Day 1 - Grapplers Quest: Beast of the East 2012

Normally I compete  in the 140 - 159.9 division at Grapplers Quest, but lately I've been walking around between 150 and 155 so about 5 days before the tournament I decided I wanted to try to cut down a weight class.  I started dieting and lost about 6 lbs in 4 days.  I was down to 146.5 when I got to my hotel and decided to sweat out the last few pounds. This started out well, I dropped 3 lbs in the first hour.  I thought to myself this will be a piece of cake! but it wasn't.  The following hour and a half  I only lost 1 pound and was down to 142.5, but time was up and I needed to weigh-in.  I was sooo depressed - all that hard work for nothing.  Now not only did I feel like crap but I still had to go with the heavier girls :(((  

I didn't think it would matter that much because I was used to fighting in that weight class, but I definitely felt it today.  I lost my first match and felt like puking afterwards.  I felt weak and out of breath the entire match. Not only did I physically feel bad, but I felt like my jiu-jitsu wasn't up to par either.  I was having a lot of trouble gripping and controlling my opponent with out the help of the gi.  This really made me realize that if I am going to compete no-gi I need to start training no-gi.

My absolute division went a little better.  I won my first match 20-0.  I completely controlled positioning but was unable to finish any submissions.  I tried for the d'arce choke and the rear naked choke but couldn't finish either one (I did get 2 advantage points though).  My second match was the finals match and it was against the same girl I fought in my weight class.  She took me down and scored 2, but then I swept her with a really nice hook sweep and scored my 2.  I tried passing the guard but couldn't figure out a good way to control her body and she closed her guard on me and eventually guillotined me.  

I ended up taking 2nd place in both my weight class and the absolute women's advanced no-gi divisions, but I am definitely not satisfied unless I win gold.  I am very confident in my gi game, and I am extremely motivated to go out there tomorrow and win my gi divisions.  And when I get back home I plan on continuing my diet, starting conditioning, and starting no-gi training.