Had my first Jiu Jitsu competition a month ago now, what an experience! I've only been training for 3 months but decided to enter a State championship just for the hell of it.
I obviously competed against white belts, and decided to compete at Featherweight (67 kilos)... This was so many first experiences. I trained 5 days a week, got my cardio through the roof and went down from 73 kilos. I had to get up at 5 for the competition, we had a little team from our rural town going to the city to compete. I was convinced I was 2 kilos under the night before and had a plate size steak with eggs and hash to celebrate. I then went through the stress of wondering if my scale was accurate or not, this lasted the whole trip.
Weighed in at 65.5, no stress at all, and the guy I was meant to have a match with came in overweight. This meant I went straight ahead to the second round, against a guy who was lucky enough to score a bye so was coming in as fresh as me.
This guy was slightly shorter then me, but looked big, and calm.. It clearly wasn't his first competition... The whole comp was in a stadium and we were given 5 minutes notice. That 5 minutes notice ended up being what felt like hours (it was about half an hour)... I warmed up with my coach, cooled down, warmed up, cooled down, uncertain and a little peeved at when I was going to have my shot. I said a little prayer and then decided to just relax and watch the matches.
Eventually our time came up, and God... I've performed on stage all my life, in professional shows, in front of cameras, in front of audiences of thousands.. But nothing compares to the nerves I felt in the minutes before my match. Finally we were called onto the mat.
The other guy looked calm and relaxed, I tried to maintain the impression that I wasn't going crazy with nerves, I didn't smile, or try to look tough, before I knew it we high fived and it began....
Nerves got the better of me and I immediately jumped in an attempt to pull guard, he went for a take down at the same time and (accidentally) punched me in the jaw on the way down. I just couldn't relax, and in no time he was in full guard, trying to wear me out and wait for me to make another mistake. At this point, I started to relax.. I had been there before and began to try and work out how to get out of there. Eventually I managed to hook his arm and leg (he didn't realise I had the leg I think) and sweep him into full guard.
Unfortunately, my inexperience kicked in here. I have always been rubbish at getting out of full guard and spent way too much time there. I could feel him working his legs for a triangle attempt and I stood up to prevent it. There is a recording of our match and you can't see it, but at this point I managed to give him trouble at last... By pushing my forearm against his throat, giving him no room to move or breathe and forcing him to use his hands to try and get out of it.
But again, inexperience kicked in and I couldn't pass his guard, he made a very good attempt at an arm bar from the guard and very nearly had me... But almost automatically I got out of it before he could sink it in and got back into his guard. Soon enough he tried for another one and I escaped it again, causing a scramble that ended with him back on top.
I was warned for grabbing the shorts (which by the way, happened without me realising it, I used to hate on Silva for doing it to Sonnen but now that I see what its like I can't blame him), and before I knew it time ran out and the match was over.
Through dominant position control the other guy won on points, and so he should, he fought the better game and I have a lot to learn. I spent the rest of the day watching match after match, meeting trainers and other competitors and having an amazing time. The guy I fought ended up winning in the Featherweights, winning one of his matches by DQ and submitting everyone else. I later looked him up and found out he also won last year!
After the match, my coach told me he was proud, and in the moment I simply said "I'll fucking wreck him next time". I hope some of you guys compete someday, it was an incredible experience I wont ever forget and it made me hungry. I loved the thrill of competition, I loved the training, the weight control, the day itself. I plan to compete again and again, and (much) later down the track, I hope to have an MMA bout or two.
Since then I have moved to the city and have started training at a more serious full time gym, Muay Thai, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu... I've fallen in love and I have been overwhelmed with the amount of talent compared to where I come from, as well as just how much I have learnt in the last month alone (like how to pass the fucking guard).
I just wanted to share this experience with you guys, I've decided to give full time training a go while I'm young, and so far I'm having an amazing time.
Was really satisfying to see Hunt win again, Gomi was robbed, I personally enjoyed Machida Vs Hendo though I doubt I'd watch it again. I'm also rather let down that Frankie lost his fight with Aldo, but he gave it everything he had and I'm glad for that.
