Diary > Why compete?

07/08/2009

Beside the obvious good feeling of standing, hand raised in victory cheered on and supported by your fellow team mates, family and friends the reason why competition in BJJ is so esteemed is in its invaluable ability to prepare you for a real life encounter.

Some people poo-hoo competition in martial arts, but they are usually those without enough skill to perform let alone win in them.

Just as in the street, in competition you dont get to choose who or when youll fight, youll have to deal with all stress and pressure leading up to the event the same as a real fight. 

You will have to draw on reserves of courage, strength and cunning to be the victor and sometimes youll give your all and still lose but will walk away proud and having gained as much as if you had won.  

For each of us the right time to start competing is different. Some want to get into it right away and dont care if they win or lose, and some are better off waiting til they are extremely confident and ready to win, we are all different and there is only one right time to compete and thats when YOU want to.

Whether competing or not though the most important thing to remember is that one day your life or the life or a loved one may be on the line and you dont want to wait til then o know how you react to pressure, stress and fear. We all feel them but its how we react to them that counts.

See you on the podium.