trouble winning in tournaments

[benonmsn]

[M-Tri]

you get better at competing by competing... taking a year off from competition doesn't make any sense to me.

[JKDChick]

Eeee ... I actually think it might be a good idea to take some time off. Sound like you're beating yourself right now, not losing fights. You're mentally convinced you should be "better" and when you're not, you lose confidence.

When you guys spar in class, do you go at a decent pace?

[RobT]

Difference is, when you spar guys in your class you know them, you know how they grapple, you know what to expect, you're in a comfortable environment and no-one else cares if you tap them or get tapped. This will mean you will be calm and relaxed when you fight, you'll think clearly and you'll be able to grapple at your very best level.

In a competition you have no idea what to expect, your opponent could be looking to pull guard or take you down. You are being watched by strangers and your friends/teammates are there and you know they all want you to win. It's totally different.

When I first started competing, I couldn't fight anywhere near what I could do in training, and like you I found it frustrating. For me, it was just a case of getting more experience of competing so I could relax in competition and fight my best.

I think, other important points for competing;

- you have to start immediately. Don't be slow getting grips or think pulling guard will be easy like it might by in class. As soon as the fight starts, attack for whatever you want.

- always take the fight to them. Try to be the one attacking at all times. In training it doesn't matter, you can let off for a bit and have fun with positions while looking for new stuff etc. In competition you can't ever give your opponent anything.

- plan everything you need the day before. You should be able to be relaxed while waiting to fight, you shouldn't have to be looking for drink/food/kneepads etc.

[Kintanon]

Also, if you don't enjoy the competition and are constantly worrying about losing and thinking, "I can't wait to get out of here and go get a beer..." then you aren't focused on your matches. You won't be putting 100% into it.
Think about why you have such a fear of/problem with losing and try to work through it. If you aren't worrying about anything other than doing then absolute best you can do you'll have a better chance of winning. If you're distracted by worries then you're that much closer to losing.

[Jadonblade]

Possible solutions:

A) You are not as shit hot as you think you are.
B) When competing you think to much about not losing rather than trying to win.
C) You have been unlucky.
D) Your strategy might not be good for competition.

[fanatical]

Compete and lose until you don't care about losing.

[wakinonioi]

How did you do when you were wrestling?

[benonmsn]

Difference is, when you spar guys in your class you know them, you know how they grapple, you know what to expect, you're in a comfortable environment......

In a competition you have no idea what to expect, your opponent could be looking to pull guard or take you down. You are being watched by strangers and your friends/teammates are there and you know they all want you to win. It's totally different.

- you have to start immediately. Don't be slow getting grips or think pulling guard will be easy like it might by in class. As soon as the fight starts, attack for whatever you want.

- always take the fight to them. Try to be the one attacking at all times. In training it doesn't matter, you can let off for a bit and have fun with positions while looking for new stuff etc. In competition you can't ever give your opponent anything.

.

Thank you for posting. i cut out some of the spot on points you posted. i think you just nailed it 100% I am pretty relaxed in class, shrugging off most peoples attacks, countering, and establishing a dominant position. i think becuase i know all of them, i have developed a more laxidazical style, and this is hurting me with people i dont know, who are trying to kill me (competitions). I am definatly not the one fighting at first, rather waiting on them.
I am good about being relaxed before competing, but i think probably to relaxed.

All of your points were spot on.
I dont know why i developed this from bjj, but in wrestling never fell into this sort of bad habit

Thanks very much.

[benonmsn]

Also, if you don't enjoy the competition and are constantly worrying about losing and thinking, "I can't wait to get out of here and go get a beer..." then you aren't focused on your matches. You won't be putting 100% into it.
Think about why you have such a fear of/problem with losing and try to work through it. If you aren't worrying about anything other than doing then absolute best you can do you'll have a better chance of winning. If you're distracted by worries then you're that much closer to losing.

During the fights i am thinking of how to win and what to do. i dont really get down on myself or worry about the outcome untill the match is over. i am pretty confident during my matches, which is attributing towards my way to relaxed approach

[benonmsn]

Possible solutions:

C) You have been unlucky.
D) Your strategy might not be good for competition.

I think these 2 are very true. a combination of fighting people who are a lot better then me, and having a bad relaxed style

[benonmsn]

How did you do when you were wrestling?

decently. in high school i was able to go a few rounds into state championships all 4 years. i also was an active competitor, and winner with USA wrestling for almost 10 years

[PointyShinyBurn]

Compete and lose until you don't care about losing.

Might take a while. I've been losing for a year or so now, it still fucking burns each and every time.

[KayRoc]

Ratchet up the intensity for a few rolls per night, spar with someone who you know can go toe to toe with you/might be a bit better. Have someone cornering you, and go all out with your A game, as good as you can. Then grab a better guy and repeat.

Train for competion, its alot different that normal rolling most of the time. Train harder, get exposed to more training partners if you can, and try to fix the holes in your game. Dont give up either.

[benonmsn]

Might take a while. I've been losing for a year or so now, it still fucking burns each and every time.

I am thinking it would take a lot of years to be comfortable losing.. :-(

Ratchet up the intensity for a few rolls per night, spar with someone who you know can go toe to toe with you/might be a bit better. Have someone cornering you, and go all out with your A game, as good as you can. Then grab a better guy and repeat.

Train for competion, its alot different that normal rolling most of the time. Train harder, get exposed to more training partners if you can, and try to fix the holes in your game. Dont give up either..

Thanks! Great advice. This is what i need to do