07/28/2025
Saturday, I competed in my first tournament in over 20 years.
And yep—it brought up a lot.
Why compete?
Honestly, it was about learning.
🔹 Learning where I stand in the broader BJJ community. I usually believe “comparison is the thief of joy,” but stepping outside your usual training bubble can provide valuable perspective.
🔹 Learning how to manage weight intentionally. I didn’t do a major cut, but this was the first time I had to be thoughtful about the scale.
🔹 And most importantly—reconnecting with the athlete side of being a sports massage therapist. It’s one thing to help clients through the grind. It’s another to live it again firsthand with a training cycle and an event circled on the calendar.
Huge thank-you’s are in order:
🥋 at – daily instruction, coaching, and constant inspiration
🥋 – for Sunday sessions and mentorship
🥋 My training partners at Quest Jiu-Jitsu—especially those who showed up to compete or support
🥋 – for hosting a well-run event
🥋 My competitors – respectful, skilled, and tough matches
🥋 – the Conditioning Coach Course delivered serious value, and this was my first time applying it as an athlete, not a coach
🥋 – thanks for double-checking my day-of nutrition game plan
🙏 Everyone who’s reached out, sent kind words, or simply hit “like”—it all meant a lot
Takeaways:
✔️ Everyone should compete in something once a year—BJJ, a 5k, a lifting meet, whatever feels meaningful. Having something on the calendar gives your training direction or just inject some more motivation.
✔️ I want to build and adhere to stricter Fight Camp leading up to the next one.
✔️ I really need to work on my grip breaks 😅
✔️ I’m sure I’m forgetting something—but I wanted to share this while it’s still fresh and the motivation’s high.
Here’s to staying a student of the game.
If there any of these bullet points you’d like to hear more about, leave a comment. I’d be happy to share more on each topic.
