3 Competitions, 4 Weeks, 5 Medals!

In the last four weeks, I competed three times. Combat Corner XII in Milwaukee, NAGA Midwest and MSC in Chicago. The first two were in Advanced/Expert and MSC was blue belt but the girl I went against competes in expert at the other competitions too.

I was kind of thrown into the expert division but I plan on staying there for 2014. No sense in going backwards! I would love any feedback you guys have because I learn from all of my matches, win or lose.

This first match is the championship one from Combat Corner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UHwudqaAX8

This is the championship match from NAGA. My opponent is a professional MMA fighter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=231l6K9mfcw

This is my match from the Midwest Submission Challenge this past weekend. This girl has beat me multiple times now so my number one goal next year is to beat her! I like to pull guard but forced myself not to these last three tournaments so I can expand my game a little bit. I know I need some work but I will be putting in plenty of time during the "off-season"

I took third here but do not have a video of that match because the other girl forfeited. I got two more medals in the gi between the three tournaments as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmg6OmkmTjY

In the first video, what happened about 55 sec in? Looks like you were applying a submission and the ref restarted or something?

Looked good

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Originally Posted by Tom Carbone

In the first video, what happened about 55 sec in? Looks like you were applying a submission and the ref restarted or something?

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We went out of bounds. She told me afterwards that the choke was tight and she would have tapped but I got points and we had to start standing again like at IBJJF.

Looked good, only advice I can think of....you know what you're doing, don't hesitate and rely on your corner so much. If you see an opening take it, if you see a sub, jump on it and get it....good job though congrats on all the medals.

Hell Yeah Amber Tearin up the Comp Circuit!

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Originally Posted by CharlieVasquez

Looked good, only advice I can think of....you know what you're doing, don't hesitate and rely on your corner so much. If you see an opening take it, if you see a sub, jump on it and get it....good job though congrats on all the medals.

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Thanks so much for the advice. I do have problems committing to things. It is something I plan on focusing on this winter. I need to trust my skills since they are there and not second guess myself.

Question. Why choose not to work what your strongest at in competition? I'm a guard player, don't get me wrong, I'd love to skydive on people all day. But it's not where I'm strongest at in competition. Why not work other areas at the gym? Just curious.

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Originally Posted by Tori Applegate

Question. Why choose not to work what your strongest at in competition? I'm a guard player, don't get me wrong, I'd love to skydive on people all day. But it's not where I'm strongest at in competition. Why not work other areas at the gym? Just curious.

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Here in the Midwest we have a lot of wrestlers so even if I pull guard they may change levels first and get points so I'm down from the start. 90% of my loses are by points due to me not getting the takedown so my coaches want me to be more dominant. I agree with your view and have been working more top game in the gym and want to use my strengths in comp but I've been told I have nothing to lose by trying new things.

The last match would have gone very different if I'd pulled guard first because that girl does not like my guard. It actually threw me off a bit having her jump guard because she never does that.

Amber is a monster, she probably has the highest attendance at the gym and competes more than anyone else by far....

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Originally Posted by DanConway

Amber is a monster, she probably has the highest attendance at the gym and competes more than anyone else by far....

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^^Formula for the making of a future champion!^^^^

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Originally Posted by Amber Kamischke

Here in the Midwest we have a lot of wrestlers so even if I pull guard they may change levels first and get points so I'm down from the start. 90% of my loses are by points due to me not getting the takedown so my coaches want me to be more dominant. I agree with your view and have been working more top game in the gym and want to use my strengths in comp but I've been told I have nothing to lose by trying new things.

The last match would have gone very different if I'd pulled guard first because that girl does not like my guard. It actually threw me off a bit having her jump guard because she never does that.

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There's a lot of wrestlers here as well. They're a pain. Yea, it does put you at risk to have guard pulled on you when you don't do it first. I see where your coaches are coming from..with the points I guess. With the ones who compete at our gym, we find one or two subs and rep them and go for them constantly. Once we get that down we start to work on set ups so that you can get those one or two subs from everywhere. I just started working to see what my set ups are and where I need to add them, now for tonnnnssss of reps. You're working with some big, strong girls up there. Maybe some throws added to your game would be cool. It'd throw them off!! Good videos girl. :-)

Amber is one of the top grapplers in the female Chitown scene. 14 Medals for the year is nuts!

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Originally Posted by DanConway

Amber is a monster, she probably has the highest attendance at the gym and competes more than anyone else by far....

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Attendance will be even higher when I finish my Masters degree in 11 more days!