3 reasons for you to start competing in Jiu-Jitsu

April 13, 2023

There's nothing better than waking up early in the morning and knowing it's BJJ training day. It doesn’t get much better than soaking in those gym vibes, stepping onto the mats with your friends to learn new techniques, and having a little sparring session every now and then. But not all evolution is limited to the walls of your dojo. Have you ever considered how much you can evolve by signing up for a championship?

The simple thought of competing can instill feelings of anxiety in some, but the competitive realm bears many gifts to the ones that choose to face and overcome those fears. To give a little nudge in the right direction, our team has listed three great benefits that every Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, professional or not, can get out of a tournament. Check it out below and sign up to hone your skills!

Test and improve your techniques

Did you ever use a strong technique that surprised everyone at the gym? It may need a few adjustments here and there, but it’s a powerful technique, right? Well, those improvements can only be made efficiently at a competition. Here’s why:

When you face a teammate or a person that frequently trains in the same environment, you inevitably end up learning their techniques and reactions and vice-versa. This can lead that killer move of yours to grow a little stale and easier to counter once everyone gets used to it. By facing an opponent from another academy, however, the difference in their fighting habits can help you pin down what it is that’s missing from your position, leading it to its full potential. Trial and error in championships can be the key factor to evolving your game.

Discipline and self-control

Once you get used to it, training becomes a comfortable part of daily life. It blends into your routine and, soon enough, you’ll see yourself become more relaxed both in the preparation and even in the actual classes. Competitions, however, are a completely different beast. Even if you make a habit of it, it’ll never really be a relaxing process. And it shouldn’t be!

When you’re getting ready for a tournament, the name of the game is preparation. You’ll have to wake up and prepare both mind and body to face two or three fights against unknown opponents who, usually, are stronger and more experienced. This leads you to feel an anxiety that your training session can’t instill in the long term and that’s what keeps you on your toes. It’ll feed your fighting spirit, encourage you to have a better sleeping cycle, and even lead you to maintain a healthier diet. In short, it’ll make you more disciplined, which in turn will cause your performance on the mats to improve by leaps and bounds.

Improve the ability to solve problems

There is one factor that is known by everyone in your gym, from the newest white belt to the more seasoned black belt: If you tap three times, one training ends and another one begins. Seeing as there are no stakes here, there really is no reason to push yourself and try to come up with a way to escape that tricky position that your training partner had you in. It’s simply better to tap now and start anew.

In a championship, tapping three times marks the end of that tournament for you. At that moment, you come to grips with the fact that the win you were fighting for will only be possible in the next tournament, whenever that may be. Making a mistake here, even if it's a tiny one, can end the good flow you had going throughout the competition and make you start from scratch. This leads to a certain feeling of urgency which leads an athlete to quickly evolve their decision-making skills. Without time to think too much or consider how many options there are, the competitor starts to think faster to find a way to emerge successful, and that development is carried to life outside the tournament, whether it’s training or off the mats.

Don't let your Jiu-Jitsu reach a standstill. Train hard, pick out your best technique, clear your mind, and sign up for your next Jiu-Jitsu tournament today. Oss!