BJJ

A Parent's Guide: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids Competitions

A Parent's Guide: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kids Competitions

As for parents who have been practicing BJJ for a while and are very well aware of the consequences one should face on the mat. It was quite motivational and determined that after every fall, you stood again and took a stand to serve your motives as a professional BJJ practitioner. Therefore, you have been in many competitions throughout your life.

Well, now it is your junior's turn to face all that you have faced off during your era. This raises a question: what will you do if someone has submitted your kid with a choke and is trying to make him out of breath? It's pretty painful, you know the pain, right?

Having a soft corner in your heart for your child is natural, but success takes a lot. It carries a lot of pain and hardships along with it, yet there is always payback.

You have done what you had to. Now is the time for your kid to make his name like his parents and make them feel proud. So, being a parent, you need to be supportive and demonstrate that you are apt and motivated for your kid.

Here is a little guide to assist not only the kids but also parents on how to help their kids prepare for the tournament and a little insight on what to expect.

1. Competition Preparation

  • Check with their coach and make sure your child is eligible to compete.
  • Ensure your kid is doing his best in training and attending advanced classes.
  • Your Child is Focused or Working Hard.
  • Ask your child if he wants to compete or not. Or do you want them to? Encouragement with a little push is mandatory, although forcing them because you want it is not a good idea at all.
  • Make sure to sign up for the tournament before the valid date and also at the front desk.
  • Ensure that your kid knows all the rules. Review their submissions to determine if they are legal or illegal. Prior to that, study the point system and how the score works.
  • Please review the competition rules on the respective websites.
  • The management of the tournament will be there to help you. If you are not familiar with something, feel free to ask them. They would love to assist you.
  • Ensure your kids BJJ gear is in good condition.

2. Considering Weight Class

  • BJJ is a fair competition, and there is no fight between two different weight classes. So, you should be familiar with which weight class your kid belongs to. Find the appropriate weight class for your kids (however, cutting weight to fall into the lower class could be dangerous for children).
  • Make sure you register according to your kid’s belt rank and weight class.
  • They will be facing an opponent in the same weight category or belt class.
  • Kindly inform the children that they might be competing with opposite boys and girls. Noticeably, the younger one feels completely fine with this, but mostly teenagers tend to struggle, so it’s best to give them a heads up.
  • The "weigh-in" is a requirement for any BJJ tournament. Usually, it happens a day before the competition, but it can also happen on the day of competition (in bigger sorts of tournaments).
  • Arrive at your scheduled time to check-in and weigh in on time. Go eat a balanced meal with proper nutrients, and get some good rest (it’s going to be a long, exciting, and exhausting day!).

3. The Big Day

  • Don’t miss your breakfast on your tournament day. However, eat something light and easy to digest; a Turkish sandwich or oatmeal and blueberries are the most preferable foods for the big day. They'll need the energy to keep fighting each other round after round!
  • Reaching on time, parking can be tough. The earlier you get there, the better it will be for your kid and yourself as well. Warm-up before 30-minutes before starting the tournament. That will help warm up your child’s body as well as their mindset.

4. Itinerary Check and Packing

  • Bring seasonal clothes and wear warm-up clothes—socks, jackets, and sweatpants.
  • Wear flip-flops and shoes that can easily be removed while going on and off the mat.
  • Your BJJ Gi should be patched with the legal and required High Altitude Yeti or Easton patch.
  • You should wear your ranked rash guard.
  • Bring water and snacks for after-fight cravings. Furthermore, the tournament day should be long and tiring, and both you and your child should get hungry.
  • Don’t forget any BJJ gear for your kid, especially your mouthpiece.
  • Don’t forget the masks for everyone in attendance and ensure the safety gap.
  • Your name, mat number, and match number should be found on the wall near the restrooms or online (the service tends to be spotty, so try to get this after weigh-ins). Tell the coaches what mat number and match number you've been assigned. As the day goes by, your match number will change, so be sure to check back frequently. The table employees will inform you of your new number after each match. It's important to remember! Stay near to your mat; the order of matches can often jump around, and some matches can run out of time, so you'll want to be prepared.
  • Feel free to take a break between matches, but keep warm. There will be at least two competitions, with some downtime in between.

5. Staying Composed to Be Supportive

  • The biggest key to staying there as a major support is to stay composed and calm. Trust your child with his or her difficulties and guide them.
  • Don’t get too involved in their fight. That could be interfering with their ability to concentrate, as well as interfering with the children on the next mat.
  • It is compulsory to respect the rules and regulations while observing the standards of etiquette. You may disagree with the results or the decision, but trust the coaches and the authority of capable judges.
  • Encourage your child to remain calm and courageous, to breathe, to listen to their coach, to give their all, and, most importantly, to enjoy the game.
  • Go to the tournament with your mind prepared. There will be hundreds of coaches, competitors, judges, and referees. So, we all have to be patient and face the rushy place.

6. Advice for Parents New to BJJ

We like to say, "Effort over the outcome." You can't always control whether you win or lose, and fixating on that can be frustrating and debilitating, but we can always focus on taking it one match at a time and doing our best. If we do, we frequently surprise ourselves with the outcome. Your children may or may not receive a medal. Simply stepping onto the mat to compete is a victory in and of itself. There is no such thing as winning or losing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, only learning.

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