At some point in almost every BJJ journey, the question comes up: should I compete?
For some students, the answer comes quickly and naturally. They are drawn to competition from day one — the idea of testing their skills against a stranger on a mat is exciting rather than daunting. For others, the idea of competing feels like it belongs to a different type of person entirely. Someone tougher, more experienced, more serious about the sport.
The truth is more nuanced than either of those positions — and more encouraging.
What Competition Actually Is (and Is Not)
Let us start by clearing something up. Competing in BJJ does not mean you are trying to become a professional fighter. It does not mean you have to be obsessed with winning. And it definitely does not mean you need to be the best person in your gym.
A BJJ competition is, at its core, a controlled environment where two people who both love the same art agree to test themselves against each other under a set of rules, with referees, in a safe setting.
The vast majority of competitors at local and regional tournaments — like those held regularly on the Gold Coast and across Queensland — are ordinary people with day jobs, families, and relatively short training histories. They compete because it makes them better, not because they are chasing a career.
What You Gain From Competing
Whether you win or lose — and especially if you lose — competing teaches you things about your BJJ that training in a familiar gym simply cannot.
When you compete, the adrenaline is real. Your heart rate spikes. Your technique, which feels smooth in the academy, suddenly requires effort to access. Your mind races. This is not a bad thing — it is the environment that reveals exactly where your BJJ needs to grow.
Students who compete consistently improve faster than those who do not. Not because competition itself teaches you the techniques, but because it gives you the most honest possible feedback on where you actually are. No politeness, no familiarity, no going easy on a training partner you like.
Beyond the technical benefits, competing builds a kind of mental resilience that carries over into everything else. The ability to perform under pressure, to manage nerves, to keep thinking clearly when everything feels chaotic — these are skills with applications far beyond the mat.
Signs You Might Be Ready to Compete
There is no minimum number of months you need to have trained before competing. Different people are ready at different times. But here are some honest indicators that it might be time:
You feel comfortable with the basic positions — guard, mount, side control, back — and understand broadly what you are trying to do from each of them. You can roll at your academy without feeling completely lost. You have a couple of techniques you feel reasonably confident in. And importantly — you are curious about how you would do against someone you have never trained with before.
That last one is the most telling. If the curiosity is there, the readiness usually is too.
What If You Lose?
You probably will, at some point. Most people lose their first competition. Many people lose several before they win one.
This is not failure. This is the process. Every loss in competition is a detailed lesson in what to work on next — one that is far more specific and honest than anything you can get from simply drilling in class.
Coach Mateus has competed at the highest levels of the sport and has helped numerous Lasco students prepare for and succeed at competition. The culture at Lasco supports competitors without pressuring people who simply want to train for the joy of it. Both are equally valid paths.
You Do Not Have to Decide Today
Competition is not for everyone, and that is completely fine. Many outstanding BJJ practitioners train for years — even decades — without ever entering a tournament, and their experience on the mat is no less valid or valuable.
But if the question is in your head, it is worth exploring. Come to class, ask Coach Mateus about upcoming tournaments, and start the conversation. The only way to know if competing is for you is to try it.
Training at Lasco Jiu Jitsu in Varsity Lakes gives you the foundation to compete when and if you choose. Book your intro class today and start building yours.
