Grappling Industries Lesson

I just competed at the Grappling Industries Boston (brown belt middle weight masters division). I lost. I was up against a world's silver medalist... only I didn't know that. It was best two out of three. So we had two matches that he won. The first match was brutal. I usually have a first crappy match, but I've been able to pull out of it to move on to the next one. Once I get into the later matches I tend to do better. I also lost brutally in my first match at world's.

I was not in it. My mental was not driving. I was lost on the mats. I didn't bring the fight. It was embarrassing. My professor and teammate told me that I needed to get my shit together and bring the fight. I had ten minutes before we had our second go-around. I brought it. I shoved him, and he fell back into guard. I got caught in his triangle, but it was not applied well. I had all my faculties in check. I used the time to crush him. I saw that it had an effect, and then it was a real match. I ended it with an ankle lock that I couldn't readjust for a tight fit. They gave it to him, and that was the end of that contest.

I don't like losing, obviously. I have gained maturity though. I couldn't handle losing in my twenties. I didn't grow up playing competitive sports, and I had to learn the lessons later. Now, in my 30's, I am open to what I can gain from losing. I was owed an ass-whooping. I dish it out plenty, and this was my time to eat a big shit sandwich.

I'm gonna eat that shit sandwich, and wash it down with humility. I made major gains in the second match with the silver medalist. So, that's a victory. I had a shot at beating him. I needed to believe it from the get-go. I needed to give it my all. I needed to bring the fight. I needed to be in the driver's seat. I learned, and it is invaluable. I will be applying this to the next time around. I keep replaying the matches over in my head (that's like having leftovers of the shit sandwich in my fridge). You can't win them all, and I know I'll be tasting plenty of shit sandwiches again. It's an acquired taste, but it also comes with sophistication and knowledge.