What do we take from comp performances?

Well in recent times I have had a few comps where I have a had some successes. The great thing about competing is that you are forced to work under maximum pressure your margin for error is greatly reduced. In addition the pressure makes it very difficult to think clearly so that you can usually only pull off things that you have done enough reps of to really concrete into your game.

Usually after I roll I am able to recall the bout and what went well and what didn't, I find it harder to do in comps though because of the pressure that I mentioned. When I am able to picture certain things that happen in comp bouts through I can usually be pretty happy that I must have a good understanding of any of the moves that I had success with. For example in the recent 2009 Tasmanian Champions Cup I finished matches with, among other things: a Triangle/Arm bar combination, a Clock Choke and various Figure 4 arm locks. I also pulled off a few half guard sweeps, an X Guard sweep and a Hooks Guard Pass I have been working on. Whilst I am not the best in the world at any of these techniques, I am happy to know that they are hard wired enough to work for me even under pressure.


What do I learn from this defeat to Jim Reid? Even if you tap you still sometimes go to sleep.

Anyway the two most recent comps I have been in are:

The Hybrid "No-Gi" grappling tournament in Sep 2009 in which I came third in the heavy weight division.

The 2009 Tasmanian Champions Cup in which I came third in the Purple Belt division (open weight) and won all fights in the team event, my team of 6 also won the event. - As a side note the winner of the Purple Belt Division was my good friend Jim Reid, who was awarded his Brown Belt shortly after the comp by his coaches Mario Yokoyama and Adriano Magnani of Gracie Oceania. Congratulations Jim, really well deserved!

The next comp will be another Hybrid No Gi comp in Feb 2010, hopefully I can place at that one as well, but if not I am sure it will be a good development for me at least.

Anyway I am off, keep on grappling and stay safe.