Malum

On September 10th 2011 there will be a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) tournament in the greater Toronto area. For those of you don't know I have been training in martial arts and hand to hand combat for about 15 years now. I have trained with a number of black belts including the legendary Mendes Brothers (see my other blog).

But that doesn't really matter.

Competition doesn't make exceptions for peoples past experiences, only how many of those experiences have been dedicated to the moment when you arrive and put down everything you have for a shot at a gold medal. My competitors don't care either. They have been training for weeks to get to this point and they won't let some technique boasting blue belt get between them and what they BELIEVE to be theirs.

When I started trainging BJJ, it immediately became an obsession. My first competition was a quick one. Fighting in the gym is different than when there are a few hundred eyes watching your every move. I may have also been a white belt but I was as green as they come. I was annihilated in both the gi and no gi divisions.

I decided by my second tournament things would be different. I annihilated my first opponent in under a minute with a head an arm choke that has him making inhumane noises. I choked my next opponents to make it to quarter finals where I would lose to a draw (the opponent was given an advantage for going for an illegal move. thanks ref). He later placed silver.

I had two short lived tournaments with similar results.

I've never placed.

"LOLMalum, noob" Is probably what's coming to mind.

All of these tournaments were when I was a white belt, mind you. A level so long ago I can't even remember what it's like (except that I live it vtime to time through Rob). It's been probably about 3 years since my last competition. My career in BJJ has since taken some interesting turns.

But I'm back.

I have just over 4 weeks to refine myself to the level of champion before I compete. The time away from competition will likely effect my nerves. Stage fright. But there's something that makes that little more than an afterthought.

I want to annihilate my opponents. I don't just want to win. I want to show them that they are completely inadequate at their craft. They're going to see what happens when an insatiable desire for victory meets unparalleled technique. I intend to redefine what it means to be a blue belt.

When the time comes, they won't be shaking my hand. They'll be apologizing for wasting my time.

Wish me luck.