{"id":20330,"date":"2023-09-24T17:14:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T22:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/?p=20330"},"modified":"2023-09-24T17:15:01","modified_gmt":"2023-09-24T22:15:01","slug":"how-to-win-a-bjj-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rollingaroundbjj.com\/how-to-win-a-bjj-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Best Ways To Win A BJJ Tournament (Ultimate Preparation)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Few things in life are as nerve-racking as competing in combat sports. However, the rewards of personal achievement cannot be overstated, so people continue to overcome their fears and step on the mats to compete. While the ultimate price is not tangible, winning a gold medal makes everything so much sweeter. But how do you win a BJJ tournament<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training BJJ consistently and developing the physical and mental skills required to overcome other competitors is the first and obvious answer. But other steps can drastically tip the scales in your favor in competitions, like having a game plan, developing a winner’s mindset, and making all the necessary preparations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing a few key things is often the difference between winning and losing. If two equally skilled competitors meet, the one with the game plan will win most encounters, but other elements can increase the likelihood of getting the gold medal. Do you know what they are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>How To Win A BJJ Tournament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Winning a jiu-jitsu tournament requires physical and mental skills and a well-thought-out game plan. Not always the best grappler wins the tournament; a lot of it comes down to mindset, preparation, and proper execution of the game plan. This is why there are many things you can do aside from training diligently to increase your chance of winning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some advice will be universal for all levels; others will be geared toward beginners and people with less competition experience. Those with a wealth of experience already have a framework to rely upon, but I am sure they will also find valuable information to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know The Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like any sport, the rules are crucial to how it’s played. Jiu-jitsu is a tightly regulated sport, and there are A LOT of rules. The IBJJF especially has tons of regulations, not only during the match but also for the attire, behavior, and so on. If you get disqualified, you are certainly not winning the tournament, even if you are much better than anyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, if you are into no-gi, things are even more complicated. Each organization has slightly different rules about scoring, banned techniques, match length, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always take the time to learn the rules you will be competing under and prepare specifically for them. The worst feeling is to lose by disqualification for some rule you didn’t know about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rules also include how the tournament works in general. Is it a direct elimination, a round-robin, a double elimination, or another format? Knowing all of the details beforehand makes preparation much more focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Winning<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Weight divisions exist to ensure fair and competitive matches, but choosing which division to compete in can be challenging. You need to be sure your weight will be on point on the scale, or you won’t be allowed to compete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight-cutting is a complex topic. It provides an advantage for the heavier athlete at the higher levels, but water weight cutting is complex and can badly backfire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bad weight cut will leave you drained even before you’ve slapped hands with your opponent, so you either need to cut weight properly or not do it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For beginners, you should compete closer to your natural weight. If you need to lose 6 lbs in 4 weeks, you can do it safely by losing fat. But if you need to lose 6 pounds in a week, you are in for a hell of a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your first couple of tournaments, worrying about your weight and everything else adds unnecessary pressure to an already overwhelmed mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gameplan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In my opinion, one of the most critical aspects of winning a tournament is having a game plan, and this goes for each experience level, from fresh white belts to elite black belts<\/a>. Too often, people enter and go with the flow. This may be great in practice, but it’s not the way to win matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This does not mean you will have a script. A BJJ match is chaotic, and everything can and will happen. A game plan is a flowchart of possible scenarios and answers for each. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more advanced your skills are, the more options you will have in your toolbox, and the more elaborate the plan will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, let’s form a basic white\/blue belt game plan. A good gameplan has three pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n