone else.
Don’t Compete in BJJ For Someone Else
I receive so many messages from people new to competitions. And they send messages about how they’re out there to prove their skills to their coaches, training partners, etc.
And these people will find, just like I did when I was younger, that prove what you will to whomever you wish. It will never be enough. You can use the idea of proving yourself to others as short term fuel but it will never truly satisfy you. Eventually you have to look inward and realize that YOU were what made all of that possible.
Rack up all the medals and submissions you want. You eventually have to come to the realization that this is about you. We are a part of teams and organizations. But when you compete it’s a test to YOU, it’s a chance for YOU to grow.
I use to walk on the mats with my mind on my coaches judging my performance, on what team my opponent was from, on the crowd watching me and so on. And this is a terrible way to go at the whole thing. Your mind should be in the moment and only concerned with your performance because of what it means to you and your game.
Create Your Own Path
You are the creator of your own path. And being being worried about everyone else will only pull you away from the path you’re meant to discover.
I share this because as I’ve become older, and maybe more wise, the focus on myself has relieved a lot of the nerves, anxiety and made Bjj competitions a lot more fun.
Everyone’s approach is different. I know others look at competitions differently. But this is the way I choose to see them and the way that has been most useful for myself. So, I hope the idea is useful to you as well. And I believe by focusing and building up yourself. You can serve yourself and those around you in a far more profound way.
-Chewy
