Mindset: Competition v.s. Cooperation

Every Gracie Barra member should see themselves as competitors, it’s not just an elite group within the school. Everyone should express their competitiveness through training, sparring, but also through organized competition in tournaments. This is one of the reasons why most GB Professors highly recommend students compete - especially in the GB CompNet Tournaments. They offer a friendly and safe environment. Competing with other Gracie Barra members, stimulating the competitive environment, and allowing you to grow and get better together.

Last week we shared the most important reason to compete is for your personal development. Through the process of preparation, we learn more about ourselves and instill a stronger sense of discipline in our daily habits. 

When we bring our best and stick to our disciplines we have the power to mutually benefit one another, pushing and encouraging ourselves and our training partners to meet new challenges. 

This is “Jita-Kyoei” (ji-ta-key-oy) part of the philosophy of the original judo by Prof. Jigoro Kano.* 

“Nothing is more important than living prosperously together. If everyone acts with the spirit of mutual cooperation, each person's work benefits not only himself, but also others, and attaining this together will bring mutual happiness.”

A lot of people view competition and cooperation as opposites. But if we pay attention we can learn that they are complimentary. We cannot excel as a Martial Artist or Human unless we are able to both cooperate and compete cohesively. 

Competition is often framed as being “against” another person or team, but if we consider “Jita-Kyoei”, we are competing “with”. This mindset reflects a level of cooperation of working together to continually improve.

Being competitive doesn't mean you are trying to impose or be better than someone else. Being a good competitor means you are willing to confront someone that is as good as you; willing to put yourself through the pressure in order to stretch the limits of your emotional, physical and technical capacity.

Every Gracie Barra member should see themselves as competitors, it’s not just an elite group within the school. Everyone should express their competitiveness through training, sparring, but also through organized competition in tournaments. 

This is one of the reasons why most GB Professors highly recommend students compete - especially in the GB CompNet Tournaments. They offer a friendly and safe environment. Competing with other Gracie Barra members, stimulating the competitive environment, and allowing you to grow and get better together.

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.

Blog Written by Mark Mullen - Gracie Barra Black Belt

*Source: http://kodokanjudoinstitute.org/en/doctrine/word/jita-kyoei/