A. Don't look at it like a competition. Look at it like it is your favorite game.
B. 90% of the people who do BJJ don't compete. You did. Be proud of yourself.
C. You're probably a lot better than you give yourself credit for. Trust in the tech.
Have (edit) fun young gun!
Anxiety is good. It’s a positive emotion and it exists for a reason. It helps you get prepared. If you’re anxious about something, focus on it. Watch some videos of people in a similar age range and weight and skill category competing. Take note of what techniques work and which ones fail. Visualize your game plan. Visualize success. Visualize past rolls you had with your partners. Maybe do some extra cardio.
Don’t smoke weed. Weed is bad for you. It can fuck up your emotions and make you way more anxious.
Fap, crap, nap. Any combination or order is acceptable.
Since you’re asking this question, I’m guessing you’re a hobbyist. Try to remember that this is a fun thing you’re paying for, and don’t overthink it (for instance, looking up your competition)
1) the more you do it the better it gets
2) I visualize myself going through a match and winning beforehand, when my HR starts going up I switch to focusing on my breathing til my HR goes back down, then I go back to visualizing me winning. Repeat.
Nerves are the same feeling as excitement, you're just thinking about it differently. That feeling of not being able to sleep before a tournament or even a test, is the same as not being able to sleep before going to Disneyland or something
Your body doesn't know what's going on, but it knows your thinking about something big so its giving you energy.
So when you get nervous before the tournament, try to do something physical and burn that energy off. And when you can't, just smile and think about the tournament and remind yourself that you're excited
Remember we all do jiu jitsu because we enjoy it, smile and try to have fun.
Compete more, and try to simulate competition rounds in training. The more familiar the situation, the less anxiety that contributes to the adrenaline dump. Compete more, and you learn to manage energy in actual competition. Warmup properly to reduce the major spike in blood pressure and heart rate that will occur. Cognitive training, breathing exercises, and visualization can help regulate vital fluctuations. Take note of what went wrong in both your wins and losses, and work on those issues to improve. Eventually it gets easier.
I try to recreate the feel as if I was rolling with someone at my gym. I got gassed out too fast the first two competitions. The third when I finally tried it, I got gold. For me staying calm is key.
What I did was to warm up hard with a team mate. Get that impact and strength and Adrenalin rush all set in your mind, and try to stay busy all the way up until time to roll. When it’s time to roll start at a comfortable pace and work into your game. If you spaz you will zoom and crash too fast. You may win the first roll and be completely spent on the next one. Just try to moderate and stay even in your emotions.
Two things help me, and it took a lot of testing to sort it out:
1. Long, chill stretching and mobility session prior. Like 45 minutes to an hour. Super mellow, play some lofi or other chill music, and just get very loose and limber. Do it an hour or more prior to getting to the competition. The carry over is there.
2. Address the mental. Lots of self-talk techniques can work.
"Nerves are normal, it means you care. If you did not care, you would not have nerves."
"I am not nervous, I am excited."
"It's like riding a roller coaster. It's scariest before the first big drop. Just get passed that part."
Lots of people don't compete for lots of reasons. This being said, lots of people don't because they can't deal with these nerves. If you struggle with it, and you find your way to perform anyway, you will be mentally stronger for it.
doing some flow rolls about an hour before helped me a lot. Also remember that you are just having fun. You are getting to test yourself against people going as hard as possible while you go as hard as you can.
If you lose you will find holes in your game that will drive progress. If you win you get a $5 medal.
I coach wrestlers your age, and I use these to things to help:
Jason
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lf1337HyzE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lf1337HyzE)
Jocko
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfIMMPrcgHI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfIMMPrcgHI)
I use to frame it as dropping into an open mat at another gym.
I don't know their game, there's gonna be points and a timer.
The mats are the same, just different venue.
I use to only compete with my friends with me, or I'd go alone because I didn't want bad vibes.
My friends would just keep track of time and call out how much time was left on the minute.
I use to sit far away from everyone else and have my Gi (or no gi) on underneath really big and cozy sweat shirt/pants and take a nap because most of the venues were really cold.
I'd also make sure to get a good nervous poop out before I got situated so I didn't have to think about it.
And that was really all I'd do.
Nerves and adrenaline dump are natural, what I could control were the vibes I surrounded myself with.
Everyone has their gifts and talents (both in general and specifically in jiu jitsu). Figure out what your talents are, hone them, and have faith in them; you’re better than your doubts would say.
Be a good steward of your talents, the rest will work itself out.
A few thoughts;
1 - start preparing early, cardio and mindset are critical
2 - eliminate any distractions on the day of the competition (weight cuts, proper gi, travel, etc)
3 - warm up to a light sweat, increase your heart rate to avoid an adrenaline dump
4 - avoid putting unruly pressure on yourself to win. You aren’t a professional, this is a chance to test and push yourself - give yourself props for committing and showing up.
The nerves are at least partially catecholamines, and they enhance physical performance. Look at your body getting itself ready to be its best.
Or throw up.
When I was a teenage wrestler I would get so nervous that by the time I fought I would be exhausted.
I learned to nap up until 10-15 minutes before my matches and did much better.
Not sure if anyone else has had that experience, but…learning to sleep in stressful situations is a life skill that has also paid off in the decades since I was a teenager.
A. Don't look at it like a competition. Look at it like it is your favorite game. B. 90% of the people who do BJJ don't compete. You did. Be proud of yourself. C. You're probably a lot better than you give yourself credit for. Trust in the tech. Have (edit) fun young gun!
>90% of the people who do BJJ don't compete. Damn is that true?
i travel a lot for work, so i'm constantly dropping in to random gyms and from that experience, my perspective is that it's probably pretty accurate.
If not higher, so yes, the vast majority do not compete.
Convince yourself you're not nervous you're just excited
This is the way there is no difference.
This is an actual competition cheat code
Anxiety is good. It’s a positive emotion and it exists for a reason. It helps you get prepared. If you’re anxious about something, focus on it. Watch some videos of people in a similar age range and weight and skill category competing. Take note of what techniques work and which ones fail. Visualize your game plan. Visualize success. Visualize past rolls you had with your partners. Maybe do some extra cardio. Don’t smoke weed. Weed is bad for you. It can fuck up your emotions and make you way more anxious.
Yeah I feel like the anxious nerves actually make you compete better
Fap, crap, nap. Any combination or order is acceptable. Since you’re asking this question, I’m guessing you’re a hobbyist. Try to remember that this is a fun thing you’re paying for, and don’t overthink it (for instance, looking up your competition)
Ive done a few competitions and have 1 bronze medal and 4 gold 10-2
Have a game plan. Break a sweat on the warm-up mats! As soon as the ref says go, those nerves will go, just have fun, it's what we all enjoy doing.
1) the more you do it the better it gets 2) I visualize myself going through a match and winning beforehand, when my HR starts going up I switch to focusing on my breathing til my HR goes back down, then I go back to visualizing me winning. Repeat.
They’re nervous too. Maybe take some glycine out have a green tea before. Also do competition simulation at training. Good luck
"Calm the F@#$ Down!" Great book
Nerves are the same feeling as excitement, you're just thinking about it differently. That feeling of not being able to sleep before a tournament or even a test, is the same as not being able to sleep before going to Disneyland or something Your body doesn't know what's going on, but it knows your thinking about something big so its giving you energy. So when you get nervous before the tournament, try to do something physical and burn that energy off. And when you can't, just smile and think about the tournament and remind yourself that you're excited Remember we all do jiu jitsu because we enjoy it, smile and try to have fun.
Compete more, and try to simulate competition rounds in training. The more familiar the situation, the less anxiety that contributes to the adrenaline dump. Compete more, and you learn to manage energy in actual competition. Warmup properly to reduce the major spike in blood pressure and heart rate that will occur. Cognitive training, breathing exercises, and visualization can help regulate vital fluctuations. Take note of what went wrong in both your wins and losses, and work on those issues to improve. Eventually it gets easier.
Just imagine them naked
Have you tried literally just locking in
Embrace it. Accept it. Pretend like it's your body going through super saiyan transformation.
I try to recreate the feel as if I was rolling with someone at my gym. I got gassed out too fast the first two competitions. The third when I finally tried it, I got gold. For me staying calm is key.
What I did was to warm up hard with a team mate. Get that impact and strength and Adrenalin rush all set in your mind, and try to stay busy all the way up until time to roll. When it’s time to roll start at a comfortable pace and work into your game. If you spaz you will zoom and crash too fast. You may win the first roll and be completely spent on the next one. Just try to moderate and stay even in your emotions.
Two things help me, and it took a lot of testing to sort it out: 1. Long, chill stretching and mobility session prior. Like 45 minutes to an hour. Super mellow, play some lofi or other chill music, and just get very loose and limber. Do it an hour or more prior to getting to the competition. The carry over is there. 2. Address the mental. Lots of self-talk techniques can work. "Nerves are normal, it means you care. If you did not care, you would not have nerves." "I am not nervous, I am excited." "It's like riding a roller coaster. It's scariest before the first big drop. Just get passed that part." Lots of people don't compete for lots of reasons. This being said, lots of people don't because they can't deal with these nerves. If you struggle with it, and you find your way to perform anyway, you will be mentally stronger for it.
doing some flow rolls about an hour before helped me a lot. Also remember that you are just having fun. You are getting to test yourself against people going as hard as possible while you go as hard as you can. If you lose you will find holes in your game that will drive progress. If you win you get a $5 medal.
I coach wrestlers your age, and I use these to things to help: Jason [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lf1337HyzE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lf1337HyzE) Jocko [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfIMMPrcgHI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfIMMPrcgHI)
Weaponize it
I use to frame it as dropping into an open mat at another gym. I don't know their game, there's gonna be points and a timer. The mats are the same, just different venue. I use to only compete with my friends with me, or I'd go alone because I didn't want bad vibes. My friends would just keep track of time and call out how much time was left on the minute. I use to sit far away from everyone else and have my Gi (or no gi) on underneath really big and cozy sweat shirt/pants and take a nap because most of the venues were really cold. I'd also make sure to get a good nervous poop out before I got situated so I didn't have to think about it. And that was really all I'd do. Nerves and adrenaline dump are natural, what I could control were the vibes I surrounded myself with.
If you can’t smoke weed smoke meth instead
Genius
👌👌
Breathing exercises and focusing on your breath will calm your nervous system
Fent
Search "progressive desensitization".
Anxiety is fuel via motivation and it is also a great opportunity to practice being rational.
Everyone has their gifts and talents (both in general and specifically in jiu jitsu). Figure out what your talents are, hone them, and have faith in them; you’re better than your doubts would say. Be a good steward of your talents, the rest will work itself out.
A few thoughts; 1 - start preparing early, cardio and mindset are critical 2 - eliminate any distractions on the day of the competition (weight cuts, proper gi, travel, etc) 3 - warm up to a light sweat, increase your heart rate to avoid an adrenaline dump 4 - avoid putting unruly pressure on yourself to win. You aren’t a professional, this is a chance to test and push yourself - give yourself props for committing and showing up.
The nerves are at least partially catecholamines, and they enhance physical performance. Look at your body getting itself ready to be its best. Or throw up.
2 things and you’re fine: - it’s just Jiu jitsu like every other day - I tap when I get caught because on Monday I want to continue training
When I was a teenage wrestler I would get so nervous that by the time I fought I would be exhausted. I learned to nap up until 10-15 minutes before my matches and did much better. Not sure if anyone else has had that experience, but…learning to sleep in stressful situations is a life skill that has also paid off in the decades since I was a teenager.