How to Prepare for BJJ Tournament?

[Ahoym8e]

I'm training at least 2x per week, starting standing, plus private instruction once every week or two. At the gym I do basic circuit training and then sprints on a recumbent bike. The physical side I have covered, I think...

Right before the matches I get pretty nervous though. My heart pounds, my stomach feels yucky and sometimes my hands go numb and tingly. I almost always win matches in my belt and weight (White, 150-160), but I can't shake being nervous. It sucks because it seems I get tired much faster when I am nervous.

I suppose the preferred method would be to not be such a pussy, but I apparently can't help it. Are there herbs or some sort of tea or something to overcome anxiety?

Anyone have ideas on how to mentally prepare for a tournament?

I really appreciate the help.

[SweepEm]

Everyone deals with stress and pressure in different ways.

First off, do as much cardio training as you can.
In a tournament, you'll have many matches and I see guys with the best cardio winning. Yeah, sometimes a guy gets lucky and isn't in great shape but if you have the superior cardio, that will be your edge, especially in the later rounds.

There is no right way to mentally prepare for a tournament.
Waiting to compete used to do me in. I was in one tournament and was told I would be up soon and did my warm ups. Two hours later, I still was sitting there trying to stay focused but I lost it and choked.

I did the Pan Ams 2 years ago and was not 100%. I shouldn't have competed and was suffering from bad muscle spasms. I had pledged to compete since it was right after my Dad had died. So on I went. When I stepped onto the mat, I am usually so nervous but at that time, it was like I was sparring with one of my team mates. I had absoultely no nervousness and was quite calm. I don't know why, but in front of the biggest audience I'd had ever competed in, I was totally calm. Maybe I wasn't nervous because I knew I was hurt and there was no pressure to do well, I'm not sure.
I believe the more you worry, the worse you get.

I look at any competition now that you train, prepare both physically and mentally and you do the best you can do.
If someone beats you, well, they were the better competitor.
Plain and simple.....

[Twilight]

Anyone have ideas on how to mentally prepare for a tournament?

I really appreciate the help.

after your private or anytime ask your instructor to punish you and tell him not to hold back till the point you feel like throwing up. you go at him 110% as well. I guarantee you will not match up anything in your weight or belt class that will scare you as much as your instructor. next tournament think, about that... would you rather roll with this guy, or your instructor. after your first match think that again, who hurt more this guy or your instructor.

[Tom Yum]

What's up maytee!

Drink lots of steaming hot tom yum....jj. I think you have to just think past the nervousness, but also realize that everyone gets nervous. I know easier said than done, but its true.

Best of luck, man.

[bodhisattva]

ahoym8e:
don't think of it as fear.

it is just your animal-hormones making you ready to fight. it isn't fear. it is power surging and coarsing through you.

fear is just your desire to be this or be that interfering with your fun.

don't think of yourself as a pussy, bro. no pussy speaks as openly and honestly as your post.

[shamster]

I imagine no pussy would be willing to put it on the line and compete publically in the first place!

[OneDragons]

I imagine no pussy would be willing to put it on the line and compete publically in the first place!

You may want to re-word that

[Ahoym8e]

Thanks for the great feedback.

I try to keep in mind how well prepared I am for the event, how strong I am for my weight, how technical and tight my particular brand of JJ is (my instructor's "type" of Jiu Jitsu, not mine! ahahaaha), and it's all good. But I still feel physically unpleasant waiting for my matches. "Power coursing through my veins preparing" is a cool way of thinking of it. I will try that (psyche myself out of feeling crappy).

The one thing I do get a kick out of though is imagining the change of emotion in the opponent when they go from getting a cold, often moist, limp (limp being the only one I conciously choose) handshake to fighting like hell to not get submitted. Kind of the "oh shit, where is this coming from?" effect.

[Ahoym8e]

ask your instructor to punish you and tell him not to hold back till the point you feel like throwing up. you go at him 110% as well.

He taps me every thirty seconds. He is all technique and no strength (not that he isn't strong, but he just doesn't use it at all), so that is very unlike what I encounter in matches or small tournaments at my belt level.

I do train much harder in the weeks leading up to the event. That helps a lot physically and mentally. Just not enough to make me calm and relaxed waiting for my match.