We’d like to congratulate Catie, Noah and Zac on their successful weekend competing for Liberdade Jiu Jitsu at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation tournament in Nashville, along with Milton, Ronaldo and Joao’s first place wins.
This will have been Catie and Noah’s first time ever competing and Zak’s first time as a black belt competing. I sat down with them and asked them a few questions about why and how they came to the decision to compete. Here were their take aways.
”When I started Jiu Jitsu at Liberdade I had no intention of ever competing. I felt no pressure from anyone to sign up. I decided to compete for a new challenge for myself this year. It also gave me an opportunity to put my newly learned bjj skills to the test in a safe environment. In the past I have found signing up for a challenge gives me fresh motivation.
Ripping off the band aid is always the hardest part. Just showing up and facing off against a complete stranger. I am happy I went after and conquered that hurdle.
It was not only about the one match but the whole journey leading up to it.
From meeting and maintaining a specific weight. To focusing my new techniques into a competitive mindset. Then having the fitness to withstand the rigors of a competitive match not just another roll in the gym. The competition certainly provided an acceleration of lessons learned. And I am glad to have gone through this experience”. -Catie
“ I wanted to compete because I love to challenge myself, and wanted to apply all that I've learned in my journey.
Competing was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. Incredibly rewarding to have accomplished it and feel victory.
Being able to put myself out there and to do something so difficult is rewarding for the soul.” -Noah
“Being around the environment inside Liberdade Jiu Jitsu is something special. It breeds a motivation unlike something I’ve ever felt before. Competing had been on the back burner for a long time. The head coaches installed a confidence in me the past year I haven’t had in a while. Milton and Alex sparked my drive to compete. To represent my jiu jitsu and showcase what the gym has to offer through the mats.
Being happy I competed is an understatement. The preparation that was required of me regimented my life into a positive spiral that I won’t ever take for granted. I walked out there with confidence in myself and my team to try our best regardless of the outcome and that’s what I did.
My take away was that I have what it takes. I have the discipline required to see something through to the end. Whatever it may be. Nothing in life is impossible and even if you think you might not do something again it’s never too late to find that motivation and spark in competition whether it be in the joy of winning or the merit in losing and the validation through both”. -Zak
And of course, congrats to João on his double gold; and Milton and Ronaldo on their first place wins. we always strive to leave by example.
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