competition advice

[martinjenkinson]

Hi guys just abit of advice needed I enter a local comp at the novice level but have been doing really well and was thinking of stepping up to the intermediate level where all the blue and purples are to try my luck is this acceptable as a white belt?

[Keith Kavanagh]

Go for it! I think it's a great idea to step out of your comfort zone. Those tough fights always teach me where I need work on. BUT.. Some guys think it's disrespectful (happened to me last Saturday)

[Apperz]

Ask your coach would be my advice

[Fraser Taylor]

Have you won a couple Competitions at Novice already? Like Apperz said, speaking to your coach would be the best thing but there are also generally guidelines for experience brackets - Novice 0 - 12 Months, Intermediate 1 - 3 years etc, check these out as well.

[RJ Encizo]

If you haven't competed yet, I wouldn't bc you are gonna get smashed with the adrenaline dump. If you have competed, and can stay calm, and roll with all the unforseen issues of competition (waiting, no warm up, last minute changes, etc) then challenge yourself. But, only if you know your way around competitors that's don't hold back. Remember, competition is not like the gym. I don't even extend armbar in the gym, but in comp, I'm taking that shit home. And I'm Nice. Imagine what a dick would do. Just be safe, and remember that competing is not like rolling. You can get really calm and peaceful with it, but it's never the same as a gym roll

[Mario Lopez Alvarez]

If you haven't competed yet, I wouldn't bc you are gonna get smashed with the adrenaline dump. If you have competed, and can stay calm, and roll with all the unforseen issues of competition (waiting, no warm up, last minute changes, etc) then challenge yourself. But, only if you know your way around competitors that's don't hold back. Remember, competition is not like the gym. I don't even extend armbar in the gym, but in comp, I'm taking that shit home. And I'm Nice. Imagine what a dick would do. Just be safe, and remember that competing is not like rolling. You can get really calm and peaceful with it, but it's never the same as a gym roll

+1

[NotReady]

You are only going to get better faster by competing against more experience athletes, but the learning curve can be steep and it can be tough to stay motivated when you are taking your lumps.

Other thing to consider is that if some tournament directors see you competing in the intermediate division, they might try to keep you up there in the future. So make sure you are ready.

How do you fare against blue and purple belts in your gym? If you are competitive, I say give it a shot.

[Toppy]

Go for it! I think it's a great idea to step out of your comfort zone. Those tough fights always teach me where I need work on. BUT.. Some guys think it's disrespectful (happened to me last Saturday)

Underground? Lol

[Keith Kavanagh]

Underground? Lol

Nah I entered into a blue belt divison to give it a try and then after being congratulated by my coach's coach, 2 days later he said it was disrespectful to my team and my coach (who both were delighted with my results)

[martinjenkinson]

I have been competing for year at judo have won a couple at novice and I dont have a coach I train at a small mma me and the kick boxing coach learn everything from book videos and here because our closest 10p school is 3 hours away thanks for the advice guys