Tips and Checklist for Your First Competition
Game Plan
Keep your strategy simple.
Decide in advance if you’ll takedown or pull guard. If you pull, then pull aggressively and sweep immediately.
Try to score early and give yourself a lead.
Get to your most dominant position.
“Dominant” can be subjective - think of it as the position that gives you the most options
If you don’t have one, then MOUNT or TAKE THE BACK
These are the highest scoring positions
Generally speaking, these are the best positions for attempting submissions
Strike First!
According to a study conducted by High Percentage Martial Arts:
Competitors who took the first action won 62% of the time.
First actions included failed attempts and “bad” moves! (So, even if you make a mistake, the odds are in your favour if you make the first move!)
Do Not Over-Train
Rest! Both physically and mentally.
Don’t try to cram last-minute techniques into your game. If you haven’t used it in live-rolling, don’t attempt it.
Recognize the Law of Diminishing Returns: past a certain point, extra training won’t sharpen your game. It will only increase the risk of injury.
Checklist
Logistics
Flight Booking
Hotel Reservation
Rental Car
Route to Venue - get there 1.5 - 2 hours before match.
Rules
What are the tournament rules?
What moves/techniques are not allowed?
When / where are the weigh-ins? With gi or without?
Gear Bag
IBJJF ID
2x Gis (have a backup in case you fail the Gi check)
Belt
Rash guard
Spats
No-Gi shorts
Hoodie
Towel
Tape
Water bottle
Mouthpiece
Knee / ankle braces, ice packs - in case of injury
Phone charger
Warm-Up
Check if they have a mat area near the bull pen
45 mins. out: dynamic stretching
30 mins. out: shadow wrestling (shots, sprawls)
20 mins. out: sprints (get the heart rate up)
15 mins. out: put on hoodie, stretch out anything that’s tight, stay loose
Snacks
Sandwiches - thin spread of nut butter on whole grain bread
Protein Bars
Fruit
Water
Electrolyte drink
Stay safe and have fun out there!
Oss,
Rob