No matter where you are on your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey – if you’ve been training for only a couple of months or if you’ve been at it for a few years – it’s a good idea to go out there and compete. You don’t have to turn competition into a habit nor do you have to be extraordinarily successful in tournaments… But what’s important is that you gain the competition experience; there’s nothing quite like it!
So, if you’re looking to compete for the first time ever, then you should listen to these 6 tips. They will be of huge help.

6 TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST COMPETITION

Tip #1: if this is your first time competing, don’t cut weight. You don’t need to do it; just go into the division which goes hand-in-hand with your current weight. There will be time for weight-cut experimentation later on, with experience – but for now, don’t needlessly complicate it.

Tip #2: don’t change your diet prior to the tournament. If you’re used to eating certain things (and they haven’t been working badly for you), continue eating them. Changing what you eat before the tournament is almost never a good idea, as it could surprise your energy levels – as well as your stomach.

Tip #3: perform a good warmup before the match starts. Don’t just do the “regular” warmups either, but throw in a roll or two. This will make sure not only that your joints and muscles are ready, but also that some of the adrenaline is within control.

Tip #4: be open-minded about your game plan. You’ll feel tempted to go into the match with a certain “idea” of how it will go down. And, while you should have a game plan in mind, understand that your opponent will have one as well. So, be ready to improvise and just go with the flow.

Tip #5: focus on learning. In your first couple of competitions, your focus shouldn’t be on winning… Rather, it needs to be on gaining experience and learning from it.

Tip #6: have fun. You’ll train BJJ, hopefully, for a lifetime. So, as you step onto the mats to compete, make sure that your ultimate goal is to enjoy yourself.