Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is celebrating its 10th anniversary, there will be a cash prize of Dh4 million to celebrate the 10th edition, which started on April 16. As a jiu-jitsu athlete and winner of countless international and regional tournaments, I take a look at what it takes to prepare for a jiu-jitsu tournament.

There are a lot of aspects you have to take care of before preparing for a jiu-jitsu tournament as an athlete. You have to determine the importance of the tournament, whether it’s local, international or Olympic level, which obviously needs years to get-ready and in shape for. So here are some great tips to prepare perfectly.

Love what you’re doing – you won’t be creative or successful if you’re not doing what you like. Understand if you are interested in jiu-jitsu or not. There are a lot of difficulties and struggles in the sport of jiu-jitsu that needs a person who will fight for till the end, so ask your self if you are ready enough to face them.

Your body conditions – you have to be in your best condition to fight in 3 parts: physically, technically and mentally. They must protect you from the storm, not the other way around. It’s the matter of balance, without those 3 essentials the possibility of a failure has more chances than not. As physically, you have to be 100% sure you’re not injured and able to fight because if you are carrying an injury, that will distract you mentally. Therefor you won’t be able to train the right way. The three essentials are inter-connected.

Days before – you must know all the details about your upcoming tournament, the location, start time, check weight time and day, the updated rules of the game, what kimono you need to wear and hotels nearby if you’re a guest. Two weeks away from the tournament, you have to work on corrections. Never learn a new technique before the tournament unless you’re pretty sure you’ll be able to perfectly execute it.

Work on basic drills, such as the arm-bar, pull to the guard, pass guard and different kind of submissions that you prefer. Physical training is also needed to improve your cardio and stamina, basic physical conditioning workouts such as push-ups, burpees, bicycle crunches, jumping jacks, etc.

Stomach butterflies – adrenaline, pressure and anxiety are part of life, but be smart to channel it the right way in your favor. The mental aspect of the game is super important! A really great tip to win is to set a goal, why you should win the gold medal? It is all about winning and to have that winning mentality, that is how all your fans, friends and family will be proud of you.

When you fight you might feel losing, just remember your goal and never let all the hard work go in a swish. If you’re concerned, just imagine your self fighting in training and remember this is the best test to know your skills, ability and what you need to work on.

The day of the tournament – pack your bag the night before with all the things you need, and don’t forget your kimono and belt, it happens sometimes, i’ve seen it many times. Eat a breakfast with protein and good amount of carbs, if you need to keep your weight then eat after checking wight, keep yourself hydrated. Most importantly don’t forget the reason that brought you there.

At this point you know all the important details on how to prepare for a Jiu-Jitsu tournament. Feel beyond confident to step on the mat, Oss!