Reflections on the ADCC Open: A Journey of Learning and Growth

This past Saturday, I took a squad down to Orlando to compete in the ADCC Open. It was the second time I’ve brought a group to this competition, and each time, we gain invaluable insights. Competing against some of the best in the world offers a fantastic opportunity to test our skills and knowledge, and see how we measure up.

Our team consisted of one child, five teens, and three adults. The results were mixed, with two of our competitors medaling. My daughter Raven secured second place in her division, and our young competitor Weston took third in his division. While five competitors were eliminated after two matches, the rest managed to win at least one match, with a few achieving two victories.

Despite not achieving the overall results we hoped for, everyone fought hard and found positive takeaways to build upon. Competition is an excellent chance to test oneself and identify areas for improvement. I hope everyone left with a clearer understanding of what they need to work on to elevate their game.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t compete this time due to an injury. However, from my past experiences, I know these competitions are a great benchmark to see how you stack up against peers from other gyms who have trained for a similar duration. The intensity, frequency, and quality of your training all play crucial roles in showcasing your skills in a setting like ADCC.

Key Takeaways

Unsurprisingly, the students who trained most consistently leading up to the competition performed the best. There’s no substitute for hard work! However, just showing up to class isn’t enough. Focus, effort during training, attentiveness to coaches’ instructions, and dedication outside of class all significantly impact performance.

Our team secured eight wins overall, which is a solid foundation to build upon. However, with only two students medaling, there’s ample room for improvement. As a coach, I value these competitions because they highlight our team’s shortcomings and areas for growth. The positions that caused the most issues were pulling guard without getting passed, escaping side control and mount, and managing scrambles. These will be key areas of focus in our upcoming classes.

I’m extremely proud of how hard everyone competed and saw many promising aspects to build on. Moving forward, class will address common trouble areas, and I’ll review all matches to provide individual feedback to help each athlete improve.

We will come back stronger—guaranteed! On to the next challenge!