If you’re reading this, then the chances are that you’re a white belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu who is thinking about competing. This is quite natural, and it’s also normal to feel nervous and anxious about competing. In fact, most elite black belt competitors also feel nervous.
The good thing about being a white belt competitor is that you won’t have any expectations put on you. If you perform badly, literally no one cares. If you do well, then people may take more notice of you. Regardless, you could argue that the experience itself is bigger than the result – especially with your first competition. At the same time, it’s also important to remember that competing isn’t for everyone and if it truly frightens you then you don’t have to do it anyway. Here’s our guide to competing as a white belt in BJJ.
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When to compete as a BJJ white belt
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong time to have your first BJJ competition. However, a good rule is to measure yourself against other white belts in the gym who are of the same weight. If you’re 70KG and you lose during sparring to a 95KG white belt then it’s pointless getting upset. This is because when competing, you’ll be up against those of the same weight.
If you do well against similarly experienced white belts in the gym (who weigh the same), then you’ll know if you’re ready to compete. If you’re older, you can also compete in the Master’s division, which is another term used to describe the over-30s category. Here, the pace will usually be less intense than that of an under-30s competition.
Ideally, you should have at least a few months of solid training under your belt and should at least know some BJJ before getting ready to compete. Sometimes, people jump into competitions with no previous grappling experience after a month or so of training, only to be disappointed with the result and quit altogether.
This shows you not to put too much emphasis on competition results, as well as avoiding the urge to jump in too quickly. By a similar token, you shouldn’t wait too long either. If you’ve trained consistently for over a year then you could get promoted to blue belt at some point, so by then, it’s best to have competed if you want to experience what it’s all about.
What to expect on the day of the competition
When it comes to the actual competition, there are a few things to look out for. We’re assuming that at this point you’ve registered and you’ve entered into the right weight category. On the day, it’s best to get to the venue early to avoid any possible delays. For instance, if you’re due to compete at 3PM, get there an hour before. This way, you’ll be able to acclimatize to the venue and warm up before your match.
We should also point out that in some competitions, you may be asked to sign in over one hour before you’re due to compete. If you’re late, you may not be allowed to compete. Although this rule seems stupid, it’s something to look out for. In some cases, you may be asked to bring ID as well, especially if you’re under the age of 18.
On the day, bring plenty of water and other supplements such as protein, snacks, and electrolytes if you want. This is because you may be waiting around for a while, especially if you do the absolute weight category later on which could be hours after your match. As well, bring your gi or rashguard and make sure it fits correctly without any holes or obvious imperfections.
Around 15 minutes or so before you’re due to compete, you’ll be called to the bullpen. Here, you’ll wait until you’re called over and then you’ll step onto the mat. From here, you’ll shake hands with the referee, and then your opponent. After this, you’re on your own and you’ll see what it’s all about.
Know the rules as a competitor
One of the most frustrating things watching white belts compete is their lack of respect for the rules. This is because white belts are naturally naive to competition rules, but you should still try and learn them anyway. For instance, in the gi – it’s typically illegal to perform knee reaps, guard jumps, and certain submissions such as wrist locks.
These are all things you should know and be wary of. Usually, the competition will have rules on their website that you can follow. Basically, look out for any unusual rule sets which may differ from the norm. Sometimes, no gi competitions will have more relaxed rules as well, even for white belts. In short, the last thing you want to do is get disqualified for talking to the referee during the bout (yes, this can happen).
Speaking of the rules, we’re not just on about things that can get you disqualified either. In some cases, white belts don’t understand the difference in points when comparing a pass to a sweep. Similarly, they may not understand that a reversal doesn’t score points, and so on. Basically, educate yourself as much as possible. It should only take 5 minutes to quickly read the rules and go through them with a higher belt if you’re unsure.
What to expect
Honestly, most people lose their first match as a BJJ white belt. This is because the experience can be overpowering and you can easily get an adrenaline dump. Even if you roll perfectly in the gym and go in with full confidence, you can still lose on the day. It could be that your opponent is far better or more experienced than you. Regardless, it’s all good fun and you shouldn’t take it too seriously. Win or lose, remember it’s your first competition and it won’t define you as a grappler.
Speaking of winning, even if you do win – you’ll probably feel more tired than normal. This is because you and your opponent will be going at 100%. Remember, this isn’t the gym and it’s time to up the tempo. Due to this, you may barely remember the match and it may be a blur. You may even make sloppy mistakes and feel that your grips or cardio has burned out.
As said, this is normal and is all part of the ride. This is also why it’s good to get a proper warm up in beforehand, so you avoid a potential adrenaline dump. Arguably, it’s better to go in hot than it is cold. If you’re fortunate enough to win, you may go on to another fight which will be around 15-20 minutes later. Use this time to rest and recover.
Why it’s good to compete as a white belt
For most people, competing is a nervous but rewarding experience. Overall, it’s good to compete as you may learn about yourself and how to handle pressure. Even if you perform poorly, it may also highlight key mistakes in your game. For instance, if you lose a close roll in the gym, you’re less likely to care. However, if you’ve paid $50 and traveled for an hour, then you may think about it harder and work on improving your game.
You may also realize that you’re too weak or lack cardio, so these are things you can also work on. Basically, it’s a good thing to highlight your issues as well as giving you a competitive goal to work towards.
One of the best reasons to compete as a white belt though, is to get it out of the way if you plan on competing later. Sometimes, people delay too much out of anxiety, and then as a blue belt, the quality of opponent is even harder. Similarly, white belt divisions are usually busier with more opponents. As a purple belt and beyond, you may not regret competing as a white belt when matches were easy to come by. For the most part though, competition should be about challenging yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone.
