Did another BJJ tournament a few weeks ago

[Kupek]

First time stepping up to the advanced division (in no-gi it's novice, beginner, intermediate, advanced). I did both absolute (no weight classes; the advanced absolute division is the elite division in a tournament) and my weight, 190.

I was surprised at how nervous I was before my absolute match. The division was stacked. I was fine once we started, but I lost on points. My opponent weighed in less than me, but he was strong - stronger than my opponents in my weight class. He used to be a lineman in football. The only good thing about that match is my conditioning was better than his. Despite being down on points (by a lot), every time we broke, I was the one initiating contact and getting back into it. Near the end, he started slowing down, and I was actually trying to sink in a submission on him when the buzzer went.

I lost my first match in my division (again by points), but I won my second match (by points), which got me third place. I wasn't nervous at all for those matches, I got it out during the absolute match. 1-2 for the day. Incidentally, the guy I beat is the same guy who beat me three years ago in this tournament: viewtopic.php?t=10555

I don't think it was a good showing, but it was competent. The thing I'm most proud of is that I went buzzer to buzzer in all three of my matches - six minutes each. Even the matches I lost on points, I never gave up. The week before this tournament, our instructor put us through the hardest BJJ practice I've ever experienced. It was an hour and a half of conditioning, with never more than a minute's rest at a time. I lost five pounds of water weight in 90 minutes. After going through that, I knew there was no way I was going to be out-conditioned. It was my first time stepping up to the advanced division. At the least, I showed myself I belong there.

This picture is less impressive if you know it was a four man division:

[Eric]

Did you at any point yell "THIS IS SPARTA!"

Jokes aside, good job sir.

[Mental]

Can I hire you for some physical training tips? I envy that sixpack.

[Kupek]

Did you at any point yell "THIS IS SPARTA!" :P

"Leonidas" was one of my nicknames for a while, which morphed into "This is Scotta!" (since my actual name is Scott) and now has become "Scotta!". Yes, with the exclamation mark. It's never said without it.

[Mental]

I must now work out harder to become Cro Cop and not feel so inadequate in comparison.

I couldn't really be a grappler, I think - I just don't enjoy it much.

I prefer to evade grapples instead of engage in them - I once did an au (cartwheel) when my capoeira professor grabbed my leg and squirted right out of the hold, and it impressed him (and me, for that matter). And I definitely prefer striking in terms of attacks. Sometimes I wish I liked grappling...I just don't. I don't know why. But, Cro Cop wasn't a grappler, and that dude was still deadly, so I have hope of transforming myself into a "real" fighter still.

And by the way, that picture is still hella impressive.

[SineSwiper]

Blow Job Job? Sorry, I have to chuckle when I see that abbr.

[Kupek]

If you're going to try to be funny, at least be original.

[Eric]

Did you at any point yell "THIS IS SPARTA!"

"Leonidas" was one of my nicknames for a while, which morphed into "This is Scotta!" (since my actual name is Scott) and now has become "Scotta!". Yes, with the exclamation mark. It's never said without it.

Nice heh.

[RentCavalier]

Blow Job Job? Sorry, I have to chuckle when I see that abbr.

I feel sad that this was the first joke I thought of.

[SineSwiper]

If you're going to try to be funny, at least be original.

Just being childish. (Looks like I'm not the only one who thought of that.)

Seriously, congrats on the placement. Obviously, you've got the endurance for the fight, but takes too long to wear them out. What's the clock on those matches? Five minutes for three rounds, like in UFC?

EDIT: My bad, you said 6 minutes. I guess the best strategy is to be more aggressive? So that you tire them out some more?

[Kupek]

You need to be aggressive, yes, to tire them out, but also because for two technical grapplers, six minutes isn't a long time. One of my training partners commonly says "At the advanced level, it's whoever makes the first mistake." You're pushing them to make a mistake, and then take advantage of it.

I roll differently in competition than in practice. In practice, I use strength, but I'm not using all of my strength, and I'm not going nearly as fast as I can. I'm taking the time to really think through what I'm doing, because that's how you improve your technique. I'll often settle into a position before a transition.

In competition, I'm going as fast as I can, as strong as I can, for six minutes. You want to overwhelm your opponent - they can defend against two submission, sweep or pass attempts, but what about three, four or five?

[Mental]

I know what you mean. Stamina and the ability to just keep coming is crucial in any physical fight.

I do a heavy shadowboxing workout these days - I occasionally try to throw one-twos for three minutes straight at a time to simulate a boxing round, then rest a minute or two and try again. I'd like to develop a good one-two after seeing Laila Ali's fighting style. That girl has a NASTY ability to just toss them and keep coming.

This turns out to be WAY harder than I would have thought, but it's satisfying. If I ever get to where I can do fifteen of those in a row I'm heading to a boxing gym to try out - given that my record is about one and a half three-minute sessions in a row right now, I'm a bit far away from that goal. (Before anyone goes to judge me on that, go toss some hooks and crosses for three minutes straight yourself without a break and tell me how your shoulders feel.) But hope springs eternal.

(Sorry that my posts aren't about BJJ per se. I wish I knew enough about your sport to make my comments a bit more on target. Maybe someday.)

[Mental]

Sometimes I really do wish we could have a Shrine Fight Club or something.

You probably take your fight training more seriously than any of the rest of us, Kup, but we have at least three or four people here who do a couple pretty serious fighting workouts every week, IIRC - are you still training, Seek? I seem to remember that you were heavily into MMA and fight training for a good long minute there.

[Kupek]

The difference between shadow boxing and sparring is enormous. Having to react to a person who wants to hit you in the face means your heart rate is already going to be higher (also known as just plain nerves), and the other person might push you to a pace you're not ready to handle.

I mostly do boxing and MMA sparring as a favor to friends preparing for fights. For some reason, it's easier to make myself get in the ring when it's for someone else's benefit rather than my own.

One time I did an MMA sparring round with a guy who I have better boxing than (and my boxing is terrible), and who I am worlds better than on the ground. I was exhausted after the round, barely able to catch my breath, and my instructor said "Come on, you're in better shape than that." And he's right, I am. The problem was my nerves jacked me up so much that I over-exerted myself.

[Mental]

Yeah, striking fighting styles in general will amp your heart rate up like crack cocaine. I am pretty used to it at this point, so it doesn't bother me much.

I do spar, when I can find partners. I actually sparred with this kid around 18, 19 who's actively practicing to fight commercially. He was fast as hell, and got a light hit in on me on the face - so in response I just rushed him and slammed him up against a wall, at which point the dowager of the house put the brakes on the match, so to speak. He was faster and in better shape, but I actually get the sense I might have won a real fight against him just with bully-fight Vale Tudo kind of tactics, because I outweighed him by thirty pounds or so and he just didn't have the weight to stop my rush.

Weight does help. It's been surprising to me how much weight helps. I'll spar anyone in my weight class, but I've tried to spar with my ex-gang-member 250-lb friend, too, and that did not go well. I've sparred with him twice and each time it has taken him four blows or less to give me a blow that would have quite literally crippled me in a "real" bout. I keep asking him to train me, but he quite rightly insists we both need a set of full amateur fight gear and I just can't afford it right now.

[Flip]

Looks fun, well done. I wrestled a few years in HS, do you wear any headgear in your league? All 3 of you looked shredded for only 190.

I'm pretty thin at 160-165 (6 foot), but feel like i could use some toning. I always joke that i am 'skinny fat'. I like a wiry frame, though, and have no desire to bulk. With swimming, racquetball, softball, and the hot room yoga that i do, i'm happy enough with the results. I like sport and group activities... what kills me in the gym (which is why i dont go) is the boredom of lifting and machines.

[Lox]

I find that lifting is more fun with a friend. It's much less boring when you have a bud to chat with the whole time. Of course, I lift by myself now since I do it as soon as I get home from work, but I wish I was lifting with a friend.

How's the hot-room yoga working for you? I take a regular yoga class once a week and I love it. Does the hot-room burn more calories?

Also, I've been considering starting to learn Wing Chun. I have several friends who have been learning it for years and love it and I've always been interested. I figure if I'm going to learn something like that, I'd be the most motivated to do one that my friends are also doing.

[Flip]

How's the hot-room yoga working for you? I take a regular yoga class once a week and I love it. Does the hot-room burn more calories?

Oh yeah, its great stuff. I feel so 'cleansed' afterward, like all the dirty chemicals in my body have been washed out. The instructors tell us that the sweat is healthy, but i really have no idea if its beneficial or not calorie wise or chemically... i just know i like it and feel much better when compared to normal yoga where i hardly break a sweat.

[Lox]

I don't really break a sweat either except for doing bridge pose sometimes if it's extra long. haha

I do feel very relaxed afterwards though. It's amazing how I can go into class with stress and leave without it. It has helped my back from aching, too, which is great.

[Mental]

How's the hot-room yoga working for you? I take a regular yoga class once a week and I love it. Does the hot-room burn more calories?

Oh yeah, its great stuff. I feel so 'cleansed' afterward, like all the dirty chemicals in my body have been washed out. The instructors tell us that the sweat is healthy, but i really have no idea if its beneficial or not calorie wise or chemically... i just know i like it and feel much better when compared to normal yoga where i hardly break a sweat.

Sweating is very healthy. It's one of the few ways to actually remove more toxins if your liver/kidneys are working at full capacity already with other toxins...and exercise by its nature produces chemicals that are toxic, to a certain extent. You just have to make sure you re-hydrate while you're doing it.