Should Your Child Compete in Tournaments?

The Benefits and Challenges of Tournament Participation for Young BJJ Athletes

Are you an parent of a BJJ athlete? Have you been presented with the option to have your child compete in a tournament for the first time by their Professor? If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not this is best for your child, let’s explore the pros and cons to competing for the first time.

Are You Ready to Compete?

Watching your child compete in a tournament for the first time can be a stressful experience for a parent, especially for those who are unfamiliar with the sport and do not train themselves. Jiu-Jitsu is a full contact sport, making it inherently dangerous. That being said, most nation-wide tournaments have established rules in place to make competition as fun and safe as possible for young practitioners. Due to the nature of the sport, Jiu-Jitsu tournaments can also be a highly stressful experience for your child. Students should have a basic understanding of defensive techniques and a support system to step on the competition mats for the first time.

One of the major benefits of competing is the improvement it has on a practitioners Jiu Jitsu in general. Stepping on the mats to compete for the first time takes a lot of courage and just making it through high-intensity matches is an accomplishment in itself. Additionally, it challenges athletes to apply techniques they've learned in training, fostering a deeper understanding and mastery of their skills. A first competition really puts into perspective the level of strength, power, and aggression they could face in a real-world scenario and additional tournaments allows them to set goals and work towards achieving them. This process teaches discipline, perseverance, and the value of hard work.

Another major aspect of competition is the mental and emotional component. Winning with grace and respect, losing with humility and the grit to come right back for the next match is such a highly overlooked skill. If young athletes can be humbled by tapping to a choke, show respect by shaking the hand of their competitor and coach, and holding their head high enough to take on their next match, they have already accomplished so much. These values are integral parts of BJJ and extend to everyday life.

Only Training is Ok, But It Does Not Maximize Development

The regular training environment is highly beneficial to young athletes and many of the same skills and lessons are absorbed in the gym, but it lacks the pressure and unpredictability of a competitive environment. Competing helps children learn to manage stress and adapt to new challenges. Athletes learn to make adjustments based on coaching in the gym, but tournament challenge children to receive direct feedback on their performance and immediately apply it in a high pressure scenario.

Can Competing in BJJ Help You Be a Better Athlete?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a sport that requires a high level of physical conditioning, mobility, flexibility, strength, and agility. These skills transfer well into many other sports and create a strong base of athleticism, but perhaps the biggest strength BJJ lends to other sports is the mental fortitude.

BJJ competition requires the athlete to rely on only themselves and their courage to face an opponent. They must overcome the natural anxiety that comes from this pressure-filled scenario and trust themselves enough to perform their skills with confidence. Short rest between matches, time changes, last minute opponent changes, and more force athletes to adapt to their competitive environment in order to be successful. During the match athletes must make split second decisions and rely on the mind-body connection to carry out their technique. Competition is the quickest way to expose holes in an athlete’s “game” and there is no way to hide areas that are lacking.

Competing Builds Confidence

Kids can do hard things too! Win or lose, getting out on the mats to face an opponent boosts confidence outside of Jiu Jitsu. Atheltes learn that although they were afraid and unsure, they did it anyway and regardless of outcome it provides motivation to improve. Confidence under pressure is an incredible lesson to be drawn on for a lifetime of overcoming adversity.

Encouraging a child to compete in Jiu Jitsu tournaments offers numerous advantages, but it's essential to consider the individual child's temperament, emotional maturity, grit, and training goals. While competition may not be for everyone, those who choose to participate can gain valuable skills and experiences that apply across disciplines and in day-to-day life.

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