Just lost my first match at Naga.... Competed 5 times this year I've won twice just been in a slump with these last tourneys, confidence is at an all time low. I do great in the gym with other blues and purples but come comp time I'm just blowing it. I honestly have gotten sick of competing bc the pain of losing hurts so badly. I train 6 days a week and work my ass off do it hurts to lose. Any good stories of coming out of a slump would be nice right now. 
All slumps pass. Just don't think about it at all. Just keep plugging along and you will suddenly realizing you feel great and are improving fast.
Yeah man I feel on fire in the gym and I'm due for my purple but I keep doing shitty in these tourneys.... Pain of losing is horrible
Just keep hitting the mat & above all, keep competing! 
The best advice is not give it up. Some days you are the hammer, other times the nail. Sadly this applies to tournaments as well. It takes a long time to know your body and condition it to peak when you need it to. There is no reason to get discouraged, there should only be a desire to find motivation and stay on the mats.
The important thing is to learn what happened and why. If you come away from the experience a better grappler; then what exactly did you lose?
Yes I know a couple areas I could improve based on what happened in this tourney.... I'll get back at it Monday, my confidence is just severely shaken
mishto chuckles - Yes I know a couple areas I could improve based on what happened in this tourney.... I'll get back at it Monday, my confidence is just severely shaken
Like I said, it takes a long time to train your body to peak when you want it to. No reason to be shaken up. There's a saying in soccer that form is temporary, but class is forever. Just because you didn't happen to perform that one day is NOT a reflection on your skills as a whole.
Watch the piece that bjjhacks did with Felipe Costa. Hope this link works:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MAf4aRszdT8
pbody - Watch the piece that bjjhacks did with Felipe Costa. Hope this link works:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MAf4aRszdT8
Wow that was just what the doctor ordered. Guy didnt win a match for 4 years! That takes a special human being to make it through a mental beating like that. 4 years of mental conditioning to think you are a loser. At that point no-one believed in him. Im over here complaining about 3 losses in a row. I know i have a good game I know i have the potential to win the big matches. Just after 3 losses like that you begin to question it. Start asking questions like "maybe I am just not a winner" maybe I wont compete anymore and just train for fun.
Watching this video was major motivation. You just can simply never quit..... keep trying and modifying your training accordingly after every loss. Thats one of the coolest things about Jiu jitsu is the challenges you face with your ego and mental stability and ability to fight thru adversity and continue on.
Sucks bc my main training partner is my belt but he does way better in competition than me...... so this weekend he competes up and wins expert nogi and purple belt division. I am happy for him but a bit jealous and i hate to bring his victories down with my depression so i try to distance myself a bit after my matches as to not affect him
I am wondering if you use any periodization in your training. If you are training six days a week, I would want to know when the last time was you took a week off. Boxers are a classic example. They train a specific number of weeks and then "peak" before their fights. After the fights, they take some time off. Then, they may train lightly and wait until they have another fight, then they get ready, fight and rest again.
there is plenty of information about periodizing your training and taking time off.
Also keep in mind that sometimes you do not progress because you take your training too seriously. I hope it is fun for you.
Read some books about sport psychology. Check out amazon.com
A great book is "mind gym".
mishto chuckles - Sucks bc my main training partner is my belt but he does way better in competition than me...... so this weekend he competes up and wins expert nogi and purple belt division. I am happy for him but a bit jealous and i hate to bring his victories down with my depression so i try to distance myself a bit after my matches as to not affect him
Ego. Comparing yourself with your friend. He might just be better. Maybe competition is not for you.
Breeze05 -mishto chuckles - Sucks bc my main training partner is my belt but he does way better in competition than me...... so this weekend he competes up and wins expert nogi and purple belt division. I am happy for him but a bit jealous and i hate to bring his victories down with my depression so i try to distance myself a bit after my matches as to not affect himEgo. Comparing yourself with your friend. He might just be better. Maybe competition is not for you.
Maybe it isn't... I have always seemed to have troubles competing but perform excellent in the gym... Very possible I never figure it out and end up at the end of my competition career realizing im just not a winner........but at this point I just refuse to accept that, I believe deep down I can figure this out I just may have to work a little harder to figure it out.
What hurts the most is letting my training partners down over and over bc they believe in me so much... It could come to the point where in the only one left that still believes I can pull it out. That is why that Felipe Costa documentary blew me away. That guy went for so long losing he was likely the only person alive that still believed he had potential. That is a tough spot and required a ton of mental fortitude to keep on
Jayhof - I am wondering if you use any periodization in your training. If you are training six days a week, I would want to know when the last time was you took a week off. Boxers are a classic example. They train a specific number of weeks and then "peak" before their fights. After the fights, they take some time off. Then, they may train lightly and wait until they have another fight, then they get ready, fight and rest again.
there is plenty of information about periodizing your training and taking time off.
Also keep in mind that sometimes you do not progress because you take your training too seriously. I hope it is fun for you.
Read some books about sport psychology. Check out amazon.com
A great book is "mind gym".
Yes maybe I need some time off... I never take time off including after these losses, I just feel like while I'm resting these other guys are training. I will consider this and read up on it. Thank you sir
Many of you need to listen to Ryron talk more.
The ego... the fact that you care so much about winning and losing... belts... how your friends compare to you..
These all hold you back from learning and growing as a human being.
"it's just a game"
It seems simple... or some people will just blow this concept off...
But if you understand it... you will actually get better and most likely... WIN
jkd4200 - Many of you need to listen to Ryron talk more.
The ego... the fact that you care so much about winning and losing... belts... how your friends compare to you..
These all hold you back from learning and growing as a human being.
"it's just a game"
It seems simple... or some people will just blow this concept off...
But if you understand it... you will actually get better and most likely... WIN
You arent lying..... i heard an interview with him talking about how he competed at the gracie nationals letting guys passing his guard and such..... blew my mind. You are correct sir. Jiu jitsui is my life so it really efffects me when i lose which it should...... i just need to stay positive with it and use it to get better is all.
honestly if losing doesnt piss you off you are either lying or it isnt your top priority
Most people that made it have had numerous humiliating defeats.
I take it as part of the process, which means that you're on the right track.
mishto chuckles - honestly if losing doesnt piss you off you are either lying or it isnt your top priority
noone likes to lose... and you should try your ass off to win.
thats not the point... and i think people take it as this:
If you are not pissed and sulking after a loss you must not care... or people look at the guy kicking the bleachers and throwing his gi like he must be a GREAT competitor.
Ryron trains his ass off... he just understands there are more important things in the world going on than a silly bjj match.
people are starving.... and you are crying over a bjj match.
this "zen" approach is very difficult to do.. most can not do it.
That is the beauty of the martial arts :)
"The destination/goal is not always meant to be reached"