Silver @ Fredonia Hayastan Grappling Challenge

[Michael Sioda]

Posting my 4 matches from Hayastan Grappling Challenge in Fredonia, NY. It was double elimination & I lost to the same guy twice to take silver in Men's 18+ beginner (not enough competitors for the 30+ that I originally registered in). Silver is OK but mostly I just feel like I lost & losing sucks ass. It took me 2 weeks to even bring myself to watch these videos.

I competed in the up-to-190 pound division (I'm 186lbs) but looking at the guy that I lost to (twice) - he had to outweigh be by at least 15 pounds. The tournament was kinda small so I'm assuming we combined divisions.

Both wins came in a total time of less than 2 minutes & I hit my 1st electric chair submission which was awesome - it feels good to hit a bonafide 10P trademark move in comp! I was already gassing by that time so decided to pull 1/2 guard - 24 seconds later, booyah!

My ring judge wasn't giving breaks between matches so I was really sucking wind. Lucky for me before my 3rd match coach Herzog stepped in & insisted that they give me 2 minutes (guess that was in the rules). I doubt that I would have hit that electric chair if it wasn't for that break.

I'm not going to compete again until I get my cardio & weight under control. It's embarrassing to watch my game fall apart after just a couple of matches. That is NOT how 10P do.

Match 1: Win by Arm Triangle


Match 2: Loss by Toe Hold


Match 3 for Silver Medal: Win by Electric Chair


Match 4: Loss by Kimura


Thanks to anyone that can give me some feedback on any of these matches.

WAR 10P!

[bobby rivers]

Good work Mike. I also have cardio issues, and my advice would be to keep competing while working on it. Its crazy how much nerves effect it and the more comfortable you get competing helps tons in itself.

Sweet electric chair! And yeah, that guy was bigger, but you were better. Now you got a good idea on what to work on. Guard breaking/passing and standing clinch/takedowns imo. Keep workin bruh.

[Jack LaBarge]

I'm not going to compete again until I get my cardio & weight under control. It's embarrassing to watch my game fall apart after just a couple of matches. That is NOT how 10P do.


Mike, you put it on the line. Nothing to be embarrassed about! Keep working!

[Justin W.]

Don't be so hard on yourself, you did fine. Just think of tournaments as practice until you hit advanced.

[Eddie Bravo]

The arm triangle and electric chair were flawless, I loved watching that. The first loss to bruvah must have been heart breaking to you, you were doing really good for most of the match. The last lost was obviously a cardio problem, no biggie, we all have those bad cardio days. I am very proud of you Mike, can't tell you how awesome it feels to see guys compete on the other side of the country with 10th Planet rashies and throwing up the gang sign, it's so damn surreal, thank you very much for your dedication to the system

[Luis Candelas, BCG]

my first competition is in 2 weeks and i think, no wait, i KNOW that i have cardio problems. any advice? what did you do to prepare as far as cardio goes for this competition? i don't have alot of free time since i work, go to school, and have a wife and child but i really don't want to gas out.

and about the videos, arm triangle: beautiful...electric chair: straight beast mode!!! you gassed at the end but you'll get that friggin guy next time!

like the special teams coach in the waterboy movie says "u liv to pla ana day"

[Michael Sioda]

Thanks guys for the encouragement. And holy shit - I never imagined that EFB would be paying attention to guys at my level. Thank you Eddie for the compliment on my technique! You absolutely made my day - no fuck that - you made my month!

Maybe I should expect this sort of thing by now but I'm continually caught off guard by the genuine nature of the 10P family. I'm just a jiujitsu rookie living in bum-fuck nowhere yet I'm getting support from all over the country & direct motivation from the HNIC. Coach Herzog had my back at the tournament & that shit is real - no surreal, That kind of positive energy flows through the ranks & is reflected by the amazing 10P instructors & dedicated students.

You guys come together for each other in times of need & constantly strive to elevate yourselves & each other. That's why people like me want to be in the club, part of the team, in the family. I'm working at it all the time. Next time I'm coming home with gold, my motivation is fully re-instated!

10P4LIFE!