On Sunday the 2nd of August 2009 I entered my second BJJ competition.
I would've entered more during the year but wasn't able to due to various things such as no free Sundays. But finally I've got a free Sunday and used it to enter this competition to see how I've improved (or not) over the last year since my last competition.
One thing that changed was my weight, I could no longer enter in the under 61kg division and had to step up to the 61 to 67kg division, a tough division. So I was happy I gained weight, now I just need to gain weight so I'm in the top of the division (ie. 67kg) and have that slight weight advantage.
All I knew about my matchup was the name of the person I would be wrestling in the first round. There were 16 people in my round, so to come first I'd have to beat 4 people, a very tiring feat, considering that after my first and only round in my first competition I was so tired I couldn't hold a bottle properly, though that could also be attributed to not warming up beforehand.
This time I did warm up.
We were ushered into the marshalling area where we were to wait for our name to be called out. We were also told we were not allowed to wear a shirt or rashguard underneath our gi's or a cup, so I had to rush to the bathroom to remove my cup, putting myself in more than enough danger.
I was a bit nervous too, I think it was because of the whole unknown thing, not knowing who it was I was wrestling or when I would be, so I found it hard to put my mouthguard in my mouth, almost gagging each time I go to put it in. Eventually I got it in my mouth so I just kept it in there, and waited until I was called up.
So I was called up and 30 seconds later, came back out as I lost to a rear naked choke, which feels a lot worse than it sounds. I was quite disappointed as in the weeks prior during training while wrestling I would often give up my back to my opponents and then proceed to escape. Unfortunately in competition, people tend to go all out and give it all when they wrestle, and when someone's arms are around your neck choking you out with all their might, unless you counter it, or feel like passing out, you gotta tap. The thing I didn't like most is that I knew how to defend against the choke, but never did it, I only knew from watching the UFC, but now I know for sure how to defend it.
The next competition is on November 8, the Sunday after all my assessments are done so I'll be pretty stressless. I plan to enter and get pass the first round this time.
There's also another competition in September at Sydney Uni which I might enter for the heck of it, to get competition experience. Either way, my BJJ record is now 1-1, can't let it go below 50%!
The camera man saved me from a visual embarrassment, even though I would've liked to see his grip around my head....
