The good fight hosted another one of their events. I am glad to say I took part, and that I am able to walk away from the experience with the knowledge of knowing I need to do a lot more work! Follow me as I share my experience.

I started doing Brazilian Jiu jitsu at the end of 2010. Since then, my love of the sport has grown immensely and so has the popularity for the sport across the world. Not so much, that I drive around with a “Tapout” sticker on my car, not that there is anything wrong with that, but that I am constantly thinking what would have been a better technique to follow the last. If you don’t do any martial art it is hard to understand what I mean, and yet I’m sure you do. If you don’t understand, stop now and go onto the next blog, if so continue on. I liken the sport of Brazilian Jiu jitsu to the board game of chess. “Physical chess”. Physical chess in that your constantly thinking of your next move, like making music, hit that wrong note and lights out, hit the right note and sweet music
follows.

I competed in the executive matches in the -215 lb bracket.  There were a few in my bracket, which I like. The thought of going up against more than three opponents, makes my lungs go, “what the hell?” That is what my lungs would say if they could talk. What that means is I have to work harder on my conditioning. Anyway, I learned that all the practice you do in the gym, is half of the work. The other half is controlling your nerves and focusing on  your goals.

I went the tournament with one of my fellow teammates. We have been training for a while now in a couple of martial arts, Judo and BJJ. I learned that having a powerful throw is great! Yet just as import or more, in the game of BJJ, is the control after the take down. That is huge! After a throw you have to control your opponent on the ground for minimum of two seconds to earn the two points for the take down. You can also start off with an advantage mentally and by points. I started a pair of matches with a couple of big clean throws that would have scored me a Ippon in any Judo match, but I was not at a Shiai, I was at a BJJ tournament.

Here was the beginning of my second match. My opponent takes a low body grip. He attempts to shoots in for a single leg attempt.

I turned him and countered with a big Sumi gaeshi. After the throw I was not able to control on the ground and my opponent escaped from my side control attempt out-of-bounds to restart from standing.

Here is my teammate, displaying a good example of ground control and transition to earn seven points in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition.

Here is Bruce in the white gi.  He has a good north-south control. He then attempts a north-south choke but blue gi defends. White gi maintains control.

White gi maintains control to earn three points for side control. White gi begins to transition to more dominant position.

White gi successfully moves from side control to “the mount.” The mount is the most dominant position in BJJ. Achieving the mount earns you four points.

BJJ is arguably the best grappling martial art. It is best known for its strong submissions. It is practiced by many, from professional athletes to the every day blue-collar worker world-wide.  It is a great way to relieve stress and burns crazy amounts of calories as an exercise.  I learned that having a good take down is good, but control is paramount to the game.  The throw is a great way to start the match psychologically but the position and control is just as important as the finish.

I want to thank all my training partners and teammates.  Time to go back and train some more and get ready for the next competition.  Workout, drink be merry.