So much difference Sparring vs. Competition
Alehmer
Posts: 433 Member
Hello all, just had my first BJJ competition yesterday and did OK (win-loss-by-loss) but I was reminded how incredibly different competition fighting is from even the hardest sparring in the gym. Even taking the whole adrenaline factor out, it's just so different to fight people you aren't used to, with all the roar and confusion and the coach yelling at you, and all that edgy competitive energy in the both of you.
Got done with my second round and even though I have only done 7 minutes of jiu jitsu in the space of 20 minutes, I can hardly remember being so incredibly tired. My arms were on fire and I was having a hard time staying upright. Now I am in reasonably good shape and regularly do 2.5 hour classes without feeling this beat at any point. I guess everyone, even when they are going hard, has that knowledge that there's more class to go and intentionally keep some reserves on tap. When you only have 4 minutes to win or lose though.... open those floodgates! That's probably a feature of the beginner divisions as well though, I see the upper divisions going hard but still being quite clearly efficient and reserving energy for those 10 seconds when it's absolutely needed.
Anyway, I have a MUCH better idea how to plan and train for my next tournament, and I'm pretty excited!
Got done with my second round and even though I have only done 7 minutes of jiu jitsu in the space of 20 minutes, I can hardly remember being so incredibly tired. My arms were on fire and I was having a hard time staying upright. Now I am in reasonably good shape and regularly do 2.5 hour classes without feeling this beat at any point. I guess everyone, even when they are going hard, has that knowledge that there's more class to go and intentionally keep some reserves on tap. When you only have 4 minutes to win or lose though.... open those floodgates! That's probably a feature of the beginner divisions as well though, I see the upper divisions going hard but still being quite clearly efficient and reserving energy for those 10 seconds when it's absolutely needed.
Anyway, I have a MUCH better idea how to plan and train for my next tournament, and I'm pretty excited!
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Replies
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Congrats on your first competition! It's amazing that you had that experience! I've never been part of a competition but have been thinking of trying. I think that I need to feel more comfortable sparring first. (I'm also in a leg brace for a potential torn ligament in my knee.) That said, I didn't realize that competition felt so different.
How will you tweak your training based on this experience? 0 -
Training tweaks
1 - Step outside my comfort zone, focus on all the areas where I am not comfortable. IE give up my best positions and submissions for a while and MAKE myself more comfortable everywhere.
2 - More takedown/throw training. I know what to do as a Judo guy, but with my last Judo practices being months ago these skills REALLY need to get the rust knocked off of them as well as get adapted for no-gi.
3 - Do some sessions with a 'judge' third party who will keep score and spar as if I am competing.
4 - In-house tournament?
5 - Video my own sessions. I have done this before, and it's both very educational, as well as extremely embarrassing sometimes, to see what you are actually doing vs. what you think you are doing. You can have what feels to you like a good session and then see the video and want to stab yourself in the eyes.
Line up the next competition as soon as possible so I have a real timeframe in mind.0 -
Good stuff! Comps are way different than sparring for sure. One thing I like doing is go to train with guys at other gyms before a tournament. Not sure if that is an option you have. The same people you roll with day in and day out know your game and you know theirs and begin to anticipate their moves. Did you do a N.A.G.A event? 4 minutes is not much time0
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COPA event, was actually very well organized and run, but several Gi heavyweight Whites and Blues had a hard time with finishing their Gi match and having to jump straight into No GI. I actually fought in my Gi pants because I had no time to change into shorts.
There's not a lot here in Gainesville, but yeah I could probably find some people I don't regularly roll with, that's a good idea.
Edit - I see you meant the round time. Checked and they were actually 5 minute rounds, was referring to the handful of minutes I had between losing my full-5-minute finals match in Gi and then getting called to no-gi as I walked off the mat from getting the medal.0 -
That's interesting they were running both no-gi and gi at the same time. Generally, the tournaments around NC do No-Gi first, all divisions, then they go into Gi. Most of the ones around here though are through US Grappling with the exception of two NAGA and a couple New Breed tournaments. A couple suggestions from my perspective.
1. Decide how you want to win, submissions or points. Train that way. For instance, I rely heavily on take down -> position or pass -> then submission if it is there. By securing a takedown you immediately start up in points, forcing them to have to sweep/reverse you if they want to score. It's boring but effective.
2. Focus on a couple takedowns. Since you do Judo, there are a ton of throws. However most BJJ guys are either going to pull guard or use wrestling based attacks, which limits a lot of judo hip throws. I know that if I am going to go against someone with a Judo base, fairly easy to tell based on their stance and grip fighting, I switch to singles for example.0 -
I am very much scared to compete in sparring of any type. I'll do Kata's - I find the nerves from that are enough as it is right now. But that doesn't mean I get to skip the training. My sensei makes us do a lot of HIIT stuff as he says the HIIT will actually help us build both quick twitch and long twitch muscles plus endurance. Most cardio (running, swimming, bicycling) does long twitch muscles and its the short twitch you need for sparring. We do lots of things like burpees, jump squats, low jacks, crab kicks, explosive lunges, kettlebell deadlifts and thrusts, jump rope, shadow boxing - all kinds of torture within 20 minutes of continues rounds.0
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I haven't done much sparring in competitions, but it is so very different to sparring practice.
Thankfully, our Instructor is doing more free-form sparring during class and has set up a one hour sparring class at one of his clubs, open to all of his club members, which means we're all getting a chance to spar against people we're not used to. I just wish I could get to it more often!0 -
Its awesome that you recognize what to fix. Some people dont take in the experience of competition and focus on fixing their game. Does your school have a competition class or advanced class? Your training tweaks can all be a part of that class.
1 - You can also include going with a timer at the same competition pace, which will most likely lead you to bad positions (from rushing/adrenaline). You will adapt to be "comfortable" pretty quickly.
2 - I am also a judo guy so I feel comfortable here. My main adjustment was dealing with the guard pullers. Now, I am ready to already begin passing when I see it coming.
3 - POINTS POINTS POINTS. I roll now keeping tally in my head. It gives me a sense of urgency, instead of rolling to a submission. A sub-only mindset makes me "lazy", because I wait to become offensive when a window presents itself. Now I create windows, because I am down in the count (in my head).
4 - YES. We do this about every three months. Nothing major. Our professor just puts us on the wall, and calls out two people to perform in front of everyone. We get immediate feedback from what he sees also.
5 - There is a reason studying tape is a MAJOR part of all sports. Youre on the right track...
The only thing I would add (about a 2-3 weeks prior to comps), would be selecting partners that would be in your weight division.... regardless of skill level. It mimics the format, in my opinion. Example: If you compete in blue belt, there could be a guy who just got his blue, essentially a white belt.... or a guy ready for promotion, essentially a purple. But in either scenario your competitor will definitely be your age and weight.
i LOVE competing. every time i come back to class I have a goal because I know I could do better at the next competition. Im one of the most active competitors in my school and try to get more people to try it. Once someone actually goes, they find that it was almost a waste to NOT play in them. its a serious reality check! then again, some people may not want that type of reality check, i guess... lol
Good luck next time! (what region do you compete in? if you are ever in the southeast US, I may see you!)Training tweaks
1 - Step outside my comfort zone, focus on all the areas where I am not comfortable. IE give up my best positions and submissions for a while and MAKE myself more comfortable everywhere.
2 - More takedown/throw training. I know what to do as a Judo guy, but with my last Judo practices being months ago these skills REALLY need to get the rust knocked off of them as well as get adapted for no-gi.
3 - Do some sessions with a 'judge' third party who will keep score and spar as if I am competing.
4 - In-house tournament?
5 - Video my own sessions. I have done this before, and it's both very educational, as well as extremely embarrassing sometimes, to see what you are actually doing vs. what you think you are doing. You can have what feels to you like a good session and then see the video and want to stab yourself in the eyes.
Line up the next competition as soon as possible so I have a real timeframe in mind.0 -
2 - I am also a judo guy so I feel comfortable here. My main adjustment was dealing with the guard pullers. Now, I am ready to already begin passing when I see it coming.
If you are competing and you feel/see a guy pull his hips like he is about either pull guard or jump into guard, you can some times get lucky and time an o uchi gari/ko uchi gari to co inside with them pulling and get points from the ref for a takedown. Quick and easy two points and infuriates your opponent. 0 -
2 - I am also a judo guy so I feel comfortable here. My main adjustment was dealing with the guard pullers. Now, I am ready to already begin passing when I see it coming.
If you are competing and you feel/see a guy pull his hips like he is about either pull guard or jump into guard, you can some times get lucky and time an o uchi gari/ko uchi gari to co inside with them pulling and get points from the ref for a takedown. Quick and easy two points and infuriates your opponent.
Grab the pants or leg and you'll get two points for a take down if it's done while they pull guard. Well IBJJF rules anyway.0 -
Yes, I grab the pants with my hand that isnt already gripping the lapel, and usually get the 2 takedown points. Then, when his butt hits the ground i maintain my grips and either knee-slide pass or leg-drag pass (depending on the leg i grabbed) for 3 guardpass points. I start my matches ahead 5-0.0
