The Most Important Reason to Compete

It is in the preparation for a tournament that you learn the most about yourself; how strong, disciplined, committed, and resilient you are. The process of preparing allows you to dig deep and challenge your limits. Many experienced athletes and professors agree that preparing for a match brings out the best in us and is a powerful tool for personal development.

In our last blog, we gave you: "4 Reasons That Every Jiu-Jitsu Student Should Compete"

1. Push yourself out of your comfort zone
2. Strengthen your technical skills & knowledge
3. Accelerate your learning curve
4. Develop deeper connections with your GB Team

But, the most important reason is for your personal development. 

The biggest lessons are learned in the journey of preparation. It is through the process of training that we learn more about ourselves and our Jiu-Jitsu. Every practitioner - regardless of age or experience - should engage in some form of competition. 

Signing up for a tournament and making that commitment changes everything in your training. Your focus and determination are enhanced, knowing there will be an unknown person on the other side who might be more challenging than what you’ve experienced. This, with the added pressure of an audience, will show you what you’re made of. 

As we prepare, we must battle our demons: fear & insecurity. 

1. Embrace these as motivators to improve your daily habits. 
2. Make sure you feed only positivity into your mind. 
3. Avoid energy on things that grab your attention but aren’t relevant. 
4. Push harder in your workouts and get the proper sleep and nutrition needed. 

You will become more disciplined in your daily choices, this is the greatest accomplishment we can earn, not a medal.

Through this experience, you learn the most about yourself; how strong, disciplined, committed, and resilient you are. The process of preparing for a tournament allows you to dig deep and challenge your limits. Many experienced athletes and professors agree that preparing for a match brings out the best in us and is a powerful tool for personal development.

As a GB Student, consider the role that competition can play in your Jiu-Jitsu journey. 

Bookmark our blog so you can get the latest on competition best practices and insights, and stay tuned for upcoming CompNet events in your region.

Written by Mark Mullen - Gracie Barra Black Belt