Sandbagging In BJJ

So there you are, at your first tournament.  You’re still a white belt, but lot of sweat, and even some blood, have gone into getting those 3 stripes.  Encouraged by your instructor and team, you have decided that you are ready to put your burgeoning skills to the test.  You want to represent well and bring honor to yourself, your family, and your academy.  You also want to continue to learn and grow as a practitioner of BJJ.

You step out onto the mats for your first match and see your opponent across from you, a white belt like yourself, but with no stripes.  You’re nervous as can be, but confident.  The match begins.  He came at you like a freight train, scoring a quick take down with one of the smoothest and irresistible double-legs you had ever experienced. Definitely better than any white belt you’ve ever sparred against.

You try to compose yourself and get him into your guard, but again, he a more than a few steps ahead of you, strong, quick, smashing and passing your guard like it was nothing.  The next thing you know you are in extreme pain and find yourself involuntarily tapping out. It happened so fast you didn’t even have time to react or defend yourself.  You learn later that it had been a kimura from side-control.  The tournament is over for you in a mere matter of seconds.  Things clearly didn’t go at all how you thought it would go.

 
Sandbagging In BJJ