am i over reacting or being unreasonable?

[Jack Hanley]

A five year grappler in the beginner division would be the definition of sandbagging. Don't let your coach talk you into it.

Most competitions say "Beginners = less than one year" or something like that. I have never been in a tournament where a five year guy wouldn't be cheating by going beginner. If this tournament says, "Experience level as determined by instructor" or something weird like that, then it's a different scenario. But, I'm guessing this tournament has a certain amount of mat time they are expecting you to be under if you go beginner. If you have more than that, then you are cheating no matter what your instructor says.

[ErikLavigne]

A five year grappler in the beginner division would be the definition of sandbagging. Don't let your coach talk you into it.

Most competitions say "Beginners = less than one year" or something like that. I have never been in a tournament where a five year guy wouldn't be cheating by going beginner. If this tournament says, "Experience level as determined by instructor" or something weird like that, then it's a different scenario. But, I'm guessing this tournament has a certain amount of mat time they are expecting you to be under if you go beginner. If you have more than that, then you are cheating no matter what your instructor says.

Now you see my issue. I did 3 years of almost 5-6 days a week when I first started. No kids, no responsibility. I slowed way down after my 3 year mark, had my first kid. Took about 5 years off, only rolling 5-10 times a year really. Got back into it at the beginning of this year and been hitting it about 2-3 times a week. It was slow to come back at first, but I really feel like im hitting my stride.

[Jack Hanley]

Now you see my issue. I did 3 years of almost 5-6 days a week when I first started. No kids, no responsibility. I slowed way down after my 3 year mark, had my first kid. Took about 5 years off, only rolling 5-10 times a year really. Got back into it at the beginning of this year and been hitting it about 2-3 times a week. It was slow to come back at first, but I really feel like im hitting my stride.

Yeah, if you were competing in a less than 1 yr or less than 1.5 years beginner division against one of my guys and I heard that, I would definitely call you cheater.

[Jack Hanley]

What do the rules say in this tournament? Is there a "Beginner = 1 year" type rule or no?

[ErikLavigne]

What do the rules say in this tournament? Is there a "Beginner = 1 year" type rule or no?

I am not sure. Its in Dallas in September, he said its a pretty big tournament so I imagine its going to have some sort of rule about experience .

[David Rosado]

Does your coach frequently and easily tap you? Or roll with you like you're a noob?

[ErikLavigne]

Does your coach frequently and easily tap you? Or roll with you like you're a noob?

Well in a 5 minute roll, he may get a tap once maybe twice. Typically in Gi he is just letting me work. However, in No-gi I give him a run for his money. Rarely does he tap me in no-gi. He is pretty new to the no-gi system. He is much faster than me, better technique. In a Gi he would wreck me if he wanted to. I am not good with seeing the collar chokes haha

[Gray]

While gi is a different beast than nogi, I've never met anyone that had that much experience nogi and still struggled enough to be considered a white belt in gi.

[Mojoplata]

What if he's just more concerned with people thinking you're sandbagging in the gi?

[Ericp]

Do what your instructor says