Today I was in my first tournament. There were 7 people total in my bracket, and I lost my first match via submission after 4:30 so I didn't get a second match. I was down 8-2 anyways. I lost to the eventual winner of my bracket. He submitted the next guy, who won his first match, in only 1:30, and then the last guy he won by like 10-0 or something. Too bad I only had one match and lost to the eventual winner of the bracket. He was definitely the best guy in our bracket by far. I think the rest of us were fairly close in ability.
My strategy was to take him down, but he got the takedown when my reverse hip throw didn't work. I should have dropped my hips and pushed him away, but he pushed me over and when I tried to throw him, he was able to push me back and get side mount, then mount. He tried an Americana but I was able to defend fairly easily. I went for a sweep, and had him half turned when he put a scissor lock on my head. He squeezed hard, but didn't tap me out and then I pulled out and tried to get side mount be he got me in guard. Immediately, he went for a triangle, but I was able to stack him and had him in a collar choke. He was still trying to triangle me but wasn't able to get my head down. I sank my choke deeper and thought he was going to tap, but he dropped the triangle and was able to push my hip away with his feet. We rolled around a little bit, and then he got me in an arm bar.
He was definitely better than me in skill and was in better shape too, he won the bracket so I knew he had a lot more experience than my 3 months. I was sick and pulled a muscle two weeks before, so I went to this tournament with only 3 practices in 2.5 weeks, but I probably wouldn't have beaten him. I was pretty close with that collar choke. I think if I had spread my legs out while stacking, I might have been able to submit him. I was so busy thinking of the choke that I didn't think about my leg positioning. I saw his face turn red, so I knew he would have tapped soon but he was able to get out of it by pulling his legs out and pushing me away on my hips. I give him credit, he was good - definitely better than any of the 8 white belts I've sparred so far.
Looking back I should have:
1. Been more aggressive on the takedown. If I dropped my hips and not tried for the throw, I may have been able to get in the open more.
2. Once I had him stacked, I should have had a stronger base by not having my legs together but in a tripod formation to sink that collar choke in. I should have twisted my hands more to get it in deeper. It would have been an upset for sure if I tapped him since he was a lot better than me and was up by a lot of points.
I only wish I didn't have him first since he was the best guy in the bracket. It was a good experience. It would be good to enter another tournament as a white belt, since I'm only on my 3rd month. As they say at Gracie Barra, you win or you learn. I lost, but I did learn quite a bit in my first tournament.
My strategy was to take him down, but he got the takedown when my reverse hip throw didn't work. I should have dropped my hips and pushed him away, but he pushed me over and when I tried to throw him, he was able to push me back and get side mount, then mount. He tried an Americana but I was able to defend fairly easily. I went for a sweep, and had him half turned when he put a scissor lock on my head. He squeezed hard, but didn't tap me out and then I pulled out and tried to get side mount be he got me in guard. Immediately, he went for a triangle, but I was able to stack him and had him in a collar choke. He was still trying to triangle me but wasn't able to get my head down. I sank my choke deeper and thought he was going to tap, but he dropped the triangle and was able to push my hip away with his feet. We rolled around a little bit, and then he got me in an arm bar.
He was definitely better than me in skill and was in better shape too, he won the bracket so I knew he had a lot more experience than my 3 months. I was sick and pulled a muscle two weeks before, so I went to this tournament with only 3 practices in 2.5 weeks, but I probably wouldn't have beaten him. I was pretty close with that collar choke. I think if I had spread my legs out while stacking, I might have been able to submit him. I was so busy thinking of the choke that I didn't think about my leg positioning. I saw his face turn red, so I knew he would have tapped soon but he was able to get out of it by pulling his legs out and pushing me away on my hips. I give him credit, he was good - definitely better than any of the 8 white belts I've sparred so far.
Looking back I should have:
1. Been more aggressive on the takedown. If I dropped my hips and not tried for the throw, I may have been able to get in the open more.
2. Once I had him stacked, I should have had a stronger base by not having my legs together but in a tripod formation to sink that collar choke in. I should have twisted my hands more to get it in deeper. It would have been an upset for sure if I tapped him since he was a lot better than me and was up by a lot of points.
I only wish I didn't have him first since he was the best guy in the bracket. It was a good experience. It would be good to enter another tournament as a white belt, since I'm only on my 3rd month. As they say at Gracie Barra, you win or you learn. I lost, but I did learn quite a bit in my first tournament.
