How To Handle Anxiety Before BJJ Matches & MMA Fights 

Probably will. Thats how I was early on.

I feel like after the first match it's less nerve wracking

Thank you for this comment. I have felt like this before every class since I was a little kid in martial arts. I have recently changed my beliefs to exactly what chewy is describing. Competing for the first in bjj next week. How did your competition go in regards to nervousness and this form of thinking that chewy is recommended?

@@Streetzlegend I was pretty nervous all the way up until I got inside the arena. After watching a few matches it turned into anxious nervousness to start my first match (I had about 2-3 hours to wait). I basically told myself I just wanted to feel everything I was feeling..accepting the anxiousness, and telling myself everyone else was there doing the same thing I was that day and probably feeling the same things despite masking it, I think that helped a lot, and it's true. People are trying to prove something to themselves, their coaches, their families, their training partners...but the truth is most people don't even compete or understand what it feels like to compete, and just by stepping out to compete, you are making yourself better, which is our ultimate goal. I almost went in with the mindset, I'm just here to try to do some jiu-jitsu, probably lose, and get better, then it went better than I expected. I took 3 slow in/slow out deep breath , stepped on the mat and most all of the nervousness went away. I still felt like I had static in my veins. I wish I would have focused a little more on just making it get to to the ground quicker, because I locked up pretty bad once my grips were established. I did get guard pulls off but initially I was taken down because of this. Congrats on competing for the first time. You'll never forget it, and best of luck!

@@accain1314 Thank you for your response, that was very useful. This is a similar experience I have when I train, I sometimes feel some anxiety very subtle but enough to produce some thoughts against training or even a feeling of not training. But when I get in there, get on the mat with my gi and we line up, it all goes on autopilot. I recently started saying "i am not nervous, I am excited", then I found this video, I know it will help me for the first competition and I feel in all aspects of life where "nervousness" or "anxiety" would normally arise; I now know its excitement instead.

Take 2 shots of hard liquor before your about to do something major

I am back. Competing in a week and WOOO! I feel it.

You’re welcome bro. I struggled with anxiety on and off the mats a bunch when I was younger. Had to figure out lots of ways to deal with it. So happy to share!

Best of luck towards you.

Have faith in your training. You know if you put in the work. You got this 💪🏽

Same good luck

Good luck

Good luck Mate, you can do it!

Thank you!

how'd it go

I’m competing soon too! Best of luck to you brother

Biggest part is showing up! I just did my first comp over the weekend, ended up losing my first bout...rewatching my video i learned a lot!

@@jonathanherrera7759 Thanks so much brother! Let me know how it goes!!

@@dylanbreton0828 Very encouraging! Thanks so much for sharing bro! Helps a ton!

how'd it go

ME TO I competed under Gracie barra Encinitas

I got 2nd but only had 2 matches so

😂

i throw up my first class too. no big deal. stop eating 4 hours before class

Which comp was it world league

@@KwongEdits204 AGF

@@AndrePetersendesign awesome how did you do

tbh I think the easiest way is to lose weight and get to go with someone your size bc even uf they have certain weight classes your probably just gonna get bumped up anyways

Same

Right I got a mma fight April 9th

Thanks

You can tell yourself (by repeating the thought in your head) that it is normal to feel that way and that you won't be hurt by it. Train yourself not to have too big of expectations. Meet friends, be nice, focus on learning, tell yourself it is ok to lose but every loss can be turned into a learning experience if you focus your thoughts on it. Make your goal improving your health a priority. As Chewy says, anxiety and excitement are the same feeling. The only difference is with excitement we know the outcome is good so keep repeating in your mind that what you are feeling is excited. Rational inner dialogue with yourself can be helpful by asking yourself questions such as "why am I feeling this way?" or "how can this harm me?" Once you are able to ask yourself this and answer it you will begin to learn on how to deal with your anxiety. Deep breaths before class can also help. Remember, it is ok to lose. Don't allow your ego to control you.

Email or Instagram is usually the easiest.

@@Chewjitsu what is your email?

Hope the comp went well bro!

@@Chewjitsu got second.. on to IBJJF next weekend.. heard your tournament was really well run. We had a few people travel down for it from our gym in Indy. I’m going to try to make it next year 🤙🏼

Going through the questions today and tonight. I don't work on the weekends on that kind of stuff. Patience. ;)

Message me again on Instagram. I couldn’t find your message.

might be bc you know whats gonna happen