Another day, another dollar, another class, another tournie!!
Ah, for those of us who compete it’s a thrilling thing. For those who are considering competing, it’s an unknown territory, which can be frightening.
And that brings me to (drum roll please) facing friends across the mats.
The jiu-jitsu community is small enough that we see the same faces over and over again. We become acquaintances and more often than not friends, even family.
So, what do you do? How do you feel facing that person across the mat? He or she is now your opponent, standing between you and glory!
All jokes aside, I’ve found that while I love to compete, I enjoy the camaraderie of the sport even more. Friend off the mats, friendly adversary on the mats. My opinion of the person across from me hasn’t changed. If anything there’s even more respect because we both know how hard we’ve worked to be there. Hit hands, do your best, and remember at the end of the day, we are all working toward our own goals, dreams, and desires.
So, what do you think? How would you handle the above situation? I find fun, focus, and respect go a long way in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Be serious about gaining that one percent, one step closer, but not so serious that you miss out on opportunities to meet and bond with some amazing people.
Not everyone is superman, but everyone has dreams.
Happy Rolling!
Aya
