I wouldn't worry too much about the takedowns WRXGirl. If you've been drilling them once a week you're in good shape. Generally white belts will be 95% having no takedowns at all and the other 5% will be judo brown or black belts that you would probably be way behind no matter how hard you trained. Within 30 mins of watching competitions you'll be able to tell who the judo folks are by their posture and the way they grip fight. If you get matched up with one just jump guard.

I highly recommend competing now if you have any desire. It will only be harder later. Right now you don't know that much and you aren't expected to. The worst that happens is you go out and get smashed and you can feel good that you conquered your nerves and you'll know that by the next time you'll be much better. If you wait until you're supposed to be good for your first competition the pressure will be much greater.

 

A good reason not to underestimate a judo player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujhYL...e=channel_page

 

And a nice Buakaw Por Pramuk highlight, because I feel I haven't talked about striking for a little while
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWbgyc7p7Ok

 

Wow, now this one's pretty damn cool!
Ref cam highlights from Pride FC! The best seat in the house!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b76XlHcnnUQ

 

Open sparring! I've been out to a couple of these. Just a nice group of people gettin together to do stand up, rolling, both what ever.

http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=81654

 

Hmm, that seems interesting. But just 3 things:
1. Are the Bay Area Bullshido guys pretty cool? I hate to say it, but there are whole helluva lotta dickwads on Bullshido and I'd much less want to spar with them than even talk to them online
2. I might be out of town for the better part of May, but if I could make it, I'd like to give it a shot.
3. Are you JLuo over there? Because I'm Minami no Kaze over there

Thanks!

 

1: The Bay Area Bullshido guys are definitely pretty cool. Nice n easy going. Its usually not a huge turn out but anywhere from 5-10 people. And yes, I agree with the statement in question #1.

2: Come out! It'll be fun. You can toss me around like a judo rag doll!

3: And yes, I am on there as: JLUO


and anyone else reading this...that means YOU....come out! Or PM me if you want to just meet up n spar (or if you want to school someone in grappling).

 

Ok boys sooo I did my first tournament--I was trying to get takedown but I was kinda irritated that my opponent just simply jumped into guard. My coach is totally against this and told us he would walk away from us if any of us did it lol. Anyways I got a bronze medal--which isnt saying much since there were only four girls in my weight class lol. I did however have a whole lot of fun and I thinking my nerves were the worst part of the whole experience. I'm actually really hooked into it now and I'm hoping to get out of working in the next three weeks so I can do another turnament since the guy sponsoring it said he had girls my size to compete.

 

Very nice, glad to hear you had a good experience! And your coach is right, pulling guard is a bad habit to get into!

 

Gah, looks like I won't be able to make it after all.
You guys have fun though! I wanna see pics and/or vids

 

Oh, and I wouldn't come in here empty-handed
CRAZY submission!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpr9lPqcMDM

 

Bump for Nomura Tadahiro, judo genius:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iB6D...layer_embedded

 

Damn, I hella miss Sudo Genki. Wish he never retired
For those who don't know, Sudo Genki was THE greatest showman in MMA EVAAAAAAAHRRRRR!!! Plus, he was skilled to boot, with victories over Royler Gracie, Muay Thai legend "Diamond" Ramon Dekker, UFC stalwart Nate Marquardt, and Butterbean, who outweighed him by over 200 lbs.
"We are all one" was his message, and the ring was his stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pJsbOmrYNY&feature=fvw

 

Well on the lines of martial arts, ADCC 2009 full of upsets:

Xande Ribeiro lost absolute division
Marcelo Garcia lost
Cobrinha lost
Galvao lost

Basically all the supreme awesome grappling gods lost.

 

Good update, although I have to say that Werdum winning Over 99 and Riberio winning Under 99 make sense, right?
Oh, and Cyborg Santos muscling her way to 3rd in women's Over 60 is kinda funny