Reading your posts it seems you put a lot of emphasis on physical training and physical preparedness for a competition in lieu of your jiu jitsu. It's probably different competing at the highest levels, but it doesn't sound like you emphasize your jiu jitsu so much in preparation. What's your jiu jitsu training like before a competition? I'd think I'd like to put in more mat time than gym time. Whats your take? Congrats on the silver metal too man!

Pretty good question. One I have asked myself and think I have answered, atleast to myself.

My problem is, I am from Rhode island, or New England. New England does not have the kind of scene that a California or a Florida or even a New York has. Not to mention we lack the atmosphere of those scenes. With Atmosphere i mean, people dedicated to showing up every single day no matter what, being at class before and at the end. So with that it is  really tough to find training partners as passionate as myself. So when I compete its most often times by myself, and thankfully I have met some incredible people so I am not at tournaments by myself.

So in lieu of not having the training partners to do extra trainings, the oppertunity to train 2-3 times a day of jiujitsu, and that atmosphere I’ve experienced in California, Florida, etc.. I’ve put an added emphasis on my athletic training. 

So now I get to train 2-3 times a day, 1 bjj, 1 or 2 S&C. 

But with all this, I don’t get carried away in the gym. I put a tremendous amount of time in learning and understanding how to make the most out of my time. 

For example, there aint really a place for me to train nogi to get ready for the nogi worlds and nogi pans. So in trying to get the most, i disregarded training in the kimono for 2+ months to get ready. And really the only training partner I had for nogi was Tom Lawlor, thank god.

But before competition, I really make a hard effort in trying to lock down somebody, someone to drill with me before and after classes. I try to get extra sparring before and after. I try to make daily goals to try and reach. My S&C becomes tougher. And that is pretty much it before competition. Sometimes I feel good about my preparation, sometimes I don’t, thats life for me. I also understand at purple belt I have better jiu-jitsu then all the guys in my division, so, not getting tired is a great weapon. 

But I ain’t complaining (too much lol), I did my complaining at the beginning. I have come to accept that I do not have the resources of the great teams in bjj. That won’t stop me from becoming a black belt world champion.

You know, Lebron couldn’t win one in Cleveland, its one of my goals to bring some great hardware back to this area. It is really all mental.

Thanks for the congratulatory comments, btw! Should have been gold!

Nov

11

2011

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  1. adacon said: thats a great attitude to have. I guess you need to make the most with what you have and it seems like youre doing that to the fullest. I’m from NJ and there’s about a dozen schools within 20 miles of me (including NYC), guess its just different here
  2. jrfamilia posted this

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