Joining a BJJ Gym for experienced

RickF

White Belt
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Dec 4, 2021
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Hello
If a person moves to North America from Ukraine where he trained in Sambo for many years. If that person joins a Jujitsu School because Sambo is not available. How is he selected to be in competition or Tournament ?

Is it by the Belt? Or does the instructor judge his ability to compete? Would that person face off with beginners ?
 
Hello
If a person moves to North America from Ukraine where he trained in Sambo for many years. If that person joins a Jujitsu School because Sambo is not available. How is he selected to be in competition or Tournament ?

Is it by the Belt? Or does the instructor judge his ability to compete? Would that person face off with beginners ?

Kind of up to you. You can compete in an open category. Or even jump a few belts if you have the skills.

It kind of depends on the organisation.

Most bjj competitions are more about development rather than medals. Because nobody really cares at the end of the day.
 
A lot of tournaments will require a BJJ white belt to enter at least the blue belt division if they have a black belt in Judo or high level wrestling experience. I don’t think many have official rules for people coming in from Sambo, because that’s much more rare over here. I suggest you consult with your instructor. They might have you start out in the white belt division to get a feel for the format or they might have you jump into a more advanced bracket.
 
What I've seen around here is that the coach will make a recommendation. It's not uncommon to see white belts in BJJ gi competing as intermediate or even (though uncommonly) as advanced in no gi.

So, even if you're technically a white belt, your coach can suggest where you should compete in both gi and no gi.

I think it would cause a real problem if someone goes in and just wipes up on a bunch of white belts. Coaches would get a little upset, as would the other competitors. No one likes sandbaggers.

Less upset the other way, when someone (usually a black belt from another discipline) signs up in the black belt divisions. Though, while most folks aren't upset, they do get more worried that he (it has always been a "he") will get seriously hurt just by being so far out of his depth.
 
Thank you for the replies. It makes sense to learn the Tournament behaviors and compete respectfully.
The techniques are different even when the outcome might be the same.
 
Thank you for the replies. It makes sense to learn the Tournament behaviors and compete respectfully.
The techniques are different even when the outcome might be the same.
Be sure to read the rules thoroughly. Whichever division you compete in, be sure to understand what techniques are legal or not. For example, you might be used to using leg locks that are illegal for beginners. That sort of thing.
 
Be sure to read the rules thoroughly. Whichever division you compete in, be sure to understand what techniques are legal or not. For example, you might be used to using leg locks that are illegal for beginners. That sort of thing.
There are many difference which require learning. In a contact event perhaps not but many differences in no striking competitions.
 
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