First Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament was an informative experience to say the least. I learned some very valuable lessons from my two rolls.
1: Only make a move if it is meaningful and will help you achieve your goal. In my first fight as the last 20 seconds was closing Professor David (left) yelled, “Make a move!”. Quickly, without much thought, I followed directions. Sadly, due to my lack of experience I moved and gave up positioning that allowed my opponent to score mount (4 points) and take the win.
2: Be aggressive and play your game, don’t wait for them to initiate, move forward and attack. Again, in the first match I found myself in several positions where I was not in threat of being submitted (choked out or joint locked) but rather just immobilized. This was because I let my opponent dictate the round early and had to fight back from the bottom vs. holding the dominant position on top.
I believe these lessons hold very true on the mat and off. Making moves without intentional thought in the business world, in relationships, and in general life will most likely land you in a losing position. The balance is that if you aren’t aggressive you will lose an equal amount of opportunities to succeed. In my second match I took these lessons, applied them, and choked out my opponent before the time ran out. This let me walk away with silver and a reminder to pay attention to failure and the lessons it holds.
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