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Naga 2009 - My First Jiu-Jitsu Tournament

I entered my first tournament, the Naga Grappling Tournament. There were over 780 competitors packed into the Pearl City High School Gym.

I was really hesistant about entering as I didn't train for a month due to the move of the store. I figured I would just go for it. I had to get down to 149 to make the Featherweight Division. A week before the event I did not like how I was doing in practice so I decided to just enter in my age division 40-49 (Directors).

I got to the Gym early. I was worried about making weight as I gained weight on Saturday because I had to stay at the Store all day. I was up at 153 mostly due to water weight as all I ate was a banana and some grapes. I ate a Chirashi Sushi for dinner and just thought I would cut in the morning. At the weigh in they gave a 1 pound leeway and I just made it.

It was a long, very hot, wait for my match. I was supposed to fight at 11am, but finally got on the mat at 2pm. I only entered the Gi Division because I felt that was my best chance to win. I was worried all of the competitors in the Division were taller and heavier than me. Luckily this one other guy entered who was my weight. We got matched in a two man division in the Intermediate Level.

When I was called for my match I was alone on the mat. No coaches and no opponent. Oddly enough I was not nervous. My opponents coach said he was in another match so our match got postponed. They put on another match, and I got called again. Still no opponent. Had to get off again as they wanted to give him time to rest. Called again. Still nothing. Then finally we were up.

I was ready to go. I was worried about my stand up game. He didn't look at me as the ref gave instructions. When the match started we hooked up. He just held onto the Gi and didn't attempt anything. I tried to grab a leg but he just avoided it and did nothing. I hate that type of fight and just jumped guard to take the fight to the ground which I told myself I would not do. I ended up in half guard. After a scramble I got to the top in his guard.

I did a Gi choke exposing my right arm. I could hear his corner telling him to arm bar. He didn't feel strong so I held the choke and waited for him to arm bar so I could pass. He shot the arm bar and pulled hard. I pulled my arm out and passed to side control. Here is where I made a mistake. I could hear his corner yelling at him not to worry because no points were awarded yet. I thought I had him good enough to get points but alas.

He recaptured half guard and I went for a forearm choke. I thought I was going to get him because he was making the gulping noises of someone who couldn't breathe. He gutted it out and I lost my base. He dove for my left arm and got me in a Kimura. I wasn't worried but then I hesitated and he pulled it tight and my head hit the mat. I thought about tapping for a second but told myself no tapping he would have to break it. I was able to roll out of it and get into side control again. I made the same mistake and did not get any points. He recaptured guard and time ran out. I lost.

My opponent was dead tired and fell to the mat. I reached out my hand to help him up but he just fell back to the ground. The ref told him to get up so they could announce the decision. He got up and had his hand raised. I was totally bummed. I asked what the score was and it was 0-0 but my opponent had 2 advantages to my 0 (his armbar and kimura attempts)

I ended up with a Silver Medal but that didn't mean anything as it was a loss. The only consolation was that it added to the Team score.

My left arm is kinda messed up from that Kimura. I can't straighten it at all.

All in all it was worth it.

Much Mahalos to the Sunday Crew and Fay for working so I could compete.

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$l\l l l/l$ Comment by l\l l l/l on October 23, 2009 at 1:59am: i had a freak accident of my own yesterday. we were doing guard pass drills and my opponent tried to advance from my guard to mount. i scrambled and got to my feet. he "tackled" me (idk what to call it, it wasn't a clean single or double leg) and i instinctively based out on my right arm. BIG MISTAKE as it twisted my shoulder and i tapped out when he landed in side control. i felt a sharp pain but doubt it was anything serious. i sat out the rest of class and stretched out my arm. it only actually hurts when i move it so i know it's not broken. since i'm getting a blood test + fly shot today, mise well get my arm looked at while i'm there.

lesson: we do judo falls for a reason. you're supposed to slap the mat when you fall, not balance on one arm (Shogun got jacked up doing this vs Mark Coleman). hopefully, i'll have my warm up drills ingrained into muscle memory so this doesn't happen again!

Comment by David Oscar Bustillos on October 22, 2009 at 11:24am: Wow Michael I give you a ton of respect for not only being made to wait so long for you match to begin but not giving in. U held in and most importantly u are now learning from this experience. Just like you taught us to learn from our mistakes I know u have and are going to kick even more but next time. God bless Mike.

Comment by motsuji on October 22, 2009 at 7:02am: I agree with Dane. It is stupid not to tap in an event of this scale. If it is a UFC fight or a streetfight that is something else. It was dumb of me to risk serious and permanent injury. I mean if it was a choke all that is going to happen is you go to sleep for a little while. Joint related attack damage can be with you for the rest of your life. That is why pride is one of the seven deadly sins.

Thanks Daniel. The Triple Crown is coming up in November.

Comment by daniel galacgac on October 21, 2009 at 12:35pm: hey mike, i would like to see one of these events i the near future, and im sure josh would be down also since he has a mma background also, if you ever need any help trainging, im down to help, i only have a wrestling background, but i am confident in my abilities when it comes to the take downs and morebecause im a damn good wrestler (as my head gets big at this very moment), and im sure josh would be willing to help also, so if ever you need help before an event just give us a call.

Comment by Charli Toratani on October 21, 2009 at 12:28pm: seconded Dane. :P

Comment by The Dane Train on October 21, 2009 at 12:05pm: All you people who say don't tap are out of your mind lol. I'd be the first girl to tap out.

Comment by motsuji on October 21, 2009 at 9:24am: I ate a spam musubi and had a gatorade after i weighed in. Due to the PTQ on the previous day I had a late dinner. I trained almost every day since the for the month of October. I was out in Sept. due to the store move.

Our guys were spread thin due to the amount of competitors we had. I think someone came by during the match but you know how it is if you are not used to his voice it is hard to pick out in all the yelling.

I tried to pick a single but I couldn't break his grips in the grip fight.

Yes I over extended the forearm choke because his face was turning color and he was gulping which was stupid. I should have just shoulder pressured him and got the two points for taking side control. I made that stupid mistake twice. I lost my mind when I couldn't figure out the score so I just tried to submit. Had I known it was 0-0 and I didn't get points on the move from guard to side cause I thought I pinned him because I counted 1001, 1002, 1003 I thought I had it. My problem was I did not stick to fundamentals. The last two days all I worked on was shoulder pressure from half guard, and side control. Told myself no Americanas which is my go to move from those position. ONLY arm triangles which I never normally do. Trying to drill it in my head to pin the guy down and cut back on the movement.

Oddly enough I could not figure out why I wasn't nervous until last night. It came to me that the reason why was because of Yu-Gi-Oh where almost everyone is way better than me. I am way more nervous playing that and the pressure the players put on me has to me to relax and calm my mind.

Comment by Flying Hawaiian on October 20, 2009 at 10:18pm: It must have been a tough event to have waited that long. 3 hour wait, I'm wondering when your last meal was before your match. I just want to say good job and continue your training!!! You are an inspiration to people like me who believe I can still compete in Martial arts events. How long did you train for this event, and why didn't you have a corner man or coach? I think with a corner man he can help you keep track of the time and let you know if you are ahead or behind on points. Jumping guard wow I thought you would have shot a single or a double first, I know it doesn't hurt you if you miss but it helps when you are successful.
DId you over extend on the choke to lose your base? You had 2 attempts at chokes did that not count as advances. I guess a Kimura from half guard and arm bar counted more for technique I am assuming. I wonder if you put the heat on him if we would have gassed out, you definetly had better cardio then he did. It must have been an awesome expeirence to have entered such a big event alone. Losing is a good learning experience, I bet at times you go over the moves (in your head) you did that day and thought of how you would have done it differently. A great man once told me "expeirence is the best teacher".
Anyways I just want to say Good Job Mike and good luck in your training!!!

Comment by motsuji on October 20, 2009 at 9:28pm: Thanks all for your comments and support. Was a humbling experience and showed me how much harder I have to work to improve.