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Competitive or Hobbyist?
3 year(s) ago • 9330 views • 79 replies
FPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Talking to my coach yesterday and he brought up a point that I thought was interesting. He was saying that compared to most gyms we are more competitive while others are more of a hobbyist nature.
What are your thoughts on your gym?
What are your thoughts on your gym?
MGPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I guess that would depend on how you are defining competitive/hobbyist. Is a gym considered a competitive gym if the majority of students compete or is it a style of training?
FFitzOP
Purple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I would say my gym is a smaller gym with about 10-12 active members with a few that are here and there. I’m not sure how one would quantify what “competitive” would mean. Initially I thought we were kind of relaxed but. I guess we push more aggressively than other?…
BBPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I would consider myself a hobbyist, while I do occasionally compete. I thoroughly enjoy jiu jitsu and have fun training and rolling, I just don't have fun competing.
Now my gym? Competition oriented through and through. We do competition oriented drills, cardio drills, etc. But not everyone is required to or does compete.
Now my gym? Competition oriented through and through. We do competition oriented drills, cardio drills, etc. But not everyone is required to or does compete.
RBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I would consider our gym more hobbyist-based. Nothing wrong with it either. Different strokes for different folks - the key is to find the gym with the vibe that matches you and your interests.
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I sustained a permanent spinal injury in MMA before I officially started doing BJJ, so I unfortunately haven't ever been able to compete (though I have coached quite a few athletes in BJJ, MMA, and Judo). I suppose I'm classified as a "hobbyist" since I mainly teach college courses in Jiu-Jitsu and occasionally publish articles in the field of martial arts studies. Competition is entirely optional in my gym, though I'm happy to provide extra training for students who want to compete. When I get really serious athletes who want to go pro, I send them to my friends who are competitive BJJ/MMA coaches so they can get the best training to meet their goals.
FFitzOP
Purple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
You guys sound a lot like my gym and myself. I was asked by a white belt if coaching was difficult. I replied hesitantly it wasn’t difficult if you have the right mindset. You have to know your student’s motivations. Myself I don’t have a hard set mentality on competing. I have a general rule that I would like to do a competition per stripe just to see how I stack up. Otherwise I do it because I like the people that are there with me and for work purposes. *Bonus* I use class as a tax write off.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I sustained a permanent spinal injury in MMA before I officially started doing BJJ, so I unfortunately haven't ever been able to compete.
Do you roll/spar ever?
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I am also a hobbyist.
Teach and train regularly at 54yrs old.
Have had both back and knee surgery and still roll with a common sense approach.
I invert and everything but if I find myself in a possible injury situation I make sure to adjust or stop.
Our students compete but it is not a requirement.
We run comp classes for them.
Have had students become MMA fighters and eventually move on to pursue their goals.
Some of them come back to continue their jiu jitsu goals once they are done in MMA or whatever.
An academy should be flexible in that regard.
Everyone is looking for different things in the art. Its all good
Teach and train regularly at 54yrs old.
Have had both back and knee surgery and still roll with a common sense approach.
I invert and everything but if I find myself in a possible injury situation I make sure to adjust or stop.
Our students compete but it is not a requirement.
We run comp classes for them.
Have had students become MMA fighters and eventually move on to pursue their goals.
Some of them come back to continue their jiu jitsu goals once they are done in MMA or whatever.
An academy should be flexible in that regard.
Everyone is looking for different things in the art. Its all good
JBBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I used to compete a fair amount. Retired 5 years ago after falling out of love with competition. In September I’ll compete again as I’ve regained my desire to test myself.
FFitzOP
Purple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Love the responses guys I’ll open it to a general any tips for a blue belt you wish you had?
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Do you roll/spar ever?
Every class. If I feel that my neck is in jeopardy, I can either give up the position/submission or just tap out. Jiu-Jitsu without resistance training isn’t really Jiu-Jitsu, so sparring is essential, but I can’t go full-bore in a competition where my opponent is more focused on winning than on my health. When I first injured my neck, my doctor told me to stop training… so I found another doctor. She told me to train carefully and avoid competition, which is what I have done ever since. I did re-injure my neck in Judo in 2013, but I took a year off to rehab it and I’m in pretty good shape these days (other than just being old).
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Every class.
Then you should be good to go with competitions!
I'm not sure what anybody is going to do to you in a competition that they wouldn't be able to do to you in training. If anything, there are more parameters in place to keep you safe in a competition.
I think a lot of people like to make excuses as to why they don't compete, but most of them just don't hold any water. They're just excuses.
The argument that you are somehow more likely to get injured is just one more of these types of excuses.
Unless there is some hard evidence to prove otherwise?
Why can't you "just tap out" in competition, the same way you do in sparring?
I have a ton of limiting health issues. In fact, I'm recovering from another surgery as I write this. I have yet to meet a doctor who would be able to discern sparring from competing. No offense to doctors, of course.
You're welcome for my rant. Maybe it's pent-up angst from not being able to be in the mats, but I stand by my claims.
I'm not sure what anybody is going to do to you in a competition that they wouldn't be able to do to you in training. If anything, there are more parameters in place to keep you safe in a competition.
I think a lot of people like to make excuses as to why they don't compete, but most of them just don't hold any water. They're just excuses.
The argument that you are somehow more likely to get injured is just one more of these types of excuses.
Unless there is some hard evidence to prove otherwise?
Why can't you "just tap out" in competition, the same way you do in sparring?
I have a ton of limiting health issues. In fact, I'm recovering from another surgery as I write this. I have yet to meet a doctor who would be able to discern sparring from competing. No offense to doctors, of course.
You're welcome for my rant. Maybe it's pent-up angst from not being able to be in the mats, but I stand by my claims.
JWBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
We are heavily leaning towards competitive, but do have hobbyists on the mats regularly. we re a smaller gym with 12-16 regular adults and about the same for kids. we are working on growing our kid's team, and want them to be competition focused.
I rarely compete at local events, but do hit Master Worlds and NoGi Worlds almost every year.
I rarely compete at local events, but do hit Master Worlds and NoGi Worlds almost every year.
JBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Then you should be good to go with competitions…
Thanks for your reply, Robert. I’m interpreting it as a pep-talk (i.e., you encouraging me to compete despite my injuries). You raise some good points. However, here’s why I’m reticent to compete.
First, I have had multiple doctors and physical therapists tell me that due to my two neck injuries, I’m at a significantly higher risk of re-injuring my neck, which would probably lead to surgery and possibly even permanent disability. When it comes to excuses, there are legitimate ones and illegitimate ones. For example, if one of my college students misses and exam because he is in the hospital, it’s an excused absence, but if he oversleeps after a night of partying, it is not excused. Having serious injuries is a legitimate excuse for being careful about one’s training. John Danher doesn’t compete because he has an issue with his leg that makes it overwhelmingly likely that he’ll injure it in competition and be permanently disabled. He can still train hard, improve his game, and coach others, but competition is not in the cards for him, and I think he has a reasonable excuse.
The intensity in competition is typically different than the intensity when sparring at the gym. When I roll at my gym, I can select my sparring partners to ensure I’m rolling with people who I know will take care of my neck (and my right shoulder, which has a torn labrum). I know they won’t explode into submissions faster than I can tap. In competition, I don’t get to pick my opponents, and it’s likely that they will be applying techniques explosively to ensure that I can’t counter them. Some opponents might even intentionally target my injuries (which I have seen happen while coaching). I’m also stubborn: if I drive two hours to a competition and pay $100 or more in entry fees, I’m not likely to tap as soon as I feel threatened (as I do in the gym).
I have profound respect for competitors and everything they bring to the art of Jiu-Jitsu. However, with my current spinal issues, I’m not willing to risk paralysis to compete (especially since I have a career and a family to take care of).
First, I have had multiple doctors and physical therapists tell me that due to my two neck injuries, I’m at a significantly higher risk of re-injuring my neck, which would probably lead to surgery and possibly even permanent disability. When it comes to excuses, there are legitimate ones and illegitimate ones. For example, if one of my college students misses and exam because he is in the hospital, it’s an excused absence, but if he oversleeps after a night of partying, it is not excused. Having serious injuries is a legitimate excuse for being careful about one’s training. John Danher doesn’t compete because he has an issue with his leg that makes it overwhelmingly likely that he’ll injure it in competition and be permanently disabled. He can still train hard, improve his game, and coach others, but competition is not in the cards for him, and I think he has a reasonable excuse.
The intensity in competition is typically different than the intensity when sparring at the gym. When I roll at my gym, I can select my sparring partners to ensure I’m rolling with people who I know will take care of my neck (and my right shoulder, which has a torn labrum). I know they won’t explode into submissions faster than I can tap. In competition, I don’t get to pick my opponents, and it’s likely that they will be applying techniques explosively to ensure that I can’t counter them. Some opponents might even intentionally target my injuries (which I have seen happen while coaching). I’m also stubborn: if I drive two hours to a competition and pay $100 or more in entry fees, I’m not likely to tap as soon as I feel threatened (as I do in the gym).
I have profound respect for competitors and everything they bring to the art of Jiu-Jitsu. However, with my current spinal issues, I’m not willing to risk paralysis to compete (especially since I have a career and a family to take care of).
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I am a hobbyist who likes to compete..
I am a former Pro kick boxer and MMA fighter and used to be an avid competitor having my first lethwei match at 15 in Burma.
Now at 60 years old I am help together by tape and gauze but I still like to compete but more for shit's and giggles I don't take it seriously anymore
I am a former Pro kick boxer and MMA fighter and used to be an avid competitor having my first lethwei match at 15 in Burma.
Now at 60 years old I am help together by tape and gauze but I still like to compete but more for shit's and giggles I don't take it seriously anymore
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I’m interpreting it as a pep-talk (i.e., you encouraging me to compete despite my injuries).
Yes, a pep talk. That's it! Lmao.
Honestly I think I was in a little bit of a bad mood last night, and after re-reading my response, I think it may have come across a little aggressive, which was not my intention, so I apologize if it was interpreted that way.
Obviously I can't speak to your health status, and if you're picky about who you're rolling with at your gym, you absolutely won't have the same luxury in a standard tournament.
One option to explore: super fights. In this case, you would most likely know who your opponent is and might even be able to set up parameters regarding allowable moves/ positions etc. I regularly compete at one of these events as part of a rotating roster of "old" lightweights, and these are pretty fun.
I'm recovering from long-overdue shoulder surgery rn, but hope to return to the mats in the next month or so, hopefully before my hip gives out next, haha...
Anyway, sorry to get off topic. At our gym, I encourage my students to compete regularly and I try to be a good example for them, but I wouldn't consider ourselves a "competition gym", per se. We have a good mixture of both demographics.
Honestly I think I was in a little bit of a bad mood last night, and after re-reading my response, I think it may have come across a little aggressive, which was not my intention, so I apologize if it was interpreted that way.
Obviously I can't speak to your health status, and if you're picky about who you're rolling with at your gym, you absolutely won't have the same luxury in a standard tournament.
One option to explore: super fights. In this case, you would most likely know who your opponent is and might even be able to set up parameters regarding allowable moves/ positions etc. I regularly compete at one of these events as part of a rotating roster of "old" lightweights, and these are pretty fun.
I'm recovering from long-overdue shoulder surgery rn, but hope to return to the mats in the next month or so, hopefully before my hip gives out next, haha...
Anyway, sorry to get off topic. At our gym, I encourage my students to compete regularly and I try to be a good example for them, but I wouldn't consider ourselves a "competition gym", per se. We have a good mixture of both demographics.
PDBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I sustained a permanent spinal injury in MMA before I officially started doing BJJ, so I unfortunately haven't ever been able to compete (though I have coached quite a few athletes in BJJ, MMA, and Judo). I suppose I'm classified as a 'hobbyist' since I mainly teach college courses in Jiu-Jitsu and occasionally publish articles in the field of martial arts studies. Competition is entirely optional in my gym, though I'm happy to provide extra training for students who want to compete. When I get really serious athletes who want to go pro, I send them to my friends who are competitive BJJ/MMA coaches so they can get the best training to meet their goals.
I broke my Atlas Vertabre when I was 26 and told i would never due anything physical again. I came back and fought from 37 to 44 and grappled in my 50's.
Not an easy journey. If you are ever thinking of it you can reach out and I will give you the unvarnished upside/ downside
Not an easy journey. If you are ever thinking of it you can reach out and I will give you the unvarnished upside/ downside
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I broke my Atlas Vertabre when I was 26 and told i would never due anything physical again. I came back and fought from 37 to 44 and grappled in my 50's. Not an easy journey. If you are ever thinking of it you can reach out and I will give you the unvarnished upside/ downside
Phil's a beast. I see him on these superfight lineups all the time.
Most doctors I've spoken to who are familiar with all of my various issues tell me not to compete, but I also think that most of these guys aren't very informed about what bjj is.
Now every time I see a new doctor I tell them right off the bad that I'm gonna be sparring and competing, and I'm not interested in changing my behavior, and most time we can find some middle ground.
Most doctors I've spoken to who are familiar with all of my various issues tell me not to compete, but I also think that most of these guys aren't very informed about what bjj is.
Now every time I see a new doctor I tell them right off the bad that I'm gonna be sparring and competing, and I'm not interested in changing my behavior, and most time we can find some middle ground.
ARBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
We have a lot of members, but few competitors. 100% hobbyist gym. :)
MGBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
There is a very different attitude between sparring and competing. When you spar against people you know in a school or open mat, your sparring partners are (generally) going to look out for you and make certain that you are not injured. In competition, there is often a win at any cost attitude, especially at higher levels. As an older practitioner I always watch someone before I roll with them, and I let them know if there are any injuries to be careful about. These kinds of precautions are not possible in competition. If you have long term injuries or you are not in peak condition or you are simply older, then competing is not a reasonable option if you want to continue indefinitely in the sport. But sparring is always an option for keeping in shape and continually learning. I stopped competing (judo) in my mid 40s at what I considered to be my peak (winning a couple of golds in an international competition). But I intend to keep sparring well into my 70s and hopefully beyond.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
There is a very different attitude between sparring and competing. When you spar against people you know in a school or open mat, your sparring partners are (generally) going to look out for you and make certain that you are not injured. In competition, there is often a win at any cost attitude, especially at higher levels. As an older practitioner I always watch someone before I roll with them, and I let them know if there are any injuries to be careful about. These kinds of precautions are not possible in competition. If you have long term injuries or you are not in peak condition or you are simply older, then competing is not a reasonable option if you want to continue indefinitely in the sport. But sparring is always an option for keeping in shape and continually learning. I stopped competing (judo) in my mid 40s at what I considered to be my peak (winning a couple of golds in an international competition). But I intend to keep sparring well into my 70s and hopefully beyond.
I hear this argument a lot, and it's usually from folks who don't compete that often.
Is the way you spar with your teammates going to be different than how you compete, most of the time? If it's not, then it should be: most of the time (in my opinion) you should be rolling for growth rather than performance. And you should never be sparring or competing with the intent to injure, but this should go without saying.
However, I don't think that competing is really that crazy dangerous. Especially at the higher levels. If anything, competing against higher level guys is much safer, in my experience.
I'm in my 40's, and I fully expect to be competing well into my 50's, and even 60's and maybe, God willing, in my 70's. Bjj is one of the few combat sports where you see older people still competing. Check out the masters 7 division at a big tournament like pans or worlds. It's friggin' adorable.
And if you're not following "@jiujitsugrandma" on Instagram then you should be. If jiu-jitsu Grandma ain't scared neither am I lol.
Is the way you spar with your teammates going to be different than how you compete, most of the time? If it's not, then it should be: most of the time (in my opinion) you should be rolling for growth rather than performance. And you should never be sparring or competing with the intent to injure, but this should go without saying.
However, I don't think that competing is really that crazy dangerous. Especially at the higher levels. If anything, competing against higher level guys is much safer, in my experience.
I'm in my 40's, and I fully expect to be competing well into my 50's, and even 60's and maybe, God willing, in my 70's. Bjj is one of the few combat sports where you see older people still competing. Check out the masters 7 division at a big tournament like pans or worlds. It's friggin' adorable.
And if you're not following "@jiujitsugrandma" on Instagram then you should be. If jiu-jitsu Grandma ain't scared neither am I lol.
BBPurple beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
One nice thing about competing in masters, most of us have to go to work the next day and aren't going to intentionally try to injure anyone. Another thing I like about ultra heavy, less likely to be spazzy, we just wanna hug. At white belt I had a tooth broke in comp from a random elbow, at blue belt the only thing i've had happen was a big chunk of skin off the bottom of my foot get ripped off. Not counting the broken pinky toe, that happened in training.
MGBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
However, I don't think that competing is really that crazy dangerous. Especially at the higher levels.
Well, as I said, I competed into my mid 40's. But students and friends have suffered all sorts of injuries in competition. Everything ranging from separated shoulders to sprained ankles. In higher level competition I've seen broken arms, busted knees, torn ACL, broken ankles, whiplash, etc. Do these injuries happen often? Not really, but considerably more often than in friendly sparring. You may be injury free and more importantly you obviously enjoy competition, but are you willing to risk being unable to roll for 6 months of recovery? It's your choice, but I'm not interested in taking that kind of risk. I did like the suggestion of a "superfight" if you already know your opponent.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
"Well, as I said, I competed into my mid 40's.".
That's awesome. You should think about filling in your comp record. I'd be curious to read about your experiences. Seems like you have quite a few.
"But students and friends have suffered all sorts of injuries in competition. Everything ranging from separated shoulders to sprained ankles. In higher level competition I've seen broken arms, busted knees, torn ACL, broken ankles, whiplash, etc."
I can't imagine you've never heard of these things happening in normal training, even in friendly sparring?
I'd be really curious to see some hard numbers on injuries in competition vs training, but I'd be willing to bet there's not that much difference.
"You may be injury free and more importantly you obviously enjoy competition,"
I'm definitely not injury free. Coincidentally I'm currently recovering from shoulder surgery, which is part of the reason I can sit here and interact so much on beltchecker.
Also, I hate competing, lol.
"are you willing to risk being unable to roll for 6 months of recovery?"
Hopefully recovery is only 3 months for this issue. Just for reference, the surgery was just to help give me maybe like 5 more years before full replacement, and was not the direct result of anything that happened in competition, but rather accumulated wear and tear, sprinkled with a little taste of inherited arthritis issues, just for fun.
"I did like the suggestion of a 'superfight' if you already know your opponent."
Right on. Give it some thought. You might be surprised by how much it enriches your development and inspires your students!
That's awesome. You should think about filling in your comp record. I'd be curious to read about your experiences. Seems like you have quite a few.
"But students and friends have suffered all sorts of injuries in competition. Everything ranging from separated shoulders to sprained ankles. In higher level competition I've seen broken arms, busted knees, torn ACL, broken ankles, whiplash, etc."
I can't imagine you've never heard of these things happening in normal training, even in friendly sparring?
I'd be really curious to see some hard numbers on injuries in competition vs training, but I'd be willing to bet there's not that much difference.
"You may be injury free and more importantly you obviously enjoy competition,"
I'm definitely not injury free. Coincidentally I'm currently recovering from shoulder surgery, which is part of the reason I can sit here and interact so much on beltchecker.
Also, I hate competing, lol.
"are you willing to risk being unable to roll for 6 months of recovery?"
Hopefully recovery is only 3 months for this issue. Just for reference, the surgery was just to help give me maybe like 5 more years before full replacement, and was not the direct result of anything that happened in competition, but rather accumulated wear and tear, sprinkled with a little taste of inherited arthritis issues, just for fun.
"I did like the suggestion of a 'superfight' if you already know your opponent."
Right on. Give it some thought. You might be surprised by how much it enriches your development and inspires your students!
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Competitive.
We have an active competition team that trains multiple times a week, many reigning national champions, win the best team trophy in national-level comps every now and then. Good competition culture, which can be challenging to build up if you don't have it: people training for a comp know how to push themselves and each other, go do hill sprints together outside the class etc.
There's something special in the team training for a common goal and then supporting each other at the event. I never have to worry about my fitness or cardio level if I just manage to hit all the comp classes regularly before a comp.
With my 10+ years of experience in the sport, I would argue that competing absolutely increases the risk of injury. Maybe not so much in the competition matches themselves, because they add up to a relatively short time, but during the competition preparation training, where the goal is to push yourself and still go at it although fatigued. (At least I personally definitely need this kind of training to thrive in competitions.) Freak accidents of course also happen during more friendly rounds, but there are countless times when I or a teammate has gotten hurt week or two out from a comp. (Same thing happens often in the pro world: a competitor pulls out a short time before a match because of an injury.) Cutting weight, stress etc. can also add to it. Personally I have suffered most of my worst injuries in competition matches: a completely torn ACL, a fractured knee cap, and a rotator cuff injury.
We have an active competition team that trains multiple times a week, many reigning national champions, win the best team trophy in national-level comps every now and then. Good competition culture, which can be challenging to build up if you don't have it: people training for a comp know how to push themselves and each other, go do hill sprints together outside the class etc.
There's something special in the team training for a common goal and then supporting each other at the event. I never have to worry about my fitness or cardio level if I just manage to hit all the comp classes regularly before a comp.
With my 10+ years of experience in the sport, I would argue that competing absolutely increases the risk of injury. Maybe not so much in the competition matches themselves, because they add up to a relatively short time, but during the competition preparation training, where the goal is to push yourself and still go at it although fatigued. (At least I personally definitely need this kind of training to thrive in competitions.) Freak accidents of course also happen during more friendly rounds, but there are countless times when I or a teammate has gotten hurt week or two out from a comp. (Same thing happens often in the pro world: a competitor pulls out a short time before a match because of an injury.) Cutting weight, stress etc. can also add to it. Personally I have suffered most of my worst injuries in competition matches: a completely torn ACL, a fractured knee cap, and a rotator cuff injury.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
MGBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
"That's awesome. You should think about filling in your comp record. I'd be curious to read about your experiences. Seems like you have quite a few. "
The reason I haven't filled in my competition record, other than not remembering most of the places and years is that these were all judo competitions. When I was competing, BJJ was unheard of in the USA.
My sister's boyfriend was an Olympic judo coach, and I remember when he showed up and started showing us this new concept called "open guard".
"I can't imagine you've never heard of these things happening in normal training, even in friendly sparring?"
Of course they can happen. But from my experience, accidental injuries tend to be much more severe in competition. Tatu's point about injuries being more frequent when preparing for competition is also very salient. I agree though that it would be interesting to have actual statistics, though they would have to take into account competition training.
I will admit that I personally have never been seriously injured in competition, though I have been deliberately kicked in the groin with uchi mata and witnessed other extremely unsportmanlike behaviour.
Interesting about your shoulder surgery: I had the same type of surgery 5 years ago on the left side and 3 months ago on the right, and for the same reasons. Although in my case I'm not anticipating a replacement. I've gotten very good at one armed throws and submissions (: and been able to teach after a couple of weeks in each case. I was cautiously rolling 5 months after the left side surgery and fully functional on the mat about 6 months later. I'll probably shave a month off that time on the right. But I'm guessing recovery is easier in your 40s than it is in your late 60s.
The reason I haven't filled in my competition record, other than not remembering most of the places and years is that these were all judo competitions. When I was competing, BJJ was unheard of in the USA.
My sister's boyfriend was an Olympic judo coach, and I remember when he showed up and started showing us this new concept called "open guard".
"I can't imagine you've never heard of these things happening in normal training, even in friendly sparring?"
Of course they can happen. But from my experience, accidental injuries tend to be much more severe in competition. Tatu's point about injuries being more frequent when preparing for competition is also very salient. I agree though that it would be interesting to have actual statistics, though they would have to take into account competition training.
I will admit that I personally have never been seriously injured in competition, though I have been deliberately kicked in the groin with uchi mata and witnessed other extremely unsportmanlike behaviour.
Interesting about your shoulder surgery: I had the same type of surgery 5 years ago on the left side and 3 months ago on the right, and for the same reasons. Although in my case I'm not anticipating a replacement. I've gotten very good at one armed throws and submissions (: and been able to teach after a couple of weeks in each case. I was cautiously rolling 5 months after the left side surgery and fully functional on the mat about 6 months later. I'll probably shave a month off that time on the right. But I'm guessing recovery is easier in your 40s than it is in your late 60s.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I'm a hobbyist coach and practicioner, teaching at a competition-oriented gym.
So eventhough not everyone competes in our club, the general intensity of the rolls is quite high - without it being a snakepit of monomanical doucheyness that you'll usually find at those clubs.
We go to great lengths to keep the vibe in the place cool, but we still expect people to bring the presh.
Rising tide of the comp animals, raises all hobbyist boats.
So eventhough not everyone competes in our club, the general intensity of the rolls is quite high - without it being a snakepit of monomanical doucheyness that you'll usually find at those clubs.
We go to great lengths to keep the vibe in the place cool, but we still expect people to bring the presh.
Rising tide of the comp animals, raises all hobbyist boats.
CCBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Does anyone else not love the term "Hobbyist"?
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Does anyone else not love the term 'Hobbyist'?
Haha yes. Although my gym is competition-oriented, we have zero professional grapplers.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
