Anticipation of Competition & the Winning Spirit

• Tweet

• Tweet

This week has been exciting for me.  Today, I just registered for the 2011 World Series of Grappling and Jiu Jitsu held by Grapplers Quest next Saturday, November 19.  It will be my first Jiu-Jitsu competition, and this week, I’ve felt my first set of nerves.

Monday, I just realized that the competition was coming in two weeks and that I needed to shed 10 pounds, bringing me down to 129 lbs, just about how much I weighed in high school (125 lbs).  Wednesday, I woke up at 6am, dreaming about different strategies and techniques, struggling to put myself back to sleep.  Today, I checked my weight and saw that I’m 134lbs, with 5 lbs down and 5 more to go.  I’m feeling good–healthy and quicker with more endurance.  However, the anticipation of competition leaves an distinct feeling in the gut, that I oddly enjoy.  It’s frightening.  Nobody wants to lose, and it is very well possible that it may happen.  But it’s also exciting, driving the motivation for self-improvement, focusing on mental strength and stability.  It’s all about perseverance, patience, discipline, determination and the desire to win.  I remember why I enjoy the martial arts.  These are the lessons that I learned early in my life to pave the way for success within sports, academics and in life.

The anticipation of competition is rejuvenating, and I’m feeling another surge of well-needed energy in my life.  Win or lose, I am enjoying this experience.  Nonetheless, I am keeping my eye on the prize.  My mind, body and spirit wants nothing but gold next weekend.  It is interesting the psychology behind competition, but I know that I must envision winning, while training my body to endure the physical exertion, and keeping in mind the strategy behind the art.  I am a beginner, but I always strive for self-improvement and to be the best that I can be.

Here’s to the winning spirit.

• “A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” – Larry Bird
• “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
• “If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.” – Mary Pickford
• “Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” – Swami Sivananda
• “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal — a commitment to excellence — that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”- Mario Andretti
• “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.” – Vince Lombardi
• “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi
• “Winners never quit and quitters never win.” – Vince Lombardi
• “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”- Muhammed Ali
• “Once you’ve done the mental work, there comes a point you have to throw yourself into the action and put your heart on the line. That means not only being brave, but being compassionate towards yourself, your teammates and your opponents.” – Phil Jackson

Other Articles You Might Enjoy: