This happend April 29 - over a month ago - and I kept forgetting to say something aobut it here. But, I just found out the results are online, so now's a good time to point it out.
Through the WKA (World Kickboxing Association), there was a Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu/Submission Grappling tournament in Richmond, Viriginia on April 29. I train in BJJ and Richmond is less than an hour away, so I had no excuse not to enter. Me and a couple of guys from my club participated.
Two weeks before the tournament I couldn't train at all; we had a paper deadline, and I just couldn't fit in any workouts. The week before (well, five days, really) the tournament I started training again, hoping to get in somewhat better shape. I didn't bother cutting any weight. I figured (correctly, as it turns out) that size and strength wouldn't be my problems. If I lost, it would be due to skill and stanima. I was hoping to have one good match. Anything more than that would be a bonus.
This was my first real competition. I chose to do no-gi (that it is, without a gi, which is really just submission grappling). I could have also done the gi tournament, but I figured I wouldn't have the stanima, and I was probably right.
I weighed in at 184 lbs., which put me in the 190 lbs. weight class. I could have cut some weight to drop down to the 180 lbs. weight class, but I figured size and strength wouldn't be a problem. I'm a strong guy for my size, and I didn't want to waste energy (and water) on cutting weight.
First match. I pop in my mouth guard, step on the mat, and I have one thing on my mind: be aggressive. I had no other thoughts. The match was a blur. I can remember it now, but I didn't process it when it happened, I just reacted. As soon as I tied up with the guy, I could feel he was in over his head. I ended up getting a leg and scoring a sloppy take down. I ended up in half guard and started working towards a sumission or better position. We had landed near the edge, so the ref stood us up in the center, which irritated me because I had a dominate position. But I told myself if I did it once, I can do it again. We tie up again, and he goes for a takedown. I pulled guard, which unbeknowst to him was probably the last place he wanted to be. He was in my guard less than five seconds before I shoved he shoulder back, popped my leg up and secured a triangle choke. It was in tight, I could feel he would have to tap soon, and he did.
I was tired after my first match. I have controlled the pace the entire time which was enough to overwhelm my opponent, but left tired. But, I was okay by my second, but not great.
Second match starts off similiarly. We tie up, and I could feel this guy at least knew how to do that much. We were working the clinch for a while when I heard my guys yelling at me to posture up and keep him under me, which I did. It paid off because I eventually pulled him to the mat, so he was on his knees. I immediately took his back, sunk my hooks in and grabbed his arms to splay him out. I then started working towards a rear-naked choke. The guy eventually turned all the way around and he ended up in my guard, which was unbeknownst to him, probalby the last place he wanted to be. After five seconds in my guard, I did the exact same thing I did to the other guy: I pushed his shoulder out of the way, shot my leg up and secured a triangle. I had it in tight and he tapped.
So I had won two more matches than I thought I would, but I was fucking exhausted. If they had called my third match immediately after my second, I probably would have forfitted. I was that tired. I could barely stand, I could barely drink my Gatorade, I could barely talk. I had succesfully pushed the pace in two matches, but it had taken almost all I had.
When I was called for my third match, I had enough in me to show up, but not as much as my previous two. As soon as I tied up with the guy, I could feel he knew what he was doing. This guy had been a wrestler. We spent a long time standing, jockey for position in the clinch, until I had one underhook and I tried for a sloppy hip throw. He caught me off balance and took me to the mat. I somehow replaced guard, but by this time I was exhausted. I had almsot nothing left. I don't remember too much at this point, but I know we worked for a while until he ended up in a position where he was grinding his skull into mine. I had no leverage and no strength. He wasn't doing a normal submission, but there was no way I could stop it, so I tapped.
So my third match didn't go well, but I ended up with 2nd place in my weight class in the Novice skill level. Take a look at the <a href=http://www.wkausa.com/news/east_coast_g ... results</a> online; do a search for "Scott Schneider" and you'll see me.
Through the WKA (World Kickboxing Association), there was a Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu/Submission Grappling tournament in Richmond, Viriginia on April 29. I train in BJJ and Richmond is less than an hour away, so I had no excuse not to enter. Me and a couple of guys from my club participated.
Two weeks before the tournament I couldn't train at all; we had a paper deadline, and I just couldn't fit in any workouts. The week before (well, five days, really) the tournament I started training again, hoping to get in somewhat better shape. I didn't bother cutting any weight. I figured (correctly, as it turns out) that size and strength wouldn't be my problems. If I lost, it would be due to skill and stanima. I was hoping to have one good match. Anything more than that would be a bonus.
This was my first real competition. I chose to do no-gi (that it is, without a gi, which is really just submission grappling). I could have also done the gi tournament, but I figured I wouldn't have the stanima, and I was probably right.
I weighed in at 184 lbs., which put me in the 190 lbs. weight class. I could have cut some weight to drop down to the 180 lbs. weight class, but I figured size and strength wouldn't be a problem. I'm a strong guy for my size, and I didn't want to waste energy (and water) on cutting weight.
First match. I pop in my mouth guard, step on the mat, and I have one thing on my mind: be aggressive. I had no other thoughts. The match was a blur. I can remember it now, but I didn't process it when it happened, I just reacted. As soon as I tied up with the guy, I could feel he was in over his head. I ended up getting a leg and scoring a sloppy take down. I ended up in half guard and started working towards a sumission or better position. We had landed near the edge, so the ref stood us up in the center, which irritated me because I had a dominate position. But I told myself if I did it once, I can do it again. We tie up again, and he goes for a takedown. I pulled guard, which unbeknowst to him was probably the last place he wanted to be. He was in my guard less than five seconds before I shoved he shoulder back, popped my leg up and secured a triangle choke. It was in tight, I could feel he would have to tap soon, and he did.
I was tired after my first match. I have controlled the pace the entire time which was enough to overwhelm my opponent, but left tired. But, I was okay by my second, but not great.
Second match starts off similiarly. We tie up, and I could feel this guy at least knew how to do that much. We were working the clinch for a while when I heard my guys yelling at me to posture up and keep him under me, which I did. It paid off because I eventually pulled him to the mat, so he was on his knees. I immediately took his back, sunk my hooks in and grabbed his arms to splay him out. I then started working towards a rear-naked choke. The guy eventually turned all the way around and he ended up in my guard, which was unbeknownst to him, probalby the last place he wanted to be. After five seconds in my guard, I did the exact same thing I did to the other guy: I pushed his shoulder out of the way, shot my leg up and secured a triangle. I had it in tight and he tapped.
So I had won two more matches than I thought I would, but I was fucking exhausted. If they had called my third match immediately after my second, I probably would have forfitted. I was that tired. I could barely stand, I could barely drink my Gatorade, I could barely talk. I had succesfully pushed the pace in two matches, but it had taken almost all I had.
When I was called for my third match, I had enough in me to show up, but not as much as my previous two. As soon as I tied up with the guy, I could feel he knew what he was doing. This guy had been a wrestler. We spent a long time standing, jockey for position in the clinch, until I had one underhook and I tried for a sloppy hip throw. He caught me off balance and took me to the mat. I somehow replaced guard, but by this time I was exhausted. I had almsot nothing left. I don't remember too much at this point, but I know we worked for a while until he ended up in a position where he was grinding his skull into mine. I had no leverage and no strength. He wasn't doing a normal submission, but there was no way I could stop it, so I tapped.
So my third match didn't go well, but I ended up with 2nd place in my weight class in the Novice skill level. Take a look at the <a href=http://www.wkausa.com/news/east_coast_g ... results</a> online; do a search for "Scott Schneider" and you'll see me.
