As my friends, teammates and even my son head off to Pan Ams next week without me, I am reminded of my favorite BJJ moment, which occurred at last years Pan Ams.
For 2 years I went to Pan Ams as a spectator, feeling anxious, over whelmed and excited by this caliber of jiu jitsu competition. I was terrified at the thought of being a competitor but, made a commitment to myself to compete the following year (just to say "I did this once")
I signed up for 2013 Pan Ams the moment registration opened (so I couldn't back out) and to my surprise, I never experience the usual competition jitters I normally do. I went into my 1st match feeling great (this NEVER happens to me, I always have a major adrenaline dump!) I went on to win all of my matches taking Gold but, no....this was not the highlight of my jiu jitsu career!
Giva Santana (The arm collector) and my professor, was coaching me (I am from AZ, and Giva instructs out of Lotus Club/Team Oyama in Irvine CA, so this would be my 1st time to compete in front of Giva) needless to say, I finished my 1st match in under 2 minutes by "Arm bar". Winning Pan Ams was an amazing, surreal moment but, finishing an arm bar at Pan Ams in front of Giva.....priceless!
Anyone who has thought about competing at Pan Ams or Worlds, DO IT! It's an experience every jiu jitsu practitioner should experience! And if you've don't compete, at least get out to watch, where else can you rub elbows with THE BEST in the World!
Good luck to my son Tyson! This is YOUR year!! Good luck to Team Eminence competitors Daniel Hampton and Hector Vasquez and to my teammate Joe Gomez! Go Get em guys!
For 2 years I went to Pan Ams as a spectator, feeling anxious, over whelmed and excited by this caliber of jiu jitsu competition. I was terrified at the thought of being a competitor but, made a commitment to myself to compete the following year (just to say "I did this once")
I signed up for 2013 Pan Ams the moment registration opened (so I couldn't back out) and to my surprise, I never experience the usual competition jitters I normally do. I went into my 1st match feeling great (this NEVER happens to me, I always have a major adrenaline dump!) I went on to win all of my matches taking Gold but, no....this was not the highlight of my jiu jitsu career!
Giva Santana (The arm collector) and my professor, was coaching me (I am from AZ, and Giva instructs out of Lotus Club/Team Oyama in Irvine CA, so this would be my 1st time to compete in front of Giva) needless to say, I finished my 1st match in under 2 minutes by "Arm bar". Winning Pan Ams was an amazing, surreal moment but, finishing an arm bar at Pan Ams in front of Giva.....priceless!
Anyone who has thought about competing at Pan Ams or Worlds, DO IT! It's an experience every jiu jitsu practitioner should experience! And if you've don't compete, at least get out to watch, where else can you rub elbows with THE BEST in the World!
Good luck to my son Tyson! This is YOUR year!! Good luck to Team Eminence competitors Daniel Hampton and Hector Vasquez and to my teammate Joe Gomez! Go Get em guys!
