I. The Strategic Shift: Building Your “A-Game”

In a regular class, you experiment with new guards and experimental submissions. In competition training, you focus on what works. You need a “Game Plan” that you can execute regardless of what your opponent does.

1. Identifying Your Path to Victory

A successful competitor doesn’t just “roll.” They dictate where the fight goes. At our Dallas academy, we help you map out your sequence from start to finish.

• The Takedown/Pull: How do you start the fight? Do you have a high-percentage takedown, or are you a specialist in pulling guard?

• The Primary Pass: Once on top, what is your most reliable passing system? (e.g., Knee Cut, Long Step, or Pressure Passing).

• The Finishing Position: What is your highest-percentage submission? Everything you do should lead toward that specific “kill zone.”

2. Eliminating Technical Gaps

Competition training exposes the holes in your game. If you have a weak half-guard or struggle to escape side control, a skilled opponent in a Dallas tournament will exploit it. You must work until your “B-Game” is strong enough to get you back to your “A-Game.”

II. High-Intensity Drilling and Situational Sparring

Conditioning for competition isn’t just about running; it’s about “Grappling Stamina.” We use specific training methods to simulate the exhaustion and stress of a real match.

3. Shark Tanks and Gauntlets

This is a staple of our competition prep in Dallas. You stay in the middle for multiple rounds while fresh partners rotate in.

• Mental Toughness: This drills the ability to stay technical when you are completely exhausted.

• Defensive Survival: When you are the tired person in the tank, you learn to survive and find small windows of opportunity to escape or recover.

4. Situational and Positional Sparring

We don’t always start from the feet. We simulate the “worst-case scenarios” frequently seen in IBJJF matches.

• Score-Based Sparring: Starting with one minute left on the clock where you are down by 2 points. You must find a sweep or a submission to win.

• Positional Starts: Starting in the back-mount or fully locked in a triangle. You learn to escape efficiently and stay calm under the highest levels of pressure.

III. Understanding the Rules: The IBJJF Point System

In Dallas competitions, many matches are won or lost not by submission, but by strategic understanding of the rules. At Alex Martins BJJ, we ensure our athletes are “Rulebook Savvy.”

5. Playing the Scoreboard

• The Value of Points: Understanding when to hold a position for the required 3 seconds to secure points versus when to transition for a submission.

• Advantages and Penalties: Knowing how to stay active to avoid stalling penalties and how to secure “advantages” through near-submissions or near-sweeps.

• The First Point Rule: Often, the person who scores first wins the match. We emphasize aggressive starts to dictate the pace of the encounter.

IV. Physical and Mental Conditioning in Dallas

The body and mind must be prepared as one cohesive unit. A strong body supports a sharp mind.

6. Weight Management and Nutrition

Competing often involves “cutting weight” to reach a specific category.

• Sustainable Diet: We advocate for healthy weight management throughout the year, avoiding drastic, dangerous cuts that sap your energy before the first match.

• Hydration in Texas: Staying hydrated is critical, especially during the hot Dallas summers when training intensity is at its peak.

7. Managing the “Competition Jitters”

Adrenaline can be a tool or a hindrance. Learning to manage the “dump” that happens when your name is called is vital.

• Visualization: Spend time every day visualizing your matches—the walk to the mat, the referee’s signal, and your hand being raised.

• Breath Control: Using nasal breathing and rhythmic exhalation (as discussed in our Stamina guide) to keep your heart rate under control in the bull-pen.

V. The Power of the AMBJJ Team Spirit

Competition is an individual sport performed by a team. You cannot become a champion alone.

8. The Support System in Dallas

When you compete for Alex Martins BJJ, you carry the lineage of Master Rickson Gracie.

• Coaching and Cornering: Having Professor Alex or one of our expert coaches in your corner provides a tactical advantage. They see the openings you might miss in the heat of battle.

• The Family Bond: Your training partners in Dallas are the ones who push you, sweat with you, and keep you accountable. Their success is your success.