With competitions coming up, I wanna open this up to the whole squad because how you prepare mentally is just as important as how you train physically. Everybody has a ritual. Some people don’t even realize it yet—but the best competitors do things on purpose to get their mind right before battle. This isn’t superstition. This is control. For me personally: 👉 I pray. I ground myself, give it to God, and remind myself that my worth isn’t tied to a medal. I compete free, not fearful. 👉 Then I play poker the day before. Sounds random, but it relaxes my mind and sharpens my strategy. It forces patience, discipline, emotional control, and decision-making under pressure—same skills we need on the mat. By the time I compete, my nervous system is calm and my brain is already in “solve problems” mode. No chaos. No panic. Just clarity. Some other powerful pre-competition rituals I’ve seen or used over the years: - Light movement or drilling, not smashing - Visualization: seeing the match go your way before it happens - Writing intentions instead of goals (“stay calm,” “dictate pace,” “trust my grips”) - Breathwork to slow the heart rate - Listening to the same music every time to create a mental switch - Reviewing ONE concept—not everything—so you don’t overload your brain - Early night + hydration (boring, but elite) The biggest mistake people make before competing is trying to add more: More techniques. More intensity. More stress. Winners usually do the opposite. They simplify. Competition isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about expressing what you already have under pressure. So let’s help each other out 👇 Drop your pre-competition ritual below: - What do you do the day before? - What calms you down? - What flips the switch for you? - What’s something you never skip before competing? Someone in this group is gonna read your comment and it might be the thing that helps them show up sharper, calmer, and more confident on comp day. Iron sharpens iron.

What is your thought about takedowns? How do you countermeasure judo takedowns? (countermeasures other than pull guards) Are you interested in learning judo to get an upper hand for a jump start? What traditional BJJ or wrestling takedowns you think that have worked the best for you?

Recommendations please. Especially the workouts we can do at home.

Everyone has a few! What would you like to accomplish?

The game is on! the European Championship brackets have been published. I got a bye in the first round as ranked 4 in the bracket. I was hoping for an afternoon fight as I'm flying to Portugal the same day of the competition so I'll go straight from the airport to the tournament. It is going to be tough as I may not have more than 4 hours of sleep because of the early morning flight and, of course, the traveling hustle.