Competing on the 10th of December, in Birmingham. First No Gi comp I've done, after about 8 months training, and first grappling competition since October 2015, looking forward to diving back in! Focus in training has been on retaining a top position, trying to move like my JJJ sensei. Bit nervous, but excited too.
I did spend a fair bit of time debating it, but with the break I've taken in training and competing, and the low amount of training time I get per week I put myself down in the first category, I feel it's a more accurate reflection of my abilities and performance in class. If I feel like I set the bar too low, I'll move up a category for my next one.
Having said that, if the general consensus here is to move up, I'll move up, I don't want to be accused of sandbagging.
Well it's up to you, but if you've been training under your teacher that amount of time consistently, then it's only fair to enter the correct division. Does the comp run under belt category too? If so, entering the white belt, as a white belt is the more correct thing to do.
BJJ British Open Based on training 3 times per week on IBJJF Guidlines Current Belt (if applicable) or equivalent Total Training Time (estimated) Beginner (White) 1 year & 2months Intermediate (Blue) Up to 3 years Advanced (Purple) Up to 4.5 years Elite (Brown) Up to 6 years Elite (Black) 6 years or more.
Aye, but he doesn't specifically train in BJJ at all. He trains in JJJ and rolls at open mats every now and again. IMO he doesn't meet the criteria for blue belt technically.
That'll be why I said the above, and posted the comps guidelines for training amounts too. However, if he thinks training JJJ under a BJJ whitebelt is good enough for training, then it should count towards experience for competition catagories too. (I'm sure he's also said he's training legit nogi and judo now too) In this case it still ends up being the whitebelt category though. Hence why I posted the comp guidence.
JJJ get about 1 session with 2-4 rounds of rolling a week, and 40ish minutes of drilling probably 40 weeks of the year No-Gi specific, 1 session with 30-40 minutes of drilling per week for roughly 8 months, with a month and a half gap while prepping for, and recovering from, a physique contest. Haven't made it to Judo at all, although @Dead_pool is correct that I had planned to. No Gi changed to the same night.
So two years of once a week, plus six months of once a week = 104 + 26 = 130 sessions. Which is less then the upto 3 x 60 (180) sessions for ibjjf guidelines bluebelt catagory. So just going by hours since 2015 your still in the white belt category, but could go in the bluebelt depending on prior 2015 experience, as it's your first comp though, white sounds about right.
Depends on how you feel against blue/nearly blue belts? I could barely tap 4 stripe whites. And chances are you will be going up against those who tend to be given a blue belt when they win comps etc.
My session of no Gi is mostly people who are at white belt at other clubs, about 8-12 months in to training, although I don't know everyones background. They are just starting to compete and attend for the sparring. I feel like we're fairly evenly matched, the heavier/stronger guys tap me more than I tap them, the closer it gets to my weight the more it evens out, which is why I'm thinking compete at white belt for this one, and see where to go from there.
My thoughts are that you should always compete in your correct catagory re time training or belt, whichever is higher, otherwise if everyone only competes where they think they can medal, no one gets a fair match. As it's ibjjf, make sure you read the rules!
Yeah, if I was dominating newer guys in training, I'd have gone straight for blue. I'm not in it to medal, a win would be good, but I just want to test where I'm at, and what I'm learning. If I win, cracking, I'll go blue for the next one.
How do these experience categories work? Is it based on someone training daily? I barely get by against whitebelts despite a long training history but low frequency at various clubs (there are whitebelts who train daily and have better mat experience)
Its based on these guidelines. So belt level or if you have no belt, an estimated training amount, based on x3 a week.
Well, today would have been the day, but SNOW way (see what I did there? ) can my car get to Birmingham in this weather. Amber warning all day both for Birmingham and my area. Bit gutted, but don't want to risk my neck driving there, there's always another one. Good luck to anyone else competing there today, and stay safe everyone
