Today is the Texas Open. I'm traveling for work right now, but hopefully there are quite a few of you that are waking up this morning and preparing for a fun day of competition.
I'm new to competition, so maybe that's why I'm still shocked at how good of a scene it is at these tournaments. People are very friendly (when they're not focused on the next match) and even random strangers show support. That's why, win or lose, I'm finding that competitions are a great opportunity go support the sport, meet people, and learn something about yourself.
When you show up in the morning it's a competition. No way around it. Even if you're not blindly focused on winning, you should want to do well. But there's also the opportunity for you to think of it as a celebration.
You're taking the time and investing the money in testing yourself and spending the day with people that all share your common interest. That to me is a celebration of the sport and lifestyle that we love.
Here are a couple articles on competition that have some great advice on what to expect and do once you get to the tournament.
- Austin Local, David Thomas (Austin JiuJitsu) has a great breakdown that leads from weeks out to the minute of - and even provides a list of what to bring
- GrappleArts has these 18 Tips for Competition that are worth checking out
As a side note, I've really enjoyed Sports Beans and other electrolyte gels / candy while biking and training. It's an easy way to carry sports drinks and you can get them most places. If you have trouble finding them at the grocery, try REI or an Academy Sporting Goods.
I wish all of you the best of luck. Remember to relax, breath, and more importantly - have fun!
